Today was the photo shoot. Just like any other day but much more. Drove into MBH for meeting w/ Dawn, the photographer, and shop ride and follow her shooting requests. She mixed it up w/ the riders, the  locals and several newbies. We rode off and she joined us @ a trailhead. She had other locations in mind for shooting so I left the ride. She didn’t ask me to injure myself  doing a big roll in or gap jump. I followed her instructions and she shot. She was composing the picture and i was part of it. This wasn’t  5 or 6 snapshots and we move on deal. All day and she took over 300 pictures. She will select about 20 pics and will send to BikeMag from which the writer will select his. I learned to ask more questions. Creative shots.

My sister Lise from Ohio called long distance. Alright, by cell phone. Show of hands for when you remember when long distance was a big deal as it cost $, when time was money. When somebody answered the phone and learned that the caller was asking for another person and that it was long distance. The receiver would drop everything and c0me running.  And now it was Verizon to Verizon therefor free. We talked for 45 mins for free.

Back at favorite desert spot.

I know i have not ridden all the trails here but I have ridden an absolutely incredible miles and hours of trail.

Drove down to Bike & Bean to ride w/ owner, Jimmie, for afternoon ride. e had to work but talked of joining us during the ride. Jason and I left. The plan was to meet Jimmie @ a TH south of where I had been riding. Before we arrived jason’s phone rang. It was Chewie who decided to join. He rode from the shop via Highline to TH in 40 mins. Amazing. A little further on and we were just above the TH and the phone rang again. It was Jimmie @ the TH. Amazing. From here we rode Turkey creek further south and climbed out of valley to high ridge over looking out to Sedona & beyond. Spectacular vista. Trail climbing up was volcanic basalt. Different kind of rock. Going up it was a bit of hike a bike. I was studying the rough nature of the rocks and was thinking a bit of hike a bike down. Rode it all down except 1 spot I didn’t set up for. Tell you, the new bike and now w/ 23psi tubeless tires i just skootch over things. Light of day is that flat light late in afternoon. The blue sky, red rock, & long shadows was pick the superlative. Another 2 hour ride.

Finished @ 5:30. Jason’s plan was to ride the road back to shop if Jimmie didn’t show. he did and we all piled into his truck for the ride back. He has a full size truck w/ a padded blanket over the closed tailgate. You put your bike on the tailgate w/ the front wheel hanging over. The padding protect the bike and when more are added they keep themselves in place. Back @ shop for a beer & good spirits. People seem to enjoy working together as they hang out together even on days off.

Grace is in Tempe, AZ for her sponsor. She, her bf, & another guy, and me will be riding Hawes trail in Mesa on Sat. Friday I drive down stopping to ride Black Canyon trail then spending the evening w/ Carrie, my sister Lynn’s best friend in Scotsdale. And tomorrow is photo shoot for BikeMag.

The ride, not me.

Sunday was a rainy day and no ride. Drove … crapy software ate my effort. Shower at RV place outside Cottonwood, back to Sedona for wash. Out @ desert. Weather cleared as day progressed. Did get a rain squall soaking. In bed when i heard scratching coming from front of van, near as I could tell it was outside the firewall. Got dressed & put on the headlamp and opened the hood. An animal was making a nest on top of engine. Animal was sized like a rat as it jumped out. Discarded the cedar chewing and a piece of insulation. Last of the intruder.

Called Jeff Sunday night to get his ride schedule: meet 9:00AM @ Schnebly rd. I weas there and he was late. I was all but reaching for my phone to call when it rang. It was Jeff: where am I? They drove right by me uphill to the trailhead parking lot.

Today it is Hangover, the 3rd of the H’s: Highline, Hogs, & Hangover. Trails were a bit wet and the slick rock was not always it’s most traction grapping. 8 mile loop, 1 hr 22 mins, 1700 vert. But the devil is in the trail routing & construction. I walked a bit of it. Maybe 18″ wide trail tucked right under vertical wall of sandstone, blind corners snaking under protruding overhangs: 26″ wide bars bouncing off inside rock and steered back by tree on outside edge stopping a fall off the cliff. Then there was the rollover switchback, knife crack line on the slickrock. Over my head which wasn’t really committed today. Wanted to ride in my brain but not in my heart. I slipped & fell walking the hero drop in from the saddle, butt & left forearm.

Cut ride plan short. Called Redrock precision motors to see if they could do the wiring on my van today. Bingo! yes they can. Took some understanding of what i wanted and how to make it happen. My stereo is now connected to the camper batteries away from rig battery. I can now listen to XM and know that the engine has juice to start.