temp was just under 70 degrees last night. QAuiet night, slept till 7:30.

Drove over to OTE for whatever. Moved on to Kokopelli trails out between I-70 and the CO River west of town. Pulled into almost empty parking lot because it is mid week and summer heat. While preparing myself w/ a safety meeting a VW Vanagon Westie parks alongside, the driver gets out, & raps on the closed door. Gene is his name, a local but also a road traveler, intros himself.He read the Bike Mag article and wondered if he would ever run into me. I inspired him so much. We got to ride a bit together. He is a better stronger rider but he wasn’t much further ahead, or, more likely, he was being sociable. I followed him on some lines to ride faster and jump further than my speed. He rode a chunk of the Horse Thief drop in. We rode the loop and climbed back out. At the top there were 2 small rock ledge  step ups then the cattle guard made of like railroad rails. I made the 2 steps which robbed me of the speed I needed when I stuck my front wheel on the cattle guard. No speed stuffed my front wheel and stalled me. The handlebar twisted to the left and I fell to the right landing full force on my right hip on the first rail. Ow! Going to be a big bone bruise. Some pain was felt as I continued to pedal further into my ride. Gene left me and I continued on my own w/ visions of a longer loop. I bailed on Troy built and exited down Lions and suffered the long gravel road back to van. I rode more stuff than previously and did better on all, thanks to PUSH and finessing my bike fit.

Hot w/ no shade or clouds.

Back in Fruita I did my wash. I visited Hot Tomato and said Hi to Jen, Ken. I rode w/ Ken in Maine and ran into him @ Rothrock SP. He read I was in CO and turned me onto Hot Tomato. I had a beer and 2 large slices of pizza.

Forecasts have been for possible heavy rains w/ flash floods. Lyons showed past heavy runoff. Plan on driving out to Book Cliffs north of town to camp and ride gentler trails tomorrow. Or, if still too sore just drag my brakes b4 heading on. Have maybe another ride, a new one, Turkey Flats in the Monument NP.

My lower right ribs still hurt f rom fall back on Big Schloss trail 8 weeks ago, painful to sleep on my belly. Hip adds another painful bed contact.

Last night the temp was 72 deg @ bed time, 6:30AM today tghe temp was the same. I did not rest well. I am tired now.

Left parking lot driving to Lunch Loop trails TH. Almost as many rigs in the lot @ 7:00 AM as there was at 7:00 PM last night. Fixed bfast while studying a trail map planning my ride. I had planned to visit Doug @ Ruby Canyon, host of shop ride to get a route laid out. Yesterday temp hit 92 degs so I was expecting sim temps today making an early ride a better temp management plan. I headed out making up my ride @ signed trail junctions. Just as I climbed up onto final mesa a rdier riding from a side trail greets me, JP Nuts!. I ask him if we have met, he said no, he has been following my blog and just wondered if he would run into me. He rode from his nearby house and saw my van in the parking lot. Russ is his name. Another visiting seesion w/ a likable guy. I followed him back to TH. He invited me to his house for a shower and lunch. Much more visiting. Russ has been in GJ for a year, he is a Spanish Teacher and is from Michigan. We have ridden same trails is his former state. He has an idea for a rdie event on a long distance trail nearby. I lack memory recall of trail.

Powerful t-storm moved in dashing frequent lightning bolts to ground and dropped temp to sleeping temps. Visited w/ Doug then drove West to Fruita just down the road.

Dirt here has bentonite mixed in. Add an amount of h2o and the dry turns to sticky gumbo freezing drive trains and crippling walking. Very little rain fell.

There are more miles unridden by me @ Lunch Loop. Left more on the table.

Over the years I have ridden Fruita many times, several times @ Thanksgiving, nothing new here. I hope to ride more of the tech features i previously walked. Kokopeli trails are above CO River.

Crashed @ dirt parking lot behind Wendy’s in Fruita.

PUSH received 5 stars in Mountain Bike Action for suspension tuning. Hooray. Randy, check it out. Lisa’s Spot will be happier.

Leisurely get up this AM as my schedule is a 6:00PM shop ride w/ Red Canyon cycles. Used GPS to navigate to store. Put 0.50 in parking meter for 60 mins. Entered store & met shop owner Doug.  Our conversation length exceeded meter $. I bid adieu till evening ride.

Back in maybe 2000 I had the misfortune of seeking VW aid for my camper in Grand Junction. Nearby is DT- Swiss, whose rims & spokes are on my wheels, and Wiggys, makers of insulating items of whom I have a sleeping bag.  At DT-Swiss Mike gave me a tour of the shop which only makes the spokes here, the rims, hubs, & forks are built in Switzerland which has the canache of superior quality over US and Asian labor. He read the Bike mag article. he wondered if someday when he was driving down I-70 he would see my van. Wow! he not only toured the van he shared time w/ me. Grace asked if I autographed anything and I said nothing was presented. She said I should have signed something even if it was on the restroom wall. I Asked her about Mandi at Trailhead in Huntsville. That’s another story.

Left there w/ stickies and 2 pairs of DT Swiss socks which will replace worn socks. Next stop was Wiggy’s 3 blocks down the way. Opened door almost into Wiggy’s face. Awkward conversation between us occurred. I just wasn’t on his wave length.

Drove around GJ seeking parking spot w/ shade, temp is in lower 90s. Found some @ a city park and worked internet.

Headed over to Lunch Loop trails across the river from GJ. Met Doug and other local riders. Joe is 69. Oh no! I am going to be riding w/ someone older than me and will I a stronger rider. Ego fear. He was stronger and a better rider, perhaps because he is on home turf. For years I have read about GJ trails described as technical. I envisioned pads & behind the seat riding which is not my level so i avoided riding here in spite of maybe 7 trips to Fruita / Moab. Well, the trails we rode were technical but I just walked several more difficult challenges. The trails are blue level technical, many ran right@ bluff edge, a miscue would result in gravitational pull over many feet. Pay attention to details @ speed my reflexes could comprehend made for a challenging successful ride. Jimmy, I am improving my rear wheel jump up, step ups, and roll overs. riding is like Fruita which it should because Fruita is 10 miles away. bentonite outcroppings covering sharp edge rock, some pieces of sandstone slick rock, others a harder sharp edged rock. Brutal  short climbs. More challenging than Fruita. Black and double black diamond trails exist but we stayed away. Short ride under 60 mins.

Back @ parking lot Doug hosted a cooler of iced adult beverages. Tongues loosened and stories of medical recovery from our mistakes. Wild skies over Book Cliffs, no pics taken.

After dark and 2 beers on empty stomach I drove away seeking City Market for store made salad then Gold gym for a shower. Food score was easy. Golds is you can’t get there from here location. Several miscues later I parked out front.  The attendant said they do not have a policy for selling showers so he said enjoy. 82 degrees outside but the sweat & dirt from the ride are gone.

Wandered around till I found likely looking parking lot for the night.  Under 5,000′ feet and it is hot.

I will ride here again tomorrow as there is more to sample and repeating any will be enjoyed. I haven’t discovered much riding in UT on my route to justify leaving rides here on the table. Maybe Fruita on Thurs then.