Quiet night @ Cortez airport. A flashing beacon swirled all night but I parked the back of my van towards it. Another 27 degree AM w/ the heater on high made getting out of bed tolerable.
Fixed bfast & cleaned up and waited for sun to warm up. Walked across the road to the airport to use restroom. Locked up tight. Drove back into town & visited the tourist bureau facility. received some info on Sand Canyon. Stopped @ Mr Smiley for another sticky bun. The owner’s wife waited on me, she knew about me. Sunday paper is published on Sat.
Drove out road G down McElmo canyon to Sand Canyon TH which is just a small piece of slick rock. 3 rigs were there. Geared up & rode away climbing right on slick rock, Navaho sandstone. Popular hiking & biking trail. Route was marked by cairns & a few signs for awhile. Rode past a small ruin:
Rock walls are dead straight and made up of lots of small rocks and held together w/ clay mud, I could see the finger prints left over. Soil is red clay looking like Sedona. Only ruins on trail that I saw.
My ride was touristy in that i spent time looking around until trail got back in and got more technical. Early on the land managers established a trail to go somewhere, then the mtn bikers built a loop that just was a ride. Ah, good desert tech riding. Towards the end the trail dropped into a wash apparently because I missed a turn off. I pushed my bike down wash until I hit a lateral which i followed as did old horse traffic. I found the trail at a point where it was signed Horse not recommended, shortly the trail dumped out on slick rock. Slick rock got its name because horses w/ steel shoes slip on it.
Back @ TH it was plugged. Good choice to have ridden early. Several riders came in at their ride completion. Chad came over to talk to me. He read the Bikemag article. He said he help develop the trails. several of his buddies work for Osprey packs based in Cortez. He told me where John Tomac lives which isn’t right off the road.
Drove back into town to the rec center for a shower. I had time on my hands as I wanted to arrive back @ airport parking lot just after dark so i stopped @ Main Street brewery. They amke their own beer, i enjoyed a Dopplebach. The owner onversed w/ me and bought me my beer. I watched 2 football games simultaneously.
Drove back to airport. Same rigs from last night are still here.
My breathing has not improved after 8 days of no vapor. Found a pulmonary disease doctor in ST George to see.
Tomorrow is Durango and fork repair. Tuesday is a ride w/ the Mary locals.
Forecast is still for clear skies and below freezing nights. Sundown is @ 5:07.