Yesterday Dan orchestrated Quentin and my rides out @ his place way out there. 15 miles of gravel road that I wouldn’t drive my van on. We arrived out there, what isolation:

Dan has made mostly “rake & ride” trails out here in the desert, not a tree in sight, in  fact too dry for sagebrush. We rode what he put in. It seemed that if there was a precipice, he routed the trail right along it above Rock Canyon:

Short Creek below runs in Rock Canyon drains from Colorado City, home of FLDS. People there are known as Short Creek.

Not a tree insight. Needed leg armor as Dan disturbed so few desert plants on either side of trail. Everything is the desert is either sharp or will sting or bite you. The soil was weather affected in that it was like raised up from precip & freeze thaw. Dan guided, therefore, he in essence broke trail packing the dirt down.

Dave @ OTE rebled the reverb and discovered that positive air pressure was 220psi, not 250psi as required. he pumped to 250 and the seatpost is now a nut smacker it is so fast. Dave studied the seatpost as a part of the bike system. Directions say don’t bike stand clamp on the adjusting seatpost. There is not enough clamping seatpost above the frame for a stand to clamp on. Clamping in a stand requires  cutting the zip ties that secure the hose to the frame and raising the seatpost up. He wrapped 1 twist of hose around seatpost which will allow for raising of seatpost w/o cutting all the zip ties. Loop stays out of the way.

Back out @ JEM TH for the night. Pulled cork out of fresh bottle of scotch but it broke off. No scotch tonight. I returned the bottle to the liquor store today for a replacement and we made sure the cork pulled out.

Did wash.

Drove to Roadrunner auto shop to have a braking noise in the left front wheel checked out. determined that brake pads are worn. The thin pad warning sensors are on the thicker of the 2 pads therefore no idiot light signal. Going to change pads alone as rotors will be under sized if turned. Tomorrow the pads will be replaced.

Drove into Washington to rec center for a shower. I shopped for a scotch glass to no avail. One clerk told me to buy on line, after all this is Utah.

Ordered Time pedals, who needs a pair of Shimano XT pedals?

Road to Gooseberry is drivable, I just need a driver.

Back to JEM TH for night. Sunsets are tripping beautiful.

Tomorrow I plan on riding the full Hurricane loop hoping the clay on Goulds and upper JEM has dried out. 60 degrees during day and mid 30s @ night, and no crowds. Hard to beat unless it is a state that has first rate micro beer in the grocery store like WA.

DJ gave me some Mullen leaves to make tea from, it is to help my lungs. Made a cup tonight, its pleasant tasting.

Zags lost to WSU last night. This year’s team really needs some help.

Yesterday was a rest day. Read newspapers @ the public library. replacement reverb arrived @ OTE along w/ PUSH stickie. I replaced my 2nd reverb w/ third one and awaited shortening of the hydraulic hose. Didn’t happen. Back out @ JEM for evening. Bummer: the latch holding the flatware cupboard jarred loose driving into TH and my leaded crystal acorn glass bounced out and fractured on the floor. I lost my wonderful simple elegant Scotch drinking glass. The REI plastic clear mug misses the mark.

Dan & I got to discussing using GPS for route following. I loaded Sat’s ride into Garmin connect then downloaded same route into my EDGE 305. Plan is to ride same route reading the EDGE. Stopped @ OTE for hose shortening. End result was hose cut to length & installed but after bleeding the return speed was less than stock. Needed to ride.

Made Green Valley TH and turned on the EDGE. It found the route and I rode off looking @ the little screen. It tracked Sat’s ride just fine. I got off track several times; when I joined the route the EDGE said so. Reading the small screen affected by bright sunlight plus riding shifted focus from the real world to tiny world. Needed the tiny world to follow the route. Terrain lacks remarkable navigation features.

The first hill I pulled my left knee sent I’m not happy w/ the low saddle height pain. Ouch. I raised the saddle maybe 1/8″ & no new pain, just the throbbing from the first blunder.

Changed the angle of the Ergon grips several times attempting to eliminate my fingers falling asleep. Verdict is still out on grips.

A vote that is in: I hate the Shimano pedals!!!. I will buy a new pair of Times.

Dan invited Quentin & DJ out to his desert paradise tomorrow and there is room for me. Their rig is better suited to the 30 mile round trip gravel road drive.

50  cent shower @ rec center, grocery shop then out to JEM.

Forecast this week is 60 degrees & no rain. Close to freezing @ night. Air is cold because ground is cold. 60 degree air temp is chilly making the wool long underwear top comfortable. Tough time here above Hurricane, UT in early December.

Sat. OTE led a shop ride down in Green Valley. Jeff from SLC was down here escaping the inversion back home and maybe shopping for a bike. He rented from OTE a large Turner DW- Spot. He was jumping from his 2003 bike and Quentin led us on testing trails. Tae joined meeting him the first time this year. Kevin is a design engineer for Pivot bikes. Our ride left little unridden trails. Towards the end Cale on a hardtail 29er joined us. He flew in from WI to ride for a week; he knew none of us. Rode Zen again and walked the same stuff. Because it means walking for me. Quentin & I got to ride together for the first time. We each learned how the other rides thus a base line for ride descriptions. Oh, Quentin was way off the front. Desert riding w/ lots of tech challenges, mostly my level w/ a few stretchers that I make as I get better, and the ones I lack the skill and courage to tackle.

Stopped @ WA Rec center for shower. Driving to Hurkin my cell phone rings. Some guy rider from FL tracked me down and congratulated me on my living his dream and doing it right.

Watched part of first half of Zags game @ Rec center. I dashed for sports bar in Hurkin for 2nd half. Bummer, they didn’t buy that package. Found the game on a web site giving 30 sec updates. GU didn’t fair well.

Dinner @ Durnago mex restaurant which  shares the same wall as Baristas. I walked by front window of Baristas and Steve & family were inside. I said Hi and said that I have to eat cheaper and less quality @ Durango’s but will be back for ice cream. OK Tex Mex dinner for affordability and quantity.

Back & Baristas for 14% butterfat vanilla ice cream. Jeff joined me and he anguished over buying the Turner. We made a plan to ride Hurricane rim tomorrow.

Spent night back @ upper JEM TH. Forecast is for above freezing temp. Desert out here is drying up and snow patches are almost gone. Invited Dan. I think I bummed him out because I said I would not drive 15 miles of gravel road out to his place. I want to go out there but I just won’t drive those gravel road miles. Dan drove into town Sunday AM and stopped @ 2 places the JEM trail crosses road and reported that mud still abounds so we can’t ride the Hurricane loop.

Meeting place was Hurricane Rim TH just above town @ 10:00. I Invited Jason from Thurs to join. Dan said the smoke was too strong for him causing him to bail. Cale showed up as we were getting ready. 28 yo stud. Plan was to ride the Rim to Virgin river or until mud turned us back. Trail was in dry shape. We hit some wetness @ junction of Hurricane rim and JEM . Cool. We rode rest of way to Virgin river then turned uphill on Sheepbridge road where we would find a faint trail down Chinatown wash a few hundred yards to connect w/ the JEM trail where hopefully it was not muddy. Scored, missed the wash and rode around a cattle tank and picked up JEM down to junction then back to TH. Watched a bald eagle overhead being attacked by a hawk.

Seat dropper is still a Hoot. The Ergon grips cause my hands to fall asleep mostly in my fingers that numbs my right index finger for my rear brake which lessens my finite speed control. Not ready to give up on the grips.

Back @ TH i set up a round of beers. Bottoms were raised as well as tales.

Forecast is 50% rain tonight and till 11:00 tomorrow. Saw a sundog indicating moisture in the air but the diameter was pretty large. Maybe rain. Camped @ Upper JEM TH again and rain could make the road out greasey. Cover is over bikes. I must be vigilant to amount of rain in case I need to evacuate. The road crosses 2 small washes that have run recently.

Made plans to ride w/ Cale on Gooseberry on Tues if road is dry. Tomorrow is a rest day.

My saddle is the lowest I have ever ridden as a result of fit evaluation. More bent knee means more power to pedals and I notice it. However, I feel pain in front of my knee which means saddle is too low. Power vs pain?

Upper JEM TH is 4310′ elevation. Bought a 15 oz package of Mint Oreos. Will be gone in two days. I did have a packaged Caesars salad for dinner to which I added smoked salmon. grocery stores sell 4% beer, not many choices. regular beer from state store costs like $12 for what in CO might have been $8.00. Trail work on new trail is to start this week. Interest in naming it after me. DJ asked if I had a nickname, I said in Sedona they call me “Talkin Dude”.