Yesterday was the big Black Canyon trail ride w/ a group of Phoenix riders from a program Meetup. I camped @ TH @ Rock City then drove back down !-17 to meeting place. Amy, the event organizer had it down as she had every rider assigned to a shuttle rig and we left like almost right now. I rode w/ 3 others in Diana’s truck. All of us drove N on I-17 to Bloody Basin exit to the N end of the trail, our starting point. About 10 of us signed up for the whole 48 miles. Trail drops elevation going S, ride this way. Maybe 20 riders all starting from same place, some men got their hair up and sped their pace up, as time went on riders sorted themselves out to the riders and pretenders. I was in the former until Table mesa road @ mile 38, 6 hrs 49 mins later @ 3:45. I started running out of steam and the snap to do distance b4 dark. Only after I downloaded the Edge did I learn my error meaning I had just 10 miles to go in 90 mins. Once I decided to escape and started on a refreshing beer @ the truck I was done. Great rideable challenging hand built trail to ride. Cloudless day, temp in low 70s, no shade. My issue was w/ energy management in not drinking enough h2o. At rest stops I found shade to take shelter in contrary to everybody else. Phoenix people used to this desert as they stayed in the sunshine, several wore all black. I rode the piece I rode several weeks ago w/ BnB guys onto next section below Bumble Bee. Then 1st of 3 wet feet crossings of the Agua Fria river up new section of trail that I rode last spring @ the trail dedication. Several of the switchbacks were too tight for me to ride. Crossed river 2nd time on piece of trail i had ridden 2x b4. Flotsam from last Jan floods were still noticeable high above the h2o. New tree growth had sprouted. Grinder of a climb out of river. My group shrunk to 5, the leaders were Amy and a guy both on single speed hard tail 29rs. I was between them and the remaining 2 riders. Lots of chain fruit cholla, aka jumping cholla bordered the trail. On a rough downhill i chose a line close to the trail edge and brushed maybe 1 thorn. I noticed piercing pain immediately. I just knew i had a cholla ball embedded on my knee. Only @ bottom of downhill did I look @ my knee: nothing. Wow. Somewhere b4 Table Mesa signs of horse use appeared.
So I accepted a bail out ride back to my van. I bid adieu and headed back to KOA @ Black Canyon city for a $5.00 shower that I was so looking forward to after 5 days no shower. Bummer, the XG had a propane disaster and couldn’t heat h2o. They told me of another RV park on the other side of I-17. The front desk lady let me shower for free. Cool. Apparently once every month the park has a party for all the birthday and anniversaries that month. There was a gaggle of people enjoying a pot luck. I was invited to stay for cake but i decided I needed to get to camp @ Sedona all the while managing leg cramping. At camp i put off going to bed waiting for potential cramps to go away. I was so beat up i didn’t sleep well, hindering also was a vicious wind storm that literally rocked my van.
I made today a recuperation day spending most of it @ BnB watching football on TV. Camped again @ Beaverhead. Tomorrow is an afternoon ride w/ Jimmy & gang.