Yesterday was stressful for me as I was out of control for my van repair, a working van was a requirement for the second task of driving 12 miles up canyon to score a campsite @ Cave springs USFS XG w/ no cell or land line contact. I scheduled in doing my wash b4 repair, van repaired then head up canyon. Steroids lessen my sleep. Up early w/ wash done. Phone rings, it is the garage and the part order was less than correct causing the part to not arrive till Mon. My van has the power of an air cooled rear engine VW bus and i need to drive 12 miles up canyon on a no shoulder road, no cell phone coverage driving a van that isn’t happy. I called the SPokane first wave saying I couldn’t support, I wouldn’t drive up. This ate @ me that caused a reversal of not going to going. Made it.
Cave springs campground, USFS , privatized. Laid out my cards for 2 spokane rigs, 5 people and my rig. Solution was me pay for 2 days and put Tom’s name as 2nd vehicle who is to arrive mid afternoon sat. Found a choice camp spot.
I used the campground day as a rest day. I attached the saddle brackets to hold the shrunken bike stand to the Jobox. Next I attached my bike to it. Vise post is very tight fight in saddles which is great because the bike won’t move around. Today I was going to retire the second to last original piece of bike build up. Last piece is the Chris King Headset on it’s 5th bike. I had accumulated needed parts, I just needed the time and resolve the grief of trashing something b4 it is broken or really worn out. Oh, that was just on the crank arms. Scored a shimano XTR cluster for $90 in Hurkin and a chain. The crankset came from a Shimano screaming deal pro card discount. Successfully assembled the parts.
As day wore on the campground filled. It is situated on an ancient flood plain of Oak creek @ 5500′. Deep into steep canyon. 89A was just across the creek. Campers built fires from bought wood bundles. Smoke lay trapped in down canyon air currents. No cell phone coverage.
This AM I revisited w/ the XG people that Tom would arrive probably b4 I return and that I had to spend tonight there to hold the spot. OK another drive up canyon and staying in the XG. I was on my way to breakfast @ the Wildflower w/ Danny then go for a ride.
Danny and I pulled off a 11:30 to 1:30PM ride. Heat crept up. I accidentally detached part of my hydration bladder bite valve allowing my sustenance to pour out on the ground. Might be trouble, got to know where your h2o sources are out in the desert. Danny shared the h2o that he carries for dog Pepper who wasn’t along because it was too hot for her. Fixed the valve and drank deeply. We rode out Earl’s cabin like my Thurs ride. I made the ramp up I previously walked. Followed Danny. Out to Mescal I walked the 3 places as b4. One is a complex slick rock problem w/ a serious consequence of failure. I made a nasty loose hill climb and passed Danny walking. I impressed him. Technically he is a better rider. He said i should lead because I got ahead of him. I did while he gave navigation directions until I told him to go ahead. He was right on my wheel and I felt like I was holding him back which made me push harder that caused him to ride faster to keep up. My breathing was not as purely practiced as on my solo ride. I push a bit harder to stay w/ a rabbit.
Drove back to his house. For 2 beers Danny let me have a shower.
My fridge is not cooling. Found a Norcold service center in Cottonwood.
Tom & Kelle are settled into the campsite. Danny & I went to a late afternoon mexican dinner. Tom & Kelle are just getting into Sedona and going to find a ride. I decided that I was not going back to the XG and to leave negotiation w/ XG manager on getting Randy in who is arriving early evening. Me being there would be 3 rigs on site, an overflow.
Hot evening, 71 degrees @ 8:45 PM under a cloudless some kind of full moon w/ no wind. Getting hot for a few days then back into 70s next week.
Tomorrow is MBH ride. Hook up w/ Spokane folks.
My thread on MTBR. com has generated 4777 views and 131 comments. Visits to this website have increased also because I provided a link.
This weekend is Sedona’s first mtn bike festival. I need to finish up my map.