22 degrees this AM at the airport. Frost line was about 4″ up the windshield.
Today is a drive back to Delores, a late AM ride, and stay for beer @ Delores River brew pub that the woman from yesterday told me about. Forecast called for mostly sunny perhaps from their location but it never made it in Delores. As I entered the town I drove side streets looking for the pub. I missed its subtle presence. I stopped @ a state park information office to ask for directions. Attractive single woman working the info. Only two people in the office. I told her that I was an atypical male for asking for directions. She said the smart ones stop and ask… because of their wives. friendly conversation. She told about a local cattle roundup where the cows are horse driven on city streets. I told her about the article i read in the Mountain Gazette(?) about an old Delores rancher on his latest drive. The woman said she will ride a horse helping her boyfriend drive his family’s cows somewhere. Time came to leave to be able to do my ride. Joni said to watch for muddy trails that I assumed was from the freeze thaw mud from last week. Early in the conversation Joni retrieved a flyer on Bicycling from the rack and signed it as her pic is on the front and how I learned her name. I drove up cty rd 31 that leaves the river valley. The road was fouled by past cow traffic. AH, the west still moves cows by hoof.
As I climbed up i noticed snow on the ground. I didn’t remember snow last week or a storm that would have dumped it. I drove to the TH. Patches of snow all over. Temp in 40s. The trail leading out of the parking lot was just slime. No ride today. Snow must have fallen earlier this week, the same day that I hiked Sand Canyon.
I hung in the parking lot making time pass till 4:00 pub opening. Drove to pub per Joni’s directions. Small local flavor place. Drank 2 beers and ate a sandwich. Struck up a conversation w/ 2 younger men who are from Flag and are mtn bike riders. We shared stories and rides. They were familiar w/ Sedona saying that Highline is now a signed official trail and several others. Gotta check that out. Stayed for a short while after they left keeping myself open for a conversation. Patience didn’t reward me.
Gonzaga vs EWU is to be on XM radio almost right now.
Tomorrow I drive back to Cortez Post Office for package pick up. If not there I will request it be forwarded to Hurricane. I will probably drive the 95 miles to Moab. Wet weekend forecast even in Moab. Place to hang for several days before departure to Hurricane. Thanksgiving is coming closer.
I told Joni about the tarantula I saw yesterday. She said her X is a state trooper and that sometimes the hwy there @ Phil’s would be closed because of the slippery slime from the splattered tarantulas because they crossed the highway, a spider run.