Ah, clean flannel sheets and a clean body to snuggle into them. Temp didn’t get close to freezing. Laid in bed listening to Wait Wait don’t Tell Me, the NPR news quiz show. What stimulation.
Today I am to join Jeff and ride the Zen trail down @ ST George, another tough tech trail. He called in lame from yesterday so we changed plans to ride Barrel Roll down @ Santa Clara.
Jeff and I parked at bottom of hill to pick up ST climb up to TH. Headed up. After while I saw a rider dressed all in black climbing up behind us. He caught up to us in the TH. It was Jason whom i rode w/ last year several times. He shared a real litany of warranty issues he had w/ his equipment.
Met Fran from Wyoming. She with her friend are traveling in a heavy duty yellow Sprinter. I struck up a conversation w/ her. At first she was not involved in the conversation. I told her about my version. Lights when off and she asked if I was the guy in the mags. i said yes and she warmed up friendly. Quentin & DJ know them.
Jason, Jeff, and I set out to ride Barrel roll and Twister. Cimmeron rode thru. Met her last year.
Stopped @ Rec Center for a shower except they are closed on Sunday. Drove back to Hurricane.
Weather forecast called for slight probability of rain.. except I saw the SunDog and I suspected rain. I have permission now to camp behind OTE @ bottom of descent into town. Rain would make the upper JEM TH road slimy. And rain fell during the night several times. Again I anticipated rain by covering up the bikes before dark.
Monday was a rest day and attending to a few tasks. I previously made an appointment w/ a doctor I saw 2 years ago following up on my lacerated kidney. I have a constant head ache and my eyes hurt. He suspected sinus and sent me off for a CT scan.
Back @ OTE I met Troy the founder of the original OTE in Fruita, CO. Present also was Kevin Talbot, a returning local. He was once a MBA Riders who Inspire, An Unlikely Guardian Angel. We struck up a conversation and he hatched a ride of Gooseberry tomorrow if he could borrow his dad’s truck.
I spent another night behind the store. I way overslept this AM which felt good. Kevin called earlier than arranged time proposing leaving earlier as it was a beautiful day. I agreed.
Kevin picked me up @ OTE and we headed out. The road up the bluff is too rough for my van. The trails were noticeably dried out from just the day before. There were some mud puddles. Kevin guided me on a locals known south rim trail. Treat from a local.
I hit my head 2X because I failed to keep my eyes up looking above the trail. Added several blood letting scrapes from scrub oaks along trail edge.
My Edge is failing to hold a battery charge for Little Creek and today’s Gooseberry.
Gooseberry is well written up elsewhere. Lots of tech moves over slick rock that is made up of fossilized volcanic ash which has a finer grain and is not as traction friendly as sand stone. Fun day, finished up @ 4:40, sundown is 5:12.
Back @ OTE my new CD player and XM tuner arrived. Tomorrow I have a 9:00 AM install appointment. Then Kevin & I are going to ride another ST George trail system. Sleeping behind OTE.