Below freezing  that left frost line on the windshield. Dilly dallied awhile waiting for temp to rise. Drove short distance towards Moab to Brand M TH just off the highway.

Brand M trails are purpose built for most part are challenging single track, even the Rockin A and Circle O on the slick rock following a painted line. Deadman’s is a handful. So great to ride mtn bike trails around Moab. All by myself for 13 miles in just under 2 hours. Ride really worked out my upper body. No spinning here.

I visited Moab first time back in 1992 and have visited many times since. This is the first visit that I did not ride SlickRock.

Yesterday I stopped @ Poison Spider shop and  ran into Beth from Ashville. She has a VW Westy to go w/ her downhill pro license.

All 4 of my tires are filled w/ N2 and dropped 10 lbs since last check. Stopped back in Moab to top off b4 heading out.

I have been watching the weather forecast for Thunder Mtn outside of Panguitch. Forecast is for snow on Friday and then on. I will be riding Thunder tomorrow before season ending blanket of snow. Thunder mtn trail travels thru hoodoos much like nearby Bryce Canyon NP. Fascinating place. Leave from there for Hurricane b4 snow on Friday. Quentin writes that conditions and weather is superb.

Drove west on I-70 till backroads rt 72, taking back roads to Panguitch. I overrode the GPS route to Panguitch to enjoy scenic travel. Counted vehicles seen on 1 hand. In the alpenglow I found a gravel road heading off the hwy.  Camped @ 8400′ I strive to find a sleep spot b4 dark. Shorter days curtail my evening driving. Temp was in 20s when i stopped. Snug as a bug inside my Sprinter w/ the catalytic infrared heater on high.

Pleasant night @ sand Flats. Bright moon shone on the La Sals to the east. Woke up just b4 sunrise and I looked out to see the sun backlighting the same La Sals.

Plan today is to drive to Chili Pepper to learn if Coyote (Christy) Shuttle was running up Porcupine Rim. Chatted w/ Sylvia while waiting. Christy showed up w/ no fares so no shuttle. Christy grew up in Spokane

Plan became ride Pipe Dream right above town along the face of the steep hill. Last spring I rode it out and rode the hwy back. I was mentally fatigued from the sidehill w/ exposure technical trail and didn’t trust myself to ride the trail back. Not my nemesis but one that gnawed @ my psyche. Today I rode out extremely aware of where I was. I made it to the turn around point. OK. Time to sack up and ride it back. The return was easier. The ride out gained 1057′, on the way back I used gravity as my engine. I rode it. Quite a trail. Not as technical as Butter Knife, what it lacked technical it made up for exposure and bench cut narrow single track. Tread was very tacky from Sunday’s rain.

Well armored. Last spring I met the guy responsible for legally building the trail. He said the benefit of building a legal trail is he got to move rocks. The trail is well armored on almost paving blocks of sandstone placed in the tread.

Rode back to Chili pepper and shared my success w/ Sylvia.

Drove out to Lazy Lizard for a $3.00 shower. Goes down as one of the nastiest shower places I have encountered. The Lazy is apparent in the upkeep.

Back into town to City Market for groceries then drive back to Sand Canyon for $10. night. I caught more of the wonderful sunset. This one is from yesterday:

Got my hair and beard cut @ same place I did 2 years ago and the stylist remembered me. That time I watched her outside washing her window so i knew she had no waiting line. Today was a short wait. Just can’t grow my beard out long all over. I can grow a great neck warmer like the Niner guys but my chin hairs remain short.

Called Quentin @ Over the Edge in Hurricane to warn him of my arrival. New XM receiver will be sent there.

XM broadcast the Zags game against EWU. Tonight XM broadcasts the WSU game starting @ 10:00PM. I might fade in the second half.

That is the color that jumped out @ me as I approached Moab. First red rock.

Drove into Cortex from Delores to await the USPS delivery of my new POC Trabec helmet. Big buying point on the helmet is the increased protection to the lower back of the head. Clear day w/ some wind. I could have ridden Phil’s again but said no. Took care of some business and hit the PO @ opening: standing line almost out the door. Ooh, this is gone to be a long wait. I juggled my shower sequence and made for the rec center. 30 mins later the line is inside the inside door but still maybe 10 people ahead of me. A mail sorter sticks his head out and asks if anyone is here to pick up something. Score. I was gone.

Two days ago I hooked up the new XM receiver but no recognition by the tuner to the receiver. Won’t work. I called Crutchfield tech support to explain my results. He said, no problem, we’ll replace it. I’ll give Hurricane as my shipping address.

Windy drive to Moab. Cortez is juniper green and blond rock color.  Seeing the red color livens up the scenery.

Stopped @ Chili Pepper to pass Turner’s compliment on to Dave Bagley who replaced my bushings. Hung around for a short while. Grocery shop @ City Market where so many foreign languages are heard from the world travelers. Off season, I heard only English.

Decided to spend $10 to camp at Sand Flats for the road quality as rain was forecast Sat night into Sunday. I didn’t need to be driving on clay. Very few campers. Found a spot that allowed me to face into the wind. Pretty windy that rocked the van w/ me in it.

Coyote was to run a shuttle to Upper Porcupine Rim on Sunday. Sunday’s forecast was for 40% rain. Monday the weather becomes sunny. My plan was to ride locally and shuttle on Monday. However, the rain came in mid AM and continued till mid afternoon.  I bagged the ride. I drove down to the Slickrock parking lot in the rain. Just a few cars in the lot w/ riders out in the rain.

Drove down into town to Chili Pepper to learn about Monday’s shuttle. No word from Christine. Shuttle leaves @ 10:30, I’ll be there.

Drank a pint of brew pub beer and watched some pro football. Interesting, this bar did not require buying food w/ beer.

Camped back @ Sand Flats. Set out to capture the sunset that happens so fast. Sundown is 5:07PM. 6:49AM it returns.

Moab is warmer than Cortez and lower elevation from 6200 to ~4500′. No big box stores but lots of chain motels. Streets have a high crown that allows the gutters to carry water away.

Back in Sept of 1992 was my first visit to Moab. I was riding my Klein Adroit. Memory escapes me if I had a suspension fork and clipless pedals. I rode Porcupine Rim from town. I have a picture slide that shows my waxed shiny VW Golf GT and my bike on top. I have ridden here maybe 14 times since.