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.

Tues I left for Durango to meet w/ Craig that I met last year and hopes of locals leading me on rides. I treated myself to Bfast @ Mr. Happy in Cortez as I forgot to grocery shop. I stopped @ the fair grounds on the way out to check on a shower. Bldg was opened for maintenance however the hot h2o was turned off.

Nice hwy and day for a drive to Durango 45 miles to the east. Hit Main st and put $ in a parking meter then walked the main drag. Stopped @ Specialized dealer. I checked out the overbooties and bought electrolytes. No winter shoes, just over booties. Bought a senior shower @ rec center. Drove up Junction Creek to the FS XG, Road had patches of snow that I negotiated. XG is open but outhouse is locked. Back into town. Beers @ Old Timers @ 5:30 for Craig and his gang. $2.00 pints and raucous conversation until the locals departed for home. 8:00PM and even the Subway closed early. No dinner. Drove back to XG. Turned on the heat. Temp dropped to 17 degrees.

Wrong amount of snow and temp rising above freezing put a stop to my riding. Wed my plan of adventure was to drive down to Aztec, NM and ride Alien Run on Thurs. Drove the 30 some miles to Aztec. Visited a plastics welding company to pursue my floorless tent idea. Met owner Jack and sketched out my idea. Might make it happen but will cost $. Last spring I saw the shop and didn’t stop in. I kicked myself a bit when thinking of my idea and not checking a fabricator.

Visited w/ Ralph @ Cottonwood Cycles. Last spring he was building up a Turner Sultan. He finished it and is enjoying its performance. He’s a Turner guy now. Learned that Alien is experiencing the same freeze thaw mud. I received a call from my medicine man that necessitated a return to Durango. State licensed dispensary, customer satisfaction guaranteed .

Reoccurring pain somewhat medicated I drove back up to Junction creek XG for another chilly outside but tolerable inside night.

Plan today is to drive back to snowless Cortez, ride Phil’s checking out the new overbooties I bought, get a shower @ nice local rec center, do wash, and pick up my new helmet sent via USPS.

Beautiful day @ Phil’s as I wandered around on trails just enjoying the day and ride. My breathing or lack of it slows me down as I get winded so quickly on uphills and poke along the flats. Booties kept my feet toasty and stayed in place.Watched my first tarantula traveling right beside the trail. 6 legs coordinated to travel over rocky terrain. Temp was in upper 30s and it was ambulatory.

Showered, I drove to the USPS. Helmet not delivered in spite of postage premium i paid. USPS doesn’t really track delivery or commit to an ecd. Stuck in Cortez till Sat mail arrival.

This AM I received a call from Fruita PO notifying me that my tabs finally arrived. The date of postmark tells a story not favorable to King County and the USPS. Tabs are forwarded to Hurricane next week.

A woman in the grocery store parking lot saw my WA plates and stopped to talk. Her husband is from Spokane, she went to school in Olympia. She told me about a wonderful brew pub in Delores. I might go back and ride some Boggy Draw trails then sip some beer. Funny article in an alt paper about a Delores rancher that drives his cows down main st. Small town w/ dead economic engine. Counter culture breathes some life. Place yet to be “discovered”.

Plan was to drive up to Moab and ride for several days. Rain is forecast for this weekend followed by sunny Monday.

Chose to believe the weather forecast for less than ideal weather by riding Phil’s again. Temp was just above freezing to minimize any freeze thaw mud. Trails were stellar again and except for the 2 bikes ahead of me by the tracks they left, I was all alone. Rain and snow wetted the dust making the trails even faster. I tried to ride a shorter loop which turned out to be longer than I intended but shorter than yesterday. Phil’s is fun for pedaling w/ minor tech stuff mixed in.

Charlie told me about the county fairground across the highway. I watched mucho horse carrying rigs pulling into the parking lot. I finished my ride then drove over to check it out. Charlie said that there are showers somewhere. I walked into what turned out to be a big indoor arena for horse activities. What was going on was barrel racing. I found the mens room and found a shower stall that ran on quarters. I turned on the sink faucet and felt hot water. Great a cheap shower. the quarter must have bought 10 mins. Afterwards I watched a few barrel racers and talked w/ an arena hand. They use a tractor pulled tiller to churn up the ruts the horses make at the barrels after every 5 racers. There is a seniors division for racers over 55 which I don’t understand as the horse does all the work, why would a 55 yo racer be special? Maybe a 55 year old horse.

I stopped at the Main st brew pub for a beer and watched some pro football. Had enough. Drove back out to airport parking lot.

Forecast for today was for 60% rain & snow. I chose to go hiking out @ Sand Canyon where I rode last year. I would rather hike in the precipitation than ride. I also wanted to look around. Conditions would be described as “raw”, no rain or snow, that was held up by a nearby peak. Walking allowed me see additional ancient ones’ rock structures underneath the eroded sandstone clefts. The trail dropped into a wash that became the trail. I hiked up aways until the uphill tread straight up the steep bank to exit the wash, and snow started falling, both were omens to turn around. I put on my rain jacket that caused to snow to quit and the sun to reappear. I hiked for just under 3 hours nonstop. My body would need to sport specific condition for hiking to be enjoyable.

Drove back to airport.

My license tabs have not arrived in Fruita yet, 9 days from Seattle. I called license bureau to learn that replacement tabs are not issued until they are 3 weeks late. My tabs expire on this Wed. When the tabs arrive in Fruita they will be forwarded to Cortez. I will travel thru Cortez on my path to Hurkin.

Tomorrow I am heading to Durango. Temps are in the teens this week.

I log when & how much propane I buy. W/ the heater running more I burn about 1 gallon per day.