Yesterday I awoke @ the upper JEM TH w/ a list of things to do. OK first was b-fast of Scotish stone ground oatmeal cooked w/ blueberries then finished w/ some finely diced raw walnuts and a splash of real maple syrup. Add 2 pieces of whole wheat toast buttered and slathered in a Smuckers jam. Wake up is a cup of Todds toddy cold brewed coffee. Good to go after cleaning up my kitchen. First off is testing my blood for clotting rate I do weekly. INR value is 2.5 w/in range. Next was laundry I do once a week normal day is Thurs. Nice laundromat. The same woman is still there. Not surprising as as she said she has been there 11 years. Next was Over The Edge bike shop. Quentin and I greeted each other. Plan then was to ride Hurricane Rim trail as the forecast was calling for rain. Dirt has clay that holds water rendering trails unrideable.
The Hurricane Rim trail is now an IMBA epic. It is a 20 mile loop just above town. The trail starts w/ a jeep trail climbing up to Goulds rim. I rode into a recent rangeland fire. Fire jumped Goulds wash.
My new Nikon takes much nicer photos, however, each creates more bytes than this site allows to upload. Great but unable to share.
Over the years i have ridden this trail bunches. each year a skills test is presented, how is my riding this year compared to last? I have this chest cold that limits how hard i am able to push myself. The same features stalled me, still because I lack the wind to make the climb. I am a better rider than last year.
Back into town. Learned there is an Any Time Fitness in town that sells showers. I checked it out. I was greeted by the owner who recognized me from visits years ago @ his facility in Santa Clara out near Barrel Roll. $5 and no driving made more sense than driving 20 mins for a free shower.
I spent the night in town behind the shop.
I covered my bike after my ride. Rain fell during the night per forecast.
My heater on low and med settings doesn’t burn all the propane which sets off my propane CO alarm. last night was too warm for the high setting so i slept w/o heat.
Today was chore day. I started it w/ breakfast @ The Cafe just across a parking lot from my parked van. It is owned and Run by Kevin and Pam, whom I met last year. Kevin is a past Riders who Inspire from MBA. Neat little place they have.
I drove into ST George. Big item was battery store to service batteries I bought there last year and to check out the 3rd battery installed by Van Specialties that has never been checked. Access required disassembly of my dresser. I succeeded. The battery passed stress test. i passed my stress test by reassembling the parts.
Tomorrow I might go back to ST George and ride Barrel Roll etc as the tread is mostly crushed rock. That is if it is not raining.
Today I visited Red Rock cyclery in ST George. I was greeted by a woman, Kristina, who said she had met me somewhere. Neither could remember where. She is on a short road trip to Moab. I shared ride info w/ her. She is trailing for the BC race. Good for her.