My sleep was disturbed by numerous aggressive van rocking wind blasts, I thought Santa’s 8 tiny reindeer had put on weight. Oh, I don’t have a chimney. Must have been just the wind. Wind seemed to be coming in thru the fridge opening. Strong N wind. After 1 last push the wind died down. It was chilly in the van. No snow fell.

Leisurely get up as there was no Bob Edwards. Christmas has Pagan connection for me. I don’t listen to XM christmas music except for the 25th. I lasted about 2 hrs b4 moving to Springsteen’s season pickings.

Today I drove down to ST George and Green Valley. i found a previous ride and loaded the gps data onto the Edge to use for route finding in the multi tracked desert. I arrived mid morning and had the entire trail system to myself. Other recreaters were out but no bikes. I Life Style Rider walked prolly the same tech features as I missed last year. The Zen is like the mesa rides except there is legitimate climbing between the features.

The GPS course kept me found.

I finished @ the van and hung out enjoying the solar gain and delaying driving out to Warner Valley. Numerous rigs w/ bikes went by. Riders rode after dinner.

I drove out to my camp spot entering Warner Valley. Firearm shots of different calibers rent the air. My guess is new firearms and or presents of ammunition. Utah has 70% Mormon population. They are to have food stores for months. I wonder if the church is preaching a new form of self sufficiency. Sundown shut down the shots and they headed out leaving desert peace. Moon is almost full.

Forecast tomorrow is 40% snow. I might stay here a few more days depending upon how much snow falls. The Hurricane Rim trail could be rideable on Thurs what w/ high wind helping to evaporate the moisture hence firming up the trail. Might ride the Rim  trails out past Barrel Roll. At the latest I will drive down to Sedona on Sunday.

Last night I put the cover over my bike by headlamp in the dark. Rain fell towards morning and a bit of the AM. Moon in its house and a red sunrise tipped the weather hand. So no riding today.

Today I provisioned w/ diesel, propane, and h2o. I am ready to go.

Hurricane’s weather is what it is, for me the trails were too much rain. It is selfish of me to wish for weather different than what it is. I find the ability to make a day go by with or without riding.

Dan called to share his opinion of shorter crank arms: He is changing back to the std 178(?). The shorter allowed for higher spin but would spin out and don’t trials ride well. He saved me buying 2 chain rings to learn the same lesson. I need to put my left over stuff up for sale. It’s virtual. I just need a UPS store and my Paypal account.

This afternoon after helping Quentin put the bikes back into the shop I drove up to upper JEM TH where I like to camp. The road had grease marks on it but it looked like I could have made it in. However, the forecast calls for less than 1″ of snow. Getting out might have been slippery at best. I drove back towards Hurricane and took the road out to Dan’s where I parked @ the corral where the Hurricane Rim trail crosses. A patch of ground is firmly packed just off the road. Good enough for me. Storm clouds dumping snow on Pine Mtn to the west. Mollies Nipple silhouetted. Some strong reds that portend good weather for tomorrow which is also the forecast. Sporadic gusts rock me as I am way exposed. View of Little Creek mesa.

It is what it is. I rode the Hurricane Rim, one day on a mesa for Guacamole, sand ride on Church Rocks, and Santa Clara trails. I missed classics of Gooseberry and Little Creek because of wet roads. The riding is good here, this year there wasn’t enough.

Today I am listening to Willie’s Place on XM. They sing it as it is. I like this: faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, and more money.

I saw a display for videos of a Clint Eastwood movie, Trouble with the Curve, released this year. Not that my sensory input is strong enough to have learned about this movie to see it in a theater. Bought it full price for tonight’s viewing.

Good Bye.

I just wanted to ask the question.

last night the moon was in its house. This morning displayed a red sunrise. Both add up to changing wet weather. Today started out warmer and sunny.

I drove to Santa Clara. I parked on the pavement @ the corner. As I was getting ready a truck w/ bikes passed me and drove up the dirt road. I climb up a single track to same TH. Hard climb but last memory of the ride is a great downhill finish. I rode into the TH where Scott and Michele were getting ready to ride. We chatted. Our ride plans were identical which made for a social ride. Scott is an archeologist and Michele is a botanist. I could not generate questions for my subject matter experts. They are stronger riders on the uphill. Scott lead me up a move on barrel Roll that I rode for first time.

Great trail conditions. The single track climb @ the start was just the right tackiness. Barrel Roll was marvelous.

2 riders are somewhere in the pic. Trail switchbacked up to promontory way in center background.

S & M (names) drove down to my van. I gave them an open house tour. Nice people.

I drove to Golds gym for a fitness program free shower.

I drove over to Barnes and Noble hoping to pick up Hannah Coulter, another Wendell Berry novel. Score. Wendell Berry is such an excellent writer. His fiction books are about fictional Port William in KY right off the Ohio River. He writes about the way farming and small agrarian communities got on w/ their lives. Tragic is the loss of the “good old days”. Work was a venue for socialization. Sharing.

Back @ Hurricane and OTE I visited w/ Quentin. Dan and his wife stopped by. Fist I have seen Dan since last year. Dolores gave me a loaf of pumpkin bread.

Weather forecast is for rain and snow tonight and tomorrow. Christmas is to be nice but Thurs returns to more wet. No more Hurricane Rim ride. I plan on leaving for Sedona on Wed if the weather is favorable.

I am camped back in Hurricane because of the weather forecast.