The big all day driving is over, finally. I made the upper JEM TH b4 5:00 today. I hiked the upper section of trail down to the switchback checking on trail conditions. The trail seems to have weathered well in my year’s absence. The weather forecast called for precip starting tomorrow evening and extending into weekend. My riding window is tomorrow for the entire Hurricane Rim trail.

I called Dyno Dan right after my hike.

This AM in Aztec, NM I awoke to 17 degrees and a solid frost line on the windshield. The heater on full takes the bite off. I thought about riding Alien World. I decided to drive instead because of the forecast for snow; I didn’t want to drive on snow. Plus my chest is still hacking and coughing.

My van mpg is again low because of type of driving.

Desert and vertical relief. Gooseberry and Little Creek.

Tomorrow I pick up my new Pisgah jersey sent to me. I wore the present one literally out.

Yesterday I left Bentonville heading west. Long day till after dark. Wind blows me around plus the wheelbase wear on the pavement. Fortunately the steering wheel does not adjust so I can leg steer, constant attention and correction. Oklahoma is  flat. I made a large truck parking area east of Guymon for the night. 17 degrees @ 7AM today.

Today I continued west on mostly divided highway. My mileage is the least on these kind of roads. Running about 65 while the 2 lanes I am around 50 w/ a whole lot more direction changes. I drove thru Dust Bowl area again of Guymon and Boise City. Into New Mexico which has I40 thru the center part of the state but would dump me @ Flag then I would drive N to Hurricane.  I will be wiggling and waggling between AZ and UT to get above the Colorado Gorge.

I am parked just clear of the trucks in this small parking lot in Aztec, NM. Same as last time. The trucks transport refrigerated foods. They do a transfer here. I am out of their way.

Still another day of driving to Hurricane. Thinking of riding Alien World b4 heading out.

In the 20s tonight. Temp during day was mostly just below freezing.

Friaday AM my fever was now below normal: 97.4 Temperature meets criteria to ride on Sunday.

I hung in Jim’s garage before heading out. Jim said that oak tree is waiting for my next visit.

I made Bentonville mid afternoon. I parked behind the bike shop, Phat Tire, which is in the restored hotel. The shop has some fine touches. Reconnected w/ shop. Scott told me they now had showers and that it was alright if I parked overnight behind the shop which is really a municipal parking lot. The shop is in next block west of western edge of city square. Downtown downtown after dark is quiet. I walked  to square to Bistro for dinner. Creative cooking. Sat @ bar.

Quiet night in parking lot. No trash trucks on Sat AM. Town was preparing for parade. I worked on my bike in parking lot. I watched pieces of the parade go by on side street. I visited the shop where I continued to meet new people @ connect w/ others. Got a shower. I ate a late lunch @ Flying Fish which is a deep fry kitchen: 1 piece each of catfish, shrimp, and oysters. Hush Puppies and french Fries. grease.

I drove out to Justin & Mellisa’s out @ Bella Vista. We drove back to Bentonville later for dinner @ another creative restaurant. Different animal meats. Lots of bacon. Caesar salad dressing was made w/ bacon. Justin is helping put on the Epic. I slept out on a dead end road nearby.

Today, Sunday, is what it’s all about: The Epic. Until this AM the weather forecast called for rain and falling temps. We rode under cloudy skies and maybe 50 degrees. I woke @ 5:30 and listened to a clap of thunder and drops of rain. I learned later that rain fell heavily @ Blowing Springs where we would be riding. Rain did not fall during the ride.

I viewed Carlie’s converted Sprinter.

Gary gave the preride info. The peleton wheeled for several downtown blocks until hitting dirt trail. left @ 11:00. Estimated 35 miles. Known is sundown @ 5:02. Unknown is my performance. Whatever is in my chest left. I have infrequent productive coughs that are clearing my lungs. What will my body give?  First signs are encouraging as I am able to breathe “normally”. There are some first class purpose built trails @ Slaughter Pen and machine built @ Blowing Springs. After that until back @ Blowing Springs was at best leaf blow and ride traversing and up and down in wooded ravines. One we rode don the flowing trickle. Traversing hillsides w/ no benchcut trail exposed roots. Loft the front wheel over and help the rear wheel clear. If a wheel did not touch a piece of wood or rock I could remain traversing. The tread is mostly fist sized chunks of limestone. To me it seemed to move under me for fractions of inch before anchoring into the surrounding rocks. Could get good traction. Maybe 60 riders. I keep polishing my tech skills and improving confidence. I rode w/ the leaders. My leg muscles started cramp twitching on the pavement ride to finish. I shot a single serving of mustard to no avail. or maybe it braked further onset of cramps. 33.8 miles in 4 hrs 24 mins climbed 3350′ Leaf blowers were used to blow the leaves off the “trail”. Some places w/o leaves blown away to bare ground a trail would not be seen.

Back into town. Phat Tire was open which meant a hot shower became reality. The bike club, Friends at Slaughter Pen Trails, FAST, hosted sandwich dinner and beer. I walked back to my van parked behind bike shop again for the night.

I liked my experience in Bentonville. It has a warm feeling. Scott and Colleen the store manager team moved from Austin. She thinks B-ville is a rising happening place and she is here on ground floor. perhaps. Bentonville voters voted to be wet.

Tomorrow I continue West. NM mtns are getting snow. Aztec might not have snow. I will drive thru OK.

I heard that Something in B-Ville is an IMBA Epic.