Time slips away.
Friday 11 of the Bike and Bean regulars loaded up @ 10:00AM then drove down I-17 to Bumblebee interchange for a ride out and back on Black Canyon Trail (BCT) which is an IMBA epic. Took awhile to get started
Trail is in Sonorran desert which is drier and starker than Sedona’s desert.
We rode out to Bloody Basin 11 miles N then turned around and rode back same way. Much of the tread was fractured rock. Enduring trail crosses many little washes. I helped build a short section of the trail we rode. I rode way off the back. Scott has a green helmet that I could see way off in the distance which let me see how far back I was. 22 miles, in 2 hrs 45 mins, climbed 2008′. Beautiful day. Numerous large horse trailers passed on the road. We encountered 2 riders that were marking the BCT for a horse ride this weekend. Trail will be chewed up and crapped on. Fortuitous for me to ride on Fri b4 instead of Sunday perhaps during their riding event.
Back @ the TH beers were on ice. Next reward was Rock Springs Cafe for bar food and a piece of jack Daniels pecan pie w/ a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Some of the burned calories were replaced.
Back to Sedona. I drove to west Sedona for a shower @ Snap where the fitness class was winding down.
I drove out to Deer pass to camp spot only it was occupied. I parked @ plan B spot. Shortly somebody walked up using a flashlight. The neighbor greeted me as he wanted to know his neighbor. He told me they support the legalization movement. I said I was good.
Sat. my body was stiff and not moving freely. I really had troubles sliding out of my bed. I joined Danny for Bfast @ Wildflower per usual.
I decided to make today a rest day. After eating I visited Dave @ his shop. I bought h2o and groceries. I checked out ESPN football, one was in progress. Mid afternoon, football on national TV, Oak Creek brewery just up the street. No brainer. A beer and a little football. I left while the sun was still up.
Back @ Deer Pass the site was still occupied. I parked @ plan C location. I discovered I had better internet access. Gonzaga played Santa Clara that I watched on internet TV. Another good game. Kelly Olynyk is special. Zags won.
I normally get 8 hrs of sleep.
Today my plan was to ride out Dry Creek area. I drove into town and parked @ the Library and dallied waiting for the sun to warm things up. I finally pedaled off b4 11. I jumped onto a piece of sidewalk. Ahead a man and girl walked from a parked blue Ford pickup and stood @ the edge of the sidewalk. What will happen? Did I piss someone off? It was Law Enforcement Officer Mike and his daughter. He was in civies. He saw my van @ the library then saw me riding. He stopped to chatand catch up. Nice man. I told him he was slipping as I have been here over a week and we hadn’t run into each other. He was on vaca out of town.
I rode up Dry Creek road then jumped off onto Lizard head trail out to ChuckWagon that joined Gunslinger parts of which have been legally rerouted and now a system trail. 2 pics: 1st is old social trail that is being reclaimed, 2nd is new trail taken from same spot.
I continued onto Mescal out to Aerie that joined Cockscomb. I had planned to ride up Anaconda then back the road. Western Civ took off from Cockscomb that changed my route. I pedaled out to old homestead where 3 riders were resting. We chatted for awhile. I learned that one guy had built the rerouted Gunslinger. I complimented him. Western Civ intersects ledge n Airy that I rode to Girdner out to Cultural park. A downhill pavement ride brought me back to the library. 19.87 miles in 2 hrs 45 mins climbing 2127′. My body was stiff @ the start then warmed to the task. My breathing or rather lack of it slows me down and limits my ability to make the climbing tech moves.
A shower @ Snap. Internet search revealed that Seattle was playing wildcard playoff and it was still on. A beer and some more ball. I left w/ the Seahawks ahead which is how the game finished. I drove out to Deer Pass and the same gang was still there, plan C spot.
Tomorrow @ 8:30 AM I give the fitness class another go.