Experiences mount

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

Zac pedaling, looking N
Zac pedaling, looking N

Trail is in Sonorran desert which is drier and starker than Sedona’s desert.

BCT bunch up
BCT bunch up

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.

hardly a tread, just a corridor remains
hardly a tread, just a corridor remains
brand new trail looks like it has been there for years
brand new trail looks like it has been there for years

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.

 

 

 

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