Vicious cold snap dropped temps into lower teens since Sat AM when it was 15 degrees @ 7:50 AM @ Deer Pass camp spot. The propane infrared heater was on full blast warming the van interior to 47 degrees. Sun it was 13 degrees, Mon it was 16, Tues it was 15. Today morning temp was 23 degrees and inside was 54. I kicked off a layer of the down blanket during the night as I was too warm. I chose not to ride Mon & Tues because of the cold high 30s ride temp and the forecast was for warming during the week. Sunday forecast calls for 61 degrees. I am able to wait for more pleasant conditions. I parked my Pisgah jersey in favor of my heavier wool sweater. The ski hat stayed on my bald head keeping me warm.

Yesterday I visited the Well Red Coyote bookstore in west Sedona where I let Joe, the owner,  lead me thru a book choice. I gave him my read Hannah Coulter book and he discounted the price of Sudden Country. Local privilege.

Local touch granted to me: Sedona Memories sandwich shop & Fat Tire.

Same crowd @ Deer Pass.

Saw Quentin from OTE in Hurricane down for their group fest.

Liveable temp this AM. Clear blue skies, calm wind. I’m up for a ride. I drove to Cultural Center across from the high school. Plan is to ride 2 non system trails, last Frontier and Western Civ to Cockscomb to Aerie connecting w/ Cockscomb again, turning onto Dawa, then right on AZ Cypress to Girdner to climb back out of Dry Creek to the van. Solo ride and saw only 1 person. 15.58 miles in 2 hrs 16 min climbing 1882′. Just hard to beat.

Cats claw bushes justify their name:

First rule when brush against a branch: stop. Pulling only drives the hooks in deeper.

The scenery is so varied but the common color is red:

Warm day, I saw 57 degrees in the sun after my ride. I let the sun warm my van w/o the heater running. Pleasant. I still wear a light wool long underwear top under a short sleeve jersey, knickers w/ knee socks but summer weight long fingered gloves. My ride coursed thru sun and shade. I was slightly warm but relished the clothing when in the shade.

Drove into town to Snap for a shower and visit w/ Jason @ his water store. I buy his home raised chicken eggs. At Snap I said “Hello” to the ER DR who has treated me over the years.

Back out @ Deer Pass spot to same crowd.

On Mon the PT evaluated my shoulder pain: strained bursal from the over zealous effort during the fitness class exercises. She gave me a stretch band and 2 exercises to do. So far the pain is lessening.

I spent  Fri and Sat nights out @ Deer Pass rd. Deep cold snap moved in Fri. Sat  @ 7:30 AM it was 17 degrees, the temp just made 40 during the day. This AM same time it was 13 degrees and 42 inside. Last night i rolled in the thermal blanket under the down blanket. My hat had been a bike hat. Tonight the temp will be a tad warmer but I am upgrading my hat to  my wapiti woolens ski hat. I’m going for toasty.

Sat I drove into town to Wildflower for b-fast w/ Danny. Social catch up. Afterwards I drove to Fat Tire to visit w/ Dave. Hang out. We engaged ourselves all the way thru lunch. I finally left towards 4. An NFL play off game was on that I caught part of and a beer @ Oak Creek brewery. I can sit among people and not feel left out. next was grocery shop @ New Frontiers. Dungeness crab. I bought a nice one. The meat counter guy cleaned his first crab. Back to Deer pass for the night, same crowd is still there. I deemed the day too cold to ride.

While @ Dave’s I remet Roger. He is a few years older than me. He talked of a Sunday ride. i asked if I could go along. He called me later w/ ride info.

As I stated, Sun AM it was 13 degrees. My hat kept sliding off during the night. Annoying and chill inducing. Hunkered under the covers. Again, it was 42 degrees inside. I envisioned this desert clime to be maybe in the 50s @ night and heat would not be needed.

Roger called to change the ride to 12:00. I arrived early and enjoyed comfort inside the van. I got ready to ride. Roger missed the 12:00 start time. I finally left @ 12:15 alone. I rode system trails to Bike Path over to the high school and picked up Special Ed that traverses and drops down to Oak Creek. This is a challenging trail not for the big hits but the almost constant basalt giant baby heads and prickly pear and yucca edging the trail to keep it narrow. Chunky. I dropped down the shoulder of Pyramid.

From Pyramid saddle looking North. Scheurman peak is high point. Trail traverse this way part way down.

I crossed the road and began the climb out of the valley to Ridge part way up to Sketch which misses a little of the climbing on Ridge but makes up for a system trail with it’s exposed hand built bench cut tread. Loose rock rubble. Crazy, horse shit on it. Chilly pleasant day. A short drive to Snap for a shower then down to BnB.

Forecast is for another lower teen night. Wed night temp are forecast for lower 20s.

Tomorrow AM I have a PT visit to work on my sore right shoulder. My left leg hurt is all but gone.

Days have passed w/o catching what’s up. I get so excited I don’t remember if this is Friday or Wednesday. You might not be able to figure out either.

Well, today I woke up out @ Beaverhead Flats camp spot all by myself. How I got here will come later.

Today Jimmie called a 12:00 ride time from the shop. The day was clear, chilly, w/ a slight cooling breeze blowing. My left calf and left quad were healing and needed to be taken for a ride. Just 3 of us on the ride: Jimmie, and Jim from Moab , and me; others said it would be too cold. We rode out Old mans wash etc towards Rabbit Ears on the far side of rt 179. Trails are more primitive here. Old school Sedona. The bust of the ride was the climb up Rabbit ridge as the shallow angle tread was just loose small sharp edged rocks that rolled or stuffed a wheel. Look ahead, balance in track stand to recover balance then pedal. Horses have ridden the trail below grade. Cat claw borders the trail.

More fun was wiggled and walked down a wash. Jim stopped ahead of me negotiating a tight spot. I was too close. I stopped before running into his rear wheel on an agave. I shoved my bike into it saving numerous bayonet wounds. Heads up riding.

The second Jim is from Moab. We met @ Chile pepper where he works. He was returning after a FL visit. Moab is below zero, too cold for riding. He swung to Sedona in hopes of riding. He saw my van in the parking lot on his way into the shop. he remembered me but I needed a few beats to place him. He rides a 29ner single speed hard tail. he is a way better rider than me.

I wore a long underwear top and a long sleeved jersey, mid weight winter gloves, baggie shorts and liner, knee socks, and knee warmers. Sometimes a wind shell would have been nice.

I hung in the shop for awhile for a post ride beer.

I drove up to West sedona to computer repair shop seeking charging help for my ailing charger. I stepped up and ordered a new charger from iGo in Scottsdale that should arrive next week. My purpose of this visit was to secure alternative charging method. They have a charger and will charge for a fee. Right now by positioning the wire just so I am able to maintain a circuit.

A shower @ Snap then the drive out to Deer pass. Plan D park spot because of other campers. Same squatter crowd is still here.

Forecast next several nights is cold upper teens and low 40s during sunny day. Freeze thaw dirt is still puffed up.

Yesterday I rode newly made system trails of Soldier Wash  testing out my sore left leg. I pulled a muscle in my left calf during Monday’s exercise class. I rode on Tues w/ Jason. I favored my leg which caused a muscle on the inside of my left leg to cramp up. i bailed on the ride. I chose to not with stand the pain caused by foreceful pedaling. Today’s ride was after a recovery day. I found again on the tech uphills that required forceful pedaling that I winced and walked up. Leg hurts less. Places in the shade had melting snow. System trails adopted much of the Secret trails that were biker built. Corrected for sustainability. Marked, mapped, and a system map at each intersection. Just up from the Y.

A shower @ SNAP then I drove down to VOC. I hung in the warm shop until I was kicked out. I fixed black beans and rice in the parking lot.

Last night the Zags hosted ST Marys who bested them last year. Game televised on ESPN2. PJs down the street is like a sports bar. Plan was to watch the 9:00 game there and drink a couple beers. Game was put on a big screen and I focused my attention on the game. Zags won on their first half performance. Second half was ST Marys. The Zags are ranked number 9 in country. There were several shots of Spokane where heavy snow was falling. After the game I drove to Beaverhead.

Another use injury from the exercise class is my right shoulder. Back to having pain. Today i made physical therapy appointments @ office where I received treatment last year for same condition.

I am back @ Deer Pass in site D.

Tomorrow is Bfast w/ Danny and maybe a well dressed cold temp ride.