Back in 09 on my first mtn bike ride here in Sedona, 98 degrees, I was running out of water and I had no idea where I was. I was off the trail dealing w/ a flat that the slime tube was having issues with. All by myself and not knowing where to go, perhaps visions of the classic vulture circling waiting for me to dry up when Dean rode up. I had met Dean back @ his shop outside Zion NP back in 1998. I told him of me need for h2o. He told me when you ride in the desert you have to know where your water holes are then he led off. Earlier our ride went thru dry washes and crossed flowing Oak Creek. I thought he was going to show me a desert survival tip like maybe a hidden spring or maybe cutting open a cactus. Instead we popped out of the desert right into civilization. We pedaled across 89A to a community college that had an outdoor drinking fountain where we filled our h2o bladders. Gotta know where your h2o sources are. Tragic situation for current needers is this:
My ride today started @ the Cultural Center near the fountain. I rode Last Frontier which is a hand built social trail. There is this switchback on flat ground that riders and hikers respect and don’t cut which would be so easy to do.
View back up trail :
Today I encountered more riders than hikers. A group of 4 are from CA. One guy asked me if I was the one in the mag. yes, I said. Bike Mag issue still recalls memories almost 3 years after.
A shower @ Snap dodging attendees to the Sedona Film festival. Then back down to VOC to Jimmy and Jan’s. I was invited to dinner. Jimmy told me of the trails meeting tonight. Dinner was put off and we drove down to attend. Meeting is about building new trails. Tonight the FS hydrologist spoke. Concern is non system trails are poorly constructed that allow sediment to flow to Oak Creek. Emphasis has been on mtn bikes. However, the hikers and horse people have not supplied their trail maps. Competing bike shops of VVCC which is both mtn bike and road cycles and the new Sedona mtn bike club solely mtn bikes. I am joining the mtn bike club.
I drove Jimmy in my van for the first time. We went back to his house for dinner. I was watching the time for the Zags / BYU game televised on ESPN2 that I wanted to watch @ PJs. I apologized for rushing thru dinner to make the game. No harm no foul they said.
I made PJs in time to watch the entire game. Several of the bikers that attended the meeting arrived and sat @ my table right which was stage center for the big screen. Multi tasking doesn’t work as my attention was on the game and partially involved in the conversation. The game was a slug fest, very physical. Gonzaga prevailed. A win Sat night means undefeated WCC play and top seed in the WCC conference championship.
I drove back up the grade and camped @ BnB parking lot.
Yesterday during my ride I botched a right hand turn prolly turning my front wheel in the soft outside dirt where the wheel was slowed by a small loose rock. I lost balance almost saving it but ultimately gave into gravity and toppled to my right, I used my right arm stiff armed to protect myself. No pain @ that point. Pain became noticeable while laying down. My fear is now I tore something. Monday is the ortho DR. I need 14 rides for 1,000 rides. I gotta make it.
Beautiful sunny warm day here in the parking lot.
