I picked up Lynn @ Rock Springs Cafe after my BCT ride on Fri. Great to spend next 3 days w/ her. She visited last year same time, this year the weather was hot and sunny. She believes in vortexes. Fri night we drove up to Airport mesa to check out vortexes one on mesa and another one on a mound part way up the mesa. It’s after dark. Nothing happening @ airport. We drove down to lower one. Small gravel pull out. Only ones there. Dark. Turned on flashlights to search for vortex which is hard to do when you don’t know when you arrived @ one. Nothing tonight. Dinner @ Piccaso.

Sat AM I fixed oatmeal in my kitchen. We drove up canyon to Garland / Indian Gardens for lunch. I met 2 riders from Flag returning up canyon after their ride. We drove further up canyon to west fork of the creek. Paid $9 to park. Trail up creek is a spectacular canyon. Pics are too large to upload. drove back into town eventually joining Danny for dinner.

Sun AM I picked Lynn up from her resort and drove up to Cultural park a short distance away to share oatmeal bfast again. After bfast clean up 4 mtn bikers drove up. Dave, Don, Roger, and Joel. I negotiated a ride escape from Lynn. She walked back to her room and I headed off. She was thrilled to see us riders preparing for a ride. She had never seen me do the same. Dave and Don rocketed off. Roger is 73, he insisted that he ride last. I am not accustomed to someone riding behind me. Joel needed to be back @ TH by 12:30 which was sort of my time also so we managed our time to comply.

On Aerie we stopped. A green shimmering plant caught my eye:

I was a bit later meeting Lynn. She needed new foot wear. We stopped @ an outdoor store where she bought a fancy pair of teva sandals.

Newly shod she sought to check out their performance on a scramble up Bell Rock where there is a zodiac. friction and crack climbing ever upwards until an exposed class 3 pitch awaited. She decided it was beyond her ability and I did not encourage any further ascent. Beautiful day.

We down climbed then drove down Verde Valley rd to the west side of Cathedral rock to watch the setting sun on the massive. Somewhere there is a vortex. Pretty light show. We drove back in darkness to Cacina rustica for a light dinner. recognized our server as John who I rode w/ 2 weeks prior. Drove back to Sedona, we stopped to buy ice cream to go w/ a piece of pie from Rock Springs cafe. I took a shower then drove back out to Deer Pass. Today I gathered her up then drove south on I-17 back to Rock Springs where her friend Carrie picked her up to drive her to the airport in Phoenix. Very strong winds both ways. The van blows around which enlivens the driving.

I drove back to VOC.  I hung for awhile @ BnB. Scott says my reverb seat dropper is sluggish that means overhaul. He said parts are $50 as is labor. The shop likes KS seat dropper. I considered buy one but none are to be had thru their supply chain.

Drove out to Beaverhead. strong winds continue to rock me. Forecast for tomorrow is 20 to 30 mph winds. Gotta get ride in in AM.

Will say that the new Formula T1 front brake is jaw dropping powerful, I can lock up the front wheel w/ 1 finger. seems to have sufficient modulation.

I now have a 2.4 on the front and a 2.2 on the back. I am learning how the tires establish traction. I seem to go faster that with the 2.4 on the rear. Bike build is over kill for some trails I will ride.

Start from today:

I left beaverhead for Black Canyon city to pick up my sister @ the Rock Springs pie place. I left early enough to ride a piece of the Black Canyon Trail out and back from the Black Canyon City TH. I sort of paid attention to the forecast high temps. Sedona would be in lower 70s, I wished that 2000′ lower the temp would be OK for my ride. I rode out and back about 6 miles each way under blazing sun, no shade, but, hey, it was a dry heat. The Agua Fria was slightly flowing w/ clear cool h2o. The bitch of riding S from here is the monster climb out of the river. I pedaled all of it but stopped several times for a blow.

Ran into 3 riders heading back after their turn around. I caught up w/ them back @ river. Woman remembered me, Annie, who organized a Meet Up ride 2 years ago. She rode a 29 hard tail belt drive single speed.

Drank a beer @ TH. Drove across I-17 to KOA for $5 shower.

Thurs was a rest day. I did my laundry.

My new Formula T1 brake arrived @ BnB and I installed it. Earlier @ Fat Tire I bought a 2.2 Conti Trail King that I put on the rear and moved the 2.4 conti to the front. The Minion is in my storage box until Sedona again.

Today i rode w/ the new brake. After the new pads bedded in to the rotor the power came on. I got the goods man.

Tues Danny and I rode Soldier wash area. The recounting of that ride was eaten. Danny coached me thru several more tech spots. I walked this one:

Wed I rode Dry creek area solo from Cultural park. 2 hr 15 min hump that warranted rest the next day.

Gotta go pick up Lynn. I might not blog during her visit.

So said the ortho DR. Crepitus is what I have and will have that cutting prolly wouldn’t make better. It is what it will be. Do PT exercises and anti inflamitories as needed.

Picked up the paper then drove up to Cultural Center to read it. Where I park in the gravel lots is on crest of hill getting full blunt of wind coming from westerly directions. The velocity increased in a short amount of time. So strong my van was dancing in place. Red sandstone dust forced its way inside. I planned on driving down to Cottonwood on this my day off. Way to windy for a non essential drive. No way to be outside breathing that dust. Temp dropped.

Visited w/ Jason @ H2o store. Next was Dave @ Fat Tire and a sandwich from Sedona Memories. Drove down to Bike and Bean. Place was hopping. One rider spoke w/ me as he recognized me from an article and saw my map. He is from NYC and told me I needed to get back there and ride Blue Mtns. I told him I had. We shared a common ride. Winds lessened as the day wore on.

Drove down to PJs to watch the championship basketball game. I caught till half while sipping a beer. Winds are almost calm, so amazing after how strong it was earlier. deserted Beaverhead.

Ordered a new Formula T1 front brake. Jeff and i had traded emails about my brake need. Sunday i made my mind up to upgrade to a way better performing front brake to replace my old Oro brake. The T1 is better than my RX model on the rear. Jeff said that he only had a front brake and I bought it. The front brake is where all the speed scrubbing occurs. I use my front brake. Stronger braking power can make for panic stops. Might have it this weekend. Standard features include lever adjustment to fit my small hands. $188.

Mariners on XM. I prefer listening to home broadcaster Rick Rizz which is why I am listening to them. So nice to have audio.

Right now I have the heat on, forecast is for upper 30s tonight.