Fri Am I drove into town to a gas station and bought the Phoenix paper that I usually read. I drove back to Cultural Park on the western edge of town to read it. Shortly a SUV pulled in beside me and 2 women got out. They asked if I was part of the Better Ride class. Wow! I knew there was a class in town this weekend but heard it was being taught by Jackie and not Gene the owner. They left and found the group. I waited awhile then drove down to a lower parking lot where I saw 7 mtn bikers in what appeared to be a teaching formation. Yes it was the class being instructed by a man. I sat on a rock and listened and watched. Same material I learned 2 years ago. They pedaled up the hill I greeted then asking if it was Gene. He said yes. I wanted to chat w/ him @ a break. They regathered then he kept lecturing. Finally he spoke out and asked me to leave as my being there made him self conscious. I left never meeting him.

Friday was Bike and Bean shop ride @ 3. My new receiver is out for delivery on UPS. I was at the shop when the box arrived. Eagerly I checked out the contents. I unplugged the pigtail harness and looked @ the new unit’s inny. No way, not a plug and play as I was told by Crutchfield. I called and spoke w/ customer service to learn of installers in the area. She could only tell me there was one in Cottonwood. I spoke w/ the tech staff about my discovery hoping they would manage the info for future use. I called the shop and made a Monday appointment thinking that I would ride on Sat and not make it down to his shop.

The shop ride consisted of the core group riders. A route was finally suggested and we pedaled off. Plan was to ride Shades to HT up to Chicken Point, ride Broken Arrow down to Hog Wash over to Mystic. I was at my usual far back off position. This distance allows for the dust to settle.

Duane’s rear tire was soft causing us to stop while he pumped air into it:

Up on HT there is a rock ramp that stymies most riders, me included, I always walk it up. Today it got all of us:

Back @ the shop beer flowed as did stories. All the normal patrons kept laughter flowing until almost 8:00 w/ no food. I left and drove down to PJs for the chicken salad.

I drove out to Beaverhead for the night.

The new receiver is installed and what i hear is coming from it, not inside my head. I was soundless for a week, the silence was hard to take. Music fills the air inside the green pickle.

During Friday’s ride I did not take any electrolytes, just drank h2o. Sometime during the night I awoke in a partial leg stretch, before I could call it off cramps started happening throughout bot legs. nauseous to almost vomiting. I quelled my stomach and relaxed my legs. I lay back in bed then I heard it: a scratching sound from under my bed: a pack rat was checking me out, maybe the same one previous as I am staying in the same spot. Dunno. I lifted up and fastened the bed then rolled out pieces of newspaper and forced them down the gap between the bed pedestal and the wall. The rat left. In the future i will park somewhere else.

In the AM my legs were still traumatized by the cramps. Today became a rest day. I drove to uptown for Bfast w/ Danny @ Wildflower. Times w/ Danny, might have been our last b-fast until I return this upcoming winter.

I phoned the stereo installer in Cottonwood finally just after 10 opening. I rescheduled my Monday appointment to just as soon as I could get to his shop. I fretted thinking that other customers would be there which might make for a long wait. I was the only customer, he opened his door after arriving @ his shop after me. Ah, sounds.

I drove back to Sedona. I decided to wash my WingNut hydration pack to free the stiff straps from the crusted sweat. Nice and clean and soft.

I drove out to Deer Pass and scored a choice spot. I hung the pack from a mirror on the sunny side of the van, it was completely dry by sunset: low humidity and hot temps.

Sunday is Johnny’s garage ride leaving sometime between 9:30 and 10. I parked @ Recycle Center on a level spot instead of uphill @ his garage. As I was getting ready my phone rang. I ordered a new camera on line and a salesman was calling. Seems I did not order the better more expensive battery and chip. I thought I did. I maybe didn’t do due diligence or it was part of their business to fleece the customer for more $. I opted for upgrades. As a result I was tarty in leaving for the ride. i looked up @ Johnny’s and all the riders were gone. Dropped before I took one pedal. I headed up into west Sedona. I concocted my own ride. Danny and I finally connected to learn they went the other way thus I would not join them. I rode Teacup then up to end of Jordan then down to Sacred Pools. Jordan out to Ant Hill loop continuing till i hit Javalina to descend to highway.

I made it back to the van riding on city streets. A shower @ Snap and a short drive out to deer pass. Scored the same choice spot.

Tomorrow 8AM is follow up w/ ortho DR about my right shoulder. I have free range of motion but some moves created crepitus. I’m glad i am not doing manual work.

 

That’s how long it took me to ride a Hiline loop today. Started @ Bike and Bean, jumping onto Shades to Hiline entrance continuing onto Baldwin that joins Templeton for the switch backs hike a bike up then dropping down a wash to pick up Easy Breezy to its end,  then X rt 179 to pick up Shades back down to BnB. I still have problems w/ the wash ride climb to get on Hiline proper. Then there are the 2 climbing switchbacks that I lack the energy to make. Once down on the slick rock I rode a steep roll down, my first time, I rode the last piece of slick rock @ the Baldwin drop in. I walked the nasty steep stuff per usual then rode the last steep part to the wash. My confidence has improved. 10.78 miles climbing 1310′.

Encountered hikers on Hiline which is bad for both users as the trail is narrow and bench cut into steep hillside. The hikers allowed me to pass. User conflict. The trail was built by mtn bikers back 4 years ago. This winter it became a system trail and now known to the general public. Trail wasn’t built for multiuse and can’t be made wider, and it should not.

Easy Breezy is also a system trail. Horse damage is cast in the dirt.

I was pleasantly drained.

I drove up to Sedona for a shower @ Snap, groceries, propane, then drove out to Deer Pass. I steamed a piece of wild salmon, asparagus, and sweet potatoes for dinner. Desert was a small cup of haagen daaz frozen hard. Yesterday I defrosted the fridge @ BnB.

Yesterday was a rest day. I finished Confession by Grisham. I talked to 3 young women riders from Vancouver, BC. One asked if I rode Bend’s big Fat tour last year and did I remember Ashley. 2 of them sat across the isle from Ashley and me on the bus ride up to ride start. Ashley had my attention as she had been a traveler. I didn’t notice the other women.

Tomorrow my new stereo is to arrive. I was assured that the wiring harness is the same and it is backward compatible to my XM receiver. I will be @ BnB waiting for the UPS truck. I have been listening to my iPad thru headphones to music I previously recorded. I need to hear human voices which stimulate my mind.

Sister Lynn will be here next week. I established my Sedona departure date of the 20th. I’ll drop her off @ Phoenix airport on the 15th then drive back to Sedona. I plan on spending several days up in Flag then drive back down for 1 last Friday Bike and Bean ride.

Today on my drive up 179 to BnB I saw my first vehicle killed javalina.

Floyd cut my hair and beard again. Really the best cuts I have had. He knows how to trim a beard.

I am doing 60 crunches every morning while still in bed.

Mon is my 5 week return visit to the ortho DR.

I installed a Conti trail king 2.4 tubeless on the rear for today’s ride. Bigger and heavier tire than Ardent. The lug shape favors Sedona riding. Making the bike heavier to increase performance.

I rode later in the afternoon today, past the heat of the day and enough light to finish in. I picked up Chuck Wagon @ Dry Creek rode and headed N. Many groups of hikers, all encounters were cooperative to share the trail. I guess they all moved off the trail to let me pass. They would do the same for a faster person. Chuck Wagon is so rider friendly after the FS adopted it. Gone is the real single track, some was fall line, replaced by wider almost groomed tread. Because it is a system trail ( adopted by mtn biker built trail) it is mapped that open the trails to hikers. User conflict. CW becomes Gunslinger to Mescal, or maybe it is all Chuckwagon, down to Deadman’s that melded into Arie to Cockscomb to Rupp dropping down to Dry Creek which is as its namesake. Becomes Girdner over to jnct w/ AZ Cypress that crossed Dry Creek several times. Turn right on Anaconda to climb out of Dry Creek, hit Girdner for a short while, then a jog onto Chuch Wagon again to van. I stopped once to stretch after an hour on Mescal. 16.49 miles in smoking 2 hrs 11 mins riding time. That’s Sedona humping time.

Great riding weather. I pushed pretty hard today. Both tires are very heavy, the cost of traction and control. Today I rode a slick rock roll up w/ a belly on the upslope that could stall the front wheel and stop me. Consequence was a slide on rock. Today I pedaled hard into it and we rode right up it, piece of cake. Gaining confidence and exercising it.

I am printing a 27″ by 27″ USGS map w/ all of my 2013 ride tracks in red. File is 6.29 meg, way too large to post on web site. Trails aren’t named. $36 from printer. Display it somewhere you can see it frequently then saddle up and get here and ride.

Back into town for h20, a shower, and a salad dinner @ New Frontiers. Back out @ crowded Deer Pass.

Tomorrow is wound check @ DR. Another ride, hopefully a shower after, grocery shop for dinner, fix it, eat, and clean up, then drive to a camp spot. Other than DR appointment that is pretty much my standard day. I like to take 2 rest days a week that turns out to be just 1 day. I add h2o to the h2o tank 1 gallon @ a time, walking from a faucet to the parked van. Lots of free time. I do visit mtn bike shops.

Yesterday was a rest day. I passed the day as it happened. I bought Grisham’s: Confession, then stuck my eyes into it for a chunk of the night.

Met John and Darcy from Durango @ Bike and Bean. They are friends of Dave @ Fat Tire. I met them in Durango 2 years ago. John was @ the Old Timers bar in downtown w/ other old timer mtn bike riders for their weekly get together. Another Craig lead me on some local rides. They are living out of their VW Westie.