Crazy commuting yesterday between West Sedona & VOC. I started my day w/ riding the FS roads down canyon from BnB then into BnB in VOC to visit & take a shower. I visited w/ Jan in her studio. Freshly scraped off I drove up canyon to the laundromat in W Sedona for the second part of the cleaning. Visited w/ proprietor George. I drove back down to BnB to join in the after shop ride festivities. Place was packed, Jimmy said there were 30 riders on the ride. I called Danny who lives in W sedona, we made dinner plans up there so I drove back up canyon to his house. We went to dinner then I slept in his side yard. It’s less than 10 miles between the 2 locations w/ maximum speed limit of 35 mph. There are maybe 8 round abouts to crank around. Nice drive.

Danny and I went to bfast @ Wildflower.

Today was a ride day. I started & finished @ the library. I rode out Dry Creek road to the Aeries TH which is as far as the road went. I decided to give a go on the Aeries trail which is not very technical. The trail is becoming more chunky as the underlaying rocks erode to the surface. I improved my skill and confidence. I ride under control for fitness and enjoyment, not race training. I am out of condition.

I drove back to sedona snap fitness for a shower. My card didn’t open the door. A guy opened it. Shit: Snap dropped Silver Sneakers for lack of payment. I can buy a membership for more than the sneakers plan. Snap is off my radar.

I stopped for a beer @ Oak Creek Brew pub to watch some playoff football. KC was crushing Indy so I left @ halftime. Later I learned that Indy came back for a 1 point win.

I headed to deer pass while still light to check out a camp spot. Nobody out here. Parked in my spot fixed dinner, watched the sun go down, and watched the Zags on Justin TV. They won.

After the game 2 FS law enforcement rigs checked me out but nobody visited.

I challenged my right arm to a repair of the drawer slides of my bike clothes drawer. I did compensate for lack of performance while successfully installing 2 drawer slides. The slides have a catch profile such that the drawer needs to be lifted slightly b4 the drawer slides out. This feature prevents the drawer from opening while jiggling down the road.

Tomorrow I will prolly ride the same route of 13 miles; it took 1 hr 19 mins.

This morning as I was driving 89A in west Sedona I spied a small squashed animal in the bicycle lane. I circled back around and checked out the corpse. It was a javalina piglet that didn’t make it to the market. Later I drove by and the body was removed.

I tried on my new Pearl Izumi 2.0 Project X shoes. Tight fit. I need to verify the fit by installing cleats and riding. If I do that they will now be used and perhaps can’t be returned. On Monday I will call PI for coverage. These shoes have a rigid sole w/ a rocker forefoot for walking. They will be a powerful pedaling shoe but too stiff for the hike a bike here in Sedona. They will be a replacement for my Specialized shoes.

Yesterday was first day of legal pot sales in Colorado, data claims $1 million in sales.

Yesterday I drove east from Kingman, hit the Flagstaff start of I-17, then dropped down 89A descending from 7,000′ to 4500′ of Sedona. Spectacular drive down the narrow twisty canyon. I saw 65 degrees on my van thermometer.

Hunger steered me to Sedona Memories which is next door to Dave’s shop, Fat Tire. I bought their turkey sandwhich and took it next door to Dave’s for catchup and connect. He did service my rear Chris King hub. Dave and Craig conversations.

I stopped @ the eye DR and medical DRs and made appointments for next week. Returning customers equals short wait times.

I stopped briefly @ Danny’s for a visit. I kept it short as I needed to get down to Bike and Bean in VOC.

Bike and Bean  is so warm and friendly. I am the most comfortable here. Hand shakes and hugs reconnected each of us. All is right in the world. I am happy to be back. Afternoon stretched into dinner time hanging in the shop. The Zgas were televised @ PJs down the road made my choice. They won. Constantly evolving team make up to account for injuries.

I left well after dark heading for camp spot off Beaverhead. I pulled into the entrance to the spider web of roads to see that the road was gated close. Hmmm. Need to find another spot in the dark. I picked the next dirt road to the north: rutted. I didn’t drive very far in. Ran heater on high, temp dropped to upper 20s.

Chilly morning that the rising sun fixed. I planned on riding out here to learn of possible camp spots. I rode out on the road I was on. It climbed and wound around in the desert, I never hit the end. Great to be riding again, and it was on chunk. I was pleased my my technical prowess and accepted my lack of cardio condition. Oh well, just great to be riding. The other possible camps spots were occupied. Going to be an issue for sleeping.

Back @ BnB the Fri afternoon ride was gathering steam.  Greeted some other friends. I charged up my tires w/ a shot of Stans for flat protection as I ride tubeless. Jan has moved her studio next door, she is a painter and tattooist.  The spot has a shower which will work out great for my rides out of VOC.

I’m at the laundromat.

More beautiful weather is forecasted. No snow in the mountains.

Death Valley, 282 feet below sea level, lowest point in America. No internet or cell coverage.

Monday dropped down from 4200 pass to sea level. My brake pads gas off.

Spent night in Stovepipe springs XG which is just a big rectangular gravel parking lot gridded of for roads and camp spots. My senior pass drops the fee to $6.00 and free admission, full =  $20. Information woman is from Akron, OH. I walked out onto the sand desert observing raven walking tracks and burrows of whatever vole. I found the burrow when the sand gave way near the entrance, a short ways back the tunnel resisted collapse. Crazy sleeping in a huge legal gravel parking lot. It was quiet and maybe only 1/4 full. What a mad house it would be when full. Great traveling during the off season.

Leading from the XG is a dirt road up into Cottonwood canyon. Map shows a solid double line changing to dashed further up canyon. Should be a good ride. The location in on the alluvial fan at the break point between rubble and sand. The start was in somewhat packed sand. I made 3 miles finally convincing myself that it was only going to be more of the same for miles. I turned around. Big energy suck.

I changed into street clothes then drove down to Furnace Creek to Sunset XG. I found a spot in another parking lot XG. I hung an empty water jug from the post. I walked over to the visitors center. While inside a kindred spirit ranger announced to the crowd that he had a scorpion held by its stinger. He said he has walked across America more times than anyone else.  He answered my nature questions. An outdoors life family button holed him to give  up a treasure which he did: 8.3 miles up the gravel road to a blocked gate then hike into the canyon. I drove up valley wall to the gravel road. I drove about 100 yards then stopped as it was shaking my mobile home. I checked the surface for bike riding: it passed. Next plan became change back into riding clothes and wear the softer bike shoes. 8.5 miles gained 640′. I worked it. The time spent on the exercise bike is noticeable as I have a more complete spin. I made the TH @ 3, stashed my bike then hiked down the trail. I assessed my variables: no food or water, or long distance walking shoes. Sundown became the decider. I turned around well before I even saw the likes of a canyon. The escarpment to the west shaded the sun b4 sundown which is like 4:26 w/ alpine glow for maybe 20 mins. I wanted to be off the gravel before darkness. I really worked my speed, I finished in shade. It took 52 mins in but 38 back.

I watched the sky change colors and later the stars @ the parking lot that I rode from. I returned to the XG in the pitch black and the road all to myself. Desert by bright van lights. I wandered a bit in the XG seeking my saved spot. I was in bed at 10:30 and didn’t greet the new year until 3 when I woke up then went back to bed. Slept below sea level.

Today my drive took me down to Bad water valley. A board walk extends over the salt flat which is white from the wind blown salt. A plaque announces the official elevation of -282 below sea level. Neat, on the other side of the road up on a rock face is a sign reading: Sea Level. A tourist bus unloaded an Asian tour group.

I drove south down the valley. The alluvial fans are ever present. Heavy rain washed the roads carrying rubble that has to be plowed like snow from the road. The road carried me pass a laundromat that had a sign: Showers, what I was needing. $5 and clean behind the ears.

Back on the road I joined the throng heading north on I-15. Mayhem, aggressive driving. My route was to exit east well south of Las Vegas to make Bullhead. I missed my exit. The recovery was to drive to out skirts of town. I past Bootleg canyon and the bike shop I had fun at. Kept going. Plan now is Kingman by dark and city camp. I goggled restaurants in town then picked a Mexican on Andy Devine Ave. Really.

I drove out of town to a Safeway. Kingman is old town and the new sprawl out east. I checked the local Hastings store and saw the new Freehub. Groceries then GPS seek for hospital looking for a sleep spot. I found the hospital, even crazier is a stand alone building signed Specialty Clinic. My license plate meets the clinic. I might sleep here then dash b4 they open.

My shoulder held up during the ride however my butt isn’t happy.

I will be in sedona tomorrow.

Happy New Year.