Same ol same ol: If you liked the weather today just wait till tomorrow which is almost more of the same except the length of day changes and the trails are dustier. Don’t worry about missing a great day to be outside because there is tomorrow. Fresh pow requires layers of clothing for comfort, I put sunscreen on my bare arms and wash off the red dust from my bike. No tire chains or expensive lift tickets.
I am carried away hanging here in Sedona just being an adult delinquent engaging in hedonism. Large sips of 100 proof Old Smokey moonshine and self medicating after a ride then being the brunt of put down humor after ride. Soon I will be leaving this idyllic life for being back on the road. I will cherish the remaining days.
Thurs I joined Jimmie and Joey on the basalt chunky Hot Loop trail culminating in a climb out and back on Kel Fox to see a petroglyph rock.
The rock which is older than gray haired Jimmie:
Chevron Tony now stocks my brand of moonshine.
Fri was a Bike and Bean shop ride. I broke off from Hiline group to ride Shades to Templeton, dropping down to Breezy & climbing back to join Bell rock over to Courthouse. I was joined by a learning rider riding his new Turner Burner. My skill was better than he could make his 27.5 wheels perform. Not saying that I eschew the new wheel size. Short evening post ride. I believe that the moonshine has a delayed reaction to inebriation. I kept my van between the lines as i drove out to Beaverhead. However, once parked and tending to tasks my comprehension and ability to function took a back seat to being just wasted. Drank a lot of water before bed and woke w/ only a slight fogginess.
Sat. i drove up to W Sedona w/ intention to ride last Frontier etc. I parked @ the Cultural Park in preparation. I watched strong winds straighten out the flags on the poles. I decided not to ride. I am a mouth breather as my nasal passages have been damaged which means I inhale the air borne dust. I decided to hike instead choosing trails and a wash that I don’t ride. I was out for over 2 hours and did not see let alone encounter another person. Dry Creek environs:
Then there is Cockscomb:
Sun Valley Steve split for home stopping in Moab on way home. We planned on dinner @ Picassos on Sat night, I went by myself. I drove out to Deer Pass camp spot which turned out to be very popular: even my drive my front end into a tree canopy spot was plugged. Too many rigs. I drove back down and camped @ the TH.
Sunday I rode the ride I was going to do on Sat. I put sunscreen on my nose and lip balm where it goes and pedaled off. Last Frontier, Western Civ, Cockscomb, Aerie, Cockscomb, Dawa, AZ Cypress, and Gridner generated 15.46 miles in 2 hours 8 mins of pedaling climbing 1779′ burning 925 cals. My heart rate was 137 beats plus for 48 mins. My breathing curtails my effort on these short punchy climbs. I am working on controlling my breathing; I still blow up on climbs. Last Frontier is a bench cut exposed trail above Dry Creek, an unrecognized FS purpose built mountain bike trail. Last year Will, owner of Beartooth Publishing and maker of the Sedona riding map, hit a rock on the uphill side of the trail that launched him down the steep outslope. I heard metal hitting a rock then exclamations then turned to see rider and bike not in proper relationship w/ terra firma. He survived w/ only a cracked rib and cuts and scrapes; it did shorten our ride.
Today I encountered maybe 12 riders and equal number of hikers. A solo woman rider, Steph, said she is a former editor for Outside mag but now a contributing editor. A cluster of the small hedgehog cactus was blooming:
This is my bike:
I parked next to this car, the owner never appeared:
I am making today a rest day because: tomorrow is another powder day. I am attempting to ride only every other day… “attempting” is the operative word.
New pic of back of my home:
Gone is the faded face shot.
In my life I have had troubles sealing the deal: I can start it but don’t finish. Bike riding is the same: I can make the start of a pedal or coaster wheelie but fail to make the weight shift and pedal stroke to finish the move. I scope out the line using look ahead but as I get close to the step up I look down at what the front wheel will hit and suddenly that street curb looks like MT Rainier and I need a belay rope to make the “summit”.