I ordered a pair of Giro Terraduro shoes to replace my engineering defective PI Project 2.0 shoes. They arrived last Thurs. and I planned on leaving last Sat morn. The size sent was 45 not 40.5. Tony contacted the source and explained the error. They were helpful correcting their mistake, I expected the proper shoe size to arrive say Tues. This AM I am sitting outside Bike and Bean when a Fed Ex air freight truck pulls in, the driver exits carrying a package that looks shoe box size. I wait a few minutes then walk into the shop. I saw the back of Tony who was juggling shoe boxes. I found him out putting the 40.5 shoes in the size 45 box that he was intending to give to me. HeeHee. Correct size that will loosen for better comfort. This Giro shoe has a full rubber tread for a more durable shoe. It is a hot shoe however. Today I again built up the PI shoe tread w/ shoe goo which seems to last for several rides and doesn’t slip 0n the slickrock.
So, now I have what I was waiting for and I am now able to move on. So, tomorrow AM I am heading to Gallup and points east. I have connected w/ Bill in Gallup.
Yesterday I rode another monster hill climb up @ Flag climbing up to 8600′. Brutal. I bought a trail for navigation. At the first intersection I discovered that the map trail names disagreed w/ the FS names. I wandered following the most heavily used trail which in of itself was all kinds of chunk. The elevation plus the climb left me panting. I had faint memories of previous rides that I was where I needed to be but previously I rode the route the other direction. At the high point it was almost all downhill. I dropped my seat and let gravity propel me. 14.11 miles total climbing 1970′ pedaling 1 hr 53 mins. The uphill took 1 hr 19 min while the downhill lasted only 33 mins.
Afterwards I headed back to Anytime for a shower then drove down Oak Creek canyon. I stopped @ Indian Gardens for food. Shama was working, high energy vibes passed between us. She is staying and I am moving on. Windy drive.
I stopped @ Weber’s IGA for groceries. On the way out Jimmy pulled in driving his pickup w/ his newly acquired poptop pick up camper. He said that he and Jan wanted to join me out @ Beaverhead camp spot. They did make it. They were spending their 1st night in the camper, rookies experiencing a lifestyle change. The joy of convenience of a rig that you just need to put food in and go, no more finding an acceptable tent site and sleeping on the ground. We sat outside visiting and enjoying the night sky. Jimmy shopped for bfast groceries. At breakfast he learned that he bought whole coffee beans and had no way to grind them. I treated them to my cold brewed coffee.
Today the forecast was for more high winds. I decided on a rest day. I figured on riding tomorrow expecting the shoes to arrive that day. I am not getting in a last day Sedona ride.
Bierman invited me to dinner tonight. One last night @ Beaverhead then leaving the desert till later this year.
Jimi and I checked on the javalina head which is still there and still stinks. May the weather cure it out while I am gone.
Friday’s ride featured a huck. I captured Billy Idol in flight:
He cleared the yuccas and stuck the landing. I don’t do that kind of shit.
I have now ridden 18,000 miles and climbed 1,600,000 ‘.