Jethro Tull on XM.

Monday night hunkered down behind an RV repair station for my 9:00AM appointment tomorrow to deal w/ the spitter valve on the propane system. I am burning off propane by running the heater full bore w/ the door open and the overhead fan on. 73 degrees outside. Smell of honeysuckle so pervasive.

Yesterday I took the entire day off stayed all day on Justin’s road. I researched ride locations to give my odyssey direction. Seems after I leave Syllamo it’s a long haul to Oak Mtn in Birmingham, AL. I tried surfing the width of S TN and came up empty. I read news about people who have a purpose in life live longer. I suppose the time frame is greater than my 2 month horizon.

Today I rode Hobbs again, just the 9 mile loop on the east side of the road. Many people out. Everybody I encountered on the trail was a cordial exchange. At the start I rode behind a maybe 11 yo hard charging boy riding a 29 hard tail. He pushed big gears which finally did him in at the bottom of a short steep climb. Perhaps he was working harder to stay ahead of me. I passed a beat rider, he was wearing an Over the Edge Fruita jersey. He eventually returned to the TH. I learned that he and his buddies just returned from a visit. Funny, go somewhere distant, buy a jersey, and wear it back home. Maybe it was by design. I wonder if they wore any AR apparel while in Fruita.

Forecast for today was high probability of thunderstorms. I did not want to commit resources to drive to lake Leatherwood way out there @ Eureka Springs. I finished Hobbs then drove back to B-ville. I passed and Anytime Fitness where I verified that my electronic key allows access. Shower @ Phat Tire then dinner @ Table Mesa Bistro, & ice cream @ Waltons’ museum.

Now I am here smelling honeysuckle and listening to distant claps of thunder between rain down pours.

You’re reading it right?

Been hanging around Bentonville bike shop, Phat Tire. They have the best shower for ever. They gave me shower privileges last visit.

I have ridden the trails again: Thurs was Slaughter Pen wander, Hobbs on Friday, and today was Blowing Springs. Lots of moisture and other conditions create deciduous tree climax forest. Deep shade, high humidity,

Then there are numerous engineered features,

Great complete aspect trail system 3 blocks away from the town square. Phat Tire is 1/2 block from square. I park in the lot behind the store which is also part of City Hall. I slept in the lot the first night. When I crawled out of bed in the morning a parked truck faced me as per the parking spots. Hot and humid night and I could not open the door to cool off. Much of Slaughter Pen is machine made that is weathering in very nicely, it’s still a wider than hand built; however what dirt that was moved was to shed water instead of play bumps. I liked it.

The propane overflow valve is obstructed. I have been told that when the valve is opened propane should escape even when not filling. Needs to be cleaned out. I found an RV repair shop that services propane systems. I made an appointment for Tues. I gpsd the address which is on way to Hobbs. Friday I stopped @ the shop on the way to ride Hobbs. I need to burn empty the tank before service.

I made the Piney Ridge TH. Another hot and humid ride. back in the deep forest cover. Thing about decidious trees is they reach a determined height then just get bigger around. Predominate oak coverage. Tread is crushed limestone cobble.

One vista overlooking War Eagle Creek

15.74 miles took 2 hrs 10 mins and climbed 1935′. Trail tread was like groomed crushed white gravel which was really limestone in its worn state. Trails are very twisty. I sought to modify my riding to take advantage of the tread. Some success. I encountered 2 guys the entire time. Back @ the TH 5 riders were getting ready to go. Trails are getting ridden.

I left the TH heading to Pea Ridge battlefield park. I was unable to make the gps field the park. I wandered in the general direction. I wandered some remote back country roads before finally convincing the gps to navigate back to Phat Tire and a shower.

I ate dinner @ bistro on the square which is where the bike shop used to be.  Rain started falling before I left. Turned out to be the start of a heavy thunderstorm I drove thru on the way to my camp spot in a vacant lot used to park tractor trailers.  While I chose not to sleep w/ the door open I was not greeted by somebody in my wheelhouse. Another storm hit while in bed. Heavy rain.

Sat is Farmers’ Market on the square. I cruised for local honey but settled for a loaf of home baked whole wheat bread. Place was packed.

I drove out N of town to Bella Vista and Blowing Springs trails. Trails were just the correct wetness, however, the rock was slippery. 1 car in the parking lot, later an older man drove up then rode away. We met later. Nice little trail system w/ several interesting natural features

All by myself on a Saturday. I helped a lost hiker find her way back to the TH. I suggested dropping down and picking up the paved road back. She chose the trail. Well, the trail didn’t take the even remotely short route back. She kept getting turned around and i kept running into her as i was choosing trails. I made it back as she did later.

It is poison ivy:

I drove back into town for shower and dinner, town was deserted.

I met Justin 2 years ago. I emailed him that I was in town. Bummer he said as he was heading out of town. He offered me a piece of a dead end road at his house. Tonight I took him up on it. He is miles by road but hardly 6 good crow wing beats from town. I have the door and window open covered by netting. 72 degrees @ 10:12.

Thunderstorms are forecasted. I have not figured where to ride tomorrow. But for breakfast I am making my scratch pancakes. On Sundays back in Spokane I would make these pancakes Sunday AM with blueberries mixed in.

Wed while in the bike shop I felt an embedded tick on my left thigh out of my sight. I pulled it out not carefully enough to extract the mouth parts. I was by feel able to slap a bandaid w/ antiseptic on it that seems to have cleared up the wound.

Listening to home announcers broadcasting the Mariners game on XM. Competing w/ writing. Great stuff. They turned back to 1979 theme. Rick is taking about disco. His fellow announcer was not born then.

 

 

Just the sound of wind rustling the dead grasses, too early in growing season for growing grasses. tall grass because more rain falls down wind of the rain shadow of the Rockies.

I encountered 2 guys on the way back, they looked like they were collecting data. Instead Adam was creating photographs for advertising for a new craft beer company, Prairie, and how fitting was the location. He asked me if he could photograph me w/ their unopened warm beer. I agreed. we spent a bunch of time carrying on. We walked back to the parking lot where I provided them w/ beers. We sat and talked, actually I told stories. he took some more pics, this series titled 1 hit of pot and a beer.

 

I returned to Pawhuska. I mailed a post card to Carla back in Sedona. I saw a storie that advertised ammo for sale as I have been trying to buy .22 ammo. I walked in. The store was a pawn shop. Clerk greeted me asking me if I drove my buggy in as my hair was very wind blown and he was buzz cut.  I bought 100 rounds of some off brand ammo. No .22 mag.

Osage Hills SP was created by the CCC back in the 30s. No soil here either, very rocky. Nicely maintained state park, no bad men trashing. $10 per night included a shower.

The first night the LEO stopped to talk. He is a Vandal grad. he told me about that I was camped in old growth forest as the oak trees were of no commercial value. He said that when a tree celebrates 150 years they start to twist visibly seen on the bark. He told me about the mountain bike trails. I had no data. The park hosts a stop on the Tour of Dirt. I planned on riding them today b4 I left. I didn’t hold high expectations.

temps stayed in the low 70s @ night plus 50%+ humidity. I slept w/ the side door open w/ the mosquito netting keeping many insects away from my light. Last night I heard a Whipper will singing. This morning it serenaded me right outside the van door. These birds sing on the exhale and inhale for long iterations of the same song. Kept me awake.

I finally slid out of bed and prepared for my bike ride. I pedaled out to the start of the trails, OK I will pedal less than challenging trails in the park. my tune change a short time later:

I rode the race course backwards as I learned from the race caution signs. Very chunky rock gardens. I walked places. To fall would have been on pointed rocks. What a challenge. I stopped one place to hike up my shorts. I heard rustling in the leaves, I looked down and saw this native:

Challenging technically short ride. The trails really beat equipment on the sharp pointed rocks. Sedona gets the credit for the big chunk and the vistas, this would win the notice for overall beating but it is in leaved out deciduous forests w/ no views.

Back @ XG I took a shower then headed east on US 60 counter steering against a strong south wind. Both hands on the wheel. many well seasoned squashed armadillos and raccoons.

The drawer holding my pots and pans is overcoming the latch on the drawer slides on the hard right turns. I would ease off the speed to the right and punch it on the left hands to cause the drawer to close.

My driving goal was Bentonville, AR and Phat Tire bike shop b4 closing. I made it. Shop is still open and hoping. The manager Scott and I recognized each other. I learned that 2 trails I rode previously have been protected, Mt Kessler above Fayetteville and the way out one on the Buffalo River headwaters. I will ride both of those again. I met Frank who owns property on Mt Kessler, he gave me a big sticky that is on the left side of my van. He knows Steve and Morgan of the IMBA trail care crew whom I also know. The Buffalo river was more interesting. I met and rode w/ Howcuf, the builder and environmentalist. The trails were faint tread bordered by poison ivy that we walked in as we hike a biked up the steeps.

I will be around Bentonville till at least next Thurs. My throat has been bothering me, like it is constricted, I need to be seen by an ear nose throat person. I called ahead and made an appointment in Fayetteville.

FUCKING GODAM COMPUTER KEEPS EATING TEXT

I wanted to experience the tall grass prairie N of Pawhuska, I wanted to see virgin prairie, see what the wagon train travelers saw. I chose Osage Hills SP as a pivot point. I learned that the nature Conservancy owns about 40,000 acres of never plowed prairie and are restoring it to what it can make natural. The land was formerly grazed by cattle that have been kicked off and replaced by bison, some 2,300 which is their ideal number. The land was never plowed because the land is rocky but supports wonderful tall grasses. Over time fire, both natural and aboriginal, have kept the oak trees from taking over the open savanah grasses. prescribed burns are used today to maintain grasses. Bison “flock” to the emerging green grasses after a fire. Bison eat between 30 and 50 lbs of grasses a day. I visited the headquarters and bombarded the docent w/ questions. Then I hiked the longer trail out on the prairie. My wind gauge read a 47 mph gust, average was 32 mph. i viewed bison on the way in.  e FUCKIN COMPUTER ATE NEW TEXT.