Fantastic what 300′ elevation will access. Staying here at McGaffey there is no coverage. I walked up the hill behind the house, and I am sitting on a weathered log sort of in the shade being cooled by strong winds. I have 2 bar 4G speed. Use it wisely.

Yesterday was my town day for laundry and propane. on eastern edge  of town there are beaucoup laundromats, lots to choose from. There are so many because people do not have h20 at their house so they come in to do wash. Propane, on the other hand was a frustrating acquisition. I made the assumption that w/ all the gas stations on old rt 6 there would be a station selling propane. Wrong. I needed to drive west of town to a dealer. I found a health facility to take a shower. Then I drove back up into the mountains.

Back @ Bill’s, Mike and Allison, Bill & Alfredo, and me geared up for a tour de tank ride. Bill’s trail plan was that they be for pedaling. And they ride that way. Easy riding. I still used my seat dropper post.

Back @ Bill’s which is a historic house left over from when there was a saw mill locally, the houses housed the workers as in company town. These houses were trucked or railroaded in then used until the timber played out and then were moved to another site. This site was the last on the line and they were left. Bill and 2 other guys went in to buy the house and the 10 year lease to set up a mountain bike tribe hangout. I visited here back in 2011 and met Bill and a bunch of riders. They even have a kegerator and piped in h2o.

Our first ride was Wed, this is a creek climb on Quaking aspen trail:

Mike and Allison are on their own road trip. They have been here for a week, days longer than they planned. I introduced them to Bill and that is what it took for them to not turn the key in the ignition.  They are traveling w/ 13 year old litter mate cats that they “walk” on a tether.

I continue to absorb knowledge from Bill that will serve me in good stead.

Forecast is for tomorrow is high winds and possible snow showers. Sunday appears to be the favored big group ride.

I plan on leaving Mon AM for Santa Fe.

23 skiddo.

Up in the toolies w/o cell phone coverage even. Long time since no connection.

I left chilly Sedona Tues AM driving east in rear quartering high winds to Gallup, NM on rt I-40. Handful driving this kleenex box on a roller skate. Plan was to camp near White Cliffs ride Ian told me about. I followed the drive description out onto an unpaved road that the wind blasted loose dirt into the air. No place to park and no interest in mouth breathing the dust. Modified objective to head up to McGaffee up in the Zuni mtns. I stocked up on supplies @ Albertsons.

Up @ McGaffee is a wonderful trail system in mostly open P-pine forests w/ some alligator junipers mixed in. A race course, Enchanted Forest 24 hour race uses some of the trails. The st hwy up has been rebuilt making the climb almost pleasant. I turned in @ Hilso TH and drove a short distance to a flat spot to camp, I had stayed there previously. Chilly and windy, my Sedona attire was under whelmed. I added my Pisgah jersey and walked up the road. A small van Tiger was parked nearby w/ mtn bikes attached. A man and woman were outside walking 2 cats on leashes. Mike and Allison are on a road trip, kindred spirits. A chilly night.

The next morning I drove up to say hello and see if they wanted to join me on a ride. They said Yes. First I drove to Bill & gang’s house @ McGaffee and left a message. We rode Quasimoto all by ourselves. Chilly and windy, then hail softly fell from the sky. Amazing how little water there was in the hail but it wetted the dirt to stick to our tires. We abandoned the dirt and rode the road back to our rigs. We were hanging when Bill drove up and invited us to his place. We parked nearby by then spent the evening visiting. Bill shared much knowledge again about trail advocacy and his organizational efforts. Great guy and wealth of knowledge.

We all planned a ride on Thurs until the weather deteriorated culminating in snow flurries. No internet access so no weather forecast or radar image. Mid afternoon we ventured out on a hike. The weather was working on improving to a calm clear sky and we decided on a short mtn bike ride lead by Bill. Back @ house for dinner and more visiting.

Today I drove back down to Gallup to do my wash, fill up propane, buy groceries, and get on line. My clothes line is overflowing w/ line drying clothes.

I found a gym for a shower I need to get to b4 heading back up for more rides and another night of socializing.

My breathing is becoming more difficult, my throat feels like it is obstructed. Something ain’t right, more than elevation or allergies.

Next stop is Santa Fe.

Grommet, I want to ride w/ you and scratch your ears that will require me to effectively manage my time between here and 8/15 in Denver.

Gotta go.

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 ‘.