Two nights ago the temp dropped and winds picked up. I was camped out on Willow Springs rd w/ Charlie and Theresa. Thurs @ 7:16AM it was 23 degrees outside and only 55 inside w/ the furnace running all night. Just too chilly.The furnace ran all night as the inside temp never reached the shut off temp. The blower ran all night taking battery voltage down to 11.58. Seems that the batteries will support a degree of comfort when the furnace runs. With the furnace running I tried to start the catalytic heater but the fuel valve wouldn’t open: stuck shut. I found the manufacture’s phone number and called explaining my issue. I was told that the heater would have to be sent to then in NC for service and the problem was caused by propane companies west of the Miss R putting an additive in the gas that clogs up valves, orifices, whatever. Great, even the secondary heat choice is deficient. Remember that I made a 3PM appointment in town @ an RV repair shop to suss out the furnace issue.

We made a ride date for 11AM down @ Brand M trail head where there is an outhouse now. Still chilly, windy, and cloudly skies. This time I wore a mid weight wool underwear top and warmer gloves and a hat under my helmet. Keep pedaling. We rode 12.38 miles of some moderately challenging purpose built single track. I am improving my skills and gaining confidence. Key is momentum, either you have it or you had made some of your own as it allows your suspension to work. There are plenty of wheel traps that mo will keep the front wheel moving.

I had things to attend to after the ride which caused me to manage my time. I needed water @ Matrimony spring, a shower @ the Community Center, then RV shop, do my wash, and grocery shop. I made the RV shop 1 minute b4 the 3:00 appointment.

I explained my furnace issue w/ the wrench: I wanted him to remove the propane hose & flush it w/ solvent along w/ the orifice and fuel valve. He budgeted 30 mins. He walked up to me w/ the fuel valve in his hand, it hand a piece of material in the bore. That’s all he found because he did not capture the solvent put it back together and the furnace fired up. Warm, perhaps it will function. Charged me for 30 mins work, paid cash.

Clean body and sheets, groceries for dinner, and the hope that the furnace will keep me warm tonight. Back out @ Willow Springs I started the furnace and it performed. Charlie visited for conversation and sipping celebratory Scotch as my tasks were completed and the furnace was working.

***** computer ate text.

Furnace didn’t fire up when the temp required it. I woke up to cold and flashing red light. Several restart cycles started it again.

Today is a rest day as I had ridden 7 out of 8 days. Weather forecast was calling for precip.

I drove into town.

I have a horrible head ache. I finished the dose of antibiotics for the sinus infection and feel no different.

Back out to Willow Springs.

Will from Fruita found me, he’s here for several days.

Hwy Patrol stakes out hwy 191 n of town.

I have my paper temp license tag. Hard plates will be sent to Hurricane.

I bought a sixer of MooseDrool in state liquor store. Not the source of my headache.

The temperature has dropped below freezing again tonight, at 7:30PM it is 29 degrees @ 4472′. The furnace is pumping out hot air, all 6,000BTU capacity, for the time being. It is like my experience w/ my Westie: I could never really depend upon it. The furnace will start on the first cycle, sometimes not then I manually turn it off and on. I am chilly sitting here in my living room chair even w/ the insulating window cover. It is warm dry air circulating which is enjoyable. Yesterday I made an appointment w/ an RV repair shop here in Moab for 1:00 to seek service on the bugger. I camped out on Willow Springs road which is the closest primitive camping to town, about 13 miles out. I rode the new trails @ Klonso managing my time to make the 1:00 appointment. I returned to the van on schedule. I fired up the furnace as a check: it started 1st go. So intermittent. I called the repair shop and cancelled, I attempted to build a rapport w/ the shop in case I need service. *****. Last night the temp dropped to 20 degrees. The furnace went off several times during the night. Each time it was out I woke up chilly and looked @ the flashing red LED then went thru the restart process until it fired. Today I called the shop back and asked for another appointment which I was given for tomorrow @ 3:. Guy who imports the furnace has said that because there was oil in my propane plumbing that possibly the jet is occluded, service is to blow the line out w/ cleaner. So sporadic to believe that the jet can clog and unclog.

SO I am sitting @ my desk creating this. Chilly. Camped out on Willow Springs rd w/ Charlie and Theresa. We finally caught up today. Chilly and windy but blue skies. They were going to ride HyAmasa and Captain Aihab on Amasa Back,  2 new trails. I joined them. New trails keep us off 4X4 trail and is more rideable but ladened w/ tech features causing me to walk or scramble. Sometimes I was on Charlie’s wheel and watched him make a feature which sometimes pulled me through.

We started after 1 in the best warmth. Still chilly and windy, I wore a wool long underwear top and long sleeved jersey, knee socks and light knicker. I started w/ a wind jacket but warmed up enough to pedal through the chilly sections. Just beautiful, the ride was also. We had it all to ourselves catching afternoon sun

And now we are camped out on Willow springs rd.

Yesterday I rode the Klonzo trails out past the dirt bike trails on Willow Springs. Newly built and more being added. Purpose built mostly on dirt. Places were loose sand. Fun ride. And I was managing my time for my soon to be cancelled appointment.

I pedaled out to the TH from where I was camped as I did not want to drive across a wide sandy wash.

I drove into town afterwards for a shower and groceries. PO, library, and credit union were closed.My plan was to ride Gemini Bridge area today so I drove up onto Dead Horse plateau and camped @ Horse Thief  BLM XG for $7.50 w/ no water. The temp dropped and winds kicked up. I bagged riding and drove into town to take care of business. Drew cash from the credit union, printed the fraud form @ the library & filled it out, drove to PO and mailed the letter and picked up my temp license plate. Then Charlie texted me which brings us back to the top.

Sunday night I camped again on Willow Springs. During the night the winds really kicked up sand blasting everything downwind. Way too windy to ride because of the blowing sand. I walked down the road a ways and found a better camp spot where the wind was not blowing sand. Still windy. I hiked the road  and let the sun warm my face.

So now caught up.

Weather is still dry, sunny, and chilly. Wind to die down

Yesterday I swapped chains. The first chain had 492 miles on the new cassette. The chain I removed wore 795 miles on the gears. So far no chain jumping from wear mismatch between the chain and gears. That’s 1287 miles on the cluster since install back in Brevard in June,  96 rides ago.

I am chilly here in my chair. Perhaps the furnace’s output is restricted by a partially clog orifice. If not it leaves me cold. I’d rather sleep chilly and be warm @ my desk than vice versa.

Today I bid adieu to Bill and Susan and boys out @ N Klondike. Susan knows Tim from Shenandoah Bike in Harrisonburg, VA.

I drove towards town to the Brand M trails.Bright sunny day w/ just a little nip. Big parking lot. Now have an outhouse and not made by CXT. Popular ride area. I headed out. At the first intersection a solitary guy asked me if I knew the trails then if he could ride w/ me. Sure. I met Albert from Iceland. Strong rider. At home he rides and old Klein Mantra like Les used to ride. Today he was riding a 29er full suspension really enjoying himself. Many riders out but never crowded. Friendly sharing.

During the ride I let a phone call go to voice mail. Back at the van I listened to it. Fraud division of matercard called to tell me that my card had 2 suspicious charges from FL and questioned me about them. Not me I said. She said she will cancel my card because it had been compromised. Call my credit union tomorrow to obtain a new card. Looks like I will be in Moab for this week.

Drove into town for a shower, fill propane, groceries, and a beer while watching hopefully the Seahawks. Bronco land, no hawks. Propane gauge showed fumes. I am miserly spending my cash, prioritizing: heat, food, beer.

Drove out to Willow Springs road. This time I found the first spot on the road open. Tomorrow I will ride new trails to me here named Klonzo.

Moab Trail Alliance is building trails, lots of miles. Klonzo has been built since I was here 2 years ago. And there are more. Lots to chose from. I like to ride them repeatedly. Klondike is challenging.

From yesterday. But the scenery is a lot the same. Desert, like deep deciduous forests of the Appalachians, repeats itself. Just sandstone, junipers, and blue sky.

Furnace sometimes works. Last night I used just a single layer while the furnace was running. It didn’t turn back on. Instead of attempting a restart I doubled the blanket. Later I turned the knob to restart and it did. Then it got warm and I kicked off a blanket layer. Karl says the problem is the oil in my system caused by some propane retailers putting oil in  their tanks to eliminate rust but the oil will pass to the customers’ tanks who are ignorant of the practice until it becomes an issue somewhere down the road. Going to start it. Chilly under clear skies, 42 degrees warming to mid sixties w/ a fall chill. Furnace lit to the thermostat command. My living room is chilly as the heated air arrives less heat.

My saddle height is for spinning which protects my knees but is too high for tech moves. Today I dropped it just a scosh using the seat dropper. I found that I was able to better attack the step ups and climbs. It is easier to get off the saddle and stand. Noticeable difference.

The bad brake is finally stopping its weight. The organic pads are bedded in and grab the rotor for powerful stopping. They do require a good hand pull on my index fingers. Joy of having powerful stoppers.