Thursday I received the phone call from the Fruita PO for my license temp. I drove back to Fruita. Dinner @ Hot Tomato. In walks Charlie Evans and Theresa from Eagle. They are travelers and wanderers whom I have known for several years and seem to run into them. They are down here for a few days but not for Thanksgiving like they did 2 years ago. We will pall up for a few rides. If I would have not received the PO call I would have headed S to maybe Gunnison. Happenstance.

Drove out to Rabbit Valley bluff overlook spot.

Friday I drove to Moab down the river road which is way more scenic than the interstate which is faster. Pulled into parking lot in front of Chile Pepper bike shop. A passenger van pulled in front of me. It was Beth. Happenstance.

I rode Pipe Dream above town. I seemed to use my bike for a wheeled hiking aid as the tech features baffled me. Tough trail w/ exposure. I didn’t enjoy my performance.

Rode back to my van. Grocery shopped @ City Market. Lots of people in town. Drove out to Willow Springs road where I have stayed in the past but today it was plugged w/ OHV rigs. Back on hwy 191 heading north to Klondike area, the North entrance. Drove in a ways then parked @ a spot just off the road. I gathered up a beer, my camera, and binocs and stood outside. I watched 2 riders: an adult and a small child. They rode up to me. I complimented the little one on his prowess. It was Bill from Tomechi Cycles in Gunnison and 1 of his sons. His family is camped further up the road.

Great I see 5 people that I am friends with is a short while.

Full moon last night over the desert. Furnace didn’t work.

Today I rode the gravel road to the start of the Klondike Bluff trail system. Great trail system over bed rock up over around, down, repeat but mix the order. The riding was less technical and there was no exposure. I rode much better. Very popular place judging the rig counts but mostly by myself on the trails. Beautiful day. Back at the van I stood around w/ no shirt on.

Very slow internet speed so no more pics to share. seems like the desert pics look the same just like the deciduous forest pics.

I drove down to join Bill and Susan and a couple. Stood around a campfire in the dark @ 6PM. I smell of smoke.

Furnace is working.

Tomorrow I will ride the Brand M trails then go into town for a shower and groceries.

Ohio State beat Michigan State. Hooray.

dimm

****** computer ate my work.

Yesterday the heater was fixed, took all morning, found clogged regulator, blew out fuel jet and valve, found nothing Heater cycled correctly. Drove away. Picked up coffee @ local small batch roaster. Hung in Fruita for a beer & slice of pizza @ Hot Tomato then dinner @ Mexican place across the interstate. Drove short distance to camp spot on end of road. Ran furnace. Failed to start during the night, temp dropped to 31, double blanket and I was wondering why I was cold. Restarted the furnace which caught and enjoyed the warmth.

Last night I thought about where to go next. Today the PO called telling me I had mail which changed my route.

Today was laundry day and visiting the PO for my license temp plate. Not in. Drove to Lunch Loop trails outside GJ. I pedaled out of the parking lot and checked my brakes on a downhill. I could have been more effective dragging just one foot over what the rear brake gave me. WTF? I needed the ability to lock up the rear wheel on brake lever pull notice and I wasn’t getting it. I was toast. Trails have many tech features. Rocky and rugged. I rode only 4.76 miles.

I watched this rider overcome 2 step ups as if he was pedaling like me on the flats.

Drove back to Fruita after a short ride bound to figure out how to make the rear brake work. OTE bled it and noticed air. Next ride will learn of its efficacy.

Shower @ Community center. Back to using body lotion to make the dry flaky skin settle down.

Picked up the second mailing from the licensing dept @ the PO. I established communication w/ Spokane auto licensing involving me in receiving legal license plates. This year I am required to buy new plates. I renewed on line. Spokane sent me a paper tag 60 day license and tabs for the new plate to be delivered 45 to 60 days hence. The paper tag never arrived. I called and was given a 15 day extension tag sent to Fruita, same as the temp tag which hasn’t arrived. Replacement temp tag will be sent to Moab. The new plates are to be sent to Hurricane. No harm no foul agreements. Living full time on the road presents situations that might become problems. In my experience all has been worked out OK.

One last salad @ Hot Tomato then off to Rabbit Valley tonight then Moab tomorrow.

Yesterday was going to be a rest day as rain was still falling.

I have had a very bothersome headache since I fell back on 9/12. I have been concerned about brain injury. I trusted the chiro I was seeing. He told me body positions that I was able to make. He said if brain was damaged I would have shown results from the body positions. Good. But I had a nagging feeling that maybe I did mash the melon. The headaches were getting worse with nauseous. I stepped up and drove into GJ to an Urgent Care to an MD. Finally seen. Cause is a sinus infection and she prescribed an anti biotic. Same issue I had in Sedona years ago. The med was affordable as I have not bought Medicare part D insurance, I have until 11/30 to buy.

2 nights ago I was sitting like I am now @ my desk when the right glasses lens fell out. I need the glasses to see up close. I retrieved the pair of cheaters I carry in my hydration pack and I put it back in. My screw driver was too little to turn the frame screw. Yesterday afternoon after I handled the glasses many times it fell out again on the floor @ REI. I put the glasses on to read a product label. My vision was really blurred. I pulled them off an polished the right lens because that was the more fuzzy eye. Put them back on: still blurred. I pulled them off and polished the right lens again then put them back on. Insanity. I pulled them off then realized that the fuzziness came from having no left eye lens. Fortunately it was almost at my feet. I found an eye glass place on the way back to Fuita who fixed my loose screw which was actually missing. She used nail polish on the threads like loctite.

Hot Tomato is closed on Sun and Mon.

My plan was to drive out to Rabbit Valley camp spot before dark which I did. Plan was spend the night then drive to Kokopelli  TH. Used the catalytic heater.

Drove to Kokopelli TH. This trail system is just off I-70. Rain quit early afternoon yesterday and I am there during peak warmth time. Pedaled away thinking about making the 2 step ups on the climb. I bailed on both of them. 2 riders were descending and passed me. They stopped and 1 guy called me by name, Bruce from PEI, CA whom I met somewhere along the way. Compliments to his memory recall. Later we shared some trail.

I happened to watch my rear wheel while riding. The wheel / tire was wobbling. I checked the spokes and to see that the rim was true which it was. I rode on w/ a wiggling wheel.

The river was carrying runoff changing the color to an Ohio river.

Drove back into town. No license tabs @ the PO. I stopped @ OTE for them to check the trueness of my wheel. They told me the problem is a ply failed in the tire. Warranty issue & they put on the replacement tire still a Continental Trail King. Took a shower. Then waited for an empty bar stool @ Hot Tomato. 2 guys left, I grabbed the seat next to a man. Struck up a conversation. A woman sat next to me on the other side. some time later I invited her in. The 3 of us became 1 conversation, 3 people who had never met. Wonderful.

Enjoyed conversation. I drove out to town sleep spot off the pavement edge absent landlord, across the street from Volvo truck sales yard, dead end road and on dirt. Quick get away to GJ. Tomorrow is heater repair day. I have been so looking forward to this heater working properly.