Last night I camped on the overlook above Rabbit Valley where I usually do. Yesterday was a rest day. Very windy. I orientated the van into the wind and sunset. Several times during the night my home was rocked by wind gusts. Didn’t need heater until morning and it started. Several rain squalls hit around sunrise. A sucker hole opened up, big enough for me. Forecast called for showers and possibly a thunderstorm.

I drove to Kokopelli TH noticing there was more standing water on the interstate the further east I drove. No dust on the gravel road to the TH. Just a few rigs. I geared up taking my rain coat. Several days ago on Marys I encountered 2 hikers who were walking off the wide trail, I was enjoying gravity and was concerned that I ran them off. I shouted an apologize, none needed was the replay. On my GJ visit they happened to find me in a parking lot. Friendly conversation, they said of all the bikers that went by them I was the only one to say anything. Anyway, he does some kind of mapping which was why he was hiking. He told me about Kokopelli area clay layers. The frontage road is stop dead stuff. Today I noticed foot prints that looked like snowshoe tracks from the mud that was sticking to his feet (large foot). I heeded this image and factored in the forecast. Today my plan was to ride just Marys out and back as a safe weather bet. Just about an even 4 miles at the top of a grunt climb I heard thunder. That was enough for me to listen for a second peal which clapped a few pedal strokes further. I turned around and headed back to the barn. Several bright eyed groups of riders headed into the flat out storm clouds. I shared my weather info and why I was going my way. No problem they all said. I kept after it pedaling home. Back at the van I put the bike on the van then stepped inside when I heard cherry sized rain drops beating on the roof. I jumped out and threw the cover over the bike. Rain fell harder then shifted to hail size of peas. Bang, bang, blump, ……. . I am snug but those riders out there were wet and chilly. Shortly one group rolled in after hail quit. They had a good time, no worse for being wet.  Maybe 6 couples maybe in their late 20s. Amazing that their bikes dis not have gloppy mud on them. Gloppy would indicate clay.

Replacing the pivot parts snugged up loose parts, I drop the bike and only hear the tires hitting, no clinking. I bedded in the brakes.

I drove back into town to take a shower etc. Hot Tomato is closed on Sun and Mon. Stopped @ OTE and asked the wrench if he loctited and torqued the pivot bolts as I remember the Turner manual instructed. He said no. I asked him to pull up the manual and read it to learn if it was required. Later he told me to bring my bike back and he would fix it.

Seahawks played @ 4:30 as did the Bronco Patriots. This is Bronco territory. I went to Suds where they had a bunch of TVs all tuned to the Broncos. A server greeted me. I told her gently I was looking to watch the Seahawks on one of the many screens. She said follow me and showed me one screen on the Seahawks. The sound was on the Denver game. Denver got pasted while a partisan crowd watched and cheered and oooood. Intense devotion the closer to the home of the home team.I experienced the same on Orcas Island last December during the Seahawks playoff games.

Rain fell during the afternoon. Max offered me his side yard in town to park on. Dirt and not on the curb. Level. Forecast is for more rain that wets my concern about clay roads. Suspect trails will be too wet to ride tomorrow.

The furnace has worked sometimes flawlessly such that I was thinking about canceling the service. However, tonight it played hard to start. After several resets it kicked in. I am running more heat to heat soak, but  I am now too hot. Turn the temp down and cross my fingers it will start back up.

Spent night on residential street in front of Drew’s. All new houses packed in. Quiet but no place to disperse my sink water. Heater worked correctly all night. I have been told that the problem is prolly something blocking the fuel line. Perhaps the jiggly ride back in Utah broke up the obstruction(s) then passed. Heater worked correctly again last night albeit a slight rumble that I really have to listen to. I will call gowesty w/ this news and possibly cancel service this Wed. Thing about the heater now is leaning how to regulate the heat. Last night on a lower setting the single layer down blanket was too much.

I did dishes inside Drew’s and talked w/ Will who resides there. I said good bye and headed to Grand Junction to take care of business then ride Butter Knife. No need to recount them.

I drove to the TH parking on Little Park rd. Plan was to ride Butter Knife ride up the road to ride down the Ribbon then back to the van. I saw a pick up w/ bikes on the back pass while I was getting ready. Perhaps they are doing the same ride. My pavement ride started climbing. Then the dirt: the tread is the worst shape I have experienced. Loose big rocks. I lost my confidence shortly after the start and bailed on sketchy (for me) moves which were quite a few. Previously I had ridden almost all of them. The bike will perform, I just won’t power the engine to make it happen. I rolled up on the 2 riders, I didn’t recognize Will in his riding kit, he played me for minutes then finally revealed his identity. I asked for and they had already come to the same decision that they would wait for me where the single track joined the atv road. They were riding 29er single speed hard tails and just smoked me which didn’t take much energy. They dissed the Ribbon. My ride removed the desire to ride it.

Only the way into GJ I passed this beauty parked along side the road. It was typical of cars when I grew up. Please tell me what year it is

Drove back to Fruita. I dropped off my bike for complete fork service @ Over the Edge then off for a shower @ the Community Center.

I put together my Halloween costume which was Clint Eastwood from his western movies. I had the poncho, hat, scarf, and a gun holster . I needed a cigar and a bong for a gun. I scored a bong that was small enough from local headshop, and the cigar was a black 1 hitter pipe. I adjusted my hat and walked into Hot Tomato to various costumes. I challenged a pair of pot heads (they had an upturned terracotta plant pot on their head) to a duel. I threw my gun hand edge of the poncho onto my left shoulder and drew down on them. Place went crazy when they saw the gun I drew. I sat at a table and just enjoyed so many people having a good time. Place was packed as always.

A costume contest was head @ Copper Top a small brew pub just around the block. I walked over where many of the same crowd from the Tomato where. Judges awarded me 2nd place because they thought I was Willie. I smiled too much to make my sneer work. More fun. I said that I was Clint’s older brother, JP, and that I taught him everything he knows but he didn’t learn all of it.

I drove across the interstate and slept off the dead end road. Again heater kept me very warm.

Today I planned a rest day after 3 hard rides. After all I am not on vacation. Weather forecast was for some precip.

I dropped my bike off. The headshop would not exchange the unused bong.

I don’t touch type. Sometimes while typing and not looking at the screen the computer sends text to wherever it believes it was commanded. There is quite a disconnect.

I was writing about my bike service which included fork oil replacement, replacing the journal bearings and DW links. Then bled the front brake. I put on new brake pads and rear tire. Bike is solid again.

Just hanging here in town. Precip is called for tonight and tomorrow but not much amount or probability. Going out to Rabbit Valley tonight then ride Kokopellis again tomorrow.