Yesterday became a rest day once the forecast was known and it matched what happened. I hung in town and worked w/ the computer. I stayed in town because of the wet muddy piece of dirt road to the JEM TH, prolly less that 200 yards but the surface is just dirt that turns to boggy mud when water is added. Skies cleared b4 bed, stars out and a big nip in the air. This AM it was 31 degrees w/ frost. Furnace worked most of night, it didn’t light once when the thermo commanded it. I learn about the cold by looking at the control panel just above my head, no working equals flashing red light. I turn the knob one way then back to start the relight. I stay alert till I see a green LED to indicate burning. I might pull up the blanket and hunker down and fall back asleep. The furnace heats up which makes the double blanket too warm which wakes me up to shuck off a layer. Tonight parked back @ JEM it is 34 degrees out and a comfortable shirt sleeve 71 inside @ 9:00PM.
Friday evening I visited Big Al’s wood shop. he smoked a cigar and I was downwind. I managed to sleep Fri night but all day Sat I was gassed by the smoke in my hair and clothes. So bad that I rigged for travel after dinner and drove to Anytime for a shower. I hung my Pisgah jersey over an outside mirror for the night. It frosted overnight, seems to have aired out.
Sat I listened to the Zags beat UCLA on XM.
Kevin and I made a ride date for today at noon. He had a good route planned up here but the rain disqualified the trails. Plan B was Prospector and Church Rocks which sheds the water. We started @ N end of Prospector where I had never been before. The start was sticky mud but drying. Later the trail was sand and slick rock. The sand was firm from the rain.
Out to Church Rocks,
There is a trail over the slick rock.
ran into 3 guys, 1 a local and 2 visitors. One, Jeff, said that we met in Sedona 3 years ago and is a regular reader of my blog. On the return leg I miscalculated loose sand in a wash just before a rocky uphill. I had a tank slapper we called it on dirt bikes when the handlebar gets whipped from side to side smacking the gas tank. I was going too slow for the bar to go back and forth, it just augered in and spit me face first hitting the rocks just beyond the soft sand. Wham. Dazed, Jeff helped pick me up. Bruises and pain at contact but all things worked. Sore rib muscles. made it back to the van OK. Now sitting here hours later I feel where I hit the rocks. Won’t be able to sleep on my left side and my right won’t do because of the rotator cuff repair. Sleep might be difficult. I broke the computer mount.
Drove back to town dropping Kevin off. Shower then drove out to JEM in the fading light. Colorful sunset.
Temp is forecast to drop below freezing @ night which will freeze the wet dirt. Sun will thaw it out which will make it slippery as just the surface mud is thawing overlaying the firm dirt underneath. Damages the trail and it is slippery.
Thurs. night I was vetted by a county deputy Sheriff who happened to drive into the TH parking lot. I was outside and I took the opportunity to visit w/ him for his appraisal. I am better known now.
Thurs. I quit taking the COPD medicine. I have not noticed a decrease in breathing power. My saturated O2 is still upper 90%. I don’t believe I have COPD. My lack of breathing was caused by improper breathing and sprinting. The medicine is about $280/ month. I bought Medicare Part D for prescription med coverage because of this med. The Coumadin is less than the premium.
Listening to a collection of Johnny Cash on the Ipod.