Last night i drove out to the JEM counting on the road being dry enough after the showers to get back to the TH. Made it. There is a wash that has run several times carving the road away. On the way out the ruts cause the front left wheel to climb for the sky. Same issue same ol same ol: no grade out.
Furnace ran but b4 bed I switched to the catalytic as it would run all night. Muscle relaxer enhances my sleep by over coming the pain I still feel. My left rear rib cage muscles as still protesting. The great chiro work has been undone but I must wait until the pain is gone before I allow him to reef on me. Hope to see him right b4 I leave for a last straightening.
I walked a bit last night checking the trail condition. Going to be super tacky: hero dirt.
This AM frost was on the ground which would make freeze thaw mud. I dillied b4 driving down to the corral for my start. I figured the sun would dry up the mud quickly. My 11:30 start was just right. From the corral I pick up the trail that skirts the boys school and is part of the Hurricane cliffs IMBA epic which continues an arc of the loop climbing to join the JEM across the highway. I rode JEM down till the new trail Cryptobionic joined. Plan today was just to learn how I felt and work out some kinks, not a long ride. The first uphill tech move brought out the pain in my rib muscles. I still hurt after Sunday’s splat. Short 15 mile ride.
Looking into Zion NP.
Cows continue to pock mark the trails. The tread is getting rolled in.
I came up w/ another approach to eliminate cattle grazing. In a conversation w/ Rick Moon @ the Summit that mtn bikers say we are stewards of the land and that we should build trail that goes to man made environmental destruction. Hope is that an awareness would arise in riders as they saw what impact their desire for something does in extraction. In this case the cow destruction is on the trail. I suggested an advertising spin to celebrate riding in the old west among grazing cows destroying the public land that we as tax payers support so 1 ranching family can have an income. Need to age the manure droppings by year just to see how many years it takes before their droppings weather away. Be amazing how many years it takes for a pile to degrade. And more shit hits the ground every grazing year.
Forecast is for no rain but perhaps seasonally cold meaning light long underwear tops and knee warmers. Prolly frost overnight.
Yesterday afternoon into the evening I sought tech solutions to my lacking email in Outlook. Strange thing is Startlogic, my web hoster, doesn’t play well w/ MS Outlook. There is an email answer that I will use the next time I call Help line. Yesterday I mailed off my fried hard drive to the data extraction center.
Tomorrow is the OTE shop ride that I will make this time. Hope it is one one of the mesas that I won’t drive my van to get to.
Found a jug of Sippin Moonshine @ the ST George liquor store. It goes down easily if drinking 90 proof is you ability. The touch pad disabled mitigates the moonshine effect.
My Core watch band finally arrived today to replace the torn original. It broke during the no debit card time and shipped via free shipping USPS. The band attaches to the body using small thru rods that are threaded together. I needed tiny screw drivers. I filled up w/ propane. The service man asked if there was anything else I needed. I said 2 small screw drivers. He went of to search and came back w/ 2 but they were too big to fit the head. I tried OTE w/ the same result. Next was the local ACE Hardware store. Male clerk greeted me in the tool secrtion. I showed him waht i needed and told him it was a once and done use. He said put the screwdriver away and follow me. He lead me to the front of the store where he retrieved a tool box from under the counter. He found 2 of the correct size them almost by himself removed and replaced the watch bands. What customer service and I was appreciative.
Today riding down JEM I encountered 4 women riding. They told me that the trail was now complete to the upper JEM TH which avoided the switchbacks. Going to be a great loop w/ this and the other new trails here. I have a loop in mind that I am looking forward to ride.
I followed them down the JEM. I learned from my 3 day Better Ride clinic 2 real important skills, prolly the most important skills you can master. 1) look way ahead down the trail mentally taking in what you will be riding over, you see it in your peripheral vision. You will be prepared for what you will be riding before your wheels hit. 2) Bend your elbows out like doing a push up. This keeps your body centered over the bottom bracket and gives you some slack when rolling down a drop. Bent equals flexibility, freedom of choice. Locked elbows means just that: locked and your weight is behind the bottom bracket. Your riding will so much improve learning and applying these 2 skills.
Sheriff’s truck patrols this TH. Deputy said it is because of break ins. No broken glass in this lot. Comforting to know that it is patrolled. We know each other.