Prior to sometime this last summer The Bob Edwards show on XM was original, played 3 times in a row in the morning. On Pacific time the last airing was 7AM. I was awake and out of bed and focused on the program as I made and ate bfast the menu alternating between scrambled eggs because the plate doesn’t have dried yolk on it and Scottish oatmeal. Sometimes scratch pancakes like I will make for tomorrow’s bfast. I was up and at it regardless of sunrise. The programs are from his past; I prolly listened to a bunch of them, but they lack the punch of NOW. Missing 1 wake up que. I can catch 1 or 2 shows of the Diane Ream show which has a bite to it in the subjects and Diane’s pointed questions and the guests providing information and knowledge is stimulating. She is hard, Bob was soft and sometimes sharp. So now, sunrise is at 7:50AM. I’m rolling out in sunlight.

So, after above completion I am off this time back down into the Hurricane Valley where town is to do my wash, buy propane, take a shower, and buy groceries. Clean clothes & sheets and my body will make for a great sleep tonight. I have been hitting River Rock coffee shop in La Verkin for a coffee and read a loose paper. Maybe interact w/ people. The owner and several of his staff recognize me. I have been buying my home coffee from him. I support craft roasters.

Finished in town while still light I drove up to the JEM TH for the night. I have been parking in the last car slot out of maybe 9, furthermost from the start of single track. All alone. This visit no one else has spent a night up there until last night. The temp is in the upper 20s and I have been chilly while under the doubled over down blanket. Last night I rolled the open weave thermal blanket over the top sheet but under the down. I gained dead air space but it has a heavy weight on me. Down is so much lighter and pleasant to sleep under. However, again I needed more insulation to be warmer as the body good only get so warm.

As I said I didn’t sleep well. I heard several rigs roll in and stay for a few minutes then roll out. One rig acted like they were setting up a car camp in the dark away from me. Caused radar to sweep the situation. I drifted away. Again late out of bed time. Today is Sat and a nice crisp not windy day. I looked thru the parking lot and saw rigs! A Prius was parked right nest to me. Never heard them and they didn’t bother me. I lingered here after bfast. 27 degrees out 50 inside w/ cat heater on high.

G0otta go. LEO visited and told me I can’t camp here anywhere on this road. Got to pack up and drive to Dalton wash road.

I only heard snow flakes hitting my roof last night. I am courteous, kind, and sharing on the trails, I help older people, and I smile a lot. My judgement is I was good. Fictitious Santa didn’t even leave me a gallon of propane. Phooey. I made pancakes and settled in for a winter’s nap w/Gooseberry behind me. Mollie still exhibited her profile. I played inside my house except for a growler run in the morning. I have been eliminating reaching and twisting back moves to aide the cells in rejoining their compatriots in perfect strength.

Today Joe from OTE and his brother stopped for a visit while I was talking to sister Lynn on the phone. I didn’t ask them if they were showing gift goodies. I met Joe back in Asheville in 2008. We pecker matched the number of states we had ridden in. No fair, he worked for a company that paid him to travel.  I have him beaten now. A group of 4 riders stopped at the cattle guard before me, they might have been on their holiday ride for what I know. The shoulder of Gooseberry was dusted white in the early morn, sun warmth turned it back to reds and blonds. Trails had to have been super to ride.

Yesterday I took care of city errands then drove up to the JEM TH. I bought fixings for Captain Craig Chicken for dinner today. My medicine is shrinking. There was one more brownie in the fridge that would help to ease my suffering. I forgot the dosage and ate the whole 1/16 of the 8″ by 8″ pan. eating requires a commitment that I should have remembered. Part timers is great for lessons learned. Instead when it started kicking I knew I was in for a ride. Even in my own thoughts I forgot what I just thought about. Dinner just didn’t happen. My ribs need stasis which eliminating time consuming going for a walk. I bounced around in my tiny six foot by twelve foot house.

A Sedona FS person pulled in for a ride. While we had never met he is familiar w/ my rig in Sedona.

My hard drive arrived at the extraction facility per notice of payment for evaluation. I paid by card and await perhaps my gift of recovered data.

Reader feedback has been acceptance of furnace reports. OK. Last night I slept w/ the catalytic heater. When I woke up this morning I kept after the furnace until it started. Overcast skies sometimes clouded w/ snow crippled the solar panel’s ability to replenish battery consumption. Also, the temp output dropped out of the comfort zone. I turned it off which it does on first try and fired up the cata heater which doesn’t require battery power. I ran the engine for 22 mins that filled the batteries to just above 12 volts.

The ringing in my ears is becoming more intense such that I hear things thru the static.

Tomorrow back into town. Laundry day 1 day later.

An object in motion remains in motion until acted upon by equal or greater force. My moving body striking unyielding rock. Ten days post splat my ribs still hurt. Today I was examined by a doctor I saw previously several years ago at Instant Care. All body signs pointed to just rib and  cartilage damage. noting interfering w/ the smooth sliding of the lings along the ribs, not passing blood. She said that time will heal. Last night I slept better, one day after a shitty night. So, on progression, I should sleep even better tonight. I can almost stand straight and walking is still a curious stride. Another day of not riding.

Just a few sprinkles fell last night while parked downtown. Location w/ nothing between my van door and the front door of the Main Street cafe allowed a short walk holding a cup of my coffee to let Kevin and staff fix my breakfast. They treated me.

I will make peace w/ my audience about the Propex furnace: no longer will its performance be mentioned unless it gets fixed. Between the 2 sources of heat I have a warm man cave to live in.

I stopped @ River Rock coffee roaster this afternoon hoping to visit w/ Holly, a mountain biker who just got back from Pisgah. My cover was using free internet to download camera manuals. I have the manuals and she has her freedom.

My propane burn calculation is about a gallon a day, my tank holds 5.6 net gallons. I buy propane about every 4 days here in this degree heating day. The solar gain here has been great enough to not require fuel to keep me warm during the day. Here in Hurricane I buy propane from a dealer who is closed on weekends which affects when I refuel.

I drove out to JEM TH. Morgan was there getting ready for a ride. He was instrumental in building Gooseberry and brands his Suburban w/ name sake personalized plates.

Windy and chilly.

I built a plan to be in Sedona late afternoon of the 30th. I have been hearing about Blue Diamond rides SW of Las Vegas. I researched MTBProject to discover a few rides in that neck of the state. They are flat desert rides some in a wild horse and burro sanctuary. And then there is Bootleg Canyon w/ an IMBA epic ride. I am thinking about making it a stop on the way to Sedona. Decision will be made on my condition. I can always make this a road trip from Sedona.

Solstice has passed, hours of daylight will get longer. However, the closer to solstice the smaller the change to be almost miniscule. I just know darkness occurs later each day.