Thursday I got under way early enough to stop in Fruita to do my wash. I hang wool and synthetic items on a clothes line strung across the back of my van. In the cooler temps more days are required to fully dry my stuff. The number of chamois drying tells me how many days I rode that week. I have enough undershorts to make from Thurs to Thurs wash days. I have enough chamois to ride 6 days.
Clean clothes hanging or put away I continued to the eye care place on time. Eye exam used a computer to analyze each eye and make a recommendation for correction which gives a starting point. My eyes are healthy. A new prescription for close up correction. The lens are ground in house. A tech processed my order. I went next door to Chipolte for lunch. A text buzzed before I was finished: glasses ready. I picked them up and put them on. I look several feet away to a person and the vision appeared satisfactory. I removed them as I left the store. I drove to a nearby store to buy cheater glasses. I put on my new glasses to read the info tags on the cheaters. Blurred vision. No way. Vision correction not right. I was a few blocks away from eye place making for a quick return. I explained my issue. The tech who processed me claimed she asked me 2X if I wanted correction for distance. Nah, didn’t happen. I asked for new lens. They complied and I am now wearing correct correction and seeing up close clearly.
I was in need of medicine. The nearest pharmacy was 40 miles from Fruita. Junction is on the way. I pulled into the parking lot in front of 2 guys open carry semi autos. First thought was the police are on hand. I chatted w/ one of them and learned that it is still a cash business and their presence is cash management. Not law enforcement. Beautiful interstate drive beside the Colorado River canyon. Water runs a bit clearer than near Fruita.
Dinner at Hot Tomato then a short beer at Copper Club. Spent night at Devils canyon TH.
Sat I headed back towards Moab stopping at the north end of Klondike trails to where I have camped previously. Fruita is like 88 miles away. Scored the great camp spot. I parked closer to the road. I geared up and pedaled out choosing to warm up on the pedal trails on the west side of the center road. Fun. Ran into the 2 Canadians again at their camper drinking beer and eating. I saw them that way at Klonzo several days prior. I joked that they just pack their bikes but drink beer for sport. I rode back on Dino for tech sport. I’m getting remarkably better on the chunk. Dave, the PT, told me to point my toes down and pull up w/ hip muscles. My stroke is so much more powerful. Beautiful day but long underwear top and long sleeve jersey attire.
Back at the van winds picked up blowing dust and I was getting a good shot of it. I saw that if I would have parked where I have in the past I would be in the lee of bushes and not bare ground. I moved. I was parked crosswind. Wind chill. I hiked above on the rocks and would have gone higher but I was not dressed for the chill. I did get 2 bar 4X.
After dark I looked outside and saw a large group of campers. Too dark to learn details. In the AM in the light I saw several tents and people standing around already just after sunrise. One tent flapped horribly in the wind. Learned they were a group of boy scouts.
I dallied warm inside listening to Wait Wait letting the sun warm up and maybe the wind to die down. Show over, still windy. I wore long underwear wool top and long sleeved jersey, I changed to a warm helmet liner and wore cold temp gloves topped w/ a wind shell. I pedaled out Dino. Places in the lee the sun warmth was pleasant but the exposed places were chilly. In and out of comfort. From Dino I cut across to the west side and rode the pedal trails back till I decided I wanted tech again and rode back to Dino and back. Other riders were out.
A visit to town was in store for a shower, buy coffee from local small roaster, pick up my One up gears, and to watch the OSU Michigan game. Cleaned I chatted w/ the roaster about cowboying he did in Riggins, ID. He said he hates cows, he did it for his enjoyment of horse riding and carrying a 6 gun open carry. I picked up my bike parts and new trail maps. I walked down the building front to Moab Brewery to watch the game. Game was in 3rd quarter. The Bucks did not play well loosing by a late field goal. I left and headed up to Willow Springs in the fading light. I scored a spot. Quite a few rigs have driven out past me in the dark.
Tomorrow I plan on riding Navajo rocks in the other direction. A shop guy told me the benefit of riding it clockwise instead of the counter as stated in MTBproject. The elevation profile bears him out. I’ll prolly stay up there out of internet coverage.
My shoulder continues to hurt. More frequently than I would like it pops as in clearing a obstruction in the joint. I am learning how to use and not use. Riding works my upper body as well when on the chunk. I avoid the front wheel stops which would pitch me forward loading my shoulder that lacks 2 tendons connected to muscles that would hold the shoulder in place when pitched forward. So far I just have muscle pain when the ride is finished. I prolly should not beat myself every day riding tech stuff. But it’s so much fun and I have just a few more days to enjoy it.
I’m in no hurry to leave here. The weather will determine my leave date. Rain is forecast later this week. At this point Hurricane will be my next stop. Side trip to Cortez?