Yesterday hanging at the Bean. Sandy is a woman mtn biker from Calgary who is spending part of her second winter here riding. She walked into the store. We got to talking when she mentioned that she was thinking of going to ride some BCT tomorrow. Hmmm. The trails here are freeze thaw. To ride here would have been VV school road and no dirt. Last year my injured shoulder prevented us from riding together. We hatched a plan for a ride on the BCT today. I am to pick her up at 10:00 then drive an hour S on I-17 to Bumblebee exit then a short distance on bumblebee to the TH.

Gene Hamilton’s Better Ride last newsletter spoke of warming up before a ride to get into a groove. Well, our ride had no warm up as the trail greeted us w/ rocks, skinny bench cut, twisty, constant heads up picking a line intense single track. My being was not really committed to the ride. I was thinking about pecan pie at Rock Springs after the ride and wanted the ride to be over. I warmed up to riding as the trail rolled under my wheels and bettering the tech stuff.

We rode to Bumblebee finishing out on the part I helped build. We turned around and retraced our route. The first part down to the road was mostly downhill which enhanced performance over rocks. The route hits the road then rides it about 300yds then joins a beat up double track width climb that required line picking. Sandy is a strong rider and showed me how so as she rocketed up the climb. I settled into a huff and puff climb. Back on the single track I lead.

My ride back was much more pleasant. My riding is very strong as I rode everything except a very tight rock jam. Trail showed that it had been rained on, there were only 2 tracks ahead of us. Dry, sunny, made it to 48 degrees w/ a chilling breeze. 12.65 miles. OK for me. Sandy’s knees are shot which allow her about 2 hours of riding before they protest and she goes down. She is all about riding and just keeps pushing herself overcoming the pain and physical limitations. Just like me only my pain is less and not as limiting. A 2 hour ride is satisfying.

Drove back to VOC and dropped off Sandy. I drove to Jan’s studio for a shower expecting to use my new key to let myself in. Jan was there. We talked a bit. She suggested to try the newly made key. Well, the hardware store will give another go at making a correct key. I am clean now because she was there to let me in. Bought groceries at Webers IGA, the village grocery store then headed to beaverhead. This morning I checked out my favorite spot to see what the occupant was up to as I could see a horizontal line indicating a vehicle. It’s a trailer that bodes of a long sit down time. Tonight I chose the tank spot.

Tomorrow is laundry and a ride in Carrol Cyn area.

Sunday night the forecast called for precip continuing thru Monday. rain softens up the hard mud turning it into slime. I stayed at the paved overlook in preparation. Rain fell sometimes heavily and winds buffeted my home. I woke up about 3:30AM to no snow. Sunrise is after 7:30. When I peered out the windshield from my warm bed I saw snow on the windshield. And fall it did. However, the ground had enough heat in it to melt it off the pavement.

Years ago while I was outfitting my home on wheels I was naive about how cold places I would be would be. I put a catalytic infra red heater in. The first year I learned that even down around Tucson I would want heat. Sept of ’14 I purchased a forced hot air furnace and had it installed. readers will recall my travails w/ poor performance. Last summer the problems were corrected and I have enjoyed a different kind of heat since. However, heat loss is greater than the furnace can make up. This morning it was 18 degrees outside and only 59 inside. My doubled over down blanket was at the edge of its comfort zone. I do not see my breath at the head of my bed like I would have w/ the other heater. Battery reserves are sufficient to last the night before the solar collector contributes. The solar panel has been a necessity.

I’m sitting in the Red Rock Plaza parking lot enjoying the power of the sun charging my batteries and heating the inside w/o the furnace running.

Yesterday I drove up to west Sedona to my PT session. Eric is working on strengthening exercises for the remaining muscles in my shoulder and correcting body corrections created to compensate for the damaged shoulder.

I spent the night out off 89B, Deer Pass, where I used to stay before it became so popular. Last night I scored that preferred spot where years ago a pack rat attempted to nest on my engine. Sun came up cloudless skies, white snow dusting added beauty to the greens of conifers and red and white rocks.

My ankle has calmed down enough to walk.

Hanging out in sun warmed van.

Last night the Iowans didn’t pick Trump. There are enough sensible involved voters to rebuff his message. Bernie almost beat Hillary.

The Zags are not even receiving votes for national ranking.