Sunday night I woke up about 2AM with abdominal pain. I laid in bed worrying that the pain was based on my sore left nut suffered from my involuntary dismount 2 weeks prior. I told myself that Monday was the day of medical exam, the decision allowed me to fall back to sleep. Yesterday morning I left the Monument w/o stopping to look or hike. I drove to the Urgent Care office and turned myself in. Today I will bare my bits to whomever will fondle them. The medical professional who saw me was a PA and a woman. I dropped my drawers and donned the bagging shorts given to me. She introduced herself to me and after establishing a relationship to learn what my issue was she called for a woman nurse to join her. She asked me to drop my drawers. She visually examined then moved to the touching stage. Outwardly there were no signs of trauma, digital exam revealed no damage. She said an ultra sound would reveal what’s inside. She made arrangements for that ultra sound, go see another woman. Oh well, being exposed and fondled is all in the quest for treatment. I drove to the hospital. The tech turned out to be a man. I laid on the table, and pulled my pants down while under a blanket. He put towels above and below then squirted gel over my bits, it was warm and plentiful. He held the wand to each boy then gave me 2 towels to wipe off the gel. I pulled my pants up, said thanks to the tech and walked out. The PA called back later and reported news that the boys were just bruised and the pain will go away. Maybe more support and taking pain meds and local ice. If pain persists next visit is to urologist.

License plate, forget the number. Columbine school shooting w/ rifles, respect life.

She said analgesics for pain. This is Colorado, De Beque is closest retail dispensary 25 miles east on I-70. Doctor’s suggestion. I drove the distance. Armed security dude dressed in black sporting a semi auto on his hip, dark glasses, and an ear piece patrolled the small gravel parking lot. I walked in and an attendant greeted me. He asked how I was and I told him about my sore nut, He said that high CBD bud would help lessen the pain. I really wanted relief from the energy between my ears. My bud server was a young woman who described the store’s wares. I picked bud from the OMG shelf, the highest THC content for $40 an eighth. An in house cash machine supplied the green for the green purchase. I completed a legal purchase, tax rate of 18% funded state and local coffers. I drove back to Junction w/o paranoia of legal interdiction.

Back in Junction I drove up to Little Park TH for the night. I put on my low cut hiking shoes and hiked up to top of Free Lunch trail. Along the way I had good views of the Ribbon trail and the climb out.  Maybe someday I’ll ride it.

The Ribbon is a linked series of sloping slick rock w/ a bitch of a climb out to Little Park

At the top of Free Lunch there is an entrance exam for the rest of the trail. If you won’t or can’t pass the test, ride elsewhere. It appears as if a more friendly line to the right edge of the rock has been created versus the huck and drop off that rock.

Back at the parking lot I heard a buzzing noise which I identified coming from a radio controlled model airplane. Guy flying it made it perform acrobatics. He flew it until the battery died and he glided it down into sage brush for landing. He had a bigger wheeled plane that he flew later taking off from the gravel then landing it. Planes are made out of a sturdy foam material.

A Ford van joined me for the night in the parking lot.

Today I am sitting at Mac Daddy’s for parking brake fix and van physical. Parking brake needs a new cable which needs to be ordered which will arrive after I want to leave. Inspection of the van revealed radiator crack at the joint of the expansion chamber and the metal. This explains why I smell coolant and the temp gauge climbs a bit on the uphills. A new radiator will be installed keeping me here for the rest of the day perhaps.

Spokane friends Les and Gloria called me from Willow Springs road in Moab as they were looking for me. I’m here and they were there. They might drive up to Fruita for the day for a ride.

I’m here held captive by USPS delivery and a jewelry repair person fixing my bracelet. Next is Vernal, UT.

I sent my Formula brake back for repair of leaking caliper seals. The repaired brake will be sent to Steve in Sun Valley which is on my travel route.

Snow in high country limits riding which I knew. In years past I headed east thru the south where I waited out and or avoided thunderstorms, hail, or tornadoes. Going north this early meant snow not melted out.

The Time MX4 pedals work like Times, these have a larger pedal platform which allows sloppy foot placement until I can clip in. Better deal for performance but draw back of hitting pedal strikes. I’ll take these over the smaller XC versions.

I don’t stay after it, mostly just not wanting to make the effort to keep this up. Sometimes it is social like the friends form Spokane others perhaps I’m out of internet access, maybe the Mariners are on XM, maybe a good book that I would rather read someone else’s work than creating my own.

Memory recall:

Monday the Spokane folks headed out leaving me w/ an empty campsite. I drove into town stopping for a ride at Bar M. Today I was looking for a less hard ride so I stated closer in away from Deadman and the rough slick rock of Rockin A. I still rode the Back 40. 10.37 miles and I was able to keep below anaerobic. The skies wanted rain down at Moab. I drove down to town arriving after the T storm down pour. Took a shower, filled water, and grocery shopped. I drove back to Willow which had been rained on. I dodged 2 rain falls.

Tuesday I made a rest day reading sitting in the sun.

Wednesday I rode from camp out to Klonzo trails which are sandwiched between Soverign land and Arches NP, the system runs on N S axis. The road out past my camp is unimproved. Vehicles drove on it when it was wet casting ruts. As it dried out vehicles started smashing down the ruts. Purpose built trails where the climbs were worked to lessen the steepness.

I stayed again at Willow.

Thursday I drove up to where Chisholm crosses the highway and parked for a Mag 7 loop. Only rig in the spot. Joy of weekday rides as there are hardly any other riders let alone a crowd. Not as hot today. I didn’t push or fly as when I rode w/ Tom and Kelly. Today it took me 12 mins longer for a more relaxed ride.

Trail works its way out there, ups and downs with twists to stay out of washes and on edge of canyons for exposure views. The above pic is at the low point and the go back home point almost equal distance to the downhill.

I am riding Ibis 747 carbon rims on which Maxxis Ardent 2.4 tires are mounted running 19 psi in front and 20 in the back. Sharp edged rocks abound hit w/ some speed. I don’t smash into sharp edges, I mostly lift the rear tire above the edge lessening the impact. I have not pinched a tire bead. Wide rims made of carbon and low tire pressure. Wheels are holding up.

I drove back to town for a shower and laundry and supplies. I use a 2 gallon jug for drinking water and regular water in the sink water tank. I can go 2 days on drinking water and longer for kitchen water.

Last week I used my solar shower to heat water to pour into the Helio pressure vessel. I would step on the floor pedal pump increasing the pressure. I noticed that the pressure dropped faster than I would expect. I checked the fill cap which was on firmly. I pulled it open and cleaned the seal edges just in case. I pumped again. I checked the seal and heard air escaping, it never went flat it was like a pressure relief valve. Gearheads has one set up. I pumped theirs up and checked the seal cap which leaked air also. Seems Helio has an issue. Pressure hence water flow diminishes requiring frequent foot pumps to keep the water flowing.

Clean clothes.

I decided it was time to start moving north again.

Friday I drove away from Willow heading to Grand Junction.

At Junction I went thru my to do list. Wheels were balanced at Discount, they were not badly out.  I told guy about road vibrations I was experiencing, he said sometimes w/ new shocks the front end needs to be realigned. I called Mac Daddy to learn of a recommended shop. I drove to it and explained my concern. He said front end is fine, perhaps new shocks are better at picking up road surface irregularities. No alignment needed.

I bought coffee from a local roaster. I checked REI for some stuff and landed in the first day of their sale.

I learned that downtown Junction is closed off for bikes races this weekend. Hmm, check it out. I parked in the Chamber of Commerce lot then walked downtown to a jeweler to repair my broken bracelet. Dropped it off, repair due this Friday. I saw a SRAM booth and Squirt lube, I use both of their products. I met the developer of Squirt and told him about my wax build up. I talked w/ SRAM about my dead zone in my shifting, he said bring it by. I walked back to the van, took the bike down, changed into my bike shoes, and pedaled down town. SRAM guy said shifting can  work great in the stand but when a rider weights the bike the suspension sag changes angles such that the B screw needs to be adjusted accordingly. He made the adjustments. Squirt told me that I over lube, a proper interval is like 50 miles which will result in a dry chain w/ no build up. He said riders are getting 2X the chain life over conventional thin lubes.

I drove back to Fruita and visited Over the Edge. Dinner was a big salad at Hot Tomato. Afterwards I drove back west 20 miles out of town to Rabbit Valley to a camp site up on a mesa. Got my favorite spot which is on the mesa edge. A fine view of I-70 presents itself along w/ traffic noise, not bad enough to keep me awake but aware of the background noise. Several rigs pulled into my area and turned around once they saw it was occupied. I set up my traffic cones down at the turn off to send occupied notice.

Sat’s forecast was for gusts to 30 mph, way more than I wanted to be buffeted by. I stayed put reading a book. I went for a hike latter in the afternoon. Warm night not needing the down blanket.

Today, Sunday, the forecast on Sat called for almost calm winds. However, on Sunday the forecast called for big winds again. Shit, gotta ride. I drove back towards Fruita to the Kokopelli TH. Windy wiggle driving as the wind was almost amidships. The trailhead lot was almost full.

I headed out pedaling uphill out of the lot then zooming down the back side. I chose to climb up Wrangler to stay off crowded Mary’s. Big hump on like old 4X4 road, not much for purpose built easier climbing. I joined Mary’s. Plan was to ride Lions then  up on Mack Ridge and return. The trails are right above the Colorado river that the winds find. Wind was moving me around down low and past experience of Mack in the wind would be scary as wind would change my line. I turned around. I dropped in on Steve’s which is less exposed. Encountered a group of riders, one, a woman was riding a white Turner 5 Spot, DW link. I chatted w/ her later while she was dealing w/ a flat. She is a nurse and knows Turner’s wife.

Same trail problems, new bike, but conservative mindset kept me from attempting ones I should be able to ride. Lack of confidence.

Pedaled back up the gravel road climbing out. I found that my gearing was sufficient. I did not miss the 2X10 granny gear. Lots of rigs w/ empty bike racks with no congestion on the trails.

Drove into Fruita to the Rec center for a Silver Sneakers shower. Groceries bought at City Market. Today I am driving up to the Colorado National Monument for camping and hiking. Quite an engineering solution to route then carve out sandstone for the road. Found a campsite.

I hiked along the rim a ways then returned same way. Spectacular canyon views from above.

Windy here such that I stayed back from the edge.

So, caught up and now 10:30PM, time for bed.

 

That’s the trail description I heard a local say. Prolly so true. Amazing purpose hand built mountain bike trails. If these trails always existed I would not be so exited about them. However, my first trails were not purpose built, they were ridden in hiking or horse trails, some were purpose built for hiking and horses. They went somewhere usually. Excepting Mag 7 ride the trails here are a closed loop taking you back to the start. Yes, a directional trail ride can be created by linking systems. Sustainable and built for mtn biking fun and challenge. So that’s why I am still here. And waiting for snow melt out.

Ramble on to record events since last week.

May 9, last Monday I made a rest day as my gut and calf hurt would enjoy non use. I camped at Willow. SO far my chair and table have held a spot for me.

Tuesday I drove up to ride Navajo Rocks abandoning my Willow spot.  Navajo rocks can be just a heads down pedal fest. At the TH a guy told me he had ridden with me in Sedona. Another brain don’t recall moment. He knows Simon and was wearing a Bike and Bean jersey. He drives a Sportmobile converted 4X4 Sprinter. OK, he’s still working. We rode Ramblin and Rockytops together. He is reacquainting his surgically repaired back to the jolts of mtn biking. He left back at the parking lot and I continued the 2nd loop of the figure 8 ride of Big Mesa, Big, Lonely, and Coney Island leaving on Middle Earth. Going down Ramblin from Middle earth TH is a slick rock pump fest. My ride effort is to take advantage of all methods of propulsion. I pump whenever I can. Ramblin is fun.

I learned about a primitive camp spot that almost touches Whirlwind trail in the Horsethief system. I found it.

Wed I rode the short distance to Whirlwind then rode the trails that are downhill from Getaway using some of 7UP to come back up. Pay attention to the paint marks. Lots of slick rock tread.

Afterwards I drove back to Willow arriving about 1:30. I checked out my spot to see a guy settled in. The first spot off the highway was opened. I drove up onto a piece of slick rock then set out my chair and table marker. I drove to town for resupply. Back at my exposed camp spot I was sitting at my table when motion caught my eye. I was looking at the front end of a white pickup truck parked about 8 feet away. Now just a moment buster, that’s too close. I got out to meet Tom and Kelly, old Spokane friends who are on a road trip. Cool, friends from back in the ‘hood. We shared the spot. There is a small patch of sand for their tent.

In the morning we hung out visiting. For me today was another trip to town to do laundry after doing trail work. I never was contacted about helping so my Thursday turned out to be  free. I walked over carrying my chair on the intervening slick rock to my favorite spot. It was vacant. I set my chair up in the spot claiming it. I told Tom and Kelly about the spot. I drove over to it and they joined me later. They found a patch of sand for their tent. The spot is big enough for the 2 travel trailers that will be arriving with the rest of the bunch on Friday that will be riding the White Rim Trail. I drove to town to do laundry.

On Friday We drove up to do the big Mag 7 ride picking Chisholm up where it crosses rt 313. I was the local. They enjoyed the trails. Bull Run, Great Escape, and Little Canyon trend mostly downward but do have some short punchy climbs. At the end of Little Canyon it is uphill on Arth’s then Getaway with its slight downs. Punchy climbs that I have adjusted to. Hot sunny day. 22.92 miles climbing 1917’ in 2 hrs 49 mins of pedaling. T & K are not tourist as we kept after it.

Back at the camp Terry and Meg had arrived in their trailer. They live across Argonne where I used to live. Terry rides a Turner Burner. We hung out socializing till after dark. I have a little bit of history with the 4 of them.

Sat the 5 of us drove up to where Chisholm crossed the highway for a Horse Thief ride to introduce Terry and Meg to the purpose built trails. Hot day.

Motion caught my eye as I was first in line

Back at camp the sun energy had heated the water in the summer shower to too hot to the touch. My shower methodology is to heat the water in the solar shower them pour the water into the Helio pressurized bladder. It  has a 6′ hose ending in a nozzle like in the home sink. I stepped on the air pump sufficiently for very hot water to spray forth. I took a very hot shower out in the sun. The shower equipment work well.

Another trailer arrived w/ 2 women who are the movers and shakers of this White Rim venture.

Evening winds drove us all to shelter.

Sunday we all headed up to Navajo Rocks to ride my preferred fig 8 loop. More fun getting after it. Kelly and I rode the 2nd loop by ourselves. Kelly is an extremely good climber but backs off on the tech downhill. She’s like 12 years younger. I lead most of the way while I gained distance on the downhills and slight flats and she making it back up on climbs.

Back at the camp we sat outside in the sun then into shade to escape heat. The rest of the White Rim riders arrived during the evening. Winds picked up enough velocity and grit to drive us into Terry and Meg’s trailer. Meg gave each of us a pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. We put our names on the lids and returned the uneaten to the freezer. The winds were strong enough to make Tom and Kelly’s tent perform in place acrobatics. Winds were still howling when they went to bed.

This morning the riders gathered up their sag wagon camping and stuffed into the rigs then headed out. They will be gone for 3 days of riding and 2 nights of camping. Their trailers are in the camp spot which makes for a loud statement of occupancy.

Today I needed to go to to town for water and a shower. Winds abated overnight. Today’s forecast had rain and possible T storms. I lacked get up and go. I stopped at Bar M trail head and went for a non anaerobic ride which I succeeded in. I just putzed on my ride as I kept an eye on the weather which spoke threateningly. I did see a flash of lightning towards Moab. I drove down into town and wet streets. Local rain. I took a shower then bought 2 gallons of filtered water. Next was water tank fill up of Gearheads filtered water. I walked across the side street to City market for groceries. I stopped at Chili Pepper searching for Time pedals as I am not happy with the Shimano XT pedals which take a more concerted effor to clip into. I like Times for their easy clip in and I am comfortable w/ their release. I bought the MX4 which have a pedal platform in addition to the retention mechanism.

I drove back to Willow where rain had fallen. So far I had been avoiding the rain. After warmed left overs rain fell here from a T-storm. Big winds and big rain drops. I am parked down hill from a slick rock patch. There is a drainage linking uphill slick rock potholes down to me then out into the sand. Once the rain quit the flow ceased to run.

Here by myself amid the 2 trailers and an suv.

rain is still forecast albeit lower probability.

I slept one night with the van door open all night because of heat. Tonight it’s back to closed door comfort.