Beautiful winter day in the desert

Another cold night. I ran the catalytic on medium and it stayed on. I slept under the sleeping bag again. In the morning I could see my breath. During the night the CO detector went off. I keep the passenger window cracked about 3 inches and the roof vent cracked open. The detector has gone off in the past reporting questionable reading so I am suspicious of the alarm. I opened the side door a good ways and turned the roof fan on high for, OK, almost a minute but the detector was not satisfied. I disconnected a wire shuting it off and crawled back under the covers. I didn’t sleep all that deeply as I wondered if I really had a CO atmosphere. Dunno. Today I am venting more hoping to have good air all night.

Today at 8:10 AM it was 13 degrees outside and 41 inside. This is what the windshield does to water vapor

Sunlight intensified to melt the ice before I drove away.

I have been having an espresso drink at River Rock coffee roasters in LaVerkin. Also inside flush toilet. I buy coffee from the store.

Dolly was wrestling with state agencies which delayed her arrival time. She arrived. We headed out on Prospector connecting to Church Rocks loop returning back the way we came. I rode across the sand wash where I fell 2 years ago, Dolly moves along. Just a beautiful winter day under cloudless skies, no wind and in the 50s. It was OK to stop

Cell phone and connection and problems are resolved.

Incredible open views

I showed Dolly a trail in her local back yard. She is a short time local. Enjoyable ride.

Back at the van I replaced the chain on my bike. I retired it at 330 miles. New chain did not skip pedaling the flat parking lot.

I drove out to the state liquor store away from town, nearest store, and bought a 6er of Moose Drool in cans, my preference. $1.88 a piece for $11.28 plus .72 tax. $12 for a 6 pack. It’s in the fridge chilling. Which brings up the fridge and its erratic temp swings. Per the thermometer inside it will swing from like 20 to 40 degrees and repeats. Haven’t pinned the data to analyze. The blueberries thaw and refreeze.

Cleaned up.

My phone dislodge from my unlatched holder on my handlebar. Landed on screen protector cracking it in 2 places. I stopped at the Verizon store in Hurricane which is where I bought it last year and worked with the salesman that sold it to me. No screen protectors in any local stores. He is ordering.

Back out at JEM TH. Burning the catalytic. Dolly is picking me up and driving us out to ride Wire Mesa.

Freehub mag contacted me to write an article about van camping which I did and it was printed. I think about camping or more appropriately sleeping spots. I seek a spot that meets my needs for safety, able to level out, easy driving access, out of traffic, and those kind of things. I just need a spot to fix dinner, sleep, do breakfast, then move on. I have slept over cow shit, the van don’t care. For me find a spot is like a task, find spot check off chore list. My life is like a chore list. I ride because I can when conditions are endurable; the ride occupies time while I get exercise and stimulation. My life is way better than drinking a spoonful of cod liver oil. Here in Hurricane I stay at the upper JEM TH parking lot. Excellent views and no traffic as it is a dead end. It works.

Friend Steve gift certificated me again at Over the Edge here. Thanks Steve. I bought Smith riding glasses which have better eye protection than my Rudis. My eyes tear in chilly temps. Today I tested and passed the glasses.

Riding clipless is foreign and uncomfortable after riding flats. On Wed I will be back on flats.

Van turned 200,000 miles.