Today rain didn’t fall, sun warmed into upper 40s, gentle breeze, and the wetted rock was not slippery.
Finally a ride. Yesterday might have been a ride but for maybe 10 mins either way. The forecast called for 50% showers. I did my wash in the morning, same place same day, almost same time. I drove out on Dry Creek rd to the Chuck Wagon crossing. The day before I walked a bit out at the Cultural center learning that the dirt was firm and did not stick to my shoes. Chuck Wagon et. al. should be good. I changed my clothes, when dressed I looked to the north up canyon observing a wall of gray. Which way was it moving? I checked the radar image earlier in town which showed no rain. I waited several minutes. The wall approached. OK, what will it drop? Sprinkles, heavier sprinkles, finally all out rain. I watched puddles forming. Rain continued, puddles enlarged. OK, no ride for today. I changed out of my riding clothes and returned them to their respective drawers. I turned to w/ earnest and finished the Da Vinci Code. What an eyeful about christianity. With the last page turned I drove back to Sedona to deliver the read book to Mike who owns The Worm bookstore, formerly of VOC. We engaged in thoughts discussions. He booted me out of his store past closing time.
Last night the Zags played. I watched them at my favorite spot PJs in VOC. They won. I drove out to the empty overlook for the night.
This morning sun beamed down once it cleared the Mongollon rim. Today Floyd performs his annual neatening up of my angora hair. He said that my hair breaks off such that I will never have long hair or beard. I do have a pronounced pattern baldness.
I parked in the Bell Rock Plaza parking lot which is well posted w/ no trailhead parking, towed at your expense. The signs are more serious. I changed into yesterday’s riding gear. I unloaded my bike and set the front wheel in the fork dropouts. I swung my leg over the top tube and pedaled. I ran the gears as well as the brakes and dropper post. Shifting wasn’t happy in that the derailleur didn’t upshift to my easiest gears. Pushed it into the shop. Zack discovered that at the cable replacement fix the clamp bolt was not tightened enough which allowed the shifter cable to slip which lacked the tension to pull the derailleur. Successful shifting.
I headed out. My left knee had been painful while pedaling. I had done some leg exercises that seemed tor educe that pain and I was “eager” to learn if I pedaled pain free. I really didn’t want to learn if the strengthening didn’t help. relieved that almost all the pain was missing. Enough free to continue my ride. My lungs are not keeping up with my legs. I loose my breath quickly. The trails are eroded such that tech rocks are more up out of the ground. Dirt is firm, just small infrequent puddles.
The tech features that I didn’t ride last year remained unridden today. Riding at 4,500′ perhaps requires acclimation. My wind just sucks.
I ran into 3 guys from United Kingdom here for a company get together. They told me this is the 3rd time they have run into me. We visited on the porch at the Bean. Their perspective of trump is the same as mine.
I drove back to West Sedona to take a shower at snap. I am now paying a membership of $53. / month for shower. I grazed at Whole Foods wonderful salad bar then drove out to Deer Pass for the night. My favorite spot was taken.
Tomorrow I will help build a new trail out off Long Canyon.
Sunny days are forecast for the next 3 days. Dry Creek is running. I might find out tomorrow how.