Primitive camping is away from town and sometimes out of internet signal.The past bunch of days I have been up around Horsethief XG which is out of range but very much in range of great pedaling. I’m parked in front of the FS station under a tree here in town for a short note then back out to Klondike for several days.

Last early evening a squall passed thru, what a spectacle

Just miles of purpose hand built trails. Mix up ride locations for variety although most have miles of exposed bedrock.

More to follow. Off to N end of Klondike trails.

Here at N end of Klondike. got preferred spot, just 3 distant campers compared to plugged Willow Springs. Have 4g 2 bars. I will post this edit to learn of performance. Passed, fast enough.

Thursday I rode the Bar M trails. Great system. easier trails close to the big graveled parking lot with a pit toilet and nasty stuff further away. Deadmans ridge is challenging, I still walk 1 sharp downhill right turn. I did make 2 others for the first time. My skills and learning continue. I listened to Bike James speak about his pedals and pedaling, he is an advocate of standing as it puts the body in a powerful position. I found that with my seat fully up that it was difficult to stand up. I lowered the seat just a skosh such that i could pedal with a bit more than knee friendly stroke which allows me to stand so much easier which translates to pedal up and over stuff because there is power on the pedal which gives balance. Enjoying the big pedals.

Drove into town for a shower and groceries. Then drove up to Horsethief XG which was full as expected. I continued out the road .6 miles to score a road side spot, took a bit of leveling van with leveling blocks.

Friday’s ride was from camp to pick up Chisholm at the XG, this piece was opened last year after I left. It connects to the Navajo Rocks system at Big Lonely. I turned right to Coney Island down to Middle earth and picking up Big Mesa back to the intersection. 23 miles. Coney Island has pieces of old double track turned to loose sand and gently descends.

I walked further out the all weather road about an 1/8 of a mile and turned left, South, on a recognized driving route. I walked a ways, .4 mile to find this great location camp spot to which I moved.

Sat I set out my chair that I cable locked to a juniper bush then stretched the string of traffic cones after I pulled out of the spot. I  hoped for honor from fellow campers to respect that the spot was occupied. I drove out to the highway then up to where Chisholm crosses the highway for the Horsethief trails. Rode Bull canyon again this time better than the last. Something about standing up and momentum. trails here seem to climb 100′ per mile.

Drove back to camp spot that still had the cones stretched across. relief.

Sunday I drove down to Middle Earth to ride the Navajo Rocks loop as a figure 8 so I could ride down Coney Island. I went down on Ramblin, crossed the highway to ride Rocky Tops. I reached Middle Earth trail to connect back to the TH to go down Coney. I changed my mind and rode the sand of Coney, crossed the highway then returned on Big Lonely to Big Mesa. I suppose any way you ride this system it rides well except ride down Ramblin.

One night out at campspot I walked the road out thinking that it tied into another trail returning just down the road from my turn in. Road took awhile before it hooked left to a possible junction. Then I saw a bike path crossing the road. I ended up hiking about 4 miles of newly completed Rodeo trail. tread is just sand as it hasn’t had wet and sun baking firm tread.

Today was a rest day after 4 straight days of riding. I drove back down to town.

My handlebar was 30.5″ wide. I researched new bars including Turner’s bike build site. I decided to have .5″ cut from each end at Chili Pepper which they did. I put on new grips. Tomorrow will be first ride.

While at Chili I saw a familiar face walking into the store, Cashion from Bike Farm in Brevard. Warm visit.

At another bike shop I bought brake pads. As I walked out I saw this guy tug on a T shirt that read OZ Trails. I know those, that’s Arkansas. He lives in the state. I told him about rides that he has never done. In your own state such good stuff then he learns about them here in Moab, UT.

So, have stuff to last for 2 days of riding out here. More EKG.

On Sunday’s Navajo Rocks ride I watched riders. Pay attention to how they relate to their brake levers. The biggest braking tip is to use only your index finger to hook the end of the lever, keep the other fingers on the grips. And always cover the brake levers with fingers at the ready. Such a beneficial method for control.

Monday I rode more of the Klondike system starting about 9 to stay ahead of the forecasted high winds again.Nome trail heads straight up the slab right from the start: no warm up, just punches in the gut heaving against gravity. My breathing or rather lack of it causes very slow speeds and occasional stopping for O2 uptake. Nome connected to Alaska that intersects with Homer, Must be a story as to why the trails have these names. This system has numerous connectors to chose  bails or make it hurt longer. I thought shorter at an intersection but chose to go further. I rode a piece of EKG which must be named after an ekg of a heart as the trail while tending in a direction it climbed and descended  about 300′ of elevation going over slick rock. What a hump out here.

Follow the painted lines on the rock. At intersections posted trail names and a map with present location noted with a smiley face, you made the choice. Posts were attached to the rock by anchoring a collar to the rock then the 4X4 pressure treated post was bolted to the collar. Seems to work as the signs are still in place. Maybe that is because kmtn bikers who use the trails don’t vandalize navigation aids.

10.4 miles climbing 1348′. The painted lines reduce the possibility of a front wheel plant rolling down a blind drop. Nice day. Monday cut down the number of riders, almost all by myself.

BLM has rebuilt the road into an all weather packed gravel. Previously it was over dirt which softened up and turned into a mud bog after rain. Last spring the improvement wasn’t finished  which prevented me from riding here again after the rains. Pleasant improvement.

I packed my stuff up then drove out to the highway. Strong winds again making for constant micro steering adjustments to remain fully in my lane. Speed limit is 65mph which is faster than I drive. Not much traffic. I was boogeying along about 60. I heard an engine noise behind me, surging then quite, I looked in my outside rearview mirror to see the grill of a tractor riding my tail, the surging noise was caused by his speeding up than backing off. I kept  my speed. At the first permitted passing lane I steered over to the outside white line and backed off on my speed to allow the truck to pass. The guy passed me with an empty straight road ahead. As the tractor passed me he swung back into my lane, he was pulling a low boy trailer. He purposely cut me off. Fortunately there is a wide shoulder and no ditch. I controlled hit the brakes and steered to the shoulder escaping his rage. A very near miss caused my rage. I have been driving since 1966, this is the first time I had a driver actually attempt to take me out. That includes driving VW buses. He could not have read my fire the apprentice sticker to fuel his rage.

I made town. Silver and Fit covers the aquatic center for a shower. I bought groceries, filled up water at Gearheads that provides free water, and filled up diesel then drove back up out of canyon out towards Horsethief XG. The XG was full. I drove further out that road and found a camp spot. Windy.

Yesterday I rode from camp spot to the XG to pick up trail that would take me out to Horsethief trails. Wonderful trail system purpose built. I connected to Getaway going down till a short side trail connected with Bull Canyon.

Bull canyon has chunk that worked my suspension and my mind for picking lines. Lots of rock tread. Popular trail that shows its wear in widening and go arounds. I stopped forward progress at Arth’s corner heading back up Getaway.

Rain did not fall. The term for rain that falls from the clouds but evaporates before it hits the ground escapes me. I thought it was spelled Verga but that is a definition for penis.

The trail crosses a maybe 16″ oil pipeline over a stye. I hung at the crossing for a bit startled by occasional metal expansion  contraction sounds.

Last internet reception weather forecast called for rain today and colder temps. Plan today was a rest day to drive into town. My front brake was not furnishing the accustomed stopping power, my thought was it needed to be bled. I stopped at Chili Pepper, my favorite shop, hoping for a one day turn around. Guy stepped up and bled the brake. Viola! Fully functioning front brake that I depend upon.

Moab is very crowded with tourist traffic. Lots of mountain bikers. I checked out 2 river XGs hoping for an empty spot which would save me from driving back up out of the canyon  to Willow Springs which is about 9 miles out of town. No empty spots. I drove out to Willow Springs and scored my favorite spot on the rocks. Rain and wind and cold of 44 degrees. Furnace is running. Too nasty to hike on the rocks.

Forecasted temps are to ride during the week along with sunny skies.

Yesterday I cleaned the screen, fan blade, and the cover of the Fantasticfan removing crud. Nice view looking up.

Spoke with a Sprinter driver yesterday who did a home conversion. He was short of time or of me such that time was short to learn of his effort. he did tell me that he installed a hydraulic bed lifter which raised the double bed up to the van’s ceiling. he did loose head clearance. Steve sent me a link to the system. Ain’t saying I am looking into the system but I did think about doing the same but I never found a built system. These cargo vans are so cool as what you buy is volume then you figure how you want to displace that volume.

Looking into buying Formula’s new brake,Cura, but can’t find a US seller.

wind died down after sunset. Comfortable night needing the furnace just before crawling out of bed. I lay in bed awake for a short while listening to my body. Enough is enough as I heave myself upright and swing my legs over the edge of my bunk, bunk as my bed is only 30″ wide. I sit for a bit bolstering my courage to put weight on my body. Enough is enough. I stand then begin the task of changing the bedroom into the kitchenette. Forecast for today had more wind becoming stronger in the afternoon. Ride plan was out and back early to beat the winds. I made scratch blueberry pancakes as I had finally found a smaller container of buttermilk. I cooked them on my new stovetop griddle, so  much better than the big skillet.

Others were out earlier than me as I looked out the front window while still in pajama bottoms

On the drive in I observed a new out house at the closer to the highway TH. I checked it out

I rode the easier trails here for warm up before return on Dino tech trail.

The return trip on Dina had the wind at my back mostly.

2 riders passed me on Dino, later I passed them. Back at the van they rode up to me. Turns out Steve is from Sedona who had seen me around down there but never caught me. He did today.

windy again sometimes sending up a dust storm. The inside of the van has been dusted by fine powder.

Tomorrow is to be cooler with winds. I will ride early then drive back to town.

Weekend traffic. Out here at N end of Klondike there are only 2 other rigs. Lots of empty space.

The paradox of becoming really famous attracting all kinds of people and locals building the trails. Don’t know the reason riders rode in the wet clay forever casting their tire ruts in the dried clay. New human species: Homo sapiens subspecies: mountain biker, sub sub species: horibulus, named such for their damage to the trail. Approaching riders did not understand keeping single track single as they rode sometimes off trail while I was stopped with my wheels still on the trail.