Reflection on significance of the date. My dad would be 91, he saw the tail end of the war. Very few vets alive today. Those were facts.
Last night I slept a bit up the hill at a place where Swami North crosses. Temp dropped enough to need only the single down blanket layer. I’m here again tonight.
Ride plan for today was to start about 9AM planning on finishing at lunch before the heat of the day of turned out to be 85 degrees. I rode right from my van dropping down Swami to the lower parking lot. Three ranch rigs attached to horse trailers populated the lot. Glad I chose to sleep elsewhere. I previous visits I stayed in the lot as the lower trail crosses the lot which allowed me to interact with other riders. Today I only shooed cows that blocked my way. I climbed up the canyon to the mesa on the trail which is down tight to a small stream and is actually a cow path. Lots and lots of cows.
At 2 places I heard insect wings rubbing creating a ruckus. Black thumb sized black things flying all over. There were cicadas, not the same batch as the 17 year locust, maybe so, only time I have ever seen this kind of quantity was a 17 year hatching when I lived at home in Ohio.
Dry Gulch showed no mountain bike tire tread marks. The trail exited the canyon onto the same road that I am parked off of. Picked Rockstar continuing up on the mesa. I came upon this small fenced in enclosure. It is a control site for grazing analysis.
On Upper Sugarloaf finally the trail was not desirable to cows, went over lots of exposed bedrock.
Long hot ride fully exposed. desert sage. Up higher lupine were blooming sending their sweet smell to my inquiring nose. 85 degrees full sun. I had parked the van at a favorable orientation for shade in the afternoon. I hung the rest of the day in the shade. Water temp in the solar shower needed to be cooled before washing. Again, daylight till 9:22.
Park City wrap up:
On Saturday I stopped in Heber City for groceries planning on spending 2 days camped at Jordanelle. That was the only XG I researched. It was full. Plan B. I visited local bike shop for ride info and sleep spot. I picked Coyote Trail above the lake. Making built lessened the pain of climbing. A rider stopped because he recognized me. I recognized his voice, it was Jeff whom I know from OTE in Hurricane. A maybe 22 mile loop was possible by riding to top of mesa then dropping down to the trail that would go back to the start. I gave up before I topped out on the mesa. It became an up and down ride.
On the way back there were several short climbs. When I pedaled my bike made a nasty sound that was pedal induced. Bothersome, the noise was like finger nails on the blackboard. Back at the TH I loaded up quickly, not even a post ride recovery drink to drive back to the bike shop before closure. I deduced that noise is from the rear hub. The shop was still open. Eric went over what could be causing the sound which agreed with my assessment. He said that the trail dust here is really fine that will work into tight spaces. He suggested to rinse off the chain and check it out. Wet chain eliminated the noise. Cool. Later that evening I applied new dose of Squirt.
Bike shop told about FS land way up the way for primitive camping if I accepted engine work going up and brake wear back down. The road was paved that just climbed past all this fenced private property. I drove thru a snow patch. Pavement ended right at the FS boundary at an empty corral and a family camped. Just around the bend snow pack blocked the road. camped at 9,000′.
After my dinner the family came over the mother packing a plate of their food. I have not eaten beef or pork since 1981. I asked if meat was included, yes she said. I apologized for my not taking their food.
Sunday the drive down was smooth and speed controlled as I used the brakes like I was riding my bike.
Sunday I drove over to Wasatch SP XG. Check in isn’t until 3. Learned that empty sites were available last night. I did call the park but the camp office never answered and I did not want to waste time to find the XG full.
Then at McCoy Corral after dark this huge gathering of like razors showed up. Lights and party lights drove by.
Today during my ride that sound reoccurred. Back at the van I called Chip at Sun Summit South to make a repair appointment to service the hub. He’s booked out 10 days. I met Chip back in 1990 on a trip thru Wood River Valley in my VW Westy Synchro. Back then I was riding an AMP B4 and he was a service shop.
Weather forecast is for temps in upper 80s and flood warnings from rapid snow melt out. Chip said that local trails are still under snow or newly formed lakes. Deep snow pack. I drive up there tomorrow to visit with Steve.
Appreciate significance of date much and appreciate service of your father. We are fortunate to still have my dad around – he was in the war, two purple hearts, captured at Battle of the Buldge, Prisoner of war for a year, slave laborer, liberated on Christmas Day. Came back to states, married, GI Bill… – just turned 93.