- Tuesday night was another cold one behind the Worm. I checked heater results between to catalytic and the furnace: results were almost identical. The furnace seems to be happy again firing up when the control sends the give me heat signal. It needs electric to run the blower which produces a white noise. Now that days are getting longer creating more solar gain the battery storage is sufficient from sunshine to sunshine gain. It produces a dry heat in that it is only heating recycled interior air. It is thermostatically controlled although in this cold it never reaches shut off temp. The catalytic is quiet, uses no electric, produces the same BTUs. However, it produces water vapor which makes for a humid climate and is controlled only by fuel valve open amount like cruise control.It is quiet except for faint spitting sound. I choose the furnace as go to heat source.
Wed around noon the van was turned back over to me. The shop replaced the EGR valve then test drove it. I gave them my debit card then they turned me loose. So far the fix was in. This Nov will mark the van’s 12th ownership day, presently 216,xxx miles have been rolled over. I worry about the van dying. I seek service treatment and examination along the way. Preventative maintenance to ease my concern.
I walked taking a slower look along 89A in west Sedona. Lots of shops tucked away. Tourist economy. 89A is just plugged with traffic reminding me of commutes that were not caused by a tourist economy. Think Puget Sound.
Thursday morn I drove the long way around but speedier route thru Cornville to volunteer trail work up by the HS. This day the crowd size was intimate as maybe 8 volunteers and 4 FS staff. I sought Sedona trail build method knowledge from Phil. WOTUPO: water off, tough up, people on. I have concern that there is better trail layout and build knowledge with some locals than there is with the FS. There does not appear to be a control over what the FS does. One is an artist and the other is an employee. We worked on Skywalker, dropped down Old Post and climbed out on Herkiham. Skywalker is 2 years old and is holding up pretty well. I had noticed the trail was cupping which is prolly normal when on dug dirt tread. Water erodes and needs to be managed. Cupping eliminates the original outslope construction which directed water off the trail. Water no sheeting off the trail might run the trail perhaps in time creating a ditch in the tread. Last summer I worked on Fox Creek at Ketchum which became what I described. We cut in drains and broke the outsloped edge. I did not want to see thus happen here. I used a new Rogue hand tool that performed 5 functions in one tool, the blade is connected to a straight shovel handle. I established several drains on Skywalker then opened up clogged ones on the 2 older trails. Old the old trails where the sediment was dropped was obvious, I opened them up to hasten the water off. I am happy that I helped prolong the health of these trails. My shoulder does not like hoe work.
Weekly laundry then a shower. Clean sheets and clean body makes for a great sleep.
Last night I claimed a bar stool under a big screen TV to watch the Zags. Nail biter. Zags finally took control with about 5 mins remaining for the win. Conference play last game is at BYU on Sat which is also a TV station PJs receives. Bar stool again. Spent night at deserted paved overlook as I can count on a sleep spot and I am able to drive away after a rain event. Furnace ran all night.
Today forecast calls for 70% probability of snow showers, chilly and breezy. I am not riding today, maybe a walk later.
This weekend is the mountain bike festival. I work Fri noon at the VVCC booth swapping cash for beer coupons. Volunteering. Lots of visitors, lots of rigs with mountain bikes attached to them. Trails will be crowded such that I will prolly not ride. This weekend is the Film Festival. The movie viewers rigs will not be as readily identifiable but their number will exceed mtn bikers.