Sometimes you might have to look under that rock or read between the lines. I needed a subject and that is what I came up with.
So, socializing and or slow internet speed retards my recounting of my experiences or thoughts.
My family moved to a 900 person village of Lucas, Ohio from big city of Mansfield. I went to a high school named Malabar after a Pulitzer prize winning author Louis Bromfield’s farm,he lived in the Lucas area, before zip codes or area codes, prolly still had green stamps then. Award winning novel is Early Autumn bought from the Worm where I sleep in the back parking lot sometimes for city camping. Published in 1926 almost 100 years ago. I am 68. Looking forward to experiencing Bromfield’s work. Heck, we even had Johnny Appleseed who ran from east of us to west to Mansfield to warn the settlers that Indians were on the warpath. Settlers took shelter in the block house. I was a boy scout camper for 4 summer 1 week camps then worked 2 summers on the aquatic staff, camp name: Johnny Appleseed. The JR high school shared the same name. Paul Bunyan and Babe the blue ox were somewhere else. Bromfield arrived later. He wrote on agriculture studying his farm, Malabar.
Free typewriter rambling.
Jeff, whom I met in Fruita and Moab, is here in Sedona. I joined him and new bud, Jon, for 2 rides and 2 nights of camping out off 525 road. I drove out there Friday. 525 is stutter bumped from lots of traffic including the little 4×4 rigs just blew by me. Spur rd to their spot was 1 round trip for me to further the life of my van. Had shade. Sat outside under moon light Fri night. Sat we piled into Jeff’s rig for the drive into town to ride Skywalker etc. Lots of parked rigs along camp spots. Beaverhead has less campers cpmpeting with fewer spots and is still my go to spot. But the rancher is running cows again. The spot I select has no new cow pies. Anyway we parked in Sunset Park. I guided from way back to ride Old Post, Skywalker, Scorpion, ramshead, Ridge, Sketch, then back to Ridge home. My breathing is giving me less and less effort. Scorpion rides better downhill as gravity is the engine for rolling over the basalt blobs. Steve, I have ridden that first climbing turn now twice: pedal pedal pedal. The ride was 10.5 miles pedaling 1 hr 30 mins climbing 1141. Heart rate data was average 120 max of 141. In perspective: my theoretical aerobic max is 132bpm. My resting pulse is in upper 50s. OK, I spent 17 mins above. I work myself, not abuse, I get worked.
received a text invite for a group ride on Sunday down at VOC. I carefully drove the nasty until pavement. The parked cars alongside the road for Devils Bridge hike was the longest yet I have seen. Most of the hikers from those rigs hike the road instead of single track Chuck Wagon which we ride. Duf, Greg, Dave, Kyle, and me way off the back. Climbed rabbit ridge which is a gentle climb mostly below grade, narrow, and moveable rock smaller than a squash ball. First time with the RUNT suspension tune from Diaz Suspension which made the ride so much less hash fork compressions. Duf has one also, we both agree how much our ride is improved. As much as rabbit can be less onerous. Then descent the Waterfall for hike a bike pieces for me. I rode more this time than ever. All by ourselves except for a hiker and her dog. She asked if we knew that this was an equestrian trail. Multi use, even a hiker rarely. There are red rock mounds which is usually the tread. Sometimes steep lines have been pioneered. We stopped at the Wall of Death rolls. Kyle rode Wall of Death, Duf rode I think Certain Wall of Death. I helped him lift his bike back up the face.
I split off on HT for back to the barn. I perceived my limit by splitting instead of continuing on planned ride.
Headed out to Beaverhead. first camp spot is now occupied by an RV that was parked near the water trough that was told to move because of the recently located cows. At the trough was the guy with the trailer who had a lock on the preferred spot. I kept going to the vacant spot I choose. I stayed there all day yesterday reading and a short hike. Rancher then FS stopped at guy’s trailer who wasn’t there to prolly move. Must have left a note on the rig. I watched, yep he moved.
Today I drove up to west Sedona to ride and a shower and a new book. Before 9 beats the crowds. I visited with Mike then rode out to ride the Soldier Wash trails, before adoption, Secret Trails. Now established trails are routed and mapped while there are prolly some lesser used social trails. That climbing turn on Anthill still stumps me still after 3 goes at it. Javelina downhill is still a hoot. Enjoyable and challenging trail system with expensive homes built to the FS boundary line. So close in but has experience of being way away.
Cold shower at snap. the 2 shower rooms were occupied. One door opened as a woman walked out. I was blasted by the hot steam from the shower. 2nd time for this woman. This time the hot water ran out. Got wet then soaped up then short spray of cold water to rinse.
Crazy: a voice mail from Hubie. We were students in a Boeing training class back in 1980. Then he called me this afternoon. Our class was 3 months long which allowed several of us to become buddies. He just retired after 35 years. I was jettisoned after 22 years.
Parked at the Worm.
I carry my camera on every ride, however I hardly take pictures. Riding by myself I just pedal, riding with others I am pedaling to catch up. The scenery remains jaw dropping spectacular that i have scads of previously taken pics. My explanation for few pics shared here.