Like a played out clutch.

Days pass and I attempt catch up.

Last was Cottonwood ride in heat and no shade.

Last Thursa=day was a trail care volunteer work morning, this time we worked on the descent of Hiline. We bush bashed after entering a gated community (permission granted). I carried a push broom and shovel. I made it to just above the last drop into the wash. My work was to rehab a social trail that avoided a roll down. Looking up from where I worked was more than enough to just leave Hiline unridden by me. years ago I did ride it on my old Spot. Walking it while looking up it creates a scary image for me.

 

I do not know what to tell the computer to put the pics centered.

Spent time with volunteers and FS people whom I have known for several years. Men gathering to do work and socialize. Push broom eradicates tracks quickly while no leaving tool prints.

Drove back up to Sedona to do wash and wash my body then drove back done to VOC. I stayed out at mp4 in full sun all by myself.

Friday was a ride of my Llama loop. I just poked around enjoying the hot day. Spent the night again out Beaverhead. Catclaw is still  not leafing out there.

Sat was the seasonal finale of trail work, This project was out on Girdner working on the piece that will remain part of the western gateway system. I carried a lopper cutting almost nothing, I gave the lopper a walk. Several rock work projects were completed by others armoring the fall line line. Makes the trail sustainable and gives users a tread they can negotiate which eliminates widening the trail seeking an easier line. My group walked all the way to where Girdner will be rebuilt keeping it out of Dry Creek of which today there are 11 crossing and most of the tread is sand. The trails will be built using categorical exclusion approval per the FS scoping letter but approval has not been granted. Trail work is to start this fall after rains have wetted the dirt.

Spent night in town. Sunday early before the wind event occured I set out from Cultural Park to ride Last Frontier etc. At one time cows were grazed out there as seen by remanats of fence lines. Desert appears healthy.

This is one of my bigger rides at 15.8 miles pedaling 2 hr 16 mins climbing 1587′ Wind came up as the morning progressed. I climbed out Girdner and enjoyed rock work done the day before.

I hung at the Park. I received a text from Charlie from Eagle telling me he and Teresa were in Sedona. Later they joined me at the park. we visited for awhile then made a plan for a sleep spot. Charlie is pulling his portable storage shed loaded with several of his adventure sports, the trailer presents a turnaround challenge so the spot had to have the space. He knew of the overlook and that is where we made our beds. Warm evening with a slight breeze which allowed Charlie and I to sit outside sharing stories.

Today we rode part of the Hogs loop, a route i like. On Llama trail there is an armored climb with gargoyles bordering the pavers to keep traffic on the rocks which makes the tread sustainable. Today there is a go around ridden in to stay off the pavers. What will happen if the go around is used the sand will erode which will lower the tread below the pavers. To me it is frustrating to build and maintain trails to be sustainable then users seek a less challenging line.

Charlie is a very polished rider and for me a joy to watch. Teresa is no slouch.

 

working on sun tan.

Sat. while parked at the Park, I walked back to my van. I noticed a pair of sunglasses on the ground beside my van. Not mine, somebody got a close look at my van. I set the glasses on a rock. Some time later a rig pulled up behind me and a woman asked if I had seen sunglasses. I said yes and showed where they were; they were hers. She thanked me kindly. They got back in their ride but didn’t drive away right a way. Soon she was standing outside my door holding a bag of food which she offered me. Goodies. She said they were flying out and couldn’t take the food. Karma.

Back out to the overlook for the night with Charlie and Teresa. Eat some more of the goodies like olives. Full moon last night.

 

Tues AM I left Beaverhead desert of elevation 3876′ down to Cottonwood at 3300′ to ride with Artist Jan on their local trails.Temp will climb into the 80s. We met at the bike shop. Jan applied her skills on sevreal pieces of creativity for me. She has a lot going on in her life. Sometimes a door opens that opens up another etc which has happened to her. My life is much simpler with less to share. Almost 10 years living on the road by myself and my choice to spend time mostly by myself.

Anyway we pedaled away from the shop thru the park into FS land where the trails are. We rode some of Raptor. I charged Jan to be the navigator. She rides her w/ a friend who does the route finding. Jan and I wandered for a short ride as I figured this would be catching up ride w/ little pedaling. At ride start in town smoke from forest fire tainted the smell. From our perspective we saw the smoke form Rattlesnake fire SE of Show Low.

 

I drove down Main st in Oldtown Cottonwood which is a happening place. Old original buildings give a heritage feeling. Crema ate lobster salad just delicious. Bought Platte Valley corn liquor at only liquor store I have found that carries it. Aged 3 years smooths the taste.

Spent the night in town. Drove out to Cultural park for bfast and hanging till PT treatment. A stiff breeze but no dust in the air was happening outside when i raised my head off my pillow. I sort of planned on riding in the morning cool before PT. I bailed on implementation. PT is working on my shoulder.

Drove back down to VOC, going to spend night out off Beaverhead in full sun but is not as dry as Cottonwood. Still no greening up of the cat claw there.

2 nights ago I scored an old preferred sleep spot right past the overlook. Shorter piece of dirt road but with bigger gulleys. Traffic noise. While there 2 other rigs drove further back. MP4 is still deserted. I park the van with the refrigerator side away from the sun which creates shade for me to sit in outside. No need for awning. Internet there is even less strong.

 

Les drove back to his trailer where he replaced a derailleur pulley then returned to ride what we planned to ride. Introduction to Sedona riding. Was chilly.

On my ride I encountered a rider approaching me. Brief conversation, he said he is from Jersey and he was having a hard time getting his head around the vertical relief. He claimed this is his first vaca in 35 years. We ran into each other again on my Sat ride. He was pedaling mass miles each day. Tourons: short time visit and miles of trails to ride. No time to visit. Pedal pedal pedal. His approach is typical of short timers.

Sat I rode Hogs loop. Temp returned to low 80s. returning on Mystic in full sun is a drainer. Headed back out to Beaverhead solitary camp. Campers crowd the first choices off the road. My spot is a mile further along and is .5 miles off the road. I see traffic but their noise doesn’t reach. warm night with slight breeze. No added heat needed.

So, James Comey had a private dinner with the president. Comey wrote that dinner was shrimp scampi. If it was good enough for them I decided to make my own scampi. So simple to make. Recipe calls for fettuccine. Makes for  manners challenge. It’s like eating salad on a first date: it gets messy.

On Sunday Les and Gloria drove to VOC. I suggested my Llama loop for a better taste of Sedona riding. We started after 10 into rising temp and clear blue skies. We stopped frequently. Water was consumed. Body temps rose.

Ran into Duf and Greg on their Church ride. Later I joined them for post beer and tales.

Greg making it 

Les and Gloria beat feet out of town.

Today is a rest day after riding 6 days in a row.

I have been smearing cannabis cream on my dermatitis  which eradicates the dry flaky skin.

Hot today. I filled the solar shower shortly to be hung on the van hood out at sleep spot. Bit of a breeze for evaporative heat loss.