Spent the night out at Beaverhead spot, snow was clear of the track. 

The side door was and will soon be back to being my primary in and out. The ;latch parts are on their way, maybe by weekend. I figured how to engage the lock from the inside and I can lock the driver’s door so my van is locked up, as tight as a rock thru a window is. So, to use the side door from the inside I unlock and exit the driver’s door then walk to the unlock side door and open it. To lock up I lock the driver’s door then engage the lock mechanism from the inside and slide the door shut. This lock plays well with the key. A work around. Need to make arrangements with shop to wrestle the thing in.

I have no evidence but my own conservative trail care view to not ride in probable possible freeze thaw mud here. Decided Fri night to drive down to Black Canyon Trail at Bumblebee, plan was to drive down the dirt road to find a sleep spot then access the trail which is above the road. Road is quite popular with internal engine crowd. Picked first open place right on a gas pipeline where there was a clearing for a line valve access. Level and legal, at least no sign was seen. Other places were trashy with broken glass, some litter, and filled with gas crowd. Chilly, windy. Wore sleeveless mid weight merinowool under a mid weight full on merino wool jersey under a wind shell, knee socks, knee warmers, regualr shorts and gloves. A christmas gift to OTE helped me see my way to purchasing a pair of Smith glasses that provide way more eye coverage which I hope will prevent my eyes from tearing. Geared up, check then pump air into tires. I pedal a bit at the TH running thru the moveable able things checking their performance. Check check, wrong: seat dropper is back to almost as slow as ist go. ***** I need the seat to move under my command like right now. I rode like the post was fixed, only lowering it and waiting for it to return at the most demanding spots. Started out pedaling uphill on road. Humph, the engine is sluggish. Umph some more. Picked up the trail at the top of the nasty each way, some hike a bike on return is derigor. My engine was really struggling. I planned on turning around at Bloody Basin, plans change: I promised myself to pedal for an hour before turning around. Like 60 mins and 15 secs. 6 miles climbing 922′. Started down picking up speed faster than my uphill. I sensed that I was hearing a soft tire. I stopped and checked: rear wheel was considerably soft, not yet flat. Searched the tire seeing no white Stans seeping. Pumped the tire. A previous christmas gift gave to me a neat Lyzene minifloor pump. Makes the pumping much easier and no possibility of snapping a valve stem which is bad. Rode some more, stopped and resqueezed the rear tire. Soft. Pumped way air in pedaling paying more attention to no pointy rocks. I pedaled the road back instead of the nasty hike a bike. Horses have been using the trail. Trail tread is broken loose rock.

Back at the van I checked the tire : no indication of a leak. I pulled the valve core then injected a 2 oz bottle of Stans. The valve core stem was slightly bent which didn’t allow the nut part to completely pull down the inside part which blocks air escape. I think the valve was the issue but more Stans just adds weight and security against the maybe bigger holes. And I screwed on a valve cap to protect the stem.

My phone rang but I ignored it per usual. Rang again, ignored again. I hear voice shouting perhaps my name? I look around finally to the trail above and see 2 riders. I check my phone, a message from Jimmy, I call him: It’s he and Christine above on the trail. Cool. They drove down to join when they finished. What a happenstance.

Spent the night. My engine lacked its let’s go ride vibe, no ride day. I drove back to VOC. Ran into a bunch of local riders who were heading out for a 12 ride. Exchanged welcomes. Drove down to PJs to socialize, watch some Seahawks football and drink a beer. Greeted familiar faces. Didn’t connect. Drove out to Beaverhead.

Forecast for today last night was 100% probability of 1 to 3″ of snow starting at 11. Today my plan was to get up and get gone by 9 to drive up to west Sedona to buy propane, grocery shop, get water, then ride like Skywalker and finish before predicted snow. Started snowing heavily just after 1st stop. No ride. Bought groceries. Plan was to drive to Uhaul place and hang out. Snowing. Sedona OTE was on the way, their parking lot was empty. Score. I walked in and told the dropper tale. Said they could get after it, bring it in. Wrench pulled the post apart and determined that the cable was still too long which did not open the valve to make the post move. He shortened it and now it is back to rocket launch speed.

Snowing heavily and building up. Turned onto 89A heading to Uhaul. Traffic became backed up stop shortly. Road surface was wet with packed firm snow wheel tracks. Many minutes later I turned into Old Sedona snow covered parking lot, several blocks short of Uhaul. Get a spot off the jammed road. Worked out as I watched some bowl football and a basketball game for 2 beers worth. Traffic was stopped at Airport drive: no downhill into town. Pink Jeep tours ran aground at WholeFoods till the traffic started moving. The road became passable allowing me to finish my drive to Uhaul spot. Maybe strong 3″ of snow fell. I took a walk picking up a piece of Airport trail snow covering up the basalt rock tread. Walked into a neighborhood, I walked down a maybe 6% snow covered street where 3 young kids were giving sledding a whirl. Only people I saw out playing.

Snow will melt into the ground, temp will be below freezing and above during the day creating freeze thaw mud. No riding.

Zags game on XM.

In this year I rode 2830 miles on 212 rides. about 13 miles average. 

Wed AM I packed up the tent, so to speak, then turned the van southwards to Sedona. Along the way I drove thru melting patches of snow before Jacob Lake. Once down from 7900′ it was all sunshine, clear road and wind. Made Sedona late afternoon. I stopped in west Sedona to drop off my new pair of pants to be hemmed, washed the ice melt off the van, stopped at the Worm to buy a book and learn if overnight parking permission was still in effect. yes, still granted. Leaving there I joined the traffic back up going down Cook’s Hill. Traffic backs up at the Y, I spent prolly as much time getting down the hill to the Oak Creek crossing than I did driving the 6 miles to namesake community. The traffic heading into town was way backed up. Holiday season for a whole lot of visitors. Just lots of people. And more are coming with additional beds being built.  Caught Tony leaving the Bean at quitting time. Grocery shopped at the former Webers IGA which was sold to Clark’s Market who renovated the store which seems still like a pig’s ear trying to be a silk purse. It’s like a 2nd world grocery store in a first world community. 

I then headed out to Beaverhead flats looking for a sleep spot. The first 2 spots were occupied, I continued on to the second road which was empty and the dirt track was passable. Brief exam on vegetation displayed no recovery from previous year drought. Cow manure had returned to dust.

Still chilly at night. Ran the catalytic heater because it works and I wanted a degree of comfort. Yesterday was my appointment at RV shop to clean the Propex orifice so that it will be my heat source. Shop cleaned the partially occluded orifice which made the furnace happy when turned on. They also fixed the frige circulating fan. I am now warmer and my food is better chilled.

Yesterday was laundry day. Google returned the only laundromat in Camp Verde where the repair shop is. Poor reviews. Driving to Sedona laundromat would be a traffic problem. Place was a dump with many machines out of order. Customers appeared to be less well off than me. I understand that the establishment owner needs to make money, and maybe they don’t make enough to keep the place fixed up. However, to me it is a disservice to be a junky place for less fortunate people.

The newly installed door latch broke in the same places, I can not open the side door from the inside. I removed it then applied super glue to the breaks. Didn’t take hold. I figured out how to at least lock the door from the inside and the key still opens the door. My deduction is that the mechanical latch assy is damaged such that more effort than the plastic latch handle can move. I did research to identify the latch and web search for purchase. Found an on line store in RI that can get OEM parts and I placed an order for same. be here after the first. My door management is I leave thru the driver’s door go around and open the side door from the outside and leave it open just before the latch catches. I lock the driver’s door from the inside as the key won’t lock from the outside, I throw the lock on the slider then shut it. My van is now locked up. I now believe that the latch mechanism was failing before my temper slamming the door.

Last night back out at same spot. Forecast called for possible snow and cold. Snow started falling before bed time then quit before getting into bed. The dirt track has several sketchy spots that might not be negotiable for my van which is a big concern for this spot. 21 degrees at wake up, 50 degrees inside, did not make freeze thaw slippery mud which allowed normal egress.

This AM Floyd neatened my hair and beard. I like him because he is a good beard trimmer. I see him 2X while here: first is right away, and second just before I leave. This year it lasted 8 months.

More snow moving in. Didn’t ride today as I suspect muddy trails and I do not have to ride that badly. I looked at Black Canyon forecast which is for above freezing and sunshine. I will prolly go down there tomorrow for an overnight.

Reestablishing contacts. Picking up on their happenings.

Internet connection sucks out at Beaverhead. I am parked in VOC with 3 bar 4G.

Occasional light sprinkles fall upon me parked at the upper Jem TH. Parking area surface is crushed red pumice dirt sufficient coverage to stay above clay dirt that when wet is sticky slippery mud. Yesterday’s forecast called for 70% chance of showers which started while still in bed. I deemed the road out will be firm enough for uneventful drive out. Fixed french toast on my griddle, pure maple syrup, cold brew coffee I make from River Rock roasters that is built right to the cliff edge of Virgin River in La Verkin. I provisioned myself to stay here all day if wanted to. Rain changed riding from here. I needed to return the DVD Ken Burns Vietnam to library in town. Decided to drive down to town to drop off the DVD. Not a business was opened. Gas stations with card readers were open and fueling customers. I put thought then effort to ride Church Rocks as the tread is mostly sand or sandstone. Drove to where the dirt road left for the TH. I waited. I did some online stuff. I could see to the SW prevailing weather: dark low clouds, low ceiling. Hmm. No ride. waiting for a sucker hole then maybe change mind. I might have been able to ride in the dry in a hole, maybe. Vaped a bowl which perked me up. Yes I can. Before I could take action a strong sprinkle fell. It was a sign. A rest day inside, not even a walk. Drove back thru town then up to same spot. Road in was firm, seems only tracks were mine leaving. Sprinkles continue to fall off and on. Dark, no celestial bodies light.

Last Friday a weld shop repaired my JOBOX by straightening it and welding a new hinge on. I emptied the box on his sidewalk. I drove across the street and parked in a vacant lot. The Propex heater seems to be plugged again rendering it only potential when unplugged. I slithered under the van and removed screws to access the firebox and orifice. I chickened on removing the orifice so I screwed the plate back in place. Running the catalytic heater, much prefer the forced hot air blower noise Propex. called  shop in Camp Verde who last year did the unplugging. Appointment at 9 on Thurs. 

My fork was serviced at OTE: new seals and oil, and rebuild of damper assy for first time in its almost 3 year life. The charger cartridge in my KS LEV dropper developed a slight drop when sat upon, diagnosis: remove and replace. Parts ordered. Work performed: dropper took too much weight to go down and almost couldn’t get out of its own way when rising. Told it was grease and speed will return. I rode later forcing my thumb into the lever to drop then waiting for slow return. That night I watched a KS service video. No grease was used. Problem deduced is the valve is not opening sufficiently to pass gas. Told shop my suspicion. New service to tighten the internal cable to open the valve. Fixed. Close to $200 bill.

Drove down to Santa Clara from camp s[pot elevation 4281′ to 2800′ to ride Barrelroll etc. I park at the bottom then ride up a social trail that climbs up to TH, about 1.2 miles, climbing right out of the box. Hump. I ride in 3rd largest cluster gear which is 36T which I enjoy being easier than the 32T of the 42T cassette. Learned how hard I worked. I still have 42 and 46T. I have been pedaling bigger gears on Hurricane cliffs rides. Trails here are more technical different rock that description fails me. I am riding better the problems I have made and better attempting some that I should be able to make. Workout. Nice day. Maybe 10 other riders, actually was acquainted to 4 of them.  Sure nice functioning dropper.

Yesterday I stopped at OTE. Plan was to buy  a pair of Smith glasses which size wise are close to a shield. My eyes tear in colder temps or at faster speeds. Bought preferred rose colored lens which lets in more light and my eyes are visible which is important to me.

Drove out to Quail Lake SP area to ride Lakeside and over to the Boy Scout trails on the other side of the lake. Lakeside is like 2.8 miles each way, total time was 57 mins. Puts distance into perspective. Carved into steep mountain(?) side right above the highway, impressive layout and execution. hard ride. Next was connector Twist and Shout over to another Lakeside  trail to connect to Cub Scout trail which is a different technical flavor. I walked when my engine lacked the power to complete an uphill move or the degree of difficulty exceeded my ability. I walk what I need to.

No pics to add.

Living in the desert where I am the tallest thing around until another rider shows up. No water, no trees. In years past a rancher has run cows here on the Hurricane Cliffs. Not here this year. There are no grazing plants. Drought.

Tomorrow customer focused liquor laws. PJs for Gonzaga games. Whole Foods. More red rock desert. 

Last summer I was invited to join Jeff and friends to ride OLeary ridge above McKenzie Bridge. He sent a utube of part of the ride. I attempted to add a link to it, Check out links, Labeled Oleary ride.

10 years living in this van. Earlier I read several web articles on van life. Rookies but they are on the right path. Articles on essentials, some just 10. Writers pick what they view as essential. I could make a spread sheet to learn commonalities. I have most of what I need from their choices or my version of same. I built out my van back in ’06-07 when like only Sportsmobile web site for knowledge was available. My Dad liked to sail which introduced me to sailboat cruising: little space. Backpacking experience added. I have adjusted to what I have and finding what I need like water, propane, and groceries. I buy food that I can prepare in my galley on a 2 burner propane counter stove using either a Crusett 2 quart dutch oven, a skillet, a griddle, or a small saucepan. Dishes are enameled metal. I do use a hand thrown clay mug, this one is less than a year old as I write the purchase date on the bottom. I just like hand made. XM radio for human connection.

Door latch handle arrived Friday. car shop screwed it in place. I now have a working side door. Gentle opening is needed as the latch is vulnerable to breaking under hard load. Curb my temper.