About Even

For doors that is. A week ago last Friday the door latch on the side door, my main entrance exit door, broke leaving a manipulation of the latch to open the door. I googled door handle, end result of research was the latch broke. I ordered a replacement that arrived last Friday. That day I made an appointment at a local shop with previous experience for today. Success: remove 2 screws, remove latch, insert new one connecting to latch mechanism, replace 2 screws, then open the door. Latch opens now as it should. Behavior modification: in the week that the latch sort of functioned I adopted kneeling in front of the latch and push out on the door as I gingerly opened the latch. Now that it is back to normal I caught myself several times going thru the adaptive steps. They also tightened the parking brake cable such that it engages full on short pull to allow height clearance for swiveling chair.

So about even. 2 years ago at a primitive campsite on the LoViT trail in Arkansas I backed into a tree full on relocating the Jobox and door. In Sedona a buddy weld repaired the broken hinge which held until tonight when the door fell off the box. I can place the door in the frame then throw the latch which locks the door onto the box. Not a show stoper yet but getting this door fixed.

Last week freeze thaw mud happened on the upper JEM and Dead Ringer trails. Sticky clay dirt. Just don’t ride. Those guys continued down the trail leaving perhaps a half mile of slithering tracks. Just maybe it will get better.

Sat night the temp dropped below freezing, in the morning frost was on the ground. I waited and waited some more for sunshine to dry the mud. A rig pulled in with two riders who rode out a ways on Dead Ringer. Short time later they returned. I watched them scrape off their muddy shoes. Their bikes were a mess of mud clogged wheels. I stopped them on their way out, they rode maybe a 1/12th of a mile before turning around. later on we ran into each other at Church Rocks. Their bikes were clean as they washed the mud off before this dry ride.

I waited long enough to ride on firm as seem by my dry tires.

Last Thurs wash day I hung only 1 day’s worth of riding clothes.

Sat I drove down to Santa Clara to ride Barrel Roll etc. I was curious to the number of riders on a sunny beautiful riding day. Maybe 15 riders during my ride up Precipice, to Sidewinder up and down then barrel roll loop.

Last Wed at my PT session the PT evaluated my forearm pain as coming from a nerve that involves my right shoulder which has 2 tendons torn from the bone. He gave me 2 exercises and stretches for my shoulder which will quiet the forearm nerve pain. I have been complying such that my shoulder is almost pain free and the nerve pain is almost gone. I am so happy to be pain free. I can almost lift a pint of beer with my right arm.

Sheep Bridge  above Hurricane connects to Virgin to the north, gravel road, first road out of town for primitive camping on BLM land. This year the BLM  established official campsites noted by a sign post and metal fire ring. I tried one tonight, Gone are the camp spots that were right off the road, replaced by newly carved out ones requiring a sturdy rig to navigate the rough jeep single track. Gone perhaps are the big motorhomes.  

I rode Prospector Church Rocks on Sunday to ride at a lower elevation and on mostly sand tread. Another nice day wearing knee socks and a new light weight Merino wool jersey. Just toasty. My sun tan is pasty white.

On Sunday the Zags played Tenn who beat them on a last second 3 pointer on XM. Zags fell to 4th in rankings.

I bought a new down blanket to replace the existing one that seemed to have lost its loft. First night underneath it I relished the warmth of the lofting down. And maybe just below freezing at night. Last night was upper 30s with the furnace on I became too warm under the double thickness which I freed from attached snaps to slide off my bed. Back to comfort. I am looking into a gel infused memory foam topper to replace the topper presently sleeping on.

Maxxis Minnion DHF 2.5 WT tires are selling for $80 down here. I believe I paid $42 back in Bentonville.