Forecast is not fake news because it hasn’t happen yet. NOAA is forecasting several inches of snow over the next 2 days. Today graepel fell several times during my hike of Girdner existing and reroute. taste of what is said to come. Sleeping at uhaul to access better living if roads become snow covered. Suspense of what will fall from the sky.

Last night slept at overlook as it is paved and desert is still too wet. I walked a piece of the road to check out other spots. way muddy. Just before I turned into road of past favorite spot a van pulled in and drove back to site. As I approached I heard voices. Several days prior I bushbashed across the desert and checked the site out. They have homesteaded it. They will be snow bound soon.

sat was another volunteer trail work day out in the western Gateway system. Today we finished the trail, Outer Limits, officially opened.

Chilly blustery day. Weather forecast called for precip mostly after 11. Work was finished at 12 with no precip. I walked back to my van and changed out of my work clothes. I watched a snow squall blow in which dumped a bit of the same pellet snow. I waited, the clouds blew over, sunshine appeared. Hmm. I changed into bike clothes then headed out to ride the newly completed trail. Outer Limits is 2.8 miles long, it climbs 485′ from the creek to the TH. The trail usurps former Draino at the start to avoid private property. It does cross Draino, which has now been named Ledge n’ airy, part of Draino was adopted. I rode down to Dry Creek crossing, I looked at the flowing creek then rode back.

The new trail solved issues. result is a pleasant pedal trail. Hard tail special.

I drove back down to VOC to watch the Zags game at PJs. Another late night bar side watching the game which they won. Tennessee lost earlier, Gonzaga is now the Number 1 team in the country.

Slept at the overlook again.

Another rain event earlier in the week dumped lots of water. RT 179 offers several viewsheds of Dry Beaver creek. It is normally its namesake. Rain swells.

I am now reading Jungle by Upton Sinclair, about a chapter a day. Chicago meat packing industry in early 1900’s. It is too depressing to read as it is about immigrants being mistreated and the meat packing processes. How evil people can be. Appalling.

10PM and waiting for hiss of snow flakes on the van’s roof. So far just XM broadcast, BB King’s Bluesville.

Ordered drawer slides, this time they are locking. Order was accepted then cancelled as they are not available.

Today I walked the entire Girdner trail which is now above Dry Creek eliminating the numerous crossing and tread of sand. Another pedal trail that solves a problem. Just a pedal trail.

10:05 PM 34 degrees.

7:30 PM West Sedona, 50 degrees, darkthirty

Tain’t winter, tain’t spring. Sometime during Sunday night precip fell, starting as rain, then froze, then skiff of snow. Time came to drive away. i started the engine then without really thinking about it I turned on the wipers. Well, you been there also? The passenger wiper broke free of the ice, the important one, in front of me, refused to move after an initial grunt. Oh no. I broke free my side and cleared ice away from both sides. Nothing doing: the wiper arm resists the geared drive to move. Immediate emergency ( redundant?) Drove to fix it shop and plead my case. Warren said he could fix it. The attach nut was slightly loose which didn’t hold the wiper arm firm to the splines. He brushed sheared metal away and retightened the nut. Wiper arms swing in concert.

Later was PT session working now on my right shoulder. Strenthening.

Still freeze thaw with skiff of new snow.

Drove back to VOC. spot out on Beaverhead was occupied by converted school bus. Bummer, appears to be posted up. I drove out further.

Yesterday morning under bright cloudless ski it was 47 degrees. I wanted to ride. My figuring was with this temp the frost would have thawed to just wet dirt. I checked with the Bean to figure a less harmful route. Bell Rock Pathway over to Bail trail to north section of Llama to HT on up to Templeton, then down Breezy was switching to wash climb, on toTempleton to Yavapi trails finally finishing on Shades. Beautiful day.

Did not escape either kind of mud:

Drove out to Beaverhead. The bus was pulling out onto the hard road meaning the spot was free. Good news.

I learned on Sunday that these west side trails were dry. Except said snow. Drove up to west Sedona parking at Sunset park TH. Chilly, with promise of warmth. I rode what I call SSS for Old Post, Skywalker, Scorpion, Ramshead, Ridge, Sketch, Ridge home. Trails were all dry. Forest angels had created many nice grade nicks to divert water from the tread. Nicely done and a trail saver. Scorpion has sections of basalt babyheads that keep a sharp point on my concentration. Capable handling bike helps.

Finished ride. Hung out at Cultural park till dark then drove to Uhaul for the night. I walk maybe 2 blocks to Whole Foods for dinner from their food pans.

Forecast is for more rain, even threatening snow on the weekend. Ride when conditions are good. Tomorrow will reveal the wiper performance.

VOC is still affected by freeze thaw mud. I drove into the Village Sat AM. I visited the Bean and asked if bikes have been rented out which is an indication from them about the trail conditions. None went out. I walked across the highway to Absolute to learn about their bikes. I saw a guy’s personal bike after he rode Hiline and Hogs. He managed to bring back globs of said trails on his bike. Too muddy, Freeze thaw, temps back down below freezing. No riding.

At 8 PM on espn2 coverage of Zags and SMC televised. Only 3rd time to see them play this season. I passed time until game time. I checked into PJs in time to be social and smooze for a dedicated TV. Great front row bar seat underneath a big screen. Zags just smoked SMC, by 48 points. I oowed and ahhed at the fantastic baskets made. Very impressive and darn right darn dangerous basketball team. Now ranked # 2 in country.

Sat night below freezing again. I slept at the paved overlook. I decided to drive back down to Cottonwood to ride the same ride I rode on Friday as their trails were dry.

Anyway, great ride again under great conditions. Saw 3 riders in 2hrs. Dry, creosote bush cover. Limestone tread.

Lowered pressure in the RUNT to gain more fork travel. Device sure makes a ride more enjoyable by lessening the impact from small bumps.

Snow forecast for tonight and into tomorrow, hardly a skiff. I learned that the west Sedona trails were dry yesterday. I am sleeping at the Uhaul with hopes of riding here tomorrow before PT.

More trail work this week: 2 days. Unless trump shuts the government down again.

Nutella by the spoonful right from the jug.

This afternoon I hiked 30 mins of newly built Outer Limits trail built by volunteers. Observation: in the greater scheme of things the build is acceptable. It will get ridden in and age making the “defects” blend in. I set the hike time to allow enough time to return before dark. I am curious if just a trail corridor were cleared with no tread work what the trail would evolve to?