Way too many other people sharing their recreation with me. The crowds now are the biggest I have ever experienced in town, on the trails and camping. Weekend demand.

Today is Saturday. This AM I drove away from the sleep spot out past Wild Horse XG which is full. My ride today was to be a short ride on the Horsethief trails. I shortened my ride by parking at a TH where Chisholm crossed the gravel road. Saved about 1.25 miles of sandy road. I started just after 9. I encountered a group right at the start, courteous exchange and passing. Turned onto Mustang for a wander around this system of trails.

Ran into 2 riders. I joined Get Away right where Bull Canyon leaves off. Shuttle riders dropped off up high descend Get away. Several groups of riders arrived at the junction. Wondering about trail etiquette as I would pedaling uphill against their flow. We all played well together, I was given the uphill right of way. Lots of riders. Mix of older people, some had the ride thing going, others like it was an amusement ride. We are who and what we are, it’s just so many at the same time.

My plan was to finish my ride then drive into town as I needed water and comfort quantity of beer bought at the state liquor store not opened on Sunday. Busy town. Filled water containers and a few groceries. I was on a hump because I wanted to be out off Willow Springs rd early afternoon. At Gearhead’s parking lot, free filtered water source, a guy stepped out of his car. Pat from Spokane. We chatted , he described where he was camping on Willow, it was the same place I stayed in earlier in the week. Today when I arrived the place was almost plugged. I chose a spot on irregular slick rock with maybe 75′ separation. Just now a pickup pulled in maybe 20′ away. This is the first spot off the highway. More campers will prolly squeeze in as the night falls. Shit I am part of the too many recreaters.

Yesterday I rode from camp spot to join Chisholm going north to pick up Navajo Rocks system. I like this new piece of trail. Turned right on Big Lonely. A rider said hello to me, it was Dave from Bend. We were riding our loop in opposite directions, ran in to him again later. 3 hour pedaling for 23 miles, my longest ride this year.

No internet out at Horse Thief. Several thunderstorms hit after I was back in my van. Strong winds rocked my van.

Today when I drove down to town the parking lots at Middle earth and Ramblin were packed, the lower lot had rigs parked on the shoulder of the road. SHeesh. So many riders.

Wed I pedaled from Willow Springs spot out to Klonzo system. Early start lessened others.

Thurs was a short loop on Brand M trails then into town for laundry ans supplies.

I have ridden 7 days straight. Tomorrow is Sunday, a day of rest for me and allow weekenders 1 less rider to share trails with. Maybe back up to Horse Thief to ride Bull Canyon loop on Monday.

Many more mountain bikers, more here now than Sedona. Easier trails here perhaps? More pedal friendly miles.

City Market is main grocery store in town. Learned from checker that this store borrowed him from the Cortez, CO store, 2 hours away, paid per diem and OT wages because labor shortage in Moab.

9:45 PM. More campers squeezing in. Just too popular.

Just sniveling because I am sharing with way more people than previous years.

Monday AM I dropped down from perch above Rabbit Valley on the CO / UT border. Accelerated up the on ramp to west bound I 70. Google reported 79 miles to N Klondike TH. Nothing to it. Leave at 9, pedal at noon. Speed limit increased to 80 mph. I stayed under 70. Exited onto US 191 heading south to turn off for Klondike trails. 2 miles of mellow washboard all weather 2 lane gravel road back to an open spot off the road. Still more rigs than I usually see, some motorized. I parked then geared up for a ride. Today I chose to enter this area gently, nibbling on more pedaling, less hard tech. I pedaled towards the Agate Pass area. I was hailed by a couple in a black Sprinter, van life, with Ohio plates. They called me by name. I found nothing in storage. We chatted for a bit as they constructed previous encounters. OK. I said I might stop by later then pedaled away.

Klondike area is bisected by a jeep road, on the west towards the highway is the least tech of the trails. I like to pedal this system for a warm up and joy of mostly just pedaling. Surfing on berms. Pleasant effort quit when I pedaled onto the sand wash over to Dino flow for the return trail. It is a blue tech rating with challenging stuff for me. I had fun. Short ride.

Back at the van later in the afternoon under sunny skies in lower 70s I went on a short hike. I headed for the hills but first navigated around a braid of eroded gulleys. Amazing in that the land is dead flat but in a short distance maybe a 10 ft deep wash was created. Made the rocks for boulder scrambling then returned to van for dinner.

Joe and Emily pedaled by. I asked if I could visit later. Come on over they said. I pedaled away wearing street clothes. Not accustomed to not wearing a kit. My hiking shoes had no purchase on the pedals. We watched a thunderstorm over the snow covered La Sal mountains to the east. I returned home just before I needed a light to keep me on the road.

No furnace heat needed.

Today was muscle ride day as I rode back on Dino Flow to Baby Steps for the climb up the east side of the valley. Mixture of slick rock patches with features interspersed with rolled firm dirt.

Passed underneath a ravens’ nest.

I like the Klondike system for their challenges and distance, and not crowded primitive camping. Exposed flesh is taking on a great suntan.

I needed to drive into town for supplies which I did. My plan was to drive back up to Willow Springs road as early as I could to score a sleep spot before someone else got it. I chose the first exit off the road then drive up slickrock to a mostly level spot. I am within sight and sound of the highway. I have a bit of space between other campers. Willow Springs is the first road for primitive camping north of Moab. During the daylight I watched rig after rig driving past towards the dead end. Another amazing: rigs will be parked on top of each other but beyond disturbance of highway. I chose to have separation and accept the highway which will quiet down during sleep time.

Vans are very popular. Did the market drive the production or did the producers entice the market? Hardly a full size pickup camper. Very few car campers.

Tomorrow I will pedal from here to ride Klonzo trails, spend the night again. Thurs I will drive towards town stopping to ride the Brand M trails then drive to town to do laundry and resupply then drive up towards Wold Horse for Navajo Rocks rides.

Fruita is west a short distance from Grand Junction and up on Monument road is the Lunch Loops trail system. Too close to ignore for a challenging technical ride. My good Friday was partly spent huffing and puffing with bits of hike a bike of features that I either lacked the engine or the skill to overcome. Plug for 5Ten flat pedal shoes for first of all their traction sole to mate with the Catalyst pedals for good contact. I mostly stay in firm contact with the pedals which is a good thing. Secondly, they are flexible which is an asset when scrambling over the rocky sections I couldn’t / wouldn’t ride. Clipless pedals as you know do not make good scrambling shoes.

I walked many other features. The tread is hard packed clay and lots of rock features. I will put my personal stamp of evaluation of these trails that they are the most quantity and difficulty riding. Step ups, drops, roll downs, choke points. Then there are the mandatory climb a bike pieces.

Harder more taxing riding than Sedona. 10.2 miles climbing 1539′ pedaling for 1 hr 39 mins. I arrived at the spot where I met Charlie and Teresa. I walked up then and today I walked down. Parking lot was mostly full, many van life rigs, mountain biker style. I am no stranger to these trails, I am a repeat rider still riding mostly the same trails. Mostly blue level. I left Butter Knife and the Ribbon unridden. A trailhead parking lot part way up Little Park is now posted no camping which used to be a great place to stay and ride more days. I wanted to return to Fruita.

In Fruita I hang at OTE for bike talk and Hot Tomato for Happy Hour beer. Hot Tomato attracts standing room out the door food ordering line. extremely popular. Jen and Ann opened a coffee shop which roasts coffee right behind the Tomato. Interesting building for roaster is steel cargo containers, one on edge to give height above the roaster. All kinds of people meet for food and beverage.

Sat weather was chill and windy such that I chose to hike only out at McInis canyon outside of town. Did some rock scrambling.

Been staying out same place north of Loma. Full moon lights up wide open spaces.

For my last ride here I wanted to ride up Hawkeye, down Mack ridge then traverse on Lyons, climb up the double track to S end of Macks then ride down Hawkeye. Forecast called for 30% precip, possible T storm. Light sprinkles fell on my van before I crawled out from under the covers. By the time I fixed, ate, and cleaned up the rain had quit and the windshield was dry. Threatening clouds upwind. Wet weather conditions seemed eminent. I swapped my windshell for a rain jacket. Other riders were present. My turn came. I huffed and puffed this nicely constructed trail that rides OK uphill. 2.77 mile climb taking 30 mins to gain 666 feet. Mack ridge is chunky. I keep learning that the bike can handle features as long as I remain centered over the bike and have forward motion. The ridge offered unfettered view upwind to the dark clouds. Several flashes of lightning seared the sky. My route would take me on the exposed side of the ridge followed by an exposed traverse over to the start of Hawkeye. I decided to error on the safe sensible side by pedaling the frontage road back to the van. No rain fell. I drove out to spot above Rabbit Valley for the night.

Tomorrow I will head back to Moab after the Jeep week. Back to non event visitors.

My left Catalyst pedal had a shimmy in it that needed more than repack with grease fix. I learned that Bikejames is based in Fruita. I called their number to ask for obtaining a rebuild kit that would be dropped off then put on at OTE. Return call message. I ordered them on line and they were dropped off at the shop the next day. New bearings and bushing installed eliminating the shimmy. Pedals get beat mostly pedal strike between tight rocks. I am wary of smashed feet. With flats I can not pull the pedal up like with clipless. My latest foot smash healed overnight.