Now in Fruita, CO where here the rock color is like this:
Monday AM I left Beaverhead flats then headed up canyon. Filled drinking water jug with water from the spring. 89 North to rt 160 to Tuba City, thru Kayanta, turn north on US 191 to Moab. windy ranging from abeam to astern, wind from SW, kept both hands on the control wheel to keep me between the lines. As I approached outer outskirts of Moab I I started seeing tractor trailer loggoed up shiny trailers reading off road 4 wheels connection. Density increased as I neared town including street legal 4X4 on road. Traffic slowed before 1st light. 4X4 rigs and or rigs towing the off road machines. Place was constipated plugged w/ people and fossil fuel rigs. Ain’t staying here because of all the people and a different activity. Assumed no primitive camps spots short of the interstate way N of town. I drove the river road to avoid some interstate. Passed all the BLM campgrounds which were full as expected. Popped out of the river gorge to pick up I 70 heading east to Fruita. Rabbit valley is 1st exit in Co where on the N side above the valley are several camp spots that overlook interstate. BLM primitive camping. Long day of driving. restful sleep spot enhanced by upper and downer mood alternators. Slept. Now in zone of move ahead 1 hour.
Today was short drive to Kokopeli TH right off I 70. Overcast, low 60s, stiff breeze were met with full on short lengths. Plan was to rdie new Wrangler to terminus at Marys loop for return. Just a short ride to calibrate reflexes. I parked at the TH. Ride starts with short steep gravel road climb then zoom down back side. Turn right up what I thought was Wrangler but it was an old double track climbing steeper but straighter to connect with single track. Up a ways the trail stopped at a connector over to Marys. A sign excited readers to wait till fall of 2018. Time was up and the trail has been competed. Trailforks said so. remarkable piece of trail build: climbing turns, sloped back slope, prolly outsloped, grade reversals on traverses. A bald eagle soared above the river displaying its white feathers.
Several long sections of old double track linked new single track. Intersected with Marys for the return. But wait, a sign over to Wranglers. Turned left and climbed a ways till the trail turned downhill on narrow single track. Treads here range from chunks of hard rock, rolled hard and baked clay pock marked by cow hooves, and a few patches of sand. Ran into another RFX Turner rider, named his bike Stallion. My engine is loosing its power. My breathing sucks. I am slow.
Loaded up then drove into Fruits. A paved bike path starts almost at interstate ramp going somewhere east of Junction. First stop was OTE, the original. Greeted same people. Asked about brake bleed on my 2 year old brakes. Using mineral oil. Brake displayed no signs of needing bleeding. Wrench said that over use the fluid breaks down. Wrench hooked bleeding syringes up for flushing and replacing. Oil came out looking like new. Decision was reached to leave front brake alone. Then over to Hot Tomato for a fittingly named Sedona salad. A beer at Copper then headed west out of town to a spot shown to me by Glen (20 year warrior) and Jeff. Spot was occupied. Drove a bit further to a turn out overlooking valley.
That is now.
Thursday I met Ian and Jimmy for a late afternoon ride. Pedaled away at 4:30 which is almost beer drinking time for me. I like to get my riding in well before this start. Interesting time as light is lower and fewer users. They rode at a pace that with huffing I could stay with. Enjoyable time. Ate dinner at a local restaurant that suffered from poor service.
Friday provided another late afternoon social ride opportunity. 4:15 at will’s shop in West Sedona. Biermann joined which spelled hammer fest pace. I couldn’t begin to keep up. I did not think highly of what I decided to join. Plus I was hung over from an antidepressant intended to block the pain signals causing my irritated colon. Fuck that shit. I bailed on ride by riding Skywalker back at what I can pedal. Old Post is a hoot to coast down. Spent the night at Uhaul to stage for Sat morn trail work.
Sat was another morning of building new trail in the Western Gateway area. Trail is unnamed and not connected. Nice day of working. said goodbye to FS people. Drove down to the Bean to say good bye to Tony who will leaving the shop next week. Spent night out off Beaverhead.
Sunday was to be my last Sedona ride that I wanted to be all about me. I pedaled up to Bell Rock TH.There was Wally. He was waiting for Rodger and Dan to arrive for their ride. I know these guys. I asked to join. Pedal with us. I was the youngster in the group as they are all in varying 70s.
They bailed as I continued to ride up to Chicken point, down Broken Arrow, hog Heaven walk down corkscrew, Twin Buttes, Hogwash, Mystic grunt, neighborhood jaunt connecting with Bell Rock, turning onto HT to Breezy Wash climb to Tempelton into Javapai parking lot finding Hermitt to connect with Shade and down hill back to the barn.
Which was then. Red changed to gray. from soft sand stone to harder rock.
I will hang here till Monday then head back to Moab as the Jeep thing ends on Sunday. Snow still covers peaks.