I stayed a second day at Willow Springs as rest day and one fewer rider to populate the weekend crowds that I do not have to be a part of. Or, ride lesser desired trails. Didn’t venture to any trail to learn of my assumption. Late afternoon thunderstorm dropped rain elsewhere but we got the eye candy.
The forecast wanted precip and high winds. Better to stay sheltered.
Monday drove down to town for supplies, most needed was drinking water. Rain and high winds called for. I drove up to Horsethief rd and picked this spot that was right on a carbon source pipeline. I was parked square to the wind. A violent thunderstorm pelted, lit up, and shook. Woke up to a flash of lightning right out the windshield. The smoke detector went off because, I think, the wind was strong enough to blow exhaust fumes from the fridge into the van. Only time this ever happened so I make an assumption that if gas does enter the vessel it is not detected by sensitive detector. Just thinking. Discovered that the installed window in the slider allows rain inside. Been doing that for a long time but I just learned of its source and that it was happening.
On Monday Kathy was here. She texted me, we met and visited catching up and learning of what’s out there. Kathy is a long time blog reader. Two years ago we met up in Steamboat, last year in Sedona. Big take away: Dolores super wet, camping roads closed till May 30. Cross Boggy Draw off the ride list. Our chance meeting was funny because we each read each others blog like the night before.
Tuesday morn as I was preparing to drive away a nice federal employee called on me. He told me he wasn’t the one to cite me for illegal camping that was not signed as such that a roving ranger could pay me a visit. OK. I drove to the established BLM campground and paid for a site. Weather forecast wanted strong winds and 50% rain later in the day. Trail named Rodeo is just outside the XG and close enough if the weather turned nasty the pedal to shelter would be survivable. The trail is just under 9 miles. OK. I got after it. I packed my rain jacket to keep the rain away. I have no wind distracter. Fun purpose built XC trail. Water puddles in the dirt and pot holes. Made it back to van not blown away or wet. However, forecast delivered another rain fall and wind. And parked sideways.
Wed I drove to the TH right off the highway to pick up last section of Chisholm to access Bull Canyon. Windy and chilly. Wore wind shell and knee warmers and long underwear top. Hero dirt, less than 5 riders ahead. Sand was firm. Bull canyon is a handfull of step downs mostly mixed in with step ups. man, look ahead, slam the seat down, assume attack position, and allow the bike’s suspension and stability keep me upright.
Beat the crowd soon to arrive. Pedaled back up Getaway which is the downhill access to Bull from the highway. On weekends my pedaling uphill would have been met by masses with the bit in their teeth.
I splashed red mud on my bike, enough to need to wash it off. Previously I filled the solar shower bag. I have a 1 1/2 gallon pressure washer in the Jobox. The bike got a cold shower rinse.
Afterwards I drove out past the XG to the first rd to the left where I have slept before. Rain had erased signs of heavy traffic, maybe 1 rig ahead. Right off a puddle occupied both ruts of track with side walls too steep to climb out. I lowered my speed to lessen mud pick up but with sufficient momentum to coast thru if needed, speed is your friend. The van kept some of that mud. Picked the same spot I have stayed in. Cold night needing the furnace most of the night.
Today was a town day, laundry, and much needed propane. I drove down to town. On the way up were 4 shuttle rigs with many bikes on top. Another day of escaping the crowds. I wrote myself a honeydo list that I attended to. One was to pressure wash the mud off the van. Clean clothes, body, bike and van(sort of).
My abdomen has been bothering me for some time. Recently a pain has centered near the hernia repair site. Forefront in my mind was the repair was pulling apart. I needed to know what was what. I checked into the emergency room of the Moab hospital. Physical examine, blood drawn and tested, even a CT scan taken. results: hernia repair is fine as was the internal workings as the blood would indicate. Ruled out anything to immediately kill me but no explanation of my pain.
Late afternoon scamper to Klondike. Populated. I chose to pick the only unoccupied site instead of intruding on others.
I read a front page article of the local paper that decried the ill effects of the primitive campers here at North Klondike. Yes, the area can be crowded, tonight is the most campers I have experienced here. The effects I see are campers off the official road but mostly withing 300′ of same. hence legal. I see absolutely no litter. Old cow shit. 2 outhouses are on the road for human waste. The article reported there are 650 official campsites in the area and they get filled. I did not investigate those sites, maybe they are in the paid private campgrounds.Ever stay in one? I haven’t either. If I complain about primitive campers being too close, these paid ones make you pay for that privilege. Fucking range land cows.
Horsethief XG is a paid BLM campground. This year a tent only site opened across the road from the fenced in anything goes units. The tents pay the same price but the entire site lacks the protective fence, hence cows graze and shit in the campground just like the primitive sites experience.
Planning on staying here for several days. Moab riding is so good. Lots of people think the same.
Reading Monkey Wrench Gang by Abbey. I read it first back in ’78, published in ’75, well before I had ever been here. I have local familiarity to tie his book to landmarks. Hayduke Lives.