Pedaling while Straight. Tuesday was to be my next big day only my electronics crapped out. In the AM at my camp spot I received a week 4bar signal. I went up to the cloud for a document that needed more data than the present signal strength so the phone froze up. Note 8 doesn’t have an easy battery removal so I couldn’t cold boot it. It added a cloudy vibe to my life. I resigned myself to making a shorter ride then drive down to town to a verizon store. No phone. Next, but disappointing in its own right, was the edge computer quit working at the bottom of Bull canyon. Not receiving data of real interest is beats per minute. Shit, dead phone now dead computer and my shifting is starting to lag. Then I forgot to pack the pot. I now had an entire ride to evaluate riding in this condition: straight.

Oh, the ride. I parked just outside Horsethief XG instead of riding from camp. Joined Chisholm crossing the highway then down to Mustang loop to connect with Getaway down to Bull Canyon cutover. I would ride the same on return. Cross the road then chunder drop down Bull Canyon. Drops some of which hammer my upper body. I can ride them all, I just get more beat than I like. At Arth’s corner where Bull ends is the turning point for now the payback climb out. Almost all lonesome. Because The afore mentioned trip to town I left the about 8 miles into Little Canyon etc. Pleasant (it’s work) pedal back out. Guessed 18 miles.

Back at the van the phone was freaking out flashing red led. Maybe it was too hot. Screen was blank. Hmmm. Plugged in the charger: battery had run down. When enough charge triggered the coming alive signal an I’m OK home screen appeared. The phone was back with me. No trip to town but done riding. Bike computer problem was a dead battery in spite of being fully charged last night. The computer switches itself on when I plug the charger in and when I unplug it unless I manually override its want to stay alive. So I lack knowledge of how gentle I was to my heart.

Drove back to same camp spot. Temp is in the mid 802. The fridge can’t keep up with those temps. Not good as inside temp gets to 50 degrees, beer is hardly sweating can cold. Only single layer of down blanket.

These last bunch of rides I have been more about restraint and increased enjoyment by not wailing on my rides. Wed’s ride was to be my last ride at Moab. I chose Chisholm out and back from camp. I picked up Rodeo from sleep spot riding it to its junction with Chisholm out to junction of Big Lonely of the Navajo Rocks loop. I decided I didn’t want to ride a piece of that loop and that the trail back is different than it is going out. Back at Rodeo junction I decided to ride it in the direction going away from my camp. Nice easy tech challenge. Still, 22 mile ride taking 2 hrs 56 mins.

Up by the campground internet signal is received. I checked the weather forecast: wind event for Thurs. It is to be a rest day anyway. I have been thinking about traveling north, leaving the desert. Fruita is in the direction I plan on going. Hmm, less than a 2 hour drive away to sleep spot above Rabbit Valley just across the CO line. Made ready then committed. Strong winds from rear left quarter wiggled my steering heading north. On I 70 west it was mostly behind me. Hop skip and a pressed accelerator I made the empty preferred spot above the interstate. Traffic noise travels up to my sleep spot. I heard a tractor using unmuffled Jake brakes going down the hill. Windows almost rattled.

Today was my rest and chore day now around Fruita. Clean clothes and body. Finally found Bob’s Red Mill Scottish oatmeal and aged Gouda cheese. Drove east of Junction to procure needed altering inhalant. Dinner of a Sedona salad at Hot Tomato in downtown Fruita.

Checked my bike into OTE to discuss shifting malaise. Was prepared and prolly wanting one anyway was a new rear derailleur to replace 3 year old original. Wrench and I agree that it shifts much better.

Tomorrow the weather at this forecast favors a big ride out at Kokopeli.

I have been checking out riding at Pocatello, ID as I tarry on my path to Sun Valley.

So, PwS gets it done, I pedaled the uphill fully engaged. My memory recall is about the same. I made the same moves. I will be straight tomorrow when I ride Mack Ridge first part as I really need to keep my wits about me. I am able to PoP as well as PwS.

Pedaling on Pot. Until maybe 4 weeks ago I would never consume a mind altering substance before or during a ride. At first when I started consuming it would be almost at the end of a ride which would make for a small amount of time buzzed in case I was overwhelmed. That was Sedona on familiar trails. Now here in Moab riding familiar trails I moved up the buzz time to ride more minutes and miles altered. To date I have not started a ride buzzed. My last 3 rides have been out here in challenging Klondike trails, home of EKG, and more tech stuff. I am able to ride all the trails here except for spots where my engine lost power and now just several tech moves I deem better left walked. I work on tech moves with special attention given to the step ups: lift the front wheel and getting the rear wheel over. Why this is a wonderment is I don’t remember what condition I was in when I learned that move and I believe that my riding is affected either way. I am working out which state I want to spend the more time in. I think when I am ripped I over compensate and become more focused and aggressive? Altered lends itself to just ho hum and walk. But getting the bit between my teeth so to speak and making moves successfully is rewarding. I ride in control with confidence either state. And big miles also, no slacking.

This will be my fourth night here at the same spot out at N Klondike where I stayed last week. Again driving in Thurs afternoon I picked this same spot as it was only shared by an RV. I woke up the next day and a people were camped next to me. I am at almost the first place to camp. As the afternoon wears on into after dark when I pay attention rigs pass me by to fill in already occupied spots. Rule is get in by mid afternoon on weekend and don’t move till after Sunday mid afternoon. yesterday I climbed up a ridge above the camping areas and studied the occupancy, all were filled. Today as I pedaled back to van I saw only vacant sites except for the RV that seem to have posted up.

Back at it, now Monday AM in Moab.

Yesterday afternoon while I was writing this a truck pulled up beside me, guy got out, it was Dennis from lander, friend of folks back in Spokane. we connected last week same place. He furnished an enjoyable reason to put this aside and visit. Later he brought his lady friend over and we continued to visit. How to solve conflict. He gave me a beer to loosen my tongue. By the time they left for dinner I was done creative writing. Not saying that I am better at it than yesterday.

On my ride yesterday I encountered a couple about my age. I stopped to visit and they engaged. Jim is working with a group of people to create positive results. Pretty topical. I seek to learn how to communicate corrective action without causing a negative response. We visited for many many minutes out under full sun. We attempted them visiting me after dinner. We went in our own directions. Later we met up again, and again trying to firm up visit as I wanted to learn more and he was willing to share. Darn, no visit. I fixed dinner and cleaned kitchen and my body then went to bed. Last night was warm enough to leave the side door open until I crawled under the sheets.

Vibrant red colors stand out. Red deciduous leaves in the fall after being green during photosynthesizing time. In the desert the spring time brings out the red and the fall is bland. Indian paintbrush and hedgehog cactus are bright red.

There are just widely distributed plants, never over dosing like red maple red.

Mock orange perfumes the air

Yucca is displaying its reproductive splendor

On the west side of the trail system the mostly flat land is covered with these white flowers

Then on a ride out and back on Dino flow I stopped because this was stretched full length across the trail. I stopped to watch as the snake worked itself into a striking pose. I spit water on it which caused it to stretch back out and slither off the trail.

At a tech feature on Dino Flow I stopped to session it. An older couple, I am older than them, rode up. The guy said he would walk it. I rode down it then described the line I would chose and what moves I would make. I made it. He gave it a go and made it. He was tickled. I watched him and looked at his bike set up. I coached him on always covering his brakes with just one finger. I noticed that his levers were angled up which caused his wrists to bend as he reached for the levers. He allowed me to adjust them in a more friendly position. He rode away with a smile and thanks. Just something I do.

I stayed parked for 4 nights at north Klondike, I rode for 3 days. I even “enjoyed” riding pieces of formerly dreaded EKG to connect other more challenging trails. I added ridden trails to my GPS map. I created my route to pick up the hard to reach ones. There are some harder ones out there. The local trail map rates them all blue with some black moves.

I managed 4 days on the 7 gallon sink water tank and 3 gals of drinking water. Solar panel charged the batteries. Squirt lube kept my chain quiet.

Today I’m in town resupplying then having dinner with old friend Terry and Meg from Spokane. Terry used to be a HS basketball ref and he follows the Zags, he has a much better handle on the game than me so I look forward to a discussion about this next year’s team which is mostly new players. Then out to Horsethief area ti Thurs then back to town for laundry and supplies.

Should be making my move north shortly. temp here fluctuates between nice and hotter nice. yesterday at 3:53 at 4646′ elevation it was 81 degrees. It’s in the 80s here in town. Horsethief is almost 2,000′ higher. But then the tempo drops back into the 60s later this week. Wood River trails are mostly snow covered and unrideable. Such is the life of living on the road as a mountain biker.

I started a conversation with the local trail building organization, Trail Mix, and the trailforks electronic map makers about inconsistent identification of trails that allow ebikes. Just something I do.

Monday I drove to friend Reid’s place to enlist his help on a roof leak. He had a working body, ladders and knowledge. My concern was the roof joint under the solar panel had failed create a leak source. We crawled on top of the van then removed the panel from the roof. The seam was intact. We puttied up the insert holes again plus slathered on some roof leak stuff around the Fantastic fan and called it good. Water travels. Haven’t had sufficient rain to check on leak.

I took on water,groceries, and beer then drove up past Horsethief XG which where I stay is 5705′. Picked another spot as my usual spot was occupied.

Plan was for a big Tuesday ride, my test, both of body and spirit. Route to be was from camp to Chisholm at the BLM XG entrance taking it to northern end of the Navajo Rocks loop, then ride the loop and return same way. On paper it penciled out. Brain was a go. Body delivered the engine and reflexes. I put almost fill 100 ozs in my pack bladder and 2 Clif bars. I was in. I pedaled off about 9.

I am familiar with the entire trail route. Big ride, to be low 30s miles and around 4 hours pedaling. Day was spectacular: sunny, slight breeze, temps is upper 60s: full on sun. A dab of sunscreen on my nose, pedaled off I did. Great riding popular trails on week days. This is another place where you pedal, It could be shuttled down to end of Ramblin perhaps. Nobody on Chisholm either way. On Coney island I started encountering riders. On group was from Bozeman who owns a distillery there. We chatted about Bozeman things. Other riders just a hello in passing. I did encounter others coming and going. I ate both Clif bars, next time take 3. Water was down to a strong cup. Body energy held up as the spring left my pedal stroke. I stopped for 2 vape breaks which addled my thought process, didn’t numb me out. As a mental test it was of perseverance as there were bail points to shorten the loop. I met my self imposed test pedaling 31.7 miles climbing 2461′ working for 4 hrs 17 mins. I did enjoy a cold Moose Drool recovery drink not quite as soon as I opened the van door. No cramps

No internet at my sleep spot yet travel as a raven on a mission would about 3/4 of a mile to the small Chisholm parking I receive 4G 2 bars. Weather forecast has low probability of rain events.

For Wed I had another big ride thought about. However, skies appeared threatening along with brisk wind and 50 degrees. I decided to just ride out to internet reception which was close enough if the weather didn’t agree with me. I heard emergency rig siren, it stopped just as I got to the highway. Nothing there. I decided I could go for a shorter big ride and chance the weather. I rode Chisholm out to highway. Trail crosses Mineral Bottom rd. There were the emergency rigs, US Park Service going thru a SUV, 3 guys were off in the desert. Couldn’t tell if they were cuffed. rangers pawing thru personal gear for what(?). Changed plans again to just ride Rodeo.

On Rodeo there are several features that challenge me. This year I made several of those challenges by sessioning them. Seems first attempt becomes a walk it and ride on. I found by sessioning it and making it I gain confidence in my ability. High THC content helps.

back at the van in the afternoon I worked on my bike. I had been troubled by a skritch sound. I isolated it to my seat area. I checked my Fizick saddle which seemed sound, however, it has been on the bike for years. I felt that it was the source. I bought a new saddle, Fabric Scoop model which is a top rated saddle. I rode it during my bike ride. Skritch came back. Today I pulled the seat post then smeared a light coating of Phils then slipped it back in and torqued the bolt down. Skritch went away. It was the post but I have a new saddle.

I went for a desert hike linking slick rock staying off the dirt. Weather became more threatening. Hail fell as I hastened my way back to shelter. A short time later a T storm struck with driven rain. Safe and dry.

Today was a rest day and resupply. Clean clothes, full water and propane, another sixer of Moose Drool, and a clean body I am back at crowded Klondike for more riding. I picked the same spot as it was only one empty again. Forecast is for more rain events. Get internet at sleep spot.

Chilly at night again, so open door. Furnace sometimes ignites on first ignition, I turn it on, the starting process begins: a blower fan turns on which lasts for a long minute, I hear a pizo striker sound, next is sound of burning and the green light on the control panel lights up and hot air is blown into my small living quarters. Sometimes the firs spark doesn’t catch. I turn the furnace off and wait for several minutes then start the starting over again. Usually the furnace lights the second time. It seems the unit mixes propane in a chamber with air then sparks it. If the mix is satisfactory ignition happens. Chilly now, going to fire it up. 53 degrees at 9 PM, 4613′. If green light remains on for more than 20 seconds the furnace will burn. Warmth will soon be felt.

Good night.