Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey. Well, that ain’t science but it made for a good description of how cold it has been this week. Like almost single digit at wake up, like 47 at the prolly “hottest” spot in the van at the ceiling. Doubled over summer down blanket and a stocking cap has just sufficed. Gunnison was 4 degrees where I added the 20 degree down bag on top.

Monday afternoon I drove out to N Klondike area planning to spend 2 nights and ride 2 days. Night time temp started dropping in preparation of next 3 nights of cold. A bit of wind. Discovered that there is a gap between the refrigerator and the outside when the van was parked broadside to that strong wind. Laid in bed with wind blowing on my head. I solved the draft with a single strip of 100 mile and hour tape, figured to go big. Speaking ( writing) about the fridge, the darn thing cycles temp independent upon the temp in the van. Allowed low bush blueberries to thaw for the last time.

The sun rose on the back of the van. The wind had died down. Temp was still low enough for 2 wool tops, knee socks and warmers, and wind shell. I am here in the fall, after floral completed .

Sister Lynn called engaging me in conversation distracting my train of thought.

Fall here is no green.

The ride on familiar trails suspended by PUSH ElevenSix shock. Again, what a treat for traction control and stability. Dino is a hoot with lots of blue square level tech features, challenging and satisfying that I am able to ride them. My legs are stronger also which I am using to muscle up climbs in higher gears than trying to sit and spin up.

I rode to far end of Dino then returned on EKG for awhile till I was burned out. I dropped down to Dino to face a nasty cold head wind. The trail offered wind shadows and sun warm patches. Just getting nasty progressing to low teens and strong winds. Hunkered back in the van. The furnace makes warm air but can’t keep up with the heat loss. To do this van again I would facilitate for a larger furnace.

Prolly fewer than 10 rigs out at Klondike, cold weather thins the crowds.

No riding last 2 days because of cold. Today driving out of Moab the van reported 35 degrees outside as I drove by the Bar M trails where I could have ridden. Parked at sleep spot in the full sunshine. Checked temp again: 55 degrees suitable riding temp. I could of but didn’t.

Tomorrow is November 1. Daylight savings off this weekend. Temps back to 60s and just above freezing at night. Good conditions. No rain however.

9:19 PM, temp is 57 degrees where I am sitting, outside is 29, furnace is full on. Comfort of warm bed is calling.

Finished The Guardians and returned it to bookstore for in store credit. Struggling with Beloved.

I am burning almost a gallon of propane a day now. The tank holds 5.6 gallons. Here in Moab I buy propane from the feed store.

Tomorrow is the magic day that changes where beer is sold. Grocery stores are able to sell high beer, 5% and less cutting into the state liquor control market. Utah specific.

So, my health has not been very happy lately. Last Tues I woke way early and laid in bed feeling like something stuck to the bottom of someone else’s shoe. Plus the night was very cold and more of the same in the future. The night before I received a phone call from old Spokane buddy Randy and his friend Dennis who were in Moab. They invited me to join them but I told them I would miss them. Tuesday AM changed my plans as I decided that I needed to be seen by an established med person that I thought I could get in Moab. And so I drove there.

Left Ridgway taking back road state highways over to LaSal junction. What a spectacular drive in and out of canyons with the rock gradually turning red as in Moab. Stopped at med clinic and scored an appointment for Thurs. I went around to the emergency entrance because I had push pins to give to ER for their map which captures injuries requiring ER treatment by activity. I was allowed to go behind the door to view the map. Porcupine Rim records many mountain bike injuries noted by yellow pins.

Then drove out to N Klondike TH to join Randy, Dennis, and Sola. Randy did not bring his bike but the other 2 did. Spent the night.

Wed we drove up to Mineral Bottom road where Dennis knows of camping as I had yet to experience this road’s environs. Selected a spot about 1 1/2 miles off hard road. Numerous little pull outs abound. We geared up and rode off to ride Rodeo, for me a suitable introduction to Moab riding.

Rodeo is signed to be directional. Take away from crowd management: No surprise encounters from riders coming from the other way which keeps the trail narrow as it negates poor trail love by widening the trail to pass.. Tight sight lines keep the speeds down. Rode from camp as trail almost touches Mineral Bottom. Short sleeves and shorts soaking up warmth for a late Oct day. 9 mile loop encountered fewer than 10 riders.

Good introduction to more traction control from the Elevensix shock which I notice more than plush going downhill. Much improved ride quality from when on air shock. RUNT keeps the front end quiet. Me in the middle like riding a rocking chair.

Just wonderful riding conditions.

Thursday In drove down to Moab to do laundry before DR appointment. Clean clothes again. Saw PA, still no answer to my malaise. Did draw blood.

Headed back out of town to Brand M trails to meet Dennis, Sola, and a friend of theirs. Pulled into parking lot. Greeted by woman whom I did not recall. She introduced herself, then I remembered, Gina from Sedona. Then Lars, also from Sedona, rolled up. They were taking a break from Sedona. We rolled off to ride the slick rock trails. Slight breeze.

Drove back up to Mineral Bottom camp. Dennis provided salmon from an Alaskan fishing trip.

Woke up during the night with chest pains and rapid heart beat. Something coming to a head perhaps. I suspected serious heart issue. I waited until enough light showed me the way to back out of camp spot. Drove down to ER. A repeat patient. EKG, X-ray, blood analysis: again body is sound. Diagnosis was chest wall injury, don’t remember when or where that fall might have smacked my chest on maybe a bar end or a rock. Told to rest and not exert till pain gone.

I read that Grisham’s new book, The Guardians, is out. I bought it at Back of Beyond book store. Easy brain candy reading. I drove back up choosing my usual camp spot past HorseThief campground. Other campers occupied my favorite spot requiring me to drive further out.

Late afternoon ride pedaling the 1.6 miles from camp to join Chisholm trail near the campground.

Fun and twisty with blue square tech features. Out and back. 13.1 miles climbing less than 100′ / mile. Encountered maybe 20 riders, way lot. Another nice fall ride. Back at camp I stuck my nose in the book while sitting outside. Continued reading inside into the night.

Sat I pedaled from camp up to XG to pick up Chisholm to ride the Horsethief trails which are on the north side of Gemini Bridges road, the other side down lower is Bull Canyon, part of Mag 7 system. Going out I was almost all alone, however, on the climb out on Getaway numerous downhillers caused me to yield. Riders get wrapped up in their own ride and they fail to accommodate other riders, esp yielding to uphill riders. I decided that hollering ” climbing” as an alert would cause descending riders to yield. Worked mostly.

17.7 miles climbing 1087′ almost a flat day. On the return I jumped on Rodeo to ride back to van instead of pedaling the road. Big day. Again, nose back in the book. Dennis et. al. drove over to visit. Made plans for 11 AM ride time for Navajo Rocks ride. Chilly night with furnace running all night.

Now it is Sunday night. I am parked off Willow Springs road where I have strong internet signal. Hunkered down facing into a gusty north wind that is bringing possible snow and predicted cold temps. Scored spot right off the highway, selected for internet.

But first our ride. We met at Middle Earth TH so we could ride a figure 8 returning back to the parking lot. Cold, windy, cloudy, nastier than previous rides. Knee socks, knee warmers, 2 layers of wool tops, and wind shell. We rode against the recommended clockwise direction up Big Mesa to descend sandy Coney Island. Very busy day as we ran into maybe 25 riders.

Cold ride. Rode Middle Earth back to parking lot for refueling in Dennis’ warm truck camper. Fewer rigs in the lot. Forecast for snow in the Rockys perhaps caused many riders to head east ahead of snow choked mountain passes.

Fall now, green is long gone. Annual rain fall is about 7″ of rain of which only 6 have fallen. Trails are dry and frequent spots of sand.

Figuring on rest day tomorrow ahead of coming chill. Need to resupply in town.

Today ran into 2 ebikers who were not the riders the BLM is saying will benefit from allowing e bikes on all trails pedal bikes are allowed on. awhile in town I ran into Tyson, who built Captain Ahab, and is now working locally. We talked about e bike access. Interesting because of potential for many law suits, of particular interest are trails that were built with non motorized funds or grants.

All day yesterday into just b4 sleep time I checked the weather forecast for Ridgway as I wanted to drive down here to ride the RAT ( Ridgway Area Trails). This AM the forecast called for 20% scattered snow showers and in the 50s. I captained my van to said town. Skies cleared off as the afternoon aged.

Visited at Ridgway Wrench, young proprietor, shared several trails to be sure to ride going down. Drove out to created parking at TH. Deja vu all over again as the road seemed familiar as I previously stayed overnight nearby.

High desert forest, low 7,000′, juniper, pine, scrub oak. Trails are all hand built legal. Trail intersections were signed with a local map indicating you were here. Elevation is above my body’s ability to absorb sufficient oxygen to sustain much of a climb, esp when the climb is right out of the start. A rider caught up with me when I had stopped. Struck up a conversation. He changed his planed route as we talked. I asked if I could follow and he said catch my wheel. 57yo local rider, David. Always great to follow a local who knows the system. Our ride did touch the road where I camped during last visit. More about that later.

Trails were dry and firm. The above is what the trails are made out of. Phil’s World at Cortez seems similar.

Views of the mountains are spectacular. Fresh snow from yesterday’s covering. Teluride is in them hills somewhere.

And, Yes, it did turn out to be that I did stay here up spur off road at TH. That time during a visit to a now closed bike shop I was told about this road an pull outs. That night forecast called for little chance of a skiff of snow. I scored a flat spot just up off the road but slightly downhill from main road down. Well, it snowed maybe 4″ of wet snow during the night. My tires are M&S offering a bit of traction. Getting out was backing up that slight hill then spinning a turn to head down hill. It took me 3 runs packing a tread to reach that turn around spot. Made it. Tonight is to be clear and below freezing. History. Tonight I am staying almost on that spot.

I plan on riding here again tomorrow. Hunters are about. did startle 3 mulies. I did wear my orange long sleeve jersey and let the bell ring. Did not encounter any of them.

A late season forest fire is burning nearby. A fire camp has been set up in the fairgrounds right next to town.