Precip is falling turning the ground red like Santa’s fictional suit. 40 degrees. Reindeers will be wearing galoshes, maybe the good people will be given umbrellas. Need a brighter nose light to penetrate the fog.
Sunday Doug and I met at the pic location for our ride. Between us we made our route. We started down Girdner with me leading and he was right on my wheel, like right on it. I was working too hard to stay ahead of him. It is what it is, I am 18 years older than him and the age difference is apparent in our speed and effort. I beat myself to point of shortening my ride while he rode the planned route. He was gone by the time I returned to our start.
We rode down Girdner on new section which met the legacy piece to join Chuck Wagon to Mescal to Aerie to Cockscomb. Our route was to ride the new Outer Limits back which is almost 7 miles long with a big climb finish. I bailed continuing on Cockscomb to descend Rupp then picked up the start of Girdner which is new also. 2 new trails have been built that avoid the Girdner climb that I wanted to ride. These 2 trails provide access for horses at Color Cove, horse hoof pocks. Rode newly finished Axis to join Girdner at the top of the climb. 21 miles pedaling for 3 hours climbing 2018′. I was spent. The EDGE calculated recovery time which was 24 hrs. Good enough decision to make Monday a rest day in spite of it being the last dry day for a bunch of days.
Yesterday I returned to the Cultural park to hang out. By late afternoon I had enough of being inside so I went for a hike. I walked down Stirrup which is mostly downhill then returned on Axis which is like brand new and is a nicer climb back out. I added other trails. I was hiking up right at a downhill drop when a rider appeared. Rider said he met me here same spot last year, he riding and me walking, he botched the drop that launched him over the handlebar for a nasty landing. A rider right behind him, a legendary local riding an ebike which are not permitted. Later I ran into a FS person and I mentioned the ebike. He said only LEOs can write tickets and there is something about ADA mudding the waters on legality. They are not legal but no enforcement effort is expended. It just ain’t right.
Observation after riding and hiking these Sedona trails is that they are unlike any other places I have ridden. The tread is the tops of buried rocks not very tall. The tread rides over the tops which will grow over time as the dirt is eroded away between them. Compliments to new trails. I record my rides using Backcountry Navigator. On Sunday’s 21 mile ride the recorded max descent was 6.5% and climb of 7.5%, those are max values.
Rain is falling again. This morning I waited out a sucker hole to drive to ACE for propane refill. I burn almost a gallon a day. I am still at the Cultural Park which is now posted for sale 41 acres.
Sufficient rain has fallen to test my roof repairs. Off road driving will be quagmire meaning I will find pavement at the overlook off Beaverhead, will prolly be crowded. Internet speed is slower which is a drawback. I put the rain cover over the bike last night before rain started.