Hurkin

Friday in Moab a gulley washer hit the city washing sand over main st. Sort of exciting. I let a therapeutic masseuse work on my shoulder. My thoughts were making the overworked supporting muscles happier to eliminate shoulder pain. He worked the shoulder but I gained no pain relief. Next up is PT. I drove out to Reid’s to retrieve my mattress topper. I left it open anticipating the pad would fully expand to allow accurate cutting to size. Pad sort of relaxed, I cut it to size anyway, lines were slightly wiggly. Washed the sheets and the mattress pad then made the bed. Pad is still vaping off. Dunno know if old pad was compressed out from years to comfort.

I drove back to Willow and remained hunkered down in my heated van. I monitored the Moab forecast and Hurricane’s. Both had precip forecast but Moab called for the colder temps. I checked again Sat morn: same forecast. I drove to Hurricane, UT via interstates. I 70 up high in the Swell there was bare and sometimes wet surface from deicer as snow fell yesterday. Van acquired a white skim, as did the bike on the back. Rolled into Hurricane, first stop was car wash to restore the green color. Then drove to OTE shop. said hello, then turned to to rinse off the deicer from my bike.

The desert here has much clay that when wetted becomes very soft rig sucking deep. Primitive camping out off Sheepbridge was out of the question. I spent the night at the overlook above town where the Cliffs trail comes in. Just traffic noise. I checked out the TH at the upper JEM where I had stayed in years past, No GO. BLM is building a first class TH facility but the road is not firm enough to be all weather as sunken wheel tracks were left from previous driver. Can’t stay there anymore this visit. This development makes living here more difficult.

I stopped in briefly at Black Rock coffee roasters which over time has expanded beyond coffee. Place and parking lots were packed. I sought out the owner and said hello. He smiled recalling me. Welcome back he said. I was seeking an establishment with a TV to watch the Seahawks on Mon. None here nor at another likely place.

The day warmed up under cloudy skies. I drove out to stand by trail when all else is wet: Church Rocks. which is sand tread with a big dose of slick rock. I passed a woman off her bike dealing with her small dog. I pay attention to bikes to notice that she was on an ebike on BLM trail that is closed to ebikes. I completed my loop on the rocks returning the way I came. I encountered same woman plus her partner. Again I confronted them stating they were illegal. Guy said he contacted local BLM office and was told that ebikes are allowed on all non motorized trails. Per BLM’s own web site ebikes are not allowed until the manager signs a written document permitting them. Something ain’t right. The guy was poaching on the conservation land.

I slept at Red Cliffs Preserve XG for $7.50. All to myself.

Forecast is calling for rain on Wed.

Today I drove downt to ST George to ride Barrel Roll etc at Santa Clara. I visited the local BLM office to learn of the ebike policy. The info lady read a hand written note saying that ebikes are allowed on trails without being cited. In essence BLM is allowing ebikes before written permission is approved. BLM is out of bed with their own policy.

I drove out to Santa Clara and parked at the bottom og the climb up to the TH where I usually park. A van was parked there. I asked the guy if they have been staying there. Yes he said. Hmm another place to sleep. He is a rock climber from NH.

So, now comes the belly buster ride which is mostly all uphill from the get go to the top of Sidewinder. Lots of tech features. Big pedal. Going down was challenging. Chunky riding, I did walk pieces that are beyond my ability. Garmin computer calculates recovery time to next ride, it said 31 hours recovery.

Returned down to the van. 2 guys were getting ready to pedal away. Guy introduces himself saying we met up At Salmon, ID years back. I immediately recalled our meeting. He gave me an autographed local trail guide.

I hung out enjoying sunshine. I called the B:M office and asked to speak to an knowledgeable ebike person. We talked. he said each office is to come up with a plan for ebikes and recognized allowing them without official permission is wrong. He brought up RTP funded trails that are legally non motorized. He is not responsible for making a plan. I asked for the next person up the chain which he said he would send to me. It just ain’t right illegally allowing ebikes on trails, good luck getting them off when their access is denied. Fucking dump.

I drove to wild wings to watch the Seahawks. In Utah you have to buy food to buy a beer. Just really shitty food. I watched the first half then drove back towards Hurkin and parked at start of lakeside trail. Trailforks displays land manager as BLM and there is no prohibiting sign. I am positioning myself for an early morning ride start.