30 miles.
Yesterday My van was to be captured at the fix it shop. I spent the night before in front of the shop door per the shop’s request to have a dead cold engine to work on the cooling. On Wed I completed my morning get life started tasks. I was told my van might be held overnight because the work might not be completed. Well, no vision of being mobile played in my head. Well, that meant I had way long time to amuse myself with a big ride out at western Gateway system. With the net work of trails I could make my ride whatever distance my mind could force upon my body. Chilly start that I delayed waiting for solar warmth.
I rode from the shop on pavement to the Old Post TH down by the recycling center. Old Post underwent reconstruction just after the start that I helped bring to single track. Climb up to Skywalker which was built during an absence, pedal over to high school with a short pavement pedal to busy 89A . Punched the pedestrian crossing button. Short pavement pedal once across to Girdner TH. Choices for route. I was seeking system trails that I have yet to ride this visit, many miles of ridden trails between me and like Snake. Drop down new Stirrup to rejoin Girdner, turning right at Rupp intersection climbing up to Snake intersection. Drop down Snake to AZ Cypress which is in Dry Creek bed, now dry. The trail crosses the creek but I missed that crossing which put me on the shooting range dirt road. Gun fire of different caliber and ammo feed. Road ended at Boyton pass road and a bridge across Dry Creek. Turned left on Boyton heading to bottom of Canyon of Fools that the trail would have routed me to. I remembered a social trail existed to stay off pavement but I could not find it. Well, some social trail to pick up Mescal trail to Yucca then drop down Canyon of Fools to arrive where I wanted to be. Social trail to arrive at Aerie crossing, I turned left undulating on the shoulder of Doe Mtn. Aerie has become very exposed sharp edge rock. My suspension smooths out the bumpy spots. Bike juts really is a joy to ride. Aerie ends at Cockscomb which I pedaled over to northern terminus of last year’s newly built Outer Limits. I helped on this trail build several volunteer days. An old piece of Last Frontier goes off Outer Limits. The adopted user built trail is well designed and built. As such it is very narrow and has exposure. A new piece was built last year to by pass the user built part. This trail is more raw and has naked exposure as very few trees give allusion of unawareness and safety. Last Frontier rejoins Outer Limits after descending formerly named Middle Finger. Outer Limits back to Girdner, pedal across the highway and pick up Skywalker for return to Old Post then pavement pedal back to the shop. I just pedaled and kept after it at my own pace. Every now and then I looked at the bike computer to see how many miles I had ridden and then I figured out the remaining distance. I arrived back at shop just as they were pouring coolant into the newly installed radiator. 30.2 miles pedaling for 4 hrs 13 mins climbing 2605′. My heart rate was mostly anaerobic. Only stopped for a bar or safety meeting. I am pleased with my effort.
I went to bed then fell asleep really easily. I was awakened several hours later with violent leg cramps which I am prone to get. Vinegar, need vinegar to call off the cramps. Between contractions I was able to open the fridge door and pull out the squeeze bottle of mustard. I shook it up then open the spout and squeezed. I heard burps not a steady stream I was expecting. Shit, I closed my mouth and learned my mouth was filled with mustard. I schloshed it around in my mouth feeling the cramps release then spit the mouthful into the sink.
Paid the man for the service then spent the night in town staging for a volunteer trail build today.
Trail work staged at Girdner which is closer into town. Today’s project was new build just above the flood line of dry Creek. Our work was clearing the corridor. What effort. Finished trail will be a very challenging ride. Maybe 25 volunteers. We completed planned work. Hiked back out on cleared corridor. Lots of work was spent.
Chores happened next as in clean clothes, groceries, drinking water, propane, pick up bike parts, and fill sink water tank. Drove down to VOC to eye glass store to pick up my new glasses. New frames and improved correction. Out to Beaverhead. Old favorite spot was open. But I wanted full exposure sun so I drove down to MP 4 spot which turned out to be occupied. Shit returned to where I just was. This place is sheltered but in the evening shadow of the hill above. I picked up discarded beer cans.
Tuesday the weather was too chilly to rode and the forecast called for snow. I resigned to staying inside. I drove out to Cultural park to hang. Around 3 I studied the outside looking for conditions. Good enough and didn’t appear to portend nasty i took off for a hike. The envisioned short loop turned out to grow to 2 1/2 hour hike some of which was following the decommissioned social trail.
Monday I solo rode from VOC. I wanted to ride the downhill end of Slim Shady and the upper part of Breezy. GPS’d those trails.
Forecast for Monday night into Tues called for snow. Monday night i slept at paved overlook to avoid rained on dirt. Watched this cloud mass until darkness. Little affect here.
Weather is conducive to riding as is the tread.
Zags play on Sat, televised by ESPN.
This evening at my sleep spot I practiced exposed shade tree mechanics to replace the saddle jaws in effort to eliminate a skritch. New parts installed then a test ride. Not convinced that skritch is gone.
Made comfort food for dinner: mashed Yukon Gold potatoes with butter, whipping cream, vinegar, dill, peas, and smoked salmon. No left overs. Created this putting off clean up.
KP time.