Friday night I stayed in W Sedona staging for trail work on Sat. Forecast called for showers and possible thunder storm. I put the rain cover over my bike in preparedness for protection. Before get up time I heard rain striking the van roof. OK, maybe showers. I completed my morning tasks then drove out to Girdner TH for volunteer trail work. Windshield wipers on intermittent setting. Pulled up to staging area which is a picnic table with a roof above. Just the FS people. 3 other volunteers showed up, Doug, and a Friends of the Forest older couple. Rain continued. Forrest said it was volunteer. Work was to be brushing on Bottom Out where we worked last day which would be clinging to a steep hill side clearing a corridor. Slippery, clothes tearing brush, and wet. I bailed as did the couple but Doug marched off into the rain with the paid FS. I drove away.
Sat night the Zags visited BYU , game was televised starting at 8 PM. I took a seat at the bar at PJs right under a big screen TV. The empty seat to my left was taken by a very drunk young woman who drunkenly tried to engage me in conversation. She did not understand my focus on the game and not her. I outlasted her when she staggered away. Zags got outplayed resulting in a beat down loss.
Showers fell off and on throughout the day. I left PJs driving S to Beaverhead when I entered a heavy downpour from a Thunderstorm. Water stood on the road, very slow driving peering into the dark looking for my lane. Slept at lookout. Rain quit later.
Sunday I checked out the roads to primitive camp spots off Beaverhead. Standing water puddles and deep tire tracks. MP4 spot ruts were almost chassis dragging deep. There are 2 camps on the road, one way out and an RV parked at my preferred spot. These folks drive in and out a bunch of times during the day even in the wet just digging ruts deeper. I stayed at the paved overlook again. Showers fell on Sunday.
Monday’s forecast was encouraging favorable for riding. I chose Turkey Creek as it has less mud and dries quicker. I wanted to check out the abandoned rig up at the pass on Turkey Creek trail. Road pedal to dirt start which is a worn in horse trail that is below grade and in many spots tread is loose rocks, some I can pedal over drawing from my reflexes to move forward and stay on top of my bike. Other places I just say no way and walk. I rode by myself at my pace and style. I sessioned several spots, some with success and others maybe someday. Hero dirt, got in before horses broke up the hero dirt. The lower part of the Turkey Creek trail is typical sandstone, as the elevation gained the tread becomes mostly black basalt. I pedaled and pushed my bike up a ways finally stopping where I remembered the real nasty hike a bike started, I stashed my bike off the trail then set off of biped. I rode down this trail last week, being pulled downhill over comes the obstacles way better than pedaling against.
What lengths people will go to to abandon a rig.
I saw what I wanted to see. Retraced my steps wondering how I rode down the nasty shit. Picked up my bike then pedaled back out. I took a safety break along the way which enhanced my riding ability. I sessioned several spots that caused me to walk to successfully negotiate. Problem appears to be that what I learn while addled does not translate well to riding straight. Horse traffic chewed up the wet soft sand.
Friday I made an appointment at Fat Tire for help installing my new handlebar. The service I needed was just to shorten the bar and use air compressor to slide on new grips. Dave grabbed my bike out of my hands saying that he can do the install in a flash. I whimpered a bit saying that I am capable of doing all the work and do it outside in his parking lot. He cut down the bar then installed it on the bike. I adjusted the brakes and wired on the new grips. His charge was favorable. Plus we had intense Craig conversation directed by someone else. Thought provoking and stimulating.
Last Thurs after doing my laundry I drove back down to VOC to ride Turkey Creek with Doug and Brian. Nice day for humping our bikes up Napoleon.
Forecast for today was true as it is chilly and windy, gusts to 31 mph. There have been strong gusts. I made today a sit in the sun warmed van to write this. Tomorrow’s forecast is more favorable for riding. Age affected need to rest. Data point: as of 2/23 I have ridden 2,340 rides covering 33,854 miles in like 11 1/2 years of this lifestyle. My guts are not happy which favors no activity days.