Here in Sedona there are the mapped and signed system trails in apps like trailforks so you always know where you are. Then there are the unmapped and unsigned social trails, the same trail might be known with different names. I have been riding a mix of each. Today was House Mountain loop lead by Ian. Ride route was riding from VOC down to Kel Fox trail stopping at Indian inscribed rock

From there we dropped down a basalt strewn narrow single track joining jeep road crossing the dam breast of a cattle tank. We rode connecting 2 track climbing up towards overlook where I sleep. An established cow path enticed us to leave the road which we followed all the way over to the camp spots on the first right road past the overlook, went right thru a camper trailer camp. Then Ian lead us on connecting signed FS jeep roads up onto House Mountain. Ian said he likes to ride this ride 2 times a year, very seldom does he entice repeat riders.

Back in 2015 during shoulder repair recovery I rode these roads as they were deemed less technical which is true but the grunt factor had been omitted.

Up high with incredible panorama views.

Witch’s Tit: yesterday I rode with Ian and Jimmy down mountain in Turkey creek area climbing up to near shoulder of the Tit which is well below picture location.

Several steep lots of loose rock descents passed under our wheels before we arrived at a flat spot where the road quit and the single track descended to Turkey Tank. Just after we started down an abandoned crashed toy SUV was downhill from the trail. Just a nasty single track down to the tank.

5 guys riding different brand bikes, different suspension solutions, 4 on flats, 1 on mechanical attachments, all with dropper posts, prolly over components the same. Each of us rode what we brung as we were able to. Fly we did.

We dropped onto Turkey creek ride. We rode CupCake for me the first time in years as I had forgotten how to get there.

We finished up Turkey Creek down to Verde Valley school then rode the pavement back to the Village. What a day and ride 22 miles pedaling 3 hours climbing 2106′. Dinner at Rotten Johnies then out to crowded MP4 for the night.

Yesterday, Saturday, I joined Ian and Jimmy on a Turkey Creek ride. They are old school Sedona riders meaning that washes are meant to be ridden. We did mix social trails between several wash rides.

Nasty hike a bike up to edge of Witch’s Tit then very attention holding steep single track. Mostly social trails which are more fun to ride than the 1 system trail.

Watched Zags game at PJs then drove out to overlook for the night.

Friday I was invited on Simon’s ride which is an attempt to bring back the Bike and Bean shop rides. It linked system , social, and wash rides. Another go pedaling up Rabbit Ridge. My engine played out several times on the climb necessitating recovery. It’s below grade with lots of small loose rocks. Rode with local legends Simon, Billy Idol, and Jordan. Social trails are undeveloped and rough with sharp and or sharp and grabby plants extending on to the trail I finish the ride with numerous no longer bleeding cuts. I receive one this ride that required bandaging to stop the bleeding.

Ah, Sedona riding. There is nowhere else that I have ridden that compares with this riding. There are so many different rides and locations to ride. So different but some so much the same. To me red rock is way more enjoyable than the black basalt. Today was lots of basalt, yesterday it was red rock.

I am wearing my new glasses.

I have asked the repair shop to bundle up the remaining repair items to fix at once. Full coolant restoration.

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.

Weather, trails, technology, and on. Today I participated in a trail change, I saw an early full suspension bike on the back of someone’s car, temp today was a very warm 60 degrees after below freezing night time. My body. And on.

Today was another volunteer trail work day meeting at Aerie TH at 8:30. Combining the USFS paid people and the volunteers the pairs of hands was in the 60s. We built to completion a short trail in the Western Gateway system. I brushed the trail corridor changing nature’s reality. Then I without full commitment to helping decommission a social trail that I rode for the first time last Sunday. I expressed my concern on 2 sections of new trail that they were not characteristic Sedona build which would have, instead of straight line elevation change trail, it would have been built with little wiggles and waggles as it climbed or descended which way ridden. Because it is a straight line elevation gain a rider can set in to a pedal climb. These 2 pieces are prolly the only trails that offers a sit and spin. I sought explanation from FS person who laid the trail out. He explained the backstory of its design. That’s what he said.

Then we switched to undoing part of a social trail. Our decommission does not restore back to what nature created, it’s ugly slash marked by piled on dead vegetation. Social trails were created to meet riders’ desires. Effort was expended to figure the sustainable corridor which sometimes necessitates lower leg armor then to minimally change the land and plants for the tread. In this Western Gateway system the FS adopted as warranted social trails, built new, and decommissioned social trails. The social trails were what early Sedona riding was like. Then a trail became adopted into the system and changed its character. Change, it is what it is.

Today at the post work gathering a raffle was held for 3 bandanas and a light weight backpack compliments from REI. My number was pulled for the Flash 22 backpack. Cool.

Weather: Sunday was shirt sleeve no wind day. Monday weather changed to below freezing at night and hardly 40 degrees. Monday was very windy van rocking velocity. Tuesday was more better to be outside but inside was preferred. Wed the wind was calm, bright cloudless blue skies, and upper 40s. I deemed conditions to unfavorable to riding. Hiking was my to be chosen outdoor activity. I hiked up to a pass about Bell Rock Plaza then traversed under a rock face then descended a climbers way trail to Slim Shady for the return.

My body is not happy, it is changing without my concurrence and medicine has either not identified the cause or the medicines prescribed have not taken effect. Dunno know but I am an unhappy camper. Blood analysis discovered I have an allergy to wheat and egg whites. My eating these might contribute to my low level feeling which is added on top of whatever is wrong with my digestive system. I have modified my foods and paying attention to any change. It’s crazy that my guts start rumbling right before bedtime which is 2 hours after last nourishment taken by mouth. The discomfort makes for the illusion of sleeping. Change. It’s hard to grow old.

Then my oral health. My TMJ joints are out of whack. I am being fitted with an appliance that will go over my lower teeth which will correct my jaw alignment correctly to but the TMJs in proper alignment. Like $3,xxx. Yesterday my mouth was examined by a periodontist: gum recession, We can make you better for $3,600. Umph.

I received a voice mail from repair shop. A short drive to the shop. I was given repair prices to repair the coolant system. $800 fixes the major concerns, another $1,500 will finish rehabing the system.

Pedaling Innovations which makes the Catalyst pedals sent me an email announcing pedal redesign to make the pedals even better, yours for $149 plus shipping. I entered my card info, now awaiting the next best thing to sliced bread. I have beaten my present pedals not yet to death, new pedals are preventive purchasing. My carbon handle bar prolly should be replaced before the pedals. I did order a new carbon bar.

I used the ride downtime to seek fork service. recommended interval has been way greatly exceeded. They installed my gift of PUSH super slick seals. First ride on bike I heard the sound of something rattling / rubbing. The source was determined to the mechanic not tightening the bolts that hold the brake caliper to the fork leg.

Thurs Doug and I rode out at Western Gateway. I wanted to ride Newly built Axis from the top down to its crossing of Dry Creek. Trail has wiggles and waggles, built to chicken wing width, mostly undug tread. 1.2 miles dropped 200′ which is steeper than seems to be average 100′ per mile. It offers a different way to climb out of the creek. I pronounce it “crick”. We rode 17 miles pedaling 2 1/2 hours. I am liking riding Last Frontier going south. First part is adopted social trail, then changes to newly built trail which is a handful for exposure and many places to present the falling direction choice: right is into the back slope side or left out into the abyss. We encountered quite a few riders at the Cockscomb / Outer Limits trail junction, most were riding newly built black diamond Ground Control trail. One guy was Canadian from Nelson, BC. Somehow the Bald Bomber Brian Cross’ name came up. I backcountry skied with Brian over 4 visits to his Valhalla ski hut.

Let’s see Change. Zags play tonight at ST Marys. 8:00 I will be barside at PJs pulling for Zags changing the score in their favor.

To be weather change per forecast wants rain and chill early next week. Not creating freeze thaw mud.

During Thurs ride our route put us on the section of Girdner which is right above Dry Creek. We started at 11. We dropped down the creek section to see ice over puddles. The trail holds water as it is in the shade away mostly from sun. Today the tread was firm perhaps indicating dryness, I thought that it was because it was still froze. I did not stop to do a soil analysis.

I installed a new chain on my bike to stay ahead of lateral stretch which kills the chain ring. I pedaled a bit listening to said ring complaining, success silence except for the worn saddle clamp parts I am still waiting for.

My new eyeglasses were received by the optometrist but were rejected for quality issue and ordered to be remade. I am still waiting the new prescription which will ease my eye strain when reading.

Republicans voted to acquit dump. So much is at stake for protecting democracy and separation of powers. The guy is a narcissistic sociopath with his hands on the tiller of our country’s direction. Read Sinclair Lewis’ :It can’t happen Here” for a scary possible future. My short term goal is to remain alive long enough to cast my ballot in disapproval.

It’s 4:04 PM. I’m sitting in my parked van fully exposed to sun’s warmth, the side door is open, van thermometer reads 66 degrees. Earlier today I stopped at ACE in west Sedona for propane refill. A clerk was sorting out snow shovels and yard rakes in a storage unit. Mixed messages but the store had weather covered. Last year at end of Feb nature gave the city 18″ of snow, I know I was there snow bound. It is the desert and it is early Feb. Phil did not see his shadow portending to an early spring.