Last night while working on falling asleep I planned my ride for today to find my camera. System trails to a social trail off Dawa then finding and riding the social trails. Remember the GPS did not track yesterday’s ride. Today I turned Backcountry Navigator, my GPS mapping source, to see that it wasn’t giving my position. WTF? I pushed touch screen points, etc which made the mapping app come alive. I made our yesterday’s rest stop, I remember seeing the red wrist strap hanging out of the left rear pocket on my Wingnut pack per normal. I had put the pack back on feeling the camera. A bit of a hike a bike wash then the exit climbing thru tight brush which is where I suspected the camera would be. The brush would have pulled the camera out of the pocket. Nope. Darn. On Sunday’s ride I followed letting Greg lead on these hardly defined user created trails, I was not storing the ride into memory. I found our tracks figuring out what we rode. Distance grew and no camera. I was hoping that it landed right on the trail and not hidden in the vegetation. Then there it was sheathed in the toe of a white sock almost on the trail. The camera is an Olympus TG 5 tough, tough enough to withstand the 3 foot fall.

Reason for ride has been met, now return directly. Cross country trails. Passed over the entrance to famous Shithole.

Picked up Axis and rode all the way back. Rock armor was placed in the Dry creek crossing which I rode, depth was just above rim height. Feet remained dry. Axis was just opened this spring.

Back at the van I spent the rest of the afternoon sitting outside without a shirt working on my tan and visiting with several locals who stopped. Pleasant afternoon.

This AM I shopped at Whole Foods during their 7 to 8 AM over 60 years exclusive shopping hour. I scored last can of black beans. Made just 1 meal of burritos tonight from the can. Other meals use 1 can along with other edibles enough for a second dinner.

Pleasant day today. 73 degrees forecast.

Eric Clapton is 75 years old today. Long time fan all the way back. Time marches on.

Grasshopper Flats town sleeping. 66 sq ft home, a tiny home. Mobile. I am allowed out to do critical errands such as groceries, drugs, laundromat, and bike riding. So far only self determined. Actually home quarantine is what my lifestyle has been. I just drive to place my home. At present Sedona and Arizona are not on mandatory home shut in.

Spent last night here also. Last night I gave thought to a ride today. I only came up with drive to Cultural park and see what my ride would be. Temp was upper 40s, chilly. I sat inside allowing the sun to turn up the thermostat. Chuck drove in. He said he and Ian were going to ride some of the newer trails. Ian arrived. We pedaled down Axis, rock hopped dry feet crossing of flowing Dry creek. Pedaled up Axis to Rover then much of the next part was rider created trails. Some places just a faint bike wheel track, others more pronounced. More than a hapless wander, a destination was known but when we got to that we planned another one. At a place out there I hope to find tomorrow I hope to find my camera which was snatched from my pack by a woody plant. No pics this post. we rode 14 miles lasting a bunch of hours, Sunny day, maybe low 60 with breezes depending upon exposure. Challenge to ride the ridden in tread. Engaged in post ride recovery beverage hydration. Sitting target for several locals to stop and visit. Very few others either bikers or hikers to share the empty social distancing. For me when riding I am quickly gapped.

Monday update: Camera found, pic added.

Friday night I enlarged the trail choices for my scramble. There are 59 segments. I drew 12 out then figured out how to ride them all. I crossed Dry creek out at AZ Cypress which caused only a partial wet left foot. My route was chosen to minimize the number of crossings. I pedaled thru one crossing afterwards my drive train started sounding unhappy. I wiggled my crank arms discovering that play was present. Shit, maybe that is the source of the skritch and not the dropper post. And my multitool lacks the lever arm to tighten the bolt. Pedal on, route would take me back to TH and my tool box. I rode a section of Mescal 2X to pick upper COF and all of Yucca. Ride data at the van was 20 miles and maybe another 3 remained. I slowly pedaled at the TH thinking whether I wanted to continue, choice was addressing the crank to continue or comfort of resting heart rate and a beer, Never ride back to the van and expect to continue.

Pulled the pedal wrench out of the tool box then inserted the allen into the crank bolt and reefed. No movement couldn’t tighten it any more. Maybe wiggle is in bottom bracket and I don’t have that tool. Called OTE who said drop on by. Wrench applied more force which tightened the crank bolt. Skritch is still sounding.

Friday the weather forecast called for snow showers after 11. I drove into VOC, parked, then looked again at the forecast. Still the same. OK, ride Llama out which allowed ride length choices. Just b4 I arrived at Bail trail junction snow really staring falling. I only carried a wind shell and not water proof. I chose Bail and turned for shelter.

Once on pavement the snow lessened yet it was wet. Once at the van the snow had quit and blue sky was overhead. I got caught in a chump hole, although later the snow clouds and wind rolled in. Later I drove out to Beaverhead being buffeted by stiff gusts. Score preferred spot. Before dinner a squall hit for several minutes then quiet. Like turning on a light switch the change was so abrupt.

Staying in town again tonight. First thing tomorrow is searching for camera. Today I attempted to record a ride track. I need corrective glasses to really read the computer, I thought I set the recording up. Once I learned I lost the camera I planned on retracing my route using that gps data. Shit, there was no track. Either I failed or the software failed. Tomorrow will be a wander to find where I think it was pulled free.

I filled out a new advanced directive form and attached it to myroadid. Mike used his computer and scanner to move that filled out form to my computer.

I noticed when pedaling on rough stuff if I lowered my seat just a skosh I had more power and control, better than full pedaling efficiency height. Before Sat’s ride I lowered the seat in the frame. Big improvement all way around as I have a stronger stroke. I noticed that ride average mph is slightly higher. Much better. I am tired writing this. My shoulder hurts. Eyes burn. Trails are becoming loose putting dust in my eyes.

Good night.

May y’all be well.

Forecast for Monday called for showers and winds, enough for me to sit in my van at the Cultural park and watch sucker hole after another open up. I didn’t allow myself to get sucked in. A sucker hole occurs when the present weather sucks enough to remain in comfort then a break in the weather happens. Hope springs from the human breast so a person leaves comfort for outside, adventures out, then sometime later the weather goes to shit again and shits on the adventureer. Airport reported 32 mpg gust. Van rocked and rain pelted the van. Caught recreators. Spent the night in town.

Forecast for Tues was favorable. I repeated the buying process at OTE for a maxxis Aggressor rear tire. 1154 miles on current tire which shows effects of riding in worn center knobs and torn side lugs. It was time.

Drove out Dry Creek rd and parked on side of road near where Chuck Wagon crosses. Did full on sunshine tire replacement. There were 2 squirt bottles of Stans in the tire, 1 was original and the 2nd was what I put in after Sunday’s leaker. Sufficient Stans should have stopped that bead leak. Put normal 2 bottles in new tire, extra allows for new tire absorption.

Ride plan was out Chuck wagon hoping that dry feet rocks would be present at Dry Creek crossing. Disappointment: wading almost knee deep crossing or retreating. Wet feet it was. Carried bike across. Continued on Mescal. Next wet / mud would be N Aerie. Spoke with riders who had just rode it, report was good. Ride plan continued. Rode entire Aerie, continued on Cockscomb around to Dawa then out to bottom of COF. Continued on social trail over to hard road then cross the creek on Dry Creek road. A rider approached me who at first I did not recognize but I should have. Instead I id’d his bike. It was a Turner RFX with a PUSH 116 shock. It was Joe from Flag. we visited long enough to cool off. Pedaled on, crossed road bridge, pedaled pass gun shooters onto OK then climbed Snake to Girdner to van.

Local landmark when have proper perspective:

Successful ride. I rode several of troublesome features. Accepting speed and quality of suspension are my friends. As well as hard pedaling.

Government response and people complying make for empty streets, empty grocery shelves but no lines. Yesterday’s nice weather brought out numerous riders out at Cultural park trails.

Today’s forecast lacked precip and partially sunny. Ride plan was Soldier pass trails. Of interest was previously rerouted Tea Cup that I helped on years ago. Rode it out and back. Holding up just fine. Well done. Reward of ride is descending Javalina a rocking descent, pay attention. Stable well behaved bike kept a smile on my face. Paid price on climb out.

Drove back to Cultural park. Thought to check propane tank gauge. Needle was almost dead empty. Turned around and drove to Ace, 5.2 gallons, max fill is 5.6.

Oregon statewide has declared home quarantine. Moab closed what local campgrounds they could. BLM lands are still open.