Rain on Tuesday, Wed, Thurs, Fri, partial clearing on Sat. Yesterday a local report said trails are good where he rode down at VOC. Jimmie’s rotating mass of church or something such as that over at Prescott got wetted out. Scratch that ride. Inquiry down to Cave Creek learned trails closed till Mon. Well, maybe a local ride could be pulled off. Enough of a chance that local trails would not too soft to ride. Church convened here.
Text messages pulled 5 others into the ride meeting at Absolute for 10:30 start. Start time was a loose start time. We’ve got this. Route was determined to be Llama, HT,
Templeton
Down the switchbacks to Buddha beach, Baldwin over to Turkey creek area then pedal back Verde Valley School rd back. yes, there was water as in puddles or mud where we encountered water. Rock was slippery from tracked on water. Lots of hikers down at Buddha beach where the trails goes right above Oak Creek which was raging from the recent rains.
Our route kept us on this side of the creek, crossing it would not have happened because of the high water.
Pedaled Baldwin, this way had more uphill making the roll downs going the other way, step ups making the ride more difficult and more walking for me. Other riders are more skilled and have younger engines. Crossed Verde Valley rd into Turkey creek fun.
Descended back side of Napoleon, very tech that I chose to eliminate possible failure by lowering my bike down. Somewhere along the way we encountered a group of hikers unknown to any of us that stalled our group. Once free the group minus me pedaled away. I was held up by an old dog and me yielding them the trail which they didn’t take choosing to hike the outside edges of the trail. I was left behind. I did not see then turn up a wash, I stayed to main social trail hoping to catch up. except they did not take this trail. I hollered receiving no response. At a trail junction I texted Ian. no reply. Checked cell coverage: phone coverage. I called, he answered. I waited for 30 mins at the junction for their rejoining. I missed the excitement. Group dynamics failure.
Yes, it was muddy in spots and many of the washes were running that we just splashed thru. My lower legs had red dirt splatters, my bike more so. back where I park the building has a spigot that I used to fill up the tree sprayer to wash off my bike. Bike is clean of the clumps.
19.8 miles pedaling for 2 hrs 51 mins, climbing 1416′. Another heart thrashing as I really noticed the 5 days of not riding.
More wet weather forecast for week’s end.
Zags beat SMC to win the WCC tournament. NCAA canceled March Madness because of corona virus.
Tuesday it started raining.
Thursday was van service day. work today was to replace more coolant system parts. Work was not finished, I was asked if I could sleep in my van inside their building and they would finish up first thing Fri morn. I slept inside breathing shop fluids. Strange sleeping under a building roof and not hearing rain hitting my van roof.
They found a mouse nest.
Wed I received my 2 dental appliances which position my lower jaw correctly which will make my TMJs much happier. I wear a hard plastic form over my lower teeth which causes garbled speech until I adjust. After wearing it for 5 days now my jaw muscles have adjusted such that without the appliance I can not chew. One is for normal wear and a second one is for chewing, I carry both with me to be wearing the one for chewing.
Corona virus is happening. Prevention is to avoid large gatherings. WA state set 250 people max for gathering. All sports events have been cancelled. Shoppers here have been hoarding toilet paper big time. Untold economic losses as hospitality type industries are suffering from lack of customers. Owners of capital are taking a beating which flows down to their employees loosing wages. I am set because of my pension and social security. My savings are loosing $. Very uncertain times. Will I become infected? If so, will I survive and recover?
On Friday I will be seen by a naturapath in anticipation of their solution to my out of wack digestive system.