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.