On Monday ACE filled my propane tank. Procedure is to turn off open flames and pilots before filling. Only item affected is the fridge which I turned off. Propane was filled, I walked into the store and paid for fuel, then drove away. Between refilling and Tues breakfast I either put items in or took items out of the fridge. At breakfast I faced the cold hard fact that the fridge was not running. I had forgotten to turn it back on after refilling. Umph. I purged the fridge of temp sensitive foods and hooked up to shore power to run fridge, shore power is more efficient to bring the temp down vs the propane fired boiler. At bedtime the temp was low 40s, almost to like 35 degrees normal operating temp. temps rode to low 90s. I hung at uhaul sitting in my chair reading Catch 22. I moved my chair to be shaded.

Wed forecast was for low 90s. I figured to ride early to beat the heat. Drove to Cultural park and geared up for ride. My body is not happy, all of the vitals like BP, pulse, temp, and O2 saturation are all withing spec. I set on on my ride. I shortened it because I didn’t feel well enough to enjoy the ride. I returned to van to hang out for the rest of the day. I had parked the van such as it would create shade for me to sit in as I read finishing Catch 22. temp inside was 101 degrees. Returned to uhaul spot for the night.

Today is laundry day. Clean clothes now.

Called my primary care DR at Flag this AM. Office is not seeing patients, treatment is phone call, appointment is next Tues.

Read Steinbeck’s Cannery Row then gave it back to The Worm bookstore where I bought it. I buy my books there, read it, then give it to store to resell as a used book.

Derrick Bell, Mountain Bike Trail Builder [Video]

Tomorrow is May 1, of significance is some states revisiting their stay at home directives. Perhaps I will be able to travel.

86 degrees at 11:41 AM, slight cloud cover and occasional breeze.

Creative juices start flowing from where ever to my fingers on this keyboard.

Last night slept at the first right after the overlook in the nice opening. I parked the van so it would create shade. I set my chair up in that shade and read some more of Catch 22. Before leaving VOC I filled up my solar shower and hung it on the hood of the van and went for a ride. Upon return the water was too hot to touch. Looking forward to a rinsing off the sweat. The day before I washed with soap and washed my hair, the first time since sometime in Jan. Both the wash and rinse showers flushed grime off my body way better than a wet washcloth. I smelled the same afterwards.

So yesterday’s ride was down at VOC. I park in the parking lot where SNAP used to be, there are no nasty signs prohibiting parking. Outside spigot also. Village does not chlorinate their water that I enjoy. I fill my drinking water jug and sink water tank from the spigot.

Pedal about .7 miles to Slim Shady trail start at Red Agave. Have to pedal this way to gain access to trails behind the closed trailheads. Again pushing my bike up the step ups too steep for me. Made Chicken Point.

My route was the same as my 4/19 ride. Today fewer people. 2 hr pedal. I learned of a way to access Big Park trail beyond the closed trail head.

Forecast is calling for 90 degree days this week. Sedona is at 4,500′, Flag is at 7,000′ which will be cooler. I picked a place to go to. I learned that up there the place is filled with campers. And there was just motorized trails to ride. Moving away from that location. I queried Jimmy over in Prescott which is 1,000′ higher than here and slightly lower temp. I might go to Prescott for several days.

Today I was moving just after 8 AM for Cultural park in West Sedona. I was riding just b4 10. Sunny skies, little shade, and the temperature rising. I worked to lessen my exertion. My ride was 2hrs 3 mins of pedaling, of that time 33 mins was spent below aerobic effort. I paid strict attention to drinking water, even with drinking my skin remained sweat free, at best might have been called “glowing” Didn’t pee either. This hole was dung about 18″ from edge of trail.

A mix of system and nonsystem trails. The heat was affecting me. This western gateway trail system offers various options for ride length. I bailed again on riding full Last Frontier to avoid exposed southern exposure of newer piece and the climb up Outer Limits. Axis is more direct and shorter. The temp gauge in the van read 92 degrees when I finished. At present it is 71 degrees at 8:30 PM. Side door and driver’s window open and down.

Parked here at Uhaul back among the big trucks. A work truck pulled in behind me. 2 guys got out with a tire. They replaced a tire on the truck next to me. My sliding door has been not sliding easily as the channel that the lower roller rides in collects dirt and small rocks. I scraped what I could out but what was really needed was a strong blast of compressed air to blow the channel clean. I asked them for a favor of them blowing the channel clear. Great guy. He blew it clean and now the door slides nicely. All the while I was thinking of where I could go to have air. The solution parked next to me. Score.

Today after completing my ride I checked the van thermometer which displayed 88 degrees. Hottest so far this spring. Under cloudless skies and a blustery breeze. Just what the forecast called for.

Drove down to VOC this morning for a ride. I pedaled away just before 11 on Verde Valley School road heading for Turkey creek trails. I planned on riding around Cathedral rock, 1st on Turkey creek side picking up Baldwin for west side, then up Templeton for N side, then finish up on Breezy and Slim Shady. And that’s what I rode. 12.4 miles pedaling for 1 hr 36 mins, climbed only 919′.

Hiline is too much for me anymore, even when I rode it last. Descent is double black diamond. I always walked. Back in maybe 2011 I fell in the wash down after all the nasty stuff. I Straddled a bump stalling. I looked where I did not want to land and that’s where I landed. If I would have looked to my right I would have leaned into the back slope. I shattered my right collar bone and bent my rear brake lever. I picked myself up then riding what i could and walking what my shoulder would not allow. The bent brake lever was a mismatch with how I could make it work. Baldwin has some serious tech. made it to Verde Valley school road for pavement riding. Made it to the Bean, gave the shop my bike because I was unable to lift it onto the rack. Drove up to west Sedona to emergency room where the dr placed me in the healing harness. That’s my story. I have since successfully ridden the spot where I fell.

Baldwin connects with Templeton for a short piece right on shore of Oak Creek.

Cathedral trail is closed because of covid. Switchbacks out of the creek are legendary for nasty hike a bike. Short piece after the climb to was descent to Breezy. Several small roll downs and seveal that are unrideable. This place in pic is a blind entrance, you need to hit the rock for transition, if you miss it could be a suspension collapser.

Breezy for the most part stays out of the wash but crosses it a bunch of times. Several years ago the FS armored the banks to prevent carving into the sand banks. Rock work was well done. Yavapi TH is open. I encountered 2 bikers and several hikers.

Back to van. Hot, full on sun exposure. I fikked my solar shower and hung it on the hood before I left. Upon return water was too hot which was good. Drove out to Beaverhead. I scored the nice spot on the left side of the road. I drained the solar shower into the Helios which is a bladder bag that is pressurized by an attached foot pump. A long hose connected to a kitchen sink spray nozzle. The Helios doesn’t heat the water but the spray nozzle makes for a nicer shower. First shower since way back in maybe January.

Thursday was laundry day which I did before riding. riding clothes hung on inside clothes line. Drove out to Cultural park for a Western gateway ramble. Lots of trail names for my ride. Climbed out of Dry creek on Axis which takes 11 mins. I like Axis more than Girdner. Spent night in town.

Tuesday at the Girdner trail head there was a fleet of horse haulers.

I rode on the other side of 89 A so I did not encounter the riders. Upon my return the riders were back at their rigs. They took care of their mounts and loaded them up and drove away. They left reminders of their visit.

Horse shit is part of their having horses. I don’t have a horse yet I ride the trails they ride. Fresh juicies on the trail that us bikers and hikers need to deal with, the horse riders accept leaving excrement. But when they leave manure at the trailhead like these rider did, to me it shows contempt to us non riders.

Reading Catch 22 for maybe the 3rd time. Way different than Tom Robbins.

Forecast high temps will be in upper 80s in 3 days. Might go up to Flag which is at 7,000′ for lower temps.

The side door has been open, it’s dark outside, and a light is on inside which has attracted non pain causingc insects which are liking the computer screen. I finally slid the mosquito netting across the doorway. 67 degrees at 9:30 PM.