Skinny Legs and All.
“We are our own dragons as well as our own heroes and we have to rescue ourselves from ourselves” a Tom quote.
Yesterday I finished East of Eden leaving me seeking the next book to read. I thought I had Still Life with Woodpecker in my easy to reach library down in the passenger’s wheel well. Not there. Most appealing was The Scarlet Letter. Read several lines and decided I would search further inside my home. Next was the furthermost cubby underneath the clothing drawer with drawer slides difficult to release the drawer. I wrestled to release the slides to dig underneath. My right arm has little strength which was needed to remove the drawer, I was able to slide the drawer to the extent of the slides and rooted underneath. I saw the subject book cover and I could reach it. I pulled it out then slid the drawer closed. Book has a warped corner. I put the water jug on top of it attempting to flatten it. It helped, curled does not affect his words. Published in 1990 when I prolly read it for the first and only time, I took it along with me with hopes of rereading it you know someday. Back into wisdom and wit of Tom Robbins. What a different read from last 3 big books I had read. Head spinner. I will be challenged and stimulated for many days of reading.
This mild cold is affecting my riding. Sat I rode this time on the Oak Creek side riding down Herkenham, climbing Old Post over to N junction to Carroll Canyon to Ridge, up to connect to end of Sketch to rejoin Ridge at the other end, continued over to Secret Slick Rock, connected with Ramshead to rejoin Old Post for entire climb out to connect to Skywalker back to van. 10.9 miles climbing 1155′, big day of climbing. I encountered more riders than hikers, all combined was less than 15.
Hung at the park. I researched Sedona ordinances and discovered that I was in violation of not only sleeping there but cooking. Ordinance covers all private land within city. Scofflaw now. Decided to drive out to Beaverhead on FS where I would be able to cook and sleep. Late arrival at overlook so I made a hasty dinner. I gave thought to checking out FS rd 525 west of town, the go to place for campers seeking to be near Sedona. I learned that the place is plugged with campers, not news I hoped to hear which is why I returned to less crowded Beaverhead. Sunday I returned to VOC with hopes of riding in spite of unfavorable forecast. I was invited to a dinner at Dave’s that I accepted but later cancelled as I did not want to expose them to my cold. Filled water tank, bought fresh beans, then drove out to MP4. Scored spot close to road. Forecast called for showers that night into the next. Showers, not rain. I reasoned that not enough rain was forecast to turn the dirt track out to slime. I was provisioned to be able to spend 2 days here to wait out firming up the road and also to wait same for trails. At end of rd is this compound that i watched grow during my stays here. They are gone but not their possessions.
Before sunrise rain fell as a heavy shower. Snug and dry inside, enjoyed a not normal second cup of coffee and stuck my nose in Skinny Legs. Rain quit, puddles were formed. I waited and watched the puddles dry. I wanted to check out the road out. Another van spent the night closer to the hard road and had a different shot at the final problem before the hard road. They scooted. Mud stuck to the bottom of my sandals. back in van, black clouds moved in and dumped another shower, lesser this time. Now outside the puddles are dry and the dirt is firming up. No more precip forecast, I will drive out firm dirt tomorrow and ride firm trails.
Cold has causing me to cough, darn chest cold. Health tip: if cold is above shoulders play, if below be easy. I check my temp daily which remains fever free.
Viewed official Arizona web site for the corona virus. Yavapai county, where I am, has recorded less than 10 cases.
Tom Robbins was born in N. Carolina. I googled map location which is near where I have been. Nearby is Cherokee NF that the map displayed message forest is closed. I checked further that closure meant same as what is here in Coconino: public places closed.
Sister Lynn’s daughter is being married Aug 8 in Columbus, OH. Hot and sticky midwest. I plan on attending and am working over ideas of how to get there. I do want to spend time in western Appalachians meaning heat and humidity. Linger on travels to visit places not so popular. Reading about Cherokee NF 1 past place ridden is closed, the Ocoee whitewater center and campground. Located on TENN and N C border. believe it i rode and 8 mile downhill there 2X. There was a slight bit of pedaling . Deciduous forest. Pisgah. Oh Michaux SF near Gettysburg. Mountain bikers from the west hardly go east unless they came from there. Bikers there come to mountains and desert. Imagine you live in say Brevard, NC in wet deep shade tree cover experiencing like Sedona. Imagine that they flew in to Phoenix arriving after dark then driving to lodging in Sedona. They wake up to their eastern time zone clock, it is still dark outside. The skies slowly light up revealing Sedona’s red rock wonders. Jaw dropping. Cause I can go back there and soak up wet and darkness. Van is good to go. However, the virus restrictions will not be required as we had flattened the curve. Hope is not a plan.
I left college when I was 22, I am now 70, 48 years later. In this time I have lived almost entirely by myself. I lived by myself and didn’t socialize unless it was group physical activity. I was alone in a sea of people but I experienced human contact. I was alone but not lonely. Today with the virus social distance and stay at home protol has shrunken my human interactions, I am becoming lonely. Listening to music and as background activates my mind, human contact. Tom Robbins is spinning my mind.
Desert out here is a sea of Cheat grass. Nothing eats it but it crowds out native plants. Grazing cows break open the soil under their hooves. Cheat is a prolific seeder, vectors seed broken ground, cheat emerges, grows, and seeds itself. Soon cheat is primary ground cover. After seeding it dies and dries out remaining upright. Very hot and fast moving brush fires happen. Public pays to put out. Rancher pays a grazing fee, cows significantly alter the ecosystem they graze on. Crowded out are the native plants and wildlife. We pay for that in long term environmental degredation. A few financially benefit yet many pay for the damage.