My chain ring is ovalized, my legs pedal in a circle, the premise of the ovalized ring is that it smooths out the pedal stroke, which to me, eliminates the power pulse a circular ring gives. Something to do with circles.

Well, life continues during this stay at home protocol. I just move my home then venture outside for exercise.

Sunday I drove in from Beaverhead to VOC. Ride that day was venturing on trails here. Trailheads for Bell Rock and Courthouse were closed and the trails behind were also closed. Access was by pedaling up SLim Shady which is a bit of a hump right at the start. I did have to walk up the several step ups that are too much for my ability while I was able to pedalall else. It was not as bad as I anticipated. However, what it did do was adjust my ride. Trail access at Courthouse was blocked leaving entrance to Breezy open just before the tape. Down the wash to Templeton crossing, taking that to Bell Rock to Bail Trail to join Llama well past the problem climb. Little Horse up to Chicken Point where several private 4X4 disgorged their occupants. Broken Arrow descending to High on the Hog where I slithered down that nasty move. Dropped down Twin Buttes to short piece of Broken Arrow turning on Hog wash. Ran into local legend who had a hand in the Hogs trails. Switched to Peccari dropping down to Mystic.

Pedal Mystic which seems to be a former powerline road now gone to seed. Neighborhood pavement to social trail connecting with Bell Rock for short piece to HT. Then short piece of Breezey, Templeton, Hermitt, Coconino, and descent back down Slim. Almost all by myself except for 2 large groups of hikers on Llama. 14.7 miles gaining 1037′ pedaling for 2 hrs 6 mins. Did better reining in anaerobic heart rate.

Spent night again at MP4. The spot is exposed. The RV was driven out Sunday night, its engine sputtering. It stopped just short of the exit onto the hard road. what the shits it would be if the thing blocked the exit? It started then its sounds faded. In the morning I did not see it along side the road. Other junk remains. FS hung their abandoned tag only on the camper.

Warm night only wanting furnace heat before leaving warmth of covers. Fixed scratch pancakes and drank a second cup of coffee because it was Sunday.

Drove back to Cultural Park on almost empty roads. Plan was to kind of wander to pick up social trails. One was bypass of Shithole wash. I rode a short piece to exit.

I wandered on social trails just enjoying pedaling, balancing, at navigation. 16.3 miles gaining 1326′ in 2 hrs 21 mins. 19 hour recovery.

Working on sunburn. I might be in a race to the cause of my demise: either skin cancer or covid.

Spent night in town. Bought on line another pair of Patagonia riding shorts, 1/2 price with a liner.

Today was back to west end of town. What to ride? Western Gateway trails are mostly fun pedaling and nicer climbing trails. South side of 89A is location of nastier tread and harsher climbs. Good to mix rides up even if my smile was not as joyous. Descend Scorpion over several basalt rock gardens. Today I smashed over the heads, sometimes the preferred line was over them versus steering the “smooth” alt line. Once thru the gardens the trail becomes just red slick rock. The the climb out of the drainage. Sketch traverses the hillside.

Finished back at Cultural park, 104 miles climbing 1043′ in 1 hr 30 mins. data from this ride were almost exactly the same as last ride only this time just a little faster average speed.

Today’s forecast called for 40% showers after 11. I did pack my rain jacket. Clouds moved in during my ride, I felt I would finish before possible storm broke. I made it. About 30 mins later winds really picked up and clouds showed rain. It it mostly bluster, windshield is dust splattered.

My cold is a fainting memory. Cough (wet) is gone and my temp remains below 98.6.

Will try restaurant take out tonight. Stay up here again and ride here again. 80 degree temps are forecast later this week, ride before the heat comes on.

Travel plans are still affected by stay at home decree. It’s prolly just a matter of time before each of us are exposed to the virus, how will our body respond, that’s what is unknown.

Off and on insects of this kind find their way inside.

Last night I was down for the day laying in bed reading when what to my wondering eyes did I spy but a tossing and turning spot maybe insects. I watched as the action continued. It turns out to be a pair mating of these insects. Rear entry. She fought, he persevered. Post coitus one flew away, maybe back to mom, while the other lay played out. Go figure. They lived out their life somewhere inside.

I’m down here VOC land. Yesterday still favoring cold recovery I hiked 2 hours on Transcept out and back trail head is off Verde Valley School road which is access to Turkey creek trails etc. Several years ago it was adopted as a legal trail and some trail reconstruction was performed to mitigate water damage. Just a whole lot of tech challenges and some steep push a bike climbs, down lower lower bike. Last year Bill and I partnered with our bikes to ride this from Highline. Serious body damage potential. Beautiful day, just wonderful to be outside.

Not a trail I would ride solo and I won’t go out of my way to glob on to another rider.

Drove out to Beaverhead. Picked the green ground covering and out in the open spot, its turning at the first right after the overlook.

Today drove back to VOC. Plan was to ride Turkey Creek which I executed to perfection. First task was to deal with lossing air rear tire which I sumised to be caused by rim tape slipping to expose nipple holes. Droe to Absolute here. Open at 10, and at 10 I called the shop, 3 ring phone answered. I greeted a wrench at the door he unlocked from the inside. At arm’s length I handed him my wheel minus the tire which I removed in the parking lot out front. Several minutes later my wheel was handed back to me with serious rim tape, credit card transaction. Seated the tire then squirted 1 3/4 bottles of Stans. Good to go. No more weeping at the spoke nipples.

Bike issue attended to. drove down and parked at old SNAP operation. Pedaled out Verde Valley school road that has brand new asphalt pavement. My knobbies threw off a noise. My dirt ride was following memory, I was always found. Trails here are more technical than the western gateway trails and fewer miles. Pic above follows back to riding area, public land.

Ran into Pat who is Beth’s mom who lives in Moab. She was told that her roommate was camped across a county line outside the closed counties when a law officer asked to see their driver’s licenses which showed they lived in the closed county, he told them to get back across county line. Now, I am repeating what I heard several times removed. I was sent a link to Moab closure. Primitive camping still open but requested residences camp in their own county. Screwed down town protecting its citizens.

Back out at MP4. Same spot. There are campers at the first 2 road choices, on this road this site is always open. Exposed. Close off the hard road over cast in rut features. Creep speed. I’m inside out of the wind, warm, and legal.

Tomorrow morning scratch pancakes then up to Bell rock area. Trail head and trail access from same are closed. I can find trails for legal access to those trails. Might have to ride up Slim Shady which means step ups versus roll downs and elevation gain.

I seem to believe that I have a mild cold creating slight chest congestion and I have been treating my body to rest and “easy” pedals. I tried that on my ride 2 days ago not pedaling so hard yet the heart rate data showed higher rate than I would have expected. Yesterday’s ride was a similar attempt on a route sim to previous ride but in reverse. Heart rate showed another high rate ride. 29 mins aerobic out of 2 hrs 16 mins, 1 hr 38 mins my rate was way over the top. 17.3 miles pedaling for that time climbing 1519′. recovery time was 26 hours. At this time of writing I am still in that recovery time. I am working my pedaling harder which is a possible explanation. I checked my heart rate and O2 saturation this morning, 56 bpm and 98% which says that I have recovered. I am not riding today.

So, yesterday was another pedal ride on western gateway system. Down Stirrup, connect to Girdner, climb and descend Anaconda, AZ Cypress crossing Dry creek trickle, social trail to Aerie climbing and descending chunder to Cockscomb, then finishing on Outer Limits. Just enjoyable trails and ride. Short sleeves and shorts, I produced sweat. Encountered just a few people.

Hung out at the Cultural park being around people at great distance even without conversation. Drove out to Beaverhead MP 4 road. Full on sunshine and stiff breeze. Pleasant night using the heater on low setting towards morning.

This AM I returned to VOC for faster internet to write this. I might go for a hike later as a rest day yet exercising.

May y’all be healthy.