Pleasant quiet night, warm enough to not choose furnace till just before get up. Again not bothered.

Maybe an easy ride today? For variation there is the other side of 89A which falls down to Oak creek valley, I am at the high point. Warm enough for short sleeve jersey but breezy.

Rode across the highway to the HS to pick up Red rock trail which paralells highway. Turn left on an unmarked faint tire tracks trail, now on Stay High which it does above Red Rock. Mostly descents on user created very narrow single track, lots of basalt baby heads, balance building trail. Developing a fine track stand is very helpful for rolling over the heads. Joined system trail continued until faint trail rolled off the bench down to lower red rock rd. Cross that and now riding Focus social trails.

Part way around a right hand turn led the way to cross the road again then pick up S trail on the valley floor. Until it climbed up to side slope and now more frequent basalt chunks. Fund trail that climbs shoulder of Schurman to join namesake trail.

Turn right on Cat Walk which skirts all kinds of nasty tread.

The trail is quite the way out there experience. Several too steep to pedal pitches,wash descents, hidden basalt chunks, very narrow track, offf camber slick rock patches, and spectacular scenery.

Joined Pyramid system trail traversing to Scorpion to climb out back to cultural park. More basalt babyheads and gardens. Pedaling uphill is harder than coasting over them. I chose to walk my bike a lot, I was overloaded and overtaxed on basalt.

Back at van. My entire time out I did not see let alone encounter another person. And that solitude has continued. I have not spoken all day. I did sing along with some Bruce tunes played on XM.

My arms are sun burned. Skin is loose, muscle mass loss. Muscles are quite firm. I have been here since 12/20 having ridden 60 rides covering 853 miles. New tires and 3 chains. No physical therapy this visit. So far living here during the staying at home and social distancing works for me. I can ride enough to satisfy me. I haven’t had a shower in literally months and can’t now because gyms are closed.

Starting this is like that, the effort is a grunt and a hearty hurl to turn over the crank arms for forward motion.

Today was a 10 rider local group riding western gateway and social trails out here. we maintained spacing, well I did as I was off the main pack. I have known 8 of the riders over many years and ridden with. Our group lost big man Duf last week, we all knew him. These rides are hammers, we stop for short rests maybe at trail junctions otherwise, power to the pedals. Today my average heart rate was 130 which 2 above threshold, same route by myself was 120. These trails are fun pedal with little challenge from the tread, the social trails are tight and sketchy but rideable. Nice day, still wore light weight long sleeve wool jersey and sun screen on my nose. Didn’t take any pics.

FS has closed all campgrounds and many trail heads and trails down here. Places like Bell Rock and Devils bridge and Mescal. Trails on west side of 179 are open. At present dispersed camping is still open. I have been staying at the cultural park and riding from here. Will prolly repeat until booted.

Sat I drove into town, about 2 miles for water and groceries then returned. I sat outside reading while sun added color to my skin. I made a rest day. I rode 5 out of 7 days which is typical unless weather affected. New tires make a noticeable difference.

Hardly burning the furnace but it is back to its infrequent failure to light illness.

Life just is. It is fleeting. Ride every ride like it will be your last. Smile and be kind.

I have spent the last 4 nights at this tucked away spot at the Cultural park. It’s private property but not posted, it is inside city limits, city has ordinance prohibiting what I am doing. Very few if any are spending the night near as I can tell. With the stay the fuck at home I am at my home. From this spot I access west Sedona trails on both sides of 89A.

My ride memories are garbled, writing this might help put memories in proper mental files. Start with today.

Today, another ride here on Western Gateway trails. I did not make up a scramble for today as I wanted to climb Anaconda again. Rode Stirrup down to Girdner, then rode Anaconda. I avoided it in the past as the climb out Dry creek was an effort and the trail gained and lost elevation. Just a whine. Climbing from Dry creek road side then descending to the creek makes for better choice of using gravity versus fighting it. Downhill side is mostly small round rock and several hard uphill climbing turns. Coasting and skimming the loose tread. Turned on to OK trail riding out to just before COF exit turning on to a social trail

that connects to high point of N aerie for fun carving turns, very shallow angle but smooth tread makes for speed. Climbed Aerie to highest point of my ride then descend, this part is paved with naturally located rocks, pretty rough. Aerie ends at Cockscomb that I rode to Outer Limits then turning on to Last Frontier.

The above part of Last frontier was built 2 years ago as was Outer Limits. Riding is attention focused because of exposure.

Crossed dry feet Dry creek crossing

Climbed back to head the call of the cold can of beer in the fridge. 18.7 miles climbing 1650′ pedaling for 2 hrs 36 mins. These trails have their own character. Challenging physically as well as mental.

Yesterday was laundry day. Drove into town. Almost empty laundromat. darn: clothes smell of fragrant detergent from previous person’s choice. None the less all are clean, folded, put away, and the line dry ckothes clothes pinned tot eh inside line. Quite a few of the pins are from way back just as I moved into my house back in 1992 .

I ran several crucial stops later. Filled water tank at Uhaul. I called a coffee roaster in Creekside to buy beans. They were closing, I arrived in time for last bag of beans. Liquor store uses the drive up window, not quite a speak easy. Knock on the window and the guy slides it open. OK, just a drive up. Grocery shop. Drove back out to same spot. Forecast called for stiff breeze but didn’t see dust. Good enough for a ride. Roundabout, Girdner, climb Axis to Cockscomb, climb Aerie, Cockscomb to Dawa down to Dry Creek, bash on scarcely ridden AZ Cypress in the creek bottom. Back to Girdner turning on to Stirrup all the way back.

Wed I rode the S side of 89A. descended Hurkinham, even part of Carroll canyon.

Fatigue has caught me another time. Rack time reading East of Eden which I am reading for a second time because I did not remember have read it. Plot line is the same.

Weather continues to be favorable for riding. Last 2 days I needed only short sleeve jersey exposing arms for starting of sun tan. Another ride tomorrow.