Hither

How to consume time when I have no commitments? My reason for visiting Prescott was to escape the Sedona heat. And to ride, and visit. Jimmy is now a short term local but has a sense for the trails here. And he was available for rides. We rode on Sat. He and Christine were riding on Sunday and invited me. Again we rode from my camp spot. There are lots of miles of trails here, it takes a bit of creativity to figure a loop out. It’s all about riding. This ride we crossed a flowing forest creek several times. Running water and not desert wash.

Pleasant ride. Finished at van and chilled recovery drinks. They left for home, I stayed at my home. Bit of a rain event during the night pushed around by strong van rocking winds. Not enough rain to wash the dust that became mud splatters from the windshield.

That was Sunday. Monday Jimmy pulled another ride together with me and Ian. Late afternoon ride starting after 4 from White Spar XG, an FS campground right outside of town, closed because of covid.

All of my rides here went thru fuels reduction cuts felled by feller bunchers.

Today I had a morning DR appointment at Flag. I wanted to drive to Sedona for the night then drive the canyon today to Flag. As I drove from west to east on Beaverhead, opposite of direction from VOC, I observed that all my preferred spots were occupied. Ah, but the overlook was my ace in the hole. It was vacant just for me.

The van transmission is sick. It came on during drive in Prescott. I put off learning if its condition was real or my hope was it would just go away like present president says about corona. Once driving again the condition was present. I sweated driving high speed highways back to Beaverhead. I made it. Then today it was slow speed major climbing up the canyon to Flag. I researched transmission shops in Flag. Tried first one but they turned me down as the building is too short to raise my van. Fall back was the local dodge dealer who gave me an early service appointment tomorrow. I am hoping that the transmission fluid is low but fear learning what might have caused the leak.

Today I asked my GP to check my hernia out. He was able to feel the gap where a hernia could protrude but there was no protuberance. On Monday I had a video conference with a surgeon in Flag. She evaluated my verbal description of conditions. She chose the conservative approach to wait and see should it pop out again then surgery would be recommended.

So I am free to go, but to where. I want to go north to escape heat and get back into trees and mountains. Idaho and Utah recommend voluntary 14 day quarantine when entering state. That precludes visiting those states. I can make Oregon by driving N thru Nevada. Bend has restrictions and snow on higher up trails. Sedona temps are back in low 80s. Van issue needs to be resolved before leaving. I can go but where and when.

I picked up my new Strongback chair today. It is much improved over my previous chair.

I am spending the night up here outside Flag. I was told of a place to stay. I set out for the spot. However, the road is gravel with bodacious stutter bumps that just shook my crowns loose. I turned onto the first side road and parked on the edge of a haul road. Nothing to look at but it is a legal place to spend the night. Chilly here, 53 degrees at 8:25 PM at 6800′. Cooler here than same elevation at Prescott.

I have been in Arizona for 150 days.