Heat is coming on, desire is to ride early, relatively speaking, to preceded the increasing day time heat.
The FS removed several of the closure areas here at VOC meaning that I could ride right into Bell Rock TH, which I did Fri AM just b4 9, my early. I planned on my staid loop of the Hogs: Jump Trail, Big Park. Single Track Bypass, Bell rock, Llama, Broken Arrow, High on the Hogs, Twin Buttes, Broken Arrow, Hogwash, Peccari, Mystic, social, HT, Breezy, Coconino, Hermitt, and descend on Slim Shady. And I followed plan enjoying solitude. Way down low on Peccari I made a turning mistake which caused my front wheel to stall on a left hand turn. Wheel crabbed to the left plowing that caused me to lose balance until after I shook off the cobwebs and stoodup. Slow speed fall landing on smooth hard packed dirt. Ouch. Left shoulder, elbow, and knee all have bleeding wounds. I actually stopped to attend to the flowing blood. Hydration bladder rinse off, wet handkerchief and scrub off dried blood, then root thru first aid kit for coverage bandages. I will feel the impact over the next several days. I shortened the ride to return to van to put ice on my shoulder. I stopped at Absolute to make a fork service appointment. I was told if I would wait my bike would be next. Cool. I walked the sidewalk wearing full bike gear to my van. I iced my shoulder and ate 2 tylenol. Drove back to Absolute to pick up my bike. The fork is to be serviced after so many hours which I usually exceed. Have the work done here by a shop I have a rapport with.
I attempted the Llama problem with same results: front wheel up on rock, rear wheel being stopped by first step. Riding here at VOC is of different technical challenges than the Western gateway trails. Here there are more step ups and downs and less pedaling. Chicken Point, Broken Arrow, fun stuff, some I make, and am riding more proficiently. 14.9 miles climbing 1194’ in 2 hrs 4 mins of pedaling. Average HR was 123, just short of 128 count.
Drove back out to Beaverhead. Didn’t see a rig at choice spot, scored another night. I planned to take Sat as a rest day to allow body to start healing.
Before riding on Fri I called repair shop that works on my van to address transmission and whatever is leaking. I wanted to visit on Mon for their identification of needed parts then install later in the week. Warren told me for them visiting today would be better. I drove back to West Sedona flowing with the newly opened travel from home crowd. Traffic flowed non stop to the Y. Shop couldn’t identify anything leaking in short look. Made appointment for Tues for longer look. Transmission seems happier now and smell is gone. I am thinking that I can stop by 1st thing Mon morn for them to check transmission level. I believe that both me and the van are ready and able to leave.
AZ’s response to COVID was loose in that I was able to drive to THs and ride. Nevada appears to have been even looser. Oregon is the tightest of the 3, the state is methodically opening counties. Deschutes County, home of Bend, is now in stage 1 which makes driving there less restricted. However, The Deschutes FS has locked down trail heads and snowparks at the moment which will adversely affect my life style. Still, I will be further north, under trees, and enjoying flowing water. Worst case will be to post up on my property.
Property: connections to legal possession of land to which I am allowed to do whatever is legal, I won’t be booted.
On Sat the FS counters of campers drove up. Wonder how many camping days they have counted me for and if I am in danger of overstaying. I hope to be heading north on Tues.
Sat I sat in my new chair which is very comfortable. The mesh seat bottom kept my junk dry. Stuck my nose in Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain using the shade cast by the van for comfort.
Today I woke early. Plan was to be on the road by 8 for avoiding the later heat and maybe FS counters. No counters. Drove to almost empty Cultural Park. Van transmission seems happy.
Today I had an idea of what I wanted to ride, a mix od system and user created trails. Started out on Roundabout from the park as it is fun. I coasted thru a transition hearing to me the sound of like metal nuts in an aluminum can. Huh? I stopped about a bike length away and took 2 steps back up the trail. The sound was from a rattlesnake that was unwrapping itself from its coil. It might have neen 12” off the trail, certainly within striking distance of my right ankle.
The snake moved away.
I rode the user created ill-defined ridden in single tracks.
Pedaled up Aerie to its high point then let gravity pull me along. Cockscomb to Outer Limits. All by myself. Descent down to Dry Creek crossing on Outer limits. It’s a 2.52 mile, 374’ climb out taking 23 mins. Average HR was 148, max 158. 33 hour recovery per computer. Whole ride was 18.3 climbing 1647 in 2 hrs 32 mins, average HR was 134, 128 is 85%.
There are many red welts on my body as I am apparently feeding the juniper gnats. Noseeems before the bite. Raised bumps remaining long after her feed. Today I took an antihistamine which systemically lessens the itch. Have more bites and less relief.