Who’d a thought

Still hanging in Sedona, it’s now into May, temps this week in the 90s, sparse shade, low humidity, who’d a thought I would be still here now. Covid is big factor, now enters hernia repair. Did score an appointment with surgeon this coming Monday. Surgery scheduled later. Perhaps out of here early June.

Thurs night the Sedona cops really searched to find me tucked away in a canyon of trucks. Rousted me, city ordinance. Officer raised trespassing point, told here I have permission she said she could contact him on the spot. She waited till next day then stopped by to talk to owner. They are familiar w/ each other. No harm, just can’t camp inside city limits. Now sleeping out off Beaverhead on FS. There elevation is 4,000, Sedona was 500′ higher, not any cooler.

Body is not happy and I am resting it. Temps warmed to high to ride unless I started way early as I did today, first ride since hernia diagnosis. I have been walking from sleep spot. One big hike was desert bash out to abandoned camp at MP4. Camper was moved before towed yest the trailer and loose junk remains. walked thru lots of cheat grass.

Again, nothing eats it, it is invasive, and is fuel for range fires. Cows are vector.

Scored this out of the way before the road becomes too nasty for van. Does have slight shade, I park the van at an angle to create afternoon shade.

So, this AM I was out of bed just after 6, did exercises with no abdominal strain, got after scrambled eggs, toast, and coffee bfast, cleaned up, made ready to be underway, then drove up to Cultural park for ride. Ride plan was a feeler for strain and get it done before heat of day. Stirrup down to Girdner, turning left on Rupp and climbing out of creek, turn left on Cockscomb riding by site of pic location on cover of Beartooth’s Sedona Singletrack map, turn left on start of Outer Limits, left on Last Frontier, left on Bolo descending to right on Axis, cross the now Dry creek and climb out back to start. Short 9.32 miles lasting 1 hr 12 mins pedaling. Heart rate was high reflecting layoff. 82 degrees at van.No intestine bulge but muscle pain in location. Upon reflection this pain has been around for many days but the protuberance was only after Templeton nasty.

In late afternoon the sun drops behind the ridge to the west of my spot removing the source of heat. At bed time, around 10, the temp is just below 70 degrees, too warm for summer weight single layer down blanket, just the top sheet. Last night was first the temp was too high to enjoy pulling a single layer over me. Forecast this week is low 90s.

Ordered replacement Strongback chair due to arrive here Thurs.

This morning during ride prep on my bike I learned that my highly accurate digital air pressure gauge was dead. Had new battery which I installed, still no luck, gauge shot. I relied on vague accuracy of floor pump. Prolly overinflated as safety pressure. Buying new one before next ride. Tires loose pressure between rides, some loss has to come from valves as the Stan’s gunks up the core. Also, I suspect even with better rim tape air leaks at several spoke nipples. I am interested in I9’s new Hydra hub and carbon rim as replacement. Checked web site, costs as much as yet to get stimulus check if I receive the full $1,200. I could immediately stimulate the economy by purchasing it or, better long term, deposit to savings for house build.

Mention my house idea, the building of it is being more thought about recently. My house fund has taken a big hit with this covid event. Hope is its value will recover somewhat. Or I could spend it now at present value to avoid further loss, but then its value is way less liquid. Make a beeline to La Pine after hernia resolution via Nev to OR. Shit, I’m just a fence sitter.

Trick is to determine why you want to live then figure the how.

Desert is greening up. hardly any people either on trails or streets. Grocery stores are most populated place I go. So, off to groceries and bike shop.

Finished Grisham’s Camino Winds, then Good News by Edward Abbey published in 1980, pretty dark.