Weather, it is what it is, whether it is liked or not, it is what it is. Nasty early snow storm and deep temps started last Sunday then more seasonal weather returned thru the week. Temps moved into 60s under sunshine and clam winds, temps at night above freezing, snow melted out lingering in the shade till it melted away.

Friday, yesterday, was a ride from Loma TH to learn of trail conditions. I was prepare to turn around if my tires were leaving ruts. A short drive from sleep spot straight shot from here to there right off l-70. Other rigs in the lot indicated others were giving it a go. Still a bit chilly so I wore my new knickers. Sunshine. Start of ride is a dirt road climb then a decent down to single track start. I pedal it while several rigs carried speedy riders up then down to same spot. People going out for exercise park as close to the start of dirt to lessen the exercise. Their choice. I started on Mary’s to first cut over to newer trail, Wrangler, which climbs on exposed bluff side. With no tree coverage all hillside trails have some degree of exposure. To fall outslope would mean a bit of a tumble.

Wrangler is a mix of hand built trail with connectors to jeep road closed to motorized. Well desgined and constructed trail. It connects back to Mary’s and my return trail.

I rode Mary’s till a connector back to Wrangler which kept me off the popular Mary’s.

On Mary’s this tech feature is a beyond me challenge until a structured go around was built which legitimated a sketchy rider made. By “legitimating” the go around the land was protected.

Starting from the right moving left is like the 3 bears with Baby on the right which I can ride to Papa a wide skinny. Well executed in that the original problem remains for those who can to the easiest for those who can’t or won’t.

Let me say this about how enjoyable it was to share the trails with every rider who exchanged some kind of greeting. Every rider  and trail runner except 1 had an acknowledgement. Way nice way to share. Plenty of sharing.

Wrangler ended at road which climbed in 2nd easiest gear then crested for a short screamer down to TH. Pedaling stutter bumps at slow speed ain’t no fun.

12.6 miles climbing 1224′ pedaling for 1 hr 42 mins. Just pedal.

Nice day. I hung at the van enjoying sunshine and being outdoors not in a city. two separate riders stopped by to visit and share their stories. A guy wearing street clothes walked up wearing a smile. Hmm, I identified him immediately as Dave from Green Bay whom I met years ago. He and his wife moved to Fruita last year. We sat in the sun shine and visited for a long time. Connection.

My damaged right shoulder is starting to bark from wrestling on tech moves. It hurts. Resting would be helpful. Enough said. Sunshine, good dirt, great bike, what can go wrong?

Before Friday the trails were snow covered over freeze than mud and cold and windy. No riding. I drove into town for groceries etc and visiting. I visited OTE.

Wed afternoon my phone rang, it was Charlie from Eagle whom I met years ago out at Lunch Loops in Junction. He was driving from home to Junction for a repair to his truck camper. We chatted for lots of minutes. Thurs was laundry day and no riding for both of us. He rendezvoused at the laundromat where we visited for hours sitting in the sunshine. I finally split to take care of needed tasks before driving out to sleep spot. The naturopath suggested adding greens to my limited diet and I knew where to get greens at Hot Tomato which is take out only. Ordered up the Sedona salad then drove back out. daytime temps have since thawed out my frozen leveling blocks. So far this spot has been unoccupied as the other spots on the road but the Highline SP XG nearby is full.

Thing about being in the desert is wide open views. Night and day so to speak contrast with forests, esp compared to Oakridge, OR. Water and good dirt.

Wait Wait on internet.

Election on this Tues. May more voters chose Biden and rid America of this scourge.

That means tomorrow is laundry day. Important to maintain a reference point in this open unstructured life style.

Freeze thaw mud once the way below freezing temps at night to just above freezing during the day. Last night the temp rose to 22 degrees outside, toasty me at 46. Slept warm enough under just the down blanket but wearing my wool ski hat and socks.

Spending my time not riding or even hiking finding activities to consume time till bedtime around 10PM.

Yesterday was oil change. I vaguely remember the shop location. I did ask google to provide driving directions which I followed thru Junction heading to shop. Before I would turn to the memory location google told me my destination was on the right. There was no turn off US 50. I pulled off at the first opening and called the shop for directions. The shop is located where google said it was. He rattled off directions and landmarks etc that left me unlocated. I found the frontage road then the shop having a less than life size shop name. Rolled in me in the waiting room and the van into a service bay. I asked about the cabin air filter due for checking. Shop returned with dust clogged filter and a comment about having a mouse nest. I did not follow up on the mouse.

Drove east on l70 to Palisades for the closest dispensary for provisioning. As I traveled east from Fruita the snow amount increased. This snow storm started out Sun AM when temp was 52 degrees in the morning. rain started falling which wet surfaces as the temp dropped fast enough to turn that clinging water to ice, then wet clinging snow then slightly drier snow. Snow stuck to remaining leaves on vegetation. Haven’t seen broken tree branches yet. The lower plants are bowed downward under the load.

I have spent time inside OTE visiting. To date state requires masks which are complied with but not head count restricted. Human interaction.

Have been staying at same spot north of Loma. I drive in late afternoon when the temp has put warmth back into the earth. I have guiding wheel ruts to my stop spot which requires leveling blocks under the right side wheels placed when the surface dirt has thawed. Overnight space takes the heat back freezing blocks to earth and are too fragile to beat on. I drive away leaving then there. Each day retuning so far the blocks mark the empty spot.

Bought house brand REI knickers yesterday, waist size 30. I tried them on: will need a belt to hold up. Hard part about a belt is it will be underneath the hip belt of my Wingnut hydration pack which is designed to have weight carried on hips which protects my damaged right shoulder. Knickers to give protection to me knees during shoulder seasons of summer shorts and winter tights. Saves putting on light weight knee warmers for about the same warmth.

This morning I watched a video on riding Marquette area trails shot by a rider riding the trail. Video gives idea of speed he is making. I have never shot a riding video which would capture my speed to compare to what I viewed. I am inclined to believe that he rides a heck of a lot faster than me. At those speeds I understand how others can be frightened by their sudden appearance. Seems that the mountain biking sport is about how fast I can ride. A life style rider would be about riding and being there and prolly riding slower. That’s what I do and I am a Lifestyle Rider. Yes, and I prolly can’t ride at their speeds.

10:43 AM, furnace still heating. 36 degrees under strong sunshine outside, 72 inside at van ceiling height. Warm enough to forego long underwear bottoms but wanting a midweight wool long under top under my winter weight wool sweater. Wearing shearling booties. Fingers hit the correct keys mostly; spell check takes up the slack. Solar panel collecting and transmitting energy to batteries showing  volts. Going to stay here rest of the day. Wonder if panel will max charge those batteries. Furnace ran all night running battery reserve to 12.02 volts which was good. Forecast high is 51. Fri moves into 60s and stays for short range.

Monday I leave for Moab.

Recently I traveled back in time reading October posts from past years. Memory recall backed up by written word. If you give me a date the event happened I could look that day up for memory refresh that’s if I wrote about it.

This morning I laid in bed underneath added layer of 20 degree down bag, which with the cat heater running on high, was too warm. I had put the windshield curtain and the driver’s window cover to block out heat escaping or cold coming in blocked the sunrise. I did get up and dressed quickly as it was only 43 degrees inside against the 14 degrees outside. Next concern was will the van start in this cold? I waited till almost 10AM to find out. Battery was strong enough to heat the glow plugs then turn over the engine. I let it run for awhile. Sun warmth melted then evaporated what should have been ice build up on the inside of the windshield. I stooped low to view the propane fuel gauge: refill needed to last another night. Two of the leveling blocks I used to level the van remained frozen to the ground. I drove into town stopping for propane refill then to bike shop where I parked on the driest piece of pavement with the rear end pointing to the sun. My clean bike was waiting for me and is now back on the van.

I waited awhile before turning on the furnace hoping the pipe would have melted free. Furnace threw a 1 flash code indicating fuel blockage when I energized it, not the 4 from yesterday. The furnace would light and run for several seconds then shut off. I listened to its discomfort which sounded like it was gargling. I slipped my ensolite pad underneath the rear of the van then slithered underneath. I used the flat screwdriver bit on my Leatherman to loosen the hose clamp holding the intake hose, then slipped off the hose, and shook it. Hmm… no water dumped out. I suspected the wind would blow snow into the furnace intake. Next I loosened and removed the exhaust pipe and water did dump out. The wind was strong enough to force rain and snow against the exhaust. Reinstalled and started the furnace. Viola: furnace is running again. The furnace needs electric to run the fan which blows the heated air out of the furnace. The cat heater uses no electric and seems to produce greater heat albeit not thermostatically controlled, battery strength was strong as a result. Tonight forecast temp is 2 degrees and calm. I will prolly run the cat for extra warmth. Never tried running both at same time.

Made an oil change appointment at shop who has done my van work in Junction, former owner sold so I will meet new people. Guy was asking about whether my service was A or B per Mercedes which I have never heard of, each required lots of service. Took a while to pin him to just a filter and oil change at 7,500 miles. He said Mercedes is saying 20,000 miles on oil.

Omission beer is Gluten free I learned today.

Temp for Sat is 62 degrees. Can return long underwear and heavy wool sweater to their storage.