Weather became what early Nov should be with a big dose of high winds. That was yesterday. Drive down to Moab on Friday was into strong head wind in places, others wiggly side blasts kept 2 hands engaged on the steering wheel. Flags were snapping straight out. Old Glory has been recaptured. Did my laundry at same laundromat same location in the building that will be soon demolished to make way for a parking lot for a being built tourist lodging. Moab has many new beds built in year I was gone. SO many people visiting, transaction based community. Clean clothes. Gearheads is temporarily located a bit south, still have free filtered water. Walked in and saw a couple of familiar faces. Watered up. Propane at the feed store. She remembered fueling my van. Groceries at City Market. Drove back to Willow Springs with aid of strong tail wind pushing me up canyon. Scored same camp spot. I holed up rest of day except for a short slick rock walk.
Shit. I am arranging events per memory recall. This account is like a Mr Potato Head with all the parts but installed per individual whim. I’m Whimmy.
Let’s remember, yesterday I drove down to town in the high wind. Same replenishing errands except for propane. Forecast for yesterday was for wind advisory gusts to 30mph. Too windy to breathe stirred up dust. Hung in van sheltered from 20 mph+ winds. Wind seem to blow stronger after dark. My van was weight shifting. I wonder how many tents were blown down on the Willow Springs road camps. Furnace ran off and on during the night.
For over a year I had wanted the l9 Hydra hub laced with their straight pull spokes to a wide carbon rim. I wanted, not needed. Last month I chose to procure that want. Last week I cracked the existing carbon rim destroying it and needs to be replaced. My want has now become a full on need. Sunshine when I want it on me as I 9 shipped my new wheel per want to arrive this Tues. The crash replacement rim is to arrive this week also. I will send the rim and the old wheel back to l 9 for their warranty repair. Finished product will be an l 9 rear wheel Torch hub, new hub shell laced to new carbon rim. Back up or resale. Joy.
Parking at same spot off Willow Springs road, first right turn and up a patch of slick rock. Highway noise is white noise. From here I ride the 2.5 miles of gravel road to entrance to Klonzo trail network. Willow Springs rd is the closest primitive camping to town that draws many many campers. I pass by the crowded spots. My spot might squeeze 10 rigs spaced maybe 50′ apart. Most nights the distance is even greater. This spot serves a need and can be rationalized as acceptable.
Today’s forecast called for 20mph winds and possible precip. I wrote riding off today. Brandon, the publisher of Freehub, stopped for a short visit before lunch. He and his buddy slept in a truck top tent down in the river gorge. He said the wind kept blowing the canopy preventing sleeping. High winds.
Today at noon the weather looked like it had a big sucker hole which sucked me into gearing up for a ride out Klonzo. I chose the new knickers. I added rain jacket in pack and wore the wind shell. Pedaled the road which was wetted from storm last night. Firm and no dust. Maybe 5 rigs at the TH. Right off I encountered 2 riders returning making them the last people I shared the trail with during my ride. Klonzo offers purpose hand built trails that have fun with the terrain. Some rock roll ups mixed with mostly smooth tread. More pedaling. Finished on Hotdog which in places was right on exposed ridge crest that the wind kept changing my line. Clouds down wind showed rain feathers but never dropped here. Returned to a heated van.
Biden has been voted president elect. Ding dong the grifter goes to jail. I am so relieved at the outcome.
Forecast is done with 60 plus temps replaced by 20s at night. But just tomorrow possible precip. Dry, cold, and clear. Warm enough for just knickers for knee warmth
Such a difference between riding legacy hiking trails and mtn bike purpose built. Both are heart propelled. The trails here favor mountain bike riding. All closed to ebikes still.
Friday was first ride out on Klonzo system. Nice comfortable day. Dusty road. Klonzo North is like a long narrow rectangle sandwiched between state sovereign land and Arches NP. All the trail intersections are marked with a trail map and a you are here smiley. Create a route or make a decision at each intersection.
Repeating an old rant: define us who we are not what we are not. We mountain bikers are heart propelled and that is how non motorized designation needs to be labeled. Ebikes are not heart propelled and should remain banned from heart propelled trails. Heart propelled trails need to remain as such.
Reading my 80th book since August of ’18.