Back out at N Klondike after 3 nights up at Horse Thief. I had to get here from there.
Yesterday I rode a mama bear effort from sleep spot. Chilly morning. Drug my warm feet to pedal away. Knickers, knee socks, and 2 wool tops. Wind shell on top. My helmet fits too tightly when I wear a cap underneath which exposes my bald pate, and chilly too. Pedaled that 1 mile piece of dirt road to catch Lasso to its end at Chisholm riding it to its end also but at Big Lonely. Turn right on said trail that morphs into Coney Island turning left on Middle Earth cutting across the middle of the Navajo Rocks loop. Turn on to start of Big Mesa continue when it becomes Big Lonely, turn right on Chisholm then repeat start of ride to arrive back at home. Beautiful day. Started windy and chilly that was replaced by more friendly conditions. Pack swallowed up the first layer. Again, Navajo Rocks trail had company versus Chisholm. Did encounter an ebiker however. Just yelled at him.
23 miles pedaling for 3 hours climbing 1552′. 2 safety breaks, nourishment was small spoons of peanut butter, honey, walnuts, and chocolate blended together carried in a tupperware. Mixture has energy. Papa Berar would be the entire Navajo Rocks loop.
Back at the van. So nice to be outside blocked from the wind. Nice enough to do bike work. First move to replacing the drive train was to removed the self extracting crank arm. I put the long shafted allen wrench in the socket, braced the pedal, then pulled with vein popping force. Just veins popping, no bolt movement. I took another grip with same lack of success. Phooey. The force needs to be a cheater and or a stronger arm.
Today, Sunday, made and ate entire batch of scratch pancakes and drank a second cup of cold brewed coffee. Plan today was to drive to parking where Chisholm crosses the Horse Thief road to save the 1.5 mile road ride to pick up Rodeo. Lingered as outside temp was 40 degrees with a gentle breeze. Again, same amount of clothes. Pedaled a short section of Chisholm to start of Rodeo which is directional. Private playground again, didn’t have to share. Back at van temp rode to 52. 9.3 miles climbing 618′ pedaling for 1 hr 14 mins.
Towards the end of the ride I started feeling less chipper as a result of the 2 previous days of hard riding. I will be taking Monday as a rest day.
Van transmission slips when it is cold.
Stopped in at Chili Pepper for a wrench to break free the crank bolt. He used his feet, one on the wrench and the other on the pedal then stood up which broke the bolt free. Tomorrow I might off with the old, on with the new parts drive train.
My water supply consists of 7 gallons of sink water and 2 gallons of drinking. I can make quantity last for 3 nights. I let replenishing water determine when I go to town. Gearheads provides free filtered water, open 7 days a week. Propane need depends on outside temp.
I made skillet scratch corn bread in my 8 inch skillet. Found a recipe on line that is gluten free. I ate almost all of it for dinner tonight.
N Klondike is crowded tonight, chose another spot for the night.
Covid killed the sit down WabaSabi Thanksgiving feed so I don’t get fed for my volunteering.