Yesterday at 7 AM was my PT treatment for my left shoulder. Learned more about how body parts work and what I need to do to help make parts play well again. Used rest of day consuming time. Drove to OTE and visited for a while. Masks required per all of Utah, max number of customers inside the store was never exceeded. I have the 2 new tires in my JOBBOX but kept from putting them on because I would be doing the changing outside and I wanted warmth even if it was only 45. Sunny and no wind, maybe I gave in on the temp. And the bike shop has compressed air to seat the beads on the new tires. Previously I seated the front tire with my floor pump but I needed compressed air to seat the rear tire on l 9 rim. Today I took easier way of compressed air for both. New meat. WOW. Maxxis Minnion DHF 2.5 WT on front, Minnion DHR ll 2.4 on rear. Switched from Aggressor on rear because it was not available. I websearched the DHR learning that it was slower than other but made up in other ways of increased traction. Side lugs are like the DHF: meant to carve. All the edges are sharp.

Been staying out at Quail lake BLM primitive sites choosing the same site each night.

Went for a late afternoon hike. The light has no glare, Winter light.

Still below freezing at night and lower 50s inside.

Something called the Icehouse ride to my attention. I might have ridden it with Dan years ago. I remember it having lots of basalt junk reminding me of some Sedona stuff. As a loop it is a monster road ride for single track descent. I might have puffed my chest up at the shop yesterday poking fun at Sanchez who is a very skilled rider but does not like to pedal. He shuttles this ride. Not me, I’m going to pedal it to boast.

It is the same trail I rode with Dan. I parked at a different spot which put the 2 plus miles of straight as a die undulating freshly bladed jeep track. Major burn here this summer that burned mega acres. Powerline, jeesh long and straight.

Exited powerline onto short piece of paved road before turning to dirt. Fire.

Road to climb to start of Upper Icehouse was 7.8 miles climbing 1778′. Just a well graded dirt road climb. Arrived at the top and into the burn. Ist part is double track then single track starts for like 5 miles dropping 1480′ thru the burn and over basalt babyheads.

Lots of swooping turns with gravity providing velocity. Some places the speed and bumps blurred my vision. I put my camera inside a zippered side pocket.

Then the final descent, just look at the trail line and it was all basalt chunder all the way down.

Ride was 18.1 miles, pedaling for 2 hrs 21 mins gaining 2188′. It was not better the second time. It did give me monster elevation gain in 1 go. Tires performed.

Enjoyed being outside. Finished after 2 PM. Looked at the temp as a data point  and forgotten. The road climb went from almost sweating to being glad I wore the clothes I did. Too warm for tights, knickers and knee socks would have been sufficient.

Back out at Quail Lake.

Plans for my house have been completed and a PDF file sent to me.  Now start shopping for a builder. I need to find out if my house fund will cover the construction etc.

 

Forecast this morning wanted a high of 42 degrees. That’s chilly. But that was for the day’s high. There was the fact that at 8 AM it was 30 degrees. Come on sun warmth. No clouds or wind. Just a few more degrees. OK just before 11 the temp rose to 36, I believe I can dress for this chill.

Today I planned on short ride of Church Rocks out alongside l-15. I drove out to the TH where I start. There are 2 underpasses, 1 each lane, under the interstate. I turned off the hard road and saw ahead of me an official sign reading Road Closed. I looked ahead and saw a barricade blocking 1st under pass. Didn’t look like I could walk around it. OK, I can drive to next TH up at Leeds. Just before I arrived at parking spot I noticed charred vegetation  remains caused by a range fire during my absence. I parked on burned out land. I checked the van thermometer = 36 degrees. I can do this. Serious chill. 2 wool tops and insulated tights. Plus helmet hat. I was parked in the sunshine. Hmmm, chilly but sunny and no wind. If I can just pedal thru the early chills I should be sufficiently warmed. Maybe just heavier socks for feet warmth.

And it came to be. I climbed a short access trail to join Prospector then turned south pedaling on single track thru the burn. Surreal in that every formerly piece of green was gone, leaving a small charred area where the plant stood.

And then I pedaled out of the burn into just desert living.

The fire stopped at the trail right at the nasty loose down or up pitch.

Several short sections of deep sand. Great today as there are no horse hooves churned up tread.  Made side trail up, around, and down the Church Rocks feature.

Finished the loop around the Rocks then rejoined Prospector for return.

14.5 miles gaining 1181′ pedaling for 1 hr 48 mins., 56 mins were above threshold. Putting my back into my rides pushing myself.

42 degrees back at the van. I relearned the clothing to wear for comfort at this temp. Booties not required.

Dinner time.

As in the third time my camera has involuntarily left my possession and the third time it has been reunited with me. First off, there are an awful lot of honest people about. Believe in goodness, get some on yourself, spread some of it around. It just was.

The camera fell out of my pack during Tuesday’s ride on part of Barrel Roll trail. My phone number is etched onto the camera body. As of this morning nobody called telling me they had my camera. No call was telling me that perhaps it was still lost, or someone found it and kept it, or, maybe somebody found it and left it or a message at the TH. Today I decided I needed to hike the trail searching for the camera. I parked at the bottom where I always start from. No smashed camera in the lot. I hiked up Cove Wash access, no camera in a white sock. Made the TH, checked out the Kiosk for a message. Nothing. I widened my search which detected a fence rail with a white sock and a red strap sticking out sitting on it. Well, someone found the camera and placed it on the fence. No note. I turned it on  and checked pics in memory: only the pics I took. So, however many people checked the sock out and still left the camera. Honesty. I prepared myself for a long hike all the way back to where I had it last. Short walk. I was able to cancel my replacement order. I carry the camera in an outside pocket on my pack as the location makes it quickly accessible. Perhaps I will attach a leash to it now.

I tire shopped at OTE today, $160 for front and back new meat.

Precip fell before noon today, I did use my windshield wipers driving down to Santa Clara. The trail I hiked was tacky.

Above is sunrise blocking mesa here at BLM XG where I am staying.

Last pic before loosing camera. Amazing blue sky with no pollution. Desert.