Ah, Sunday night, a breather for the next week of retirement. In my past this time was a final respite before the grind of the next 5 days doing what someone else told me to do. Really, tonight is just another regular night with me being the person responsible for telling me what to do. I work at being a good boss. Monday to Friday work week should mean fewer people on the trails, ride the popular trails during the week while on weekends find the less popular places. ( hit key to change this text and still looking to turn it back off). Like today, I rode Turkey Creek area sharing trails with fewer than 15 people. Red dirt. Found the key.

Today I rode from empty La Plaza building parking lot where I park when in VOC. Bunch of miles on Verde Valley paved road till I jumped off on to horse created single track. Below grade and lots of distance of loose rocks. Trail bordered by leaveless catclaw that keep the trail narrow. To leave the rut could result in blood letting. I rode the ocotillo forest hiking my bike up to it. Riding this loop this way means more stuff I can ride, I can ride this part going down but the tread is steep with loose rock and such a shame to loose so much vert in such a short distance.

Back out off Beaverhead for dinner and the night. same spot. Cows still on other side of road.

Forecast is calling for precip on Tues, Just forecasting, make it rain.

On Friday I met Dave at his place down right on Oak Creek. We socialized for several hours before we headed out for our ride. He has 2 sister kittens that I enjoyed. We pedaled some pavement before hitting the start of Easy Breezy. Dave is a very skilled rider and rides fast. I had never seen what a much better rider could do. I know why hikers freak out as he is fast but did pleasantly interact with other users. What a sight. I became flustered sort of attempting to stay close. His speed and moves are out of my league. We ran into Kyle from Moab whom I recognized as he rode by me and later  Robert, a local. Dave visits.

Late afternoon finish. I beat wheels back down to Beaverhead.

Sat I made a rest day. Zags game against St Marys was televised on ESPN at 8. PJs possibly. Absolute installed rebuild parts in my left pedal. Watched the Zags game at PJs, they won, then drove out to Overlook for the night.

In my van on the ceiling above the driver’s seat is a spider cobweb with several insect carcasses entrapped. I was curious if there was a resident spider. Several nights ago I happened to look up and spied the resident. Web remains.

Temps have been warming, today ride temp was in 60s, at night it stops above freezing.

January 14, Sedona, AZ.

Today around 11 AM I parked out Dry Creek rd where Chuck Wagon crosses. Stuck my nose outside then pulled it back in real quickly. WTF? Hot. Well, relative. Riding apparel for my ride was short sleeve jersey and shorts. Hydration bladder sufficiently full. I pedaled away baring pasty white skin to the sun. Skin appears to be as white after 2 hour ride. Parking was not as packed as some times. Middle of week. Pedaled Chuck Wagon out sharing trail with a few hikers. I freed the clapper on my bell such that bell clangs on every trail bump or dip. A pleasant tinkle. Trail shows wear with no precip to settle dirt. I ( word description for pedaling over deep sand) down in Dry Creek bottom. I had planned a long ride that shrunk because I thought about how this ride will fit in with a ride with Dave from Fat Tire tomorrow. And my right but cheek is smarting from an attempted power move yesterday. PT session tomorrow to work on that. Again, a trail net work exists which keeps many trail choices in play. Chuck wagon to Mescal to Yucca which joins lower Canyon of Fools, OK to AZ Cypress turning uphill on Snake to climb out of creek bottom. Turn left on Girdner then left for short piece of Chuck Wagon and my van.

The cannabutter I made has some punch as I learned right at the start of today’s ride. I made more butter than the fudge recipe called for, the extra I froze. Last night I made skillet corn bread which called for a bit of cooled melted butter. I chose the frozen. I ate several slices last night which satisfied my hunger but because of previous dosage I was unable to discern a buzz. Today before pedaling off I ate some more at lunch. And the altered mental attention kicked in. Just not sharp. Eating affects me more than vaping.  As I rode I made peace with my head. I was still no slouch.

My Catalyst pedal has a wiggle in it. I contacted them, they sent me at their expense a turned down wall deep 9mm socket to grip the retaining nut. Nut was tight. Needed rebuild kit. I ordered one on line, it arrived today Fed Ex. A hand written note on the package thanked me for support and he included axels.. I thanked them for their support. I am sold on the pedals and the several riders who are riding them feel the same. Now me to rebuild.

Yesterday I rode  a piece of the Hogs. Llama to Little Horse up to Chicken Point. Broken Arrow to Hog to Twin Butte, Hogwash, Peccary, Mystic, neighborhood, HT. Breezy, Templeton, Hermitt, Slim Shady. Noticed blocking of social trails up near Chicken Point. Almost all by myself. Becoming reacquainted with old friends, trails that is. I was only gone from here for 6 months but I unsure of same condition. I pay attention on roll downs and drops picking my line over what’s ahead. I don’t know anything about a perhaps kicked in rock on the trail. Mental calculations constantly figuring force and vectors. New tires with sharp edges are well appreciated.

This morning ranchhands from the cattle grazer were filling the water tank right near where I stay. This means cows will be shortly moved on to my spot with subsequent manure. They haul water in a large trailer then gas pump water into the car size iron plate vertical cylinder. Desert is dead dry, drier than last year. Cows have been on the other side of the road. what nourishment are they taking from the land?

Zags play tonight on ESPN. I’m across the street from PJs on a paved parking lot. Dinner time. I will eat a salad barside during the game.

Just chapped lips dry. I learned no monsoons fell this last fall which is usually the normal hydration event. Just dry. I stay out off beaverhead where I have walked over the desert. Prickly pear have shown the drought sign for last 2 years, this year color is changing.

Yesterday morn my left shoulder was hurting enough to turn down a Black Canyon trail ride. This AM was a PT session to work on that shoulder. Some success, problem comes from upper body being hammered by objects in the trail tread. Eric worked me thru several strengthening exercises giving me encouragement to give a ride a go afterwards.

Drove up to Cultural park, the TH for the Western Gateway trails. While not excessively over crowded, rigs are there. I hung inside the van as I waited for the sun to add warmth. Around 11 I pedaled away down Stirrup, connected to Girdner, pedaling to Rupp. Climbed Rupp, turned on to Cockscomb past the location of the cover photograph on the Beartooth Map. Turned on to Outer Limits

Outer Limits to Last Frontier, today I rode the rest of same trail to reconnect with Outer Limits.

Dropped down to cross Dry Creek

So far this winter not a wet feet crossing. Climb Outer Limits back to Cultural park finish. 12.8 miles climbing 1132′ pedaling for 1hr 48 mins. Shared trails with 5 mtn bikers. Otherwise i was alone.

Sink wash off and change back to street clothes then drove back down to Beaverhead. repeat repeat just the same like the weather.

Supply chain issues are not putting preferred boneless and skinless chicken thighs in grocery stores. Chicken is my main protein source as I am gluten intolerant. I eat each end of the chicken life, however it is not the same chicken.