A tale of two trail builders

Monday afternoon I was hanging at the cultural park. A rapping came upon my door. I opened it up and faced a geared up mountain biker. He greeted me with you might not remember me but…..  In just a few seconds of memory recall I remembered the visit with him back in Indianapolis. We first met in ’14 as my note on his retained business card reported and the visit at his house. He lives on a dammed river and has a pontoon boat that he sailed quietly in the hot July night. We didn’t ride. So he’s back in Sedona. We visited then went our separate ways. The next day he asked me to join him on a ride. I agreed then drove back to park. I arrived several minutes passed ride time. He said he just nailed a short ride. He said in his estimation the ride was easy. We rode off taking Stay High down to lower red rock road then a loop around Focus. Part way around he said his legs were wobbly. We cut short our ride. Old age and deceit will be youth and skill every time. case proven.

Been staying out at MP4 snaking around mud pits on beaten in track. I prefer this location.

Wed I parked at outlet then pedaled the 1 mile to bell rock TH. Loosened up. Hero dirt. Single track bypass, Llama, Little Horse to Chicken point, Broken Arrow to a Hogs then Twin Buttes rejoining Broken Arrow, Hogwash to Peccari down to Mystic, climb pipeline right away to Chapel rd pavement rhru the neighborhood returning to a system trail maybe HT to Breezey to Javapi TH continuing to Slim Shady for descent. I encountered fewer than 10 people. 15.6 miles pedaling for 2 hrs 11 mins climbing 1312′. back out to MP4 for the night.

The saga of the broke down Propex heater and its reinstall. I might have called French’s RV on 1/21 to ask for them to remove the heater. Scored that appointment for the next Tues. They removed it and I boxed it up. Wed I dropped it off at Sedona UPS store. friday vancafe, the Propex fix it shop telling me it was repaired and this is what was replaced and charge. On Monday i called french’s again and asked for reinstall today, Friday. The furnace arrived their shop on Wed. Today I hung at their shop for reinstall. Furnace runs and is much quieter. The hot air hose had a large break in it allowing hot air to warm the underside of the van. new ducts and piping. It’s just money, $1230. I will be so much happier with the Propex forced hot air and blower noise but thermostatic control and no condensation. Tonight return of comfort.

The second trail builder. Yesterday was laundry day, drive up to west Sedona to the laundromat. Clean clothes. drove up to cultural park for a ride. I kind of had a route out there, I linked trails to do a loop around Cockscomb. Again empty trails. At Doe mtn trail there was a FS trail crew rebuilding the hiking trail. A young woman in FS attire smiled at me and greeted me.  we worked on projects together last year. Nice visit. Further along at an intersection I encountered 2 riders studying the posted trail map to figure a ride. I asked if I could be of assistance. I rattled off various trail choices then he introduced me to Amy that I was the green Sprinter dude. I asked how he knew me. He’s from Hood River and has built several trails in the area including all of the Whoops system that I shared part of a ride with him while talking trail work. Second trail builder.

maybe Mescal?

Time to turn too for repast. I boiled up a pot of black beans.

Slow internet here. I might add more later.