Black Canyon trail

Wow, a change of scenery and environment, big effort, and sharing friendship.

Yesterday Ian picked Lee and me up then drove us round trip down to Bumblebee interchange off l17 about an hour south and downhill from Sedona. BCT is in Sonoran desert with different plants and topography. Our ride start this time was further out the road to Bumblebee instead of where the trail crosses the road almost at the interchange. Numerous rigs with ATV trailers populated that trailhead plus others further along. Sheesh, different kind of recreators where their rigs take up 2 spaces because of a pulled trailer. We met Jimmy and Christine. We have all known each other for 12 years. Just old friends, dunno know why no newbies are included. Ride and hang with comfort.

We rode out to tank at Treasure mine location. Ian and I pedaled around a snout of an outcropping in time to hear a gunshot and the sound of a bullet hitting nearby, too close for safety. We saw 2 shooters uphill from us. Ian yelled at them. We waited for others to join us for our safety before pedaling on. The 2 guys walked down the road towards us and Ian pedaled to have a conversation, how to communicate with a gun toter? Shooters explained they were shooting at a target uphill and away from us. Seems that it was the echo of their shot made it seem they shot at us. We pedaled on much relived. We ran into Cody who used to work at the Bean and is a hard charging hard tail rider. He told of riding up a road 3 miles to connect with the BCT for a crazy descent back to the tank. We stopped at the tank for a break and discussed extending our ride. 2 women backpackers hiked up seeking their water cache. I asked them about it. Their friend deposited several jugs of water not hidden.

We pedaled uphill the 3 mile wide dirt road grunt 3.17 miles climbing 907′ took 40 mins. I pushed my body, my average heart rate was 139 bpm, my threshold is 128. Beater. Made the top of the climb where we reconnected with the trail for this  4.99 mile dropping 833 feet in 31 min descent back to tank. Trail is a real piece of work being full bench cut into steep hillsides. Bit of exposure. Ian and Jimmy are faster downhillers than me.

Made it back to the tank. Thing about riding with others on a ride I did not plan I did not know of what our ride was going to be. My preparation was for just riding from Bumblebee to tank and back so I filled my hydration bladder accordingly and stuck in 1 small sandwich. At the tank I checked my water because I was concerned I would be out of water before we finished back at rigs. I checked the hikers cache and saw they did not need 2 jugs of water that were available for public. My bladder was sufficient. Whew. Finished the 6.47 miles in 45 mins back to start. What an effort for 21.2 miles climbing 1834′ pedaling for 2 hrs 55 mins. Garmin reported I burned 1492 cals with heart rate average of 131 bpm, recovery time was 41 hours. Today is a recovery day.

We piled back into Ian’s truck for ride back to Sedona. Just as we made the l17 intersection the low fuel light lit up on the instrument panel. It said 10 miles till empty. Which was was the closest gas? To the north was 15 miles. Ian went that way. As the miles ticked off the instrument data counted down the miles of fuel remaining. We made that gas station, the tank took 19 gals, I read from the owners manual that tank capacity is 21.1.

How to comprehend the spectacle of bumper to bumper traffic for miles and miles heading south away from us. Beyond understanding as it was Sunday evening not even rush hour and miles away from population. Where did all those people go that they were returning at same time? I wondered what the previous Friday evening looked like. Just way too many people on this planet.

Propex heater has been repaired, I am waiting for tracking number. I have a Friday appointment to reinstall it. tech told me several parts were broken from vibration and the air circulating guts was packed with dirt. Hmm, vibration from me driving rough roads which I minimize and am gentle to minimize hammering my rig. what happens to heaters mounted on rigs that are hammered for greater distances? And the dirt is sucked up from the van floor. I will vacuum the floor more frequently. I prefer the Propex but an dismayed at its lack of robustness.

Feb 1st. Groundhog day tomorrow.