yes
Shorts: not yet.
3:30 PM Sat, 78 degrees at cultural park
Last night was warm enough to keep the side door open till well after dark. The furnace only ran towards morning. Sunshine, some bouts of high wind, no precip, and no crowds.
There is a social trail around the S side of Schurman that is way out there that I have wanted to do but didn’t want to do by myself. I had been thinking about it as a future ride. last night I played the ride out mentally and decided I was going to ride it today by myself. I slept till 6:30 halfways thru Wait Wait don’t tell me which I listened to the remaining. Breakfast fixed, eaten, and cleaned up. On the road at 8:30 to stay away from the tourist traffic backing up highway from VOC to Sedona. Beat the pluggers, parked at crowded Cultural park which reminded me of a ski resort on a weekend powder day, largest crowd I have observed. I rode down Outer Limits to Dry creek crossing then social trail out to Lower red rock rd. Pedaled that a ways till I climbed up onto red rock trail that became S trail.
Pedaled a ways on S trail looking for faint turn off onto Mo Betta which climbs up to join trail that climbs to top of Schurman. I was seeking the start of Cat Walk trail somewhere up. Found it. Now starts the scary and risky part of my ride.
Basalt babyheads, exposure, off camber slick rock patches, push a bike climbs.
Catwalk connects to Pyramid which is a nasty steep below grade, brake dragging drop path that I slithered down. Then it becomes a traverse over patches of outsloped slick rock, exposure and consequences. I pedaled what I felt safe on and differentiated what I needed to be safe on 2 feet, size 7.5 which have a greater contact patch and better balance than the Maxxis Minnions. At bottom of Pyramid I pedaled short stretch of pavement to pick up cut over trail to start of Ramshead. Today I finished my ride by climbing Old Post with several sections that my engine could not propel me up. Connected with Skywalker all the way back to high school and short pavement to van. Accomplishment. 12.4 miles climbing 1155′ pedaling for 1 hr 53 mins. Ride data does not tell entire picture of effort put out on the ride. I did it all alone.
Thurs I drove up to cultural park maybe to ride. Rain fell earlier creating puddles by firming up the sand, would be hero dirt. I decided to hike instead of pedaling. I wandered down Bottom Out to see first hand why I would not want to ride it as there were numerous above my pay grade movves going down a wash. I wandered around following several social trails for knowledge and adding to future rides.
Fat Tire Dave and his wife, Jen, invited me to dinner Thurs night. They live down back of Beyond road, there are 2 small FS trailheads for Cathedral trail.off the road. Too many cars wanting to park in full lots, they plug the road while they wait for a car to leave the lot. Finally made their driveway. They put on a great feed. I drank 2 large margaritas. wonderful evening visiting and conversing. Brain stretching discussions. Spent night. In the morning when I looked out my windshield I saw maybe 15 javelinas foraging. Visited some more then finally left back for VOC. I parked at art show populated outlet mall lot.
I rode Old mans and Ians trail over to rabbit ridge. The FS has laid out a trail that will affect existing social trail. Climbed up rabbit better and stronger than I did previously, it’s still an effort. At intersection of waterfall trail a newly built FS trail stopped, on the other side just corridor flagging is present. Could be tamer riding.
Bought a new bed pillow retiring current one after maybe 30 years of supporting my head. The new one is a gel.
So this is all the time I will spend as I need to get back down to Beaverhead. No cows on my side of the road yet.