Forecast: Snow, reality: snow

Weatherman has been calling for snow and colder temps since early this week. Will it become reality or a “tease”? Just the facts Ma’am. Last night I parked at the paved overlook in anticipation  that it might really happen. Before light out last night I heard the wisp of harder water hitting the van roof. Just a tease. I slept the rest of the night. At wake up, nothing hitting the van roof. Started fixing purple oatmeal for breakfast and cold brewed coffee. Wait, a sound louder than the simmering oatmeal. What to my wide open eyes did I spot but snow falling and falling. Big wet flakes. Wetness so needed. Snow continued to fall as I cleaned my kitchen up. The ground is too warm to allow it to stick but the snow piled on top of vehicles going by on the hard road. Weatherperson called it at 60% probability. 35 degrees at 12:15 PM. Desert dirt has to be soupy, if I parked out  I would be prolly be waiting till maybe Sunday for sirt to be firm enough to drive out.

Drove into VOC for internet access to create this. Snow is forecast for tomorrow also. Saturday is for clearing and hero dirt.

March mid month is behaving like a lion. I switched back to leather shoes for feet protection. Shorts are still underneath the long pants in the clothes drawer.

With every wish there comes  a curse. Ying and Yang. Sometimes you get more than you asked for and didn’t want. The FS is building new trail out on Rabbit ridge replacing user created Ian’s trail with a new system trail. Two rides ago I spied flagging for new trail and some places new trail was completed. Designed to be sustainable which is good and just to protect the environment. Last ride on Wed I encountered a FS crew building. I stopped and visited. The new trail will replace the user created trail with a much easier trail. They had blocked the user trail forcing me to ride the new piece. Unfortunately the new trail will not connect to the challenging ridge trail. At that point that trail is open but I had to bush bash thru catclaw to get on it. Suspect it will be blown up leaving only the new trail. I do not know of the route of the new trail. The Ying is having maybe more distance of nicely built system trail, the Yang is loosing a Sedona experience. If you never knew the old you will appreciate the new.

12:23 PM, still preciping. With strong wind blowing the flakes sideways but still not sticking. Two days ago on on Ian’s I spied ocotillo leafing out.  It’s nasty out. Another night on the pavement.

Used purchased turbo tax to file my taxes today, result is refund of tax paid. Almost pay for new I 9 front wheel with to be received stimulus check picking up the rest. Spend the $, create demand.

I bought a new rear tire as the current tire has lost its sharp edges needed for grip. Waiting for favorable conditions outside to put it on. Same Maxxis Minnion DHR ll WT. 639 miles of slick rock from Moab to Sedona.

Van is getting 21 mpg from this city driving.

Saturday afternoon: between sucker holes:

Whew, yesterday’s ride. I accepted Ian’s invitation to ride up at Western gateway. He did not share who else might be along, I was prepared for an Ian ride. Then, infamous among us, Chuck pulls in. Then Matt. Ian arrived at Ian time which was well past 11 meet time. So, Chuck lead us on a ride several years ago that put us on as I remember some freeze thaw mud interspersed with patches of snow out near old Bike Path social trail. We described the ride as being Chucked. He just knows more social trails than I do and he was sharing. The mud was the cause for the name of the ride. Riding with Chuck will mean more difficult riding. From the get go I knew I would be in over my head in terms of difficulty, endurance would be fine. Our ride was created as we pedaled on with the first challenge of new trail Bottom Out which takes off from Outer Limits then descending a wash. I walked this wash last week observing that I had no intention of riding it as whew, hard and littered with many tech problems, some I maybe could ride and several that I would walk down. Whew. We dropped in. Ian and Chuck had ridden it prior. I wear full finger gloves so I was unable to see perhaps my white knuckles. I rolled down a step that I would have walked down, So encouraging that my bike and my application of handling skills handled it. I wasn’t quite shaking but I was wired. It is a wash ride meaning that we were below grade so to speak, the only distance to fall was from the bike to the rocks at our feet versus a long tumble like Hiline, landing would still hurt. I rode most of the wash.

Last year I helped clear the corridor for this trail at the distant end where it joins Girdner. Then the dirt workers followed to make the bench cut and partial bench tread as required. Handful, dunno I would ride it again.

Once finished with the wash we picked up numerous social trails. Next up was a trail named Shithole. No pics of that. Shithole is a long wash ride much less tech that Bottom out. Numerous pavement of rocks allowed wheels to roll over. Lots of little moves to remain upright. The lowered saddle made a big improvement in my riding. Then another wash ride. My nerves were burned out. I did not boost or impair my mental stasis. all available neurons were firing for protection of body. Finally we hit Rupp at the Dry creek crossing and a steep loose rock climb up to Girdner and system trails. I made the climb very pleased at how my bike handled the loose rock and that I pedaled it. We finished on Stirrup that I descend, I thought I did not want to pedal up it. I pedaled it after being challenged. Ride was 9.61 miles climbing just 745′ pedaling for 1 hr 42 mins. The day was enjoyable except for high winds, pedal speed was not what we were after.

So, what started out being over my head I learned that I gained some height.

Mon and Tues the Zags played in the WCC championship. I watched both games at PJs perched at the bar right below a big screen TV. Monday’s game against ST Marys was won skillfully by the Zags. Tues was championship round played against BYU, a Mormon school. Gonzaga is a Jesuit persuasion making for a clash of which team has the best imaginary friend. The first half had Mormons on top beating the Zags, game looked like Zags would be banished from undefeated rank. Must have been a message from god sent to the Zag’s locker room as the game turned finally in the Zags favor. Hope and a prayer. The first half BYU made 70% of their shots while the Zags were struggling at less than 40%. I stood up the entire 2nd half like  fans do when inn the Kennel. The Zags beat the Mormons. Last night I was emotionally spent after my ride that I had control over to watching a nail biter that I had no control over.

Weather forecast for next several days calls for precip events including cold temps for snow. I need to ride today before the weather hits.

For the past several nights I have checked location of resident spider, no occupant. I believe nature has claimed another victim. I will now remove its web.

Painful: there is a plant with a harsh snap back swack I have hit on my last rides, the branch hits me on the chest and raises a welt. First time fool me, second time was shame on me. Next time I ride that trail I will carry a pruner and fix that sucker.

Yesterday was breakfast of scratch pancakes with added wild blueberries, ummm, good and filling. real maple syrup.

Yesterday I rode out Turkey creek way riding pretty much same stuff. 3 mile pavement ride each way, I work on my pedal stroke as I am a pedal / coast rider instead of constant pedal. No, I do not pedal when gravity is assisting, I focus on not working. Power to the pedals makes getting up the step ups possible which I seem to always quit pedaling right before the feature. If I constantly pedaled these step ups would be a breeze. 14.3 miles climbing 1107′ in 1 hr 43 mins pedaling. Heart rate is back where it belongs.

Zags tonight for WCC semi final and the score counted that they play in the final tomorrow.  Projected number 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Ready for  a new chain at 350 miles even though the chain stretch gauge shows more stretch can be had. Changing before stretch threshold saves having to buy replacement gears. I did learn from previous use I can run the drive train for lots of miles which I will prolly do when the chain wear has worn the chain ring. Due for a rear tire also.