Change can only occur after you have experienced it the first time. Changes are years of reexperiencing. I suppose you need to really remember what it was like before to say it changed. Data, facts, hard numbers. Otherwise, I am noticing change thru my recall. If you are experiencing something for the first time you have no history of before. Riding a trail for the first time is just that. Ride it again then you have history.
Moab… I first visited and rode here back in the fall of 1992. I’m digging in memory recall that the next time was 2003 maybe in my VW Westy. Plus several other road trips then maybe 2009 on this odyssey and prolly at least once each year after. Change: better bikes and components, aging body, improved skills, friends are fleeting, friends are around the country. Last year I was here in November, a cool… cold time of year. Willow Springs was crowded, maybe I called it slammed. I camped at a spot first right up slick rock, there were no vehicle tracks or car camp sites further out. Yesterday I arrived out there mid afternoon figuring weekend people would be heading home and too early for evening people meaning several choices. WTF? Every spot was occupied, yes my fav spot. I saw wheel driven down sand continuing out, I checked it out, it was a newly created spot since Nov. I sort of looked out Willow Springs over a sea of RVs, vans, tents, and whatever shelter. Never seen so many occupiers. Change,
This AM I left for town after 8 to beat anticipated backup heading into town. Breezed thru. Plan was to take on full load of water and groceries to last till Thurs morning laundry day out at N Klondike 25 miles away. Several days of riding here reexperiencing trails and telling myself to relax my jaw muscles as the van bounced over stutter bumps gravel road. Once out there I stay for several days to spread out the road chatter. Change: Today when I turned onto the road I noticed immediately that the surface had been rolled smooth and treated with a dust palliative. WOW. 35 mph one hand on the wheel road. Other than the distance from town it is a breeze to drive. Still plan on being here till Thurs morn.
Change: the campers out here are more RV, less vans and tents. And I don’t get a sense of many mtn bikers. Different crowd. The BLM has put some effort in shrinking primitive sites. So far this evening rigs are spread out, where I am is large enough for an interloper should they choose.
Full on exposure. Desert is dead but cows are grazing. Short term gain at best but long term loss of forage. It’s our land paid for by us for the benefit of a few. The trails in places wend their way among juniper and pinyon pine, neither are much good for shade. To the plus side is the temps are 56 right now at 8:09 PM. The side door is still open as the interior is cooling off. Daytime was not much higher.
Another too early to be here location as crowds are here perhaps because desert hasn’t become desert hot.
Somewhere around 11 I pedaled away from van to start of Dino Flo which is a blue that runs a length of the valley. Fun problems.
Bike sure is a lot of fun to ride even climbing. Along the way i stopped numerous time to roll off kicked in rocks off the tread as riders sometimes take evasive action to avoid causing widening of the trail.
I caught up with 2 riders, Observation was they might be older than me. I rode behind them which kept my effort in check. We were all riding the same loop but opposite direction. The younger of the 2 is 74, the other appeared to have several years on him. They are local. We recounted how 2 years ago the desert was in bloom. I remember the hedgehogs, etc. The mock orange fragrance. Now its brown, dead, grazed down desert.
Trails seem to be the same, wearing well.
Sand is loose and deep.
Change: internet reception is better allowing me to send this missive into the sky.
While driving on Main st this morn a VW Westy pulled abreast. I looked at the driver, he was waving at me: Jimi. I met him back in Pisgah years ago and we shared several nights last summer in Bend. He is on a road trip. We texted connection.
So change happens much of it beyond our influence. It might be the first time for that person who has no memory of what it was.
During Sat’s ride the bike started making squeaking sounds. As I pedaled and coasted, smooth and suspension activating bumps I trouble shot the source, Seemed to be pedaling. Back at the van first thing I checked were the pedals which were tight and spinning freely. Still getting the derailleur clutch clunk. The linkage bearings were just replaced and I verified proper torque. Hmm… could any of the bolts loosened? So few miles since checked. Just for grins and giggles I checked the torque: shit one of them was very loose. I torqued it tight then pedaled: silence. I wiggled the cranks and discovered play which wasn’t good. Sunday I stopped at Chili Pepper seeking service. awrench said bring it in and give us a few hours and we will call you when fixed. Pretty good service.They called a few hours later: Installing shop installed an extra washer which kept the crank arms gapped. He complimented me on my bike. New people at shop i have done business for years. Change.
CHANGE: OUR PUBLIC LANDS ARE BEING ABUSED BY A FEW YET THE DAMAGE DONE IS PAID FOR BY ALL OF US. GRAZING RIGHTS ALLOW GRAZING ON STRESSED DESERT, COWS ARE EATING LEAVES FROM BUSHES AS THAT IS WHAT IS FOOD. IT WILL NOT BE LONG TERM EFFECT. IT WILL BE SHORTLY SEEN AS DESERTIFICATION, PLANTS ARE PERMANETLY DAMAGED. HOW ARE THOSE FEW RANCHERS ,WHO ARE EARNING INCOME FROM OUR PUBLIC LANDS . ALLOWED TO DESTROY OUR LAND? IT’S NOT RIGHT. THESE RANCHERS ARE NOT STEWARDS OF PUBLIC LAND.