Yesterday’s forecast was for a wind event, just sometimes forecasters nail their prediction with history of whiffing.
I left N Klondike really enjoying change of improved road with no bumps. Drove down to town ahead of rush that bottlenecks a backup. Treatment for my gastro condition is blood work to learn if my body overcame whatever it was. Blood draw at hospital walk in. Phlebotomist had been awarded an honor that the plaque on the wall stated. Complimented her on the recognition and the stick. Blood UPSed somewhere, Follow up DR appointment in a month. Anyway, requirement of body condition was no fat for 6 hours. My morning fat is a small amount of butter on 2 pieces of toast. This AM just honey.
This trip put me in between outings. This was Wed, Thurs is laundry day, drive back to town, resupply then drive up to Horsethief for several days. Chose to stay at Willow Springs as it is the closest to town. For me I am looking for a place to sleep that is “legal” and level. I stay at the first right off Willow Springs rd creeping up slick rock with buckets and bulges to harm a misplaced wheel or too low. I park at the outer edge facing away from in coming traffic. Scored my desirable spot, back end pointed into the wind. The wind had been steadily increasing during the day, after my arrival it picked up with a vengeance(?). Strong enough to carry grains of sand in clouds. Sand has no moisture content unable to resist the lure of traveling. I watched as past impressions in the sand were obliterated, surface was scallop in waves like sand on a beach. Several gusts were like dust devils that swarmed my van. The side door was open for comfort, I was slow to close it to the wind resulting in a fine layer of dust wherever it settled inside. I watched several rigs go out past me even past the past spot I used. High clearance and nobody to correct them. Then the place became crowded, 4 vans and several other rigs. I walked up on slick rock later after the wind died down. I looked out the road, mass of white manmade objects. 2 leg locusts, hordes of camping rigs.
Just too many people. Yes, I am in that group. Rationalization: Yeah, but I am grandfathered in as I have been doing this since before it blew up. Small head sense of entitlement? How dare all these people crowd me out of where it used to be just me and maybe other scattered others?
Yes, back to fool. Today’s forecast called for lessening wind, chilly, and precip in 30% shower range and more likely in PM. This will work. Plan was to drive down to Bar M trails and ride before going into town to do wash. I made the parking lot and changed. I kept a weather eye that went only to lip of plateau above. I saw the sky showing its cards of rain. I stepped out of the van into reality and really quickly decided that I needed another layer and a wind shell. I got back in the van to add. I looked at the sky again. More serious and no clearing afterwards. I chanced to look at a windward window to see what was maybe a rain drop. Hmm, maybe a shower, I can carry my rain coat in case. I waited and watched as more landed. Hmm. I resigned myself to being rained out. It poured. I changed back then drove down to town smooth sailing. Laundromat is in first block off Main st. I turned down the 1 block street, no place to street park. Crowded, please have just one open machine for me. The place had many open machines. I wash everything in 1 load on cold. I seperate wool and synthetics to line dry from the dyer clothes. I started for the door to walk to the van to hang them up but stopped: it was pouring and blowing. Hmm, I only need to go to the van when the dryer cycle is done and I have folded the clothes. It worked. It was a shower that ended before my walk. Crowded town. Too many people.
Resupplied then headed out of town. Moab is on US191 a major N S highway. From either end it enters downtown on four lanes. Speed lowered closer to town down to 30 mph. To the North right at the end of town a lane is choked off and remains I lane till the bridge. Road construction has been going on to add a lane in each direction to make it all 4 lane. Construction closes down to 1 lane in each direction. Some days backups occur. My travel plan is to stay ahead of any bottleneck. Next trip into town will be Sunday morn.
Change: Age. Books to read. Authors that I grew up with were either my age or older. Think Mark Twain and Tom Robbins. I have read many of their works. The dead ones no longer added books to my list on my peers were adding to theirs. I have read all of Robbins. Time marched on and these writers quit writing joining the dead ones in not adding to my to reads. As happens people younger than myself are writers and winning recognition for their efforts. It’s just that I don’t see them. I have not established a connection to any. The several that I have read write from perspectives shaped by less history than my age. What do any of them know about a hand cranked telephone answered by an operator who asks for the number you want. Oh, and it is a party line. OK, I am not living by my writing as I do not rural electrification. Anyway picking this new one The Night Watchman by Louise Erdich, who per the back jacket ” is from one of the most acclaimed writers of our time.” Maybe it was a senior citizen nap that I missed her. Oh, never mind, she was born in 1954, 5 years after me. She might know about party lines. Point: age affects perspective.
About fool. Outdoor activity favors minimal harsh conditions. Presently conditions are lets stay inside and hope that it will clear. Sometimes skies part to reveal the sun and all is good. Commit to the outdoor activity moving away from that shelter. Then bang, the backslap of the weather hits you in the face with more of what you were sheltering from. You got suckered into a sucker hole. Well, I was not born just yesterday. Tomorrow the trails up here at Horsethief will be primo.
I drove up here to a spot past Horsethief campground, the big flat open spot where that large group of young people hung out last weekend. During the drive it was raining hard enough for full on wipers and heat as the temp dropped as I climbed. Above Horsethief road turn off I could see fresh snow on the ground, prolly just the plants. Chilly. No fresh rig tracks heading to spot. I scored the empty spot. I stepped outside down on the ground. When dry I treated the surface as just sand. Today with just a bit of water the sand became sticky clogging my sandals with about 1/4″ of sand. Barefoot now, sandals in a time out. Good news is rain quit and the dry air is sucking moisture back up which should make for brown pow tomorrow, first tracks.
At sleep spot I turned on the furnace. When the thermostat said go it started its lighting sequence. It turned on but would not light. It cycled itself to no success. It shuts off then lights up a pulsing 1 flash light just like earlier this year before it was serviced. I went thru several recycles again no ignite. I called the service shop and left a message. Maybe an hour has passed. I switched on the furnace hoping it would work when every previous attempt failed. Definition of insanity: Repeating the same thing hoping for a different outcome. Me questioning my sanity? Well, it responded small ignites then stall, then ignite and burn for a few more seconds, then finally catch and run. Presently the thermostat has shut it down. Will it ignite before I finish this which is almost at its end.
I have now ordered all the parts needed for the Rail. The Absolute Black oval chain ring is at Steve’s, the Oneup dropper post is on its way to Steve’s. This one was available and rated highly. Praxis cranks and bottom bracket are on order. Steve UPSd my rebuilt I9 wheel to me, when I pick it up I will put it on my bike in place of current I9 wheel then send it back to I9 who will make it boost. Now, devil’s in the details.
?So, today the weatherman was light on the probability.
Sucker? While sitting here I have been watching the sky and thinking I could ride soon. I just looked at the windshield to see rain drops in spite of sunshine to the west. Writing this has kept me from being a sucker.
I made scratch skillet cornbread before dinner.
Tomorrow big ride.
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