April 17

Check. Smart phone knows all and it agrees. Cold and windy. Last night the furnace started on its own and ran all night as I set the dial to be warm setting. Yesterday it was 32 degrees, today it was 28. Yesterday was windy, and clear and chilly. I was cold inside the van, the furnace shut off after awhile because the location of the thermostat is at the back of the van and that end was square to solar gain. I wanted to ride but I didn’t want to ride in low 40s with strong winds. I dillied and dallied till said “alright”. Cooped up is enough. Knickers, heavy wool jersey and wind shell, oh and knee socks. The dirt dried out. I decided on a shorter ride around Rodeo and not Bull canyon. I pedaled from camp.

Camp is a noun and a verb, you got to know the context it is used in. For me, per Sedona city regulations I camp because I cook food on a stove and cover myself with non wearable articles. Doesn’t have to be inside  a vehicle. For me I mostly just park overnight not making an outside presence. Maybe I camp “lite” as compared with full on camping with set up of tents, chairs, tables, clothes line hung, you get the picture. So, OK, I will call what I do as “camping”, and I “camp”.

So, I pedaled from camp on dirt track then road. The high winds moved sand around and the precip held redistributed sand making for a much smoother road. Turned right down dead end designated off road track down past where I also like to stay, to the dead end then social trail down to Rodeo. I rode Rodeo loop around continuing past  where I entered to connect to Chisholm, turn left pedal till trail to group camp sites before then Lasso joins which is sandy, climbs to road, turn right pedal the road to the offroad route back to van. 15.8 miles pedaling for 2 hrs climbing 997′. My average heart rate was 128 which is at my anaerobic threshold. I don’t set out to ride like wind sprints or intervals, I just work at my pedaling.

Rodeo is a fun 8.5 mile loop with around 500′ of climbing. It’s up on top which means no big climbs, just short pitches.

As I wrote the furnace ran all night, it was 56 inside and 28 out this morning. It is what it is. At 6 AM Wait Wait comes on XM. Today I woke up in time to tune in and I listened to entire hour while beneath the covers. I will be riding from camp meaning several hours of free time before pedaling.

Windy and chilly again today, a repeat of yesterday. I planned riding Bull canyon down to Arth’s then climbing back on Get away. Shuttle traffic is dropped off up at intersection of highway and Gemini bridges dirt road, They coast down Get Away till cut over to Bull which is downhill, some go on to ride the Portal. Groups of riders, must have been shuttle groups. At times I was by myself then I would overtake a stopped group, one group changed leads several times. Finally at Get Away the shuttle crowd continued down then I began the pedal back up.

Climb out on Get Away is climbing for most part. A blue square trail. Until I hit the Bull crossover the traffic was mostly uphill. Then past Bull encountered downhill traffic. Take away on etiquette was a mix bag as several practiced tread in the dirt as they allowed me to climb by while several encounters the trail was contested not yielding to me climbing. I am grouch in my claiming uphill  rights. I ride looking ahead scanning for other users going either way. Glancing way ahead helps plan how I will ride what my wheels will soon be rolling over. Maximize conservation of effort. Look beyond up, look out. Once junction with Bull the ride is going back.  What went down when fresh is now up when tired. I did see fewer than 10 Indian Paintbrush blooming plants. Desert here is dry also.

I don’t hammer, I coast quite a few feet, I pedal as needed to overcome gravity and less on flats and none on downhill. What I do to my body is captured in the EDGE computer. I wear a heart rate monitor chest strap that sends data to computer that interprets it according to programed algorithms. At the end of the ride I read the displayed data. 22.4 miles climbing 1660′ pedaling for 2 hrs 56 mins. Average mph 7.65. Again average hr was 128, I was above for 1 hr 44 mins. My breathing is usually what causes me to pause to catch my breath. While pedaling the smooth sandy part of Get Away I attempted to ride below max hr. Never really got down to it as I just pedaled. Recovery is 31 hours.

Clouds left, La Sals shown forth

So, tomorrow is Sunday. Breakfast will be scratch pancakes which I make only every Sunday going back years. I clipped the recipe from the Spokesman paper in Spokane years ago. In past years I added wild blueberries and huckleberries that I picked, all others just frozen berries kept frozen in my fridge. Anticipation.

Lots of people out here and full campground. Lots of bikers, more than I have every experienced. Perhaps I should attempt to understand their stories. Who are these riders? They are way younger than me.

Furnace switched on and started first go. I am not insane because a change did occur as a result of my previous effort.

Tomorrow I need to go down to town for resupply. Might do a short Navajo Rocks loop sharing with weekend crowd.

Last night I made a lentil stew of my concoction, enough for 2 dinners. Tonight I warmed the leftovers for refueling. Lentils, a legume, are a good source of protein as I had only 1 chicken thigh instead of usual 2.

Time to check off a task from to do this thing to live in better peace list. Dishes. kitchen cleanup.