Well, today is November 21, winter is coming on, the temperature is supposed to drop here in Moab and prolly at your house. Put another log on the fire. When a breeze happens a wind shell is required, I am wearing knickers to protect my knees and an extra wool top. Some days the sky is completely blue and clear, some days clouds lessen solar gain. Activity generates body heat, resting invites chill, a balance between heart racing and stopping. But I am writing what you all know about. When I was outfitting my van I lagged on putting in a heat source as I figured I would be down south where temps would still be short sleeves. I did buy a used cat/ infrared heater that I used many days before I arrived in the desert and once there I realized my naivety of desert temps. The Propex heater was repaired last winter and has been dependable since. However, heat loss is greater than the heat output so during the course of the evening the temp inside drops. Getting up in the morning into the chill requires fortitude. I have never had ice on any water container.
Speaking of cold, heat is also. How you view experience the outdoors is dependent upon your activity. I describe 3 conditions or states. As a mountain biker I seek snow and freeze thaw fee trails. When that condition exists I call that “being in”. On either side of that there is “anticipation” and “apprehension”. Anticipation is looking forward to your sweet spot to being in. Well, seasonal conditions change lessening the Being in time, this is apprehension because sweet spot is shrinking. Think skiing sport for example. My traveling keeps pretty much in the Being In state, I just have to drive to it. Moab is chilling now with over night temps below freezing with highs in the 50s. So far no precip is forecast to cause freeze thaw mud. Looks like I will remain here in Moab till end of month.
Yesterday I rode Rodeo from my anchor spot plus extra credit trails. I will describe Rodeo as being baby bear tech trail as the features are almost all roll up or down, little unweighting the front wheel. Forecast called for overcast to break up for sunshine as the day progressed. I experienced low clouds. I encountered only 1 rider during my 2 hr pedal. Rodeo is one way so I caught up with him. I saw a very white trimmed beard. I stopped to talk to him, 81 years old. I asked about his riding, his answers were sim to mine: ride what I can, walk what i need to. He chooses to walk more taking less risk to avoid injury. Us older riders are clichés as he said he fancies himself as a example for younger riders. I say the same thing. He spoke to me as if I was a youngster just because I am 9 years younger. I do not like being a cliché.
There is a piece of Chisholm from Horsethief to connector trail Lasso that is a hoot going from XG as it has a shallow descent and bermed turns, so great to coast and carve the turns. Great way to finish Rodeo and hte road pedal back to my anchor spot.
Thurs was another PT session which continues to lessen the pain in my knee. I resupplied in town for maybe 3 nights out at Horsethief anchor spot. On the way up:
Clean clothes stowed. My chosen anchor spot is exposed and hard to see if it is occupied. There are several spots on the road, where if a white rig is parked there, the spot is taken. I saw a white rig on the way that could have been at the spot. The road curved away which put that rig further down the road not at where I wanted to be. My phone rang later, the caller was Charlie from Eagle, the white rig was him. I met Charlie and his partner Theresa years ago at Lunch Loops in Junction. Over the years every other year they would spend Thanksgiving in Moab. I wondered if they would be here, he beat me to the contact. We made a ride date for Friday.
Friday’s ride rode from our anchor spots on the road to Lasso connecting to Chisholm all the way to its end at Navajo Rocks loop, Chisholm is such a fun trail riding either direction. We turned right on Big Lonely which becomes Coney Island which treads gently downhill having patches of sand, riding it this way is against the recommended direction but is more enjoyable.
We passed Middle Earth cut over to a junction with 7UP, the first part was 4X4 track with big patches of sand. The trail was well marked with blue ribbons for the foot race on Sat. Up the ways the single track leaves the 4X4 road. We missed the turn and pedaled a ways up the track where no blue ribbons were present. I called Charlie to a stop for a peek at Trailforks map. Yep, extra credit climb, we coasted back to the turn then continued. We left 7UP for Horsethief trails to reconnect with the start of Chisholm all the way back to Lasso. Youngsters by almost 20 years, 20.2 miles climbing 1545′ pedaling for 2 hr mins. Conditions were conducive for several long socializing breaks. C & T are my kind of people, we enjoy our company. I bid them adieu for my home an a Gonzaga basketball game later on XM. Zags won.
I made today a rest day, I drove back to town for resupply. Seems I can make my sink and drinking water last for 3 nights and groceries.
So far loading old phone mapping data to the new phone has escaped me. I did copy the files from the old to this computer hopefully capturing the old, now Backcountry Navigator people need to help me finish. Tonight I am staying at Sand Flats XG in preparation for taking care of business in town instead of driving out to Willow Springs then driving back to town. Camp spot costs $15, the drive is about 20 miles.
Film has been viewed 18,xxx times. I received an email from the guy at Bedrock sandals who years ago contacted me wanting to put a pair of their sandals on my feet. I was never a open toed footwear wearer so I put off answering his offer. Months later I came across his aged email. I replied with my size and a ship to location. I opened the box and put them on my feet for evaluation. Today I wear them every day and will until I need socks. He watched the film seeing me wear their sandals.
I have 686 and 50 rides on present chain, it is just about to .5 stretch for replacement. Previously I would replace in the 300 mile range.
Diesel is almost $4.00 per gallon.
I root for Ohio State Buckeye football, they obliterated MSU ranked # 7 on Sat. This weekend is THE GAME against UM at Ann Arbor, MI.
No Waba Sabi community Thanksgiving feed again this year. COVID.
Sunrise is at 7:08 and sets at 4:54PM. Prime riding time is between 11 and 3.