My sleep time is bed around 10 and accepting I need to get out of bed at 6 AM. Going to bed in the dark is easy, getting out of bed in the dark and cold makes my warm bed a more desirable place to be. Hot coffee and breakfast require me to get out of bed, make it, then hoist it out of the way. Temp was 17 degrees out inside was 52. I do several exercises before putting on long pants and flannel shirt, even my heavy wool sweater is added. My body temp is low 97s, today it was 96.5. I am cold. Breakfast was Bob’s Scottish oatmeal cooked with blueberries and finished with walnuts and maple syrup, pieces of cornbread and a cup of hot cold brewed coffee. I watched the sunshine on the rocks above me lowering towards me. Ah, solar warmth.
On the road I finished the drive to Panguitch, many tourist hospitality businesses were closed for the season. Small town grocery store. The store sells what the market will support, none of that expensive gourmet Haagen Dazz ice cream. I suppose if that’s what you know and don’t know differently, life is good.
My ride today was on the other side of the road from popular Thunder Mountain. Parked at same TH.
Going to ride up Cassidy then descend Losee canyon. Ride started up paved bike path, I pedaled past the Cassidy TH as it was on the other side of the road and there was no connecting side trail from bike path. I rode extra credit.
Cassidy climbed.
Open PPine forest. Tread is mix of loosely connected sandstone, no slick rock.
Trail worked its way out there then dropped a short distance to intersection with Losee canyon. The trail was in the bottom of the canyon mostly in the wash.
I suspect the canyons here flash flood which washes away trail that gets ridden in again.
Scenery of the rock formations. Beautiful day, van thermometer read 59 degrees when I finished. I started at 39 degrees, forecast high was correct.
Thunder Mountain trail is on the other side of the road, south. Access is miles of uphill bike path then gravel road to top of descent. This ride was about being down in a canyon.
My lowered saddle height really made an improvement in my pedaling. Much to the better. Elevation started at 6881 topping out at 7867′ elevation penalty not being acclimated.