Saturday I drove up hill above town to Sheep Bridge rd where I planned on riding some of the Hurricane Cliffs trails. Two days after rainfall, 2 nights below freezing, sunshine and 43 degrees at staring point. I saw a puddle that still had ice and another spot of thawed dirt now mud. Ooops, conclusion was Trails would have patches of freeze thaw mud that should not be ridden. Turned around and drove down and thru town out to Church Rocks which is right along side I-15. Dirt here will be sand and frost free. Surprise: updated trailhead facility. There might be 10 horse trailer slots, graded and graveled parking. Amazing to see no manure. Connecting trail from TH joins Prospector trail out to loop trail on Church Rocks. Ride is known as just Church Rocks. Area was burned summer of 2020 as I saw when I rode here last year. What does the healing desert cover look like:

45 degrees but sunny. Tread is mix of slick rock, rolled firm, and patches of sand.

This ride is the go to ride when conditions are shitty elsewhere. Rode the slick rock loop then rejoined Prospector for return.

Other riders also enjoyed the day.

Area is part of desert tortoise preserve. At the TH a fence perimeter about a foot tall keeps them fenced in.

Drove back to Quail creek spot. Another 20 something degree night. My hetaer is mounted underneath the van, the intake and output pipes are open to the air where heat that is meant to keep me warm escapes to the cold outdoors. I picked this heater as its location would not displace inside volume. Location location say the realtors. I have been wearing my sheep fleece bootees and a sweater inside. So far my summer weight down blanket doubled over keeps me warm sleeping. Sunrise is 7:32.

Today I gave another go on the cliffs trail. I waited till noon to start that sun warmth would have thawed and dried any mud. Mud puddle at parking spot had dried up and there were no soft mud tire tracks. Good to go. I rode up Dead Ringer then descended JEM to Rim trail over to start of Cryptobiotic climbing to Dead Ringer and back on a tie. Finished about 3:30, got the good part of the day.

Today as I was pedaling Dead Ringer I pulled over for 2 riders approaching, difficult to tell who was pedaling uphill so I pulled over and beckoned them to come on. Man and woman. Man said he bore tidings from Tomichi Cycles, Bill and Susan’s shop in Gunnison. He called me by name, I asked of his, he said we have never met but he had seen the film and was tickled to meet me. He is the first person who had no previous contact with me to connect me to the film. 115,000 views.

Bought coffee beans from River Rock roasters. Owner there making coffee drinks remembered me. I have been his customer since almost his start. familiar faces.

Rain is forecast for Tuesday then colder overnights, conditions for future freeze thaw.

Computer battery running down.

First creation on new computer. A rider is now enjoying the PUSH Elevensix on his Turner RFX and I am being blown away by how fast this new computer is. Transfer of funds from his Paypal to me to the computer store. The former laptop did a job that I accepted its performance. Yesterday I drove down to ST George, as it was raining, destination this computer store where I bought the predecessor. Their record retrieval showed I bought the old 7 years ago. The guy said 7 years is when they start recommending new. I prolly would have used the old one and never learned of how much faster this new one is. Used to be I  could think while I waited for cursor move or program changes. Now, I am finding another gear to at least hang on to its tail. I never knew what better was until I stepped up to the plate, much like my Revel Rail

Forecast for yesterday called for rain which fell as the day aged. Finished up my ST George to dos then headed to the Quail creek place where I have been staying. Dirt road part way to spot then at the camp spots gravel has been put down to stay above the dirt that becomes deep mud when wetted. My preferred spot open with gravel all the way in. The spot requires leveling blocks to achieve dead level. My leveling blocks are in the JOBOX and the left rear tire needing raised was in the mud. I left deep feet impressions as some of the ooze smushed between my toes. Took another block as the first was driven down in the mud. In for the night. Steamed a filet of king salmon, shopped Harmons in ST George. Rain, as much as it was, quit before bedtime. Slept on freshly made bed.

Today was to return to computer store to pick up this guy. I stopped by even though I had not been called as promised. I said I wanted to be the squeaky wheel for completion of transferring data from old to new. Not done yet, Friday noon, vison of computer sitting over the weekend. Really, plan was to ride the Santa Clara trails and pick up the computer afterwards.

Drove out to parking area at bottom of access trail which climbs up on single track to the developed trailhead. Trail starts climbing right away on my cold body. While my speed is slowing my competence is growing attributable to a) Rail, b) stronger legs, c) most importantly, correct saddle height. Arrived at TH where last year I discovered my lost camera on a fence rail, climbed Precipice then up and down of Sidewinder then Barrel Roll loop.

Temp was 45 degrees under sunshine buffeted by stiff breezes. Chilly. Opportunities to short my planned ride abounded, I could of but didn’t. At times I was out of the wind comfortable and thinking about thinning out my layers only to pedal back into reality. Over dressed on the climbs and protected on the downhills. Amazing bike allowed me to surmount almost every feature. There are several that are above my self protection level that I have never ridden, these were notees but others I nailed first time.

Just 1 rider out.

11 miles climbing 1198′ pedaling for 1 hr 45 mins. average bpm of 118.

Drove back to Quail Creek spot, preferred 1 open however I saw 2 other rigs in other spots. My spot starts with a short steep climb that filters out the big rigs. Spot dried out, foot prints cast from last night, this evening I walked on the ridges of the cats.

Windy, van buffeted forcing chill inside.

Water system issue is with the fil pipe tank interface. I keep putting off really tearing apart the plumbing to get at that leak. I found that if I keep the amount of water low and don’t jostle the van on rough road that water stays where it belongs. Not a sustainable solution.

St George recorded .01″ of rain. I did encounter small puddles on the trail. It’s possible that the Hurricane trails could be weak hero dirt, except tomorrow is Saturday.

Film has been viewed 115,xxx times

Yesterday at 8 AM my van had an appointment with a care giver to suss out the brake squeak and a clunk happening from the rear right. My van was first in the shop. Guy listened to my concern then turned to. Guy reported back that everything he checked met his lack of having anything to fix. He refused payment as he said he found nothing to fix. So perhaps the issues are just because and is only irritating to me. However, upon starting the engine yesterday something driven from the fan belt shrieked that lasted lessening in decible on way to shop. I googled Sprinter repair in ST George and found a shop that that’s what it does. I made an appointment for next week. My effort with the van is to stay ahead of repairs by having issues addressed. I just do not want to break down anywhere period.

My plan was to ride the Hurricane Cliffs IMBA Epic route from town later in the morn once night chill was countered by sunshine. Hitch on this ride was I would be riding from town climbing up to Goulds Rim via a black diamond trail. Trepidation regarding effort of the trail and  including the entire ride. Several years ago I volunteered for a trail building session in a basalt slide. In the past I rode / hiked and just hiked the trail giving me familiarity. The start was the hard part, the rest of the ride was just sticking to it.  I pedaled away from shop, which is at the bottom of the hill, searching for the road that led to the start of the trail. I thought I knew how to get there, it was one of those you can’t get there from here as I failed to initially find that road. By the time I found it I had ridden 4 miles. I made the climb with mix of bi’s: cycle or pieds. Once above the cliff I joined a jeep road up to top of Goulds then on to single track past the corral and boys school. Hit upper JEM TH 2 hours later, non stop pedaling. Ate a muffin at the TH. Route drops down JEM to intersection with Hurricane Rim. Up, down, around, over rocks, to end up at TH above town. Big pavement coast ahead. I believe I spun out yet max speed was only 28 on clear pavement. Heck I get that fast on Tumalo Creek at Bend… and on dirt.

I have yet to see the bushes in leaf and or bloom. After the growing season riding.

Ride was 28 miles climbing 2126′ pedaling for 3 hrs 38 mins almost all nonstop. I have doubts of my eyes being bigger than my body leaving me with learning reality of which part was dominant. Over the years I have ridden the Rim trail many times. It’s a lot of pedaling. After all it’s just distance and time. Did average 7.71mph clip. Recovery advisor said 23 hours.

Salad dinner to go then back out to score same spot out at Quail.

Forecast for today was 30% showers clearing as the day progressed. I didn’t have a burning desire to ride. I drove into town to attend to things to be done. I scored an afternoon fork service well past recommended interval. Back out to Quail.

I have a gauge on the propane tank that gives an indication of fuel level. I pay attention to fuel quantity. On Monday at anchor spot I saw that it said, “Feed Me”. The tank accepted 5.6 gals which is empty.

I fill the sink water tank by hand a gallon at a time. 7 gallons. I pour water in until the intake backs up, I know a column of water is pressing on the intake hole in the water tank. That water pressure causes water to push past the grommet seal on the tank. Overflow flows over the tank , down the side of tank, to the door step. For several days the step was wet, I checked the tank where I could reach: damn water is seeping leading me to suspect a hole in the tank. I was faced with pulling the tank. Short story was I raised up the shelf above the tank to see wet. That water came from the overflow and not a hole. If I do not over fill the tank I remain dry. The hole in the tank is slightly larger than the installed grommet.

My film has been viewed 86,xxx times. Today the first person said he had viewed it.

Rain and snow predicted later this week with below freezing at night. I think earth is still warm enough to not create freeze thaw.