Monday 7:30 AM PT session established that my left elbow pain is coming from my forearm where several muscles congregate that have become irritated. Taught treatment by PT that I have been performing. Of course, resting will cure. I’m sort of nibbling between the 2, well, the resting part. Also have been riding less tech chunder trails calling it resting. Celebrated known cause by riding Prospector Church Rocks loop, did have fewer speed altering features. But then again maybe just riding is the source. I could be kidding myself by pedaling smoother trails? Then the Garmin algorithm computes recovery time that I regularly disregard by riding before time’s up. Then temps have been just 40, did start in 35 degrees, sunshine solar gain, little wind. Still winter jersey, knickers and knee socks, even helmet hat. Don’t see my breath.
Trail runs length of flat out at the edge a ways.
On sunny days the above is the norm. Just same ol same ol.
Monday eve other campers chose the Quail Lake spot. Wake up temp like 23, inside 49 degrees.
Tues I moved up onto the Hurricane cliffs anchoring at coral. 3966′. Just a pullout on dirt road. Evening light shines on Gooseberry and a shorter mesa.
I learned of a trail on that mesa, I previously posted a pic from up these looking down to where I am. I have ridden it 2X. The first was before the freeze, then next was after. Frost heaves dirt up even with no visible water. Post frost dirt is “fluffy” soft making for a slower ride with increased effort.
I rode down Chinatown wash then the Cliffs trail back.
Yesterday I parked at Sheep Bridge rd highway intersection. Sunny and warm inside, not so warm outside. Today was a wool t-shirt under a medium weight wool jersey, still knickers but no helmet hat. Pedaled up Dead Ringer on rolled hard tread, no freeze thaw, up towards top trail is shaded allowing snow to remain. I descended JEM. At the steep descent I walked as I perceived slippery. It was rideable. At the turn landing the mud was frozen and I rode it. I rode JEM to its end. Down the ways the last piece of the JEM is one way going my way with Carne Asada the return climb. I see this making sense to avoid rider conflict on the to the edge narrow tread as too narrow to pass on. On Carne a short piece climbed, was shaded still holding snow, sunshine warmed a piece maybe 5’long, freeze thaw mud thawed. My front wheel did not make a full revolution before it picked up enough mud to jam between the fork legs stopping me. I lifted the bike onto outslope and scraped off blocking mud. Both tires were plugged. Trail continued climbing, me working above hard lessening as mud slowly lost its grip.
Burning about a gallon of propane per day. From about 10 to 3 the sun warms me. Camper batteries are not being overfilled by the solar panel. I stayed for 2 days here at the corral, 1 day was cloudy, I ran the engine for 30 mins after dark to add energy to the batteries for the night. Seems if I drive some minutes during the day added to solar collection my batteries remain charged.
I am waiting for my mail to arrive before leaving here for warm Sedona. Coordinating delivery with location requires a commitment then living with plan.
32 degrees at 3966′ at 8:44 PM outside. Heater running inside, living room is chilly.
I have tinnitus: constant ringing in both ears.
Ho HO Ho Pagan.