Starting the new year

Only the number changes with the day. Everything is a carry over. Continue doing good things. Be the reason someone else has a better day.

Now in Sedona which is wet. Arrived Thurs about 5, drove thru Page. Did drive through falling snow but only a few pieces where I could not see the pavement. Windy. Flag is at 7,000′ under white from storm several days prior. Driving down I 17 required several thousand feet of elevation drop to get below snow and less rain. Checked in at the overlook because it is on pavement, I knew it, and where I like at MP 4 was unknown. Weather so far is overcast much like the Puget Sound weather. Fri I visited the coffee roaster and Absolute Bike. Spent my day. Drove back to Beaverhead and ventured off pavement to MP4 spot. The dirt was soft but allowed forward motion. Made the spot. Ran into Lee in grocery store, she is a seasonal local. Ian invited me on a Black Canyon (BCT) ride yesterday that Lee sparked the idea. Just the 3 of us from the invites made the ride.

BCT: Ian drove the 3 of us down I17 to Bumblebee interchange then the twisty snaking pavement part of the road then bumpy ATV’d dirt road to Bumblebee where we would start and finish. The ride was an out and back, or more up then down. Sonoran desert riding under gray skies. Not bright desert dry air. Amazing that our rig was only one both at start and finish. Forecast called for today to be dry with wet moving in Sun thru the week . We pedaled away and up. I have ridden this trail several times. Pedaled over the piece I helped build long time ago. The piece of trail from start to the tank is more technical than the climbing piece from the tank to the gate, our turn around. This piece has exposure.

Lee, Ian, BCT
BCT looking back and to left
BCT, find the rider Lee

And then Doug and Leia stopped by where I am parked at the Collective. They are Canadian nomads who rent a house at their visiting location. They have been here for many years. Doug and I ride together a lot, I visit with Leia. The 3 of us plus their mid sized white coat dog Swift squeezed into my heated van. Heat now provided by backup cat heater as the Propex died. Death seems to be internal which means removing, shipping back to Seattle for repair, then reinstalling it. I prefer this heater but their life is suspect. This appears to be the internal mother board. Moving forward.

I dallied in Hurkin because of forecasted wet weather here. That last week I just hung out. Laundry performed in well maintained laundromat one last time before almost 3rd world condition of the one here in Sedona.

Bucketing time by year allows for summation of years activities and a clean slate for the upcoming year.

I rode 204 times covering 2,726 miles climbing 297,957′. I drove about 11,000 miles buying $2,807 of diesel. I rode in AZ, NM, CO, UT, OR, ID, and WA states never straying further east than Grand Junction, CO and Spokane, WA was furthest north. New transmission and drive shaft in van was a chunk of change. I spent nights on my property. My invested money took a big hit which I am using as an excuse as to not making arrangements for house construction this year. Anticipation of recouped loss this year will put house back in play.

This year I figure to continue with my vagabond lifestyle. Should diesel price lower to my affording level I would consider travels east.

500 plus views of my Turner RFX for sale ad in PinkBike but no offers. There is the opportunity to own a piece of Turner’s and my history.

Internet speed at overlook is a dribble. Going to be sleeping there for foreseeable future until the side roads firm up. Outlet mall parking is now signed as no camping. I have been building possible other sites.