Cold and Raw

Desserts lack moisture. When rain comes, as it sometimes does, duh? Where is sunshine and dry trails? Forecast is calling for a series of storms rolling over the area dropping moisture and blotting out the sunshine. Chilly and wet.

Nice days have been intermixed. I have been riding with Doug recently out at Western Gateway trail. Friday was our last before weather change. We both have an understanding of trails out there that we use to determine our rides.

Doug, Cockscomb

That ride was 11.4 miles climbing 1148′ pedaling for 1 hr 46 mins. Doug is 55, I’m spotting him 18 years, he just pedals away from me.

Thurs was eye exam with dilation which as you know blurs vision and requires dark glasses to protect the wide open eyes. I drove up to Sedona to do wash, I was able to successfully slide required 25 cent pieces into the slot on the washing machine. However, my vision never cleared satisfactorily to ride: I could see basketball size rocks, but the size I really needed to see were baseball size. Eyes are healthy and do not require a new prescription.

Clean clothes stowed in 1 drawer dresser I headed back down to VOC. As I drove away the van started making a noise like a blower when under load and through upshifting. Something is wrong. Made it to where I was going. It continues to run and this new issue needs to be addressed. Might it be the transmission? I called shop in Bend for info. Casey researched repair ships, one of which is the shop I have been using. Tues I return for the air control module to be replaced and for their evaluation of current issue.

I have been staying at Doug’s on Mondays staged for Tues repair date. The first was for the heater, the second for the engine control light, this one for noise. Yes, problems do occur, however, I have fix it shops here. It is good to have connections around the country.

Sat was FS volunteer trail work day. FS has 14 seasonal trail people, just 2 returnees, volunteers numbered more than them. We worked out of Yavapai TH. I used my own loppers, first time, and wore my new REI trail pants. Dirt was wet making for good packing.

Zags played at 8PM. Dinner salad at Colt then put off entering PJs till just before game time as the bar was celebrating their birthday. Raucous house band hammered my ears. I eventually scored a bar seat under a TV to watch the blow out. So much more enjoyable when they win. I sat beside a guy drinking his beer from a mid sized pitcher. I said hello, he said Hi, he remembered my green Sprinter.. Name is Sponge Bob. I remembered him and he living to his name sake that he would not recall. I could not compete with the band volume.

Since learning I have a gluten intolerance and also SIBO my food choices have become limited. I eat the same foods everyday everyday. Dinner is chicken thighs, broccoli, carrot, Quinoa and whatever spice and or herbs I select. One skillet prep. Taste is different each time because I make new combinations or omissions. Never bored and most times filled up.

One pot plate dinner.

Clean up is straight forward.

Reading John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany, only 625 pages.

Chilly and intermittent showers with heater on parked at outlet mall for daylight. Then return to overlook for night. Too wet to ride or drive on dirt.