Yesterday the dentist extracted my upper left back molar that full head X-Ray should was decayed. Original schedule was Tues morn, I had prepared myself for the procedure. On the way up to office that office called saying dentist was under the weather and would not be in, when is next opening? Found opening on Thurs, they called back later offering me yesterday one day earlier and a day earlier on my way to no head ache etc. Arrived yesterday AM, dentist started by topical numbing on opposite side. Hmm? Nerve block on that side for other side? I spoke up. Opps, mirror image. Dentist fully recovered from day off? He corrected himself then hit me with 3 injections. Numbness occurred. I asked about procedure. He said tooth is not pulled out per say but extracted. First up was wiggling it with a large flat blade screw driver then vise grip to pull the tooth out. I did not see if tools were per his description. Concern was possible root breaking from tooth which 1 root did that necessitated a rasping out remnant from skull. Said decay and infection was present and decision to remove was correct. Presently a tongue perceived pit exists.

Monday I drove to Cottonwood hospital to have a heart recording device glued to my chest. Device records heart electrical impulses for duration of 1 week. Device is removed (somehow) then put in a mailer bound for data analysis, results sometime in the future. All is in effort to understand heart health.

Being in Cottonwood my plan was to ride Dead Horse afterwards to start data recording. Area known as Dead Horse which is a state park that borders FS land. Costs $3 to ride in and cross state land. Rode up Bones.

To Upper Raptor connecting to Rust Bucket etc down Thumper and Lime Kiln out. 19.3 miles 2 hrs 36 min pedaling climbing 1457′. Rode by myself. Last year I rode the same loop following Doug, This year I was slower with higher HR.

Back to VOC. I9 bearings arrived, Tues appointment at Absolute to remove old and install new. Expectation is replacement bearings will make the hub spin longer. Tues bearings were replaced. Will learn of improvement on next ride. At present free spinning wheel doesn’t seem as fast as Steve’s.

Thurs here at laundromat. Weather came in earlier with van rocking winds and blown rain. Big sucker hole appeals. However forecast calls for 18 to 25 mph winds gusting to 39, temp high of 47. Friday weather is sunny and calm. Doug stopped for visit. We talked about riding but haven’t reach tipping point. They are leaving Fri heading back to Canada.

Zags got spanked in the Elite 8 round. All over until this coming season. Letting something affect me that I have no control over. Movin on.

Sat I gave the Rabbit Ears loop a go figuring that these trails would be less muddy. Little mud but washes were still sending water.

Garmin sent me a warranty chest strap heart rate pick up. Today I watched my heart rate working to keep my pulse not so high. Some success, ride was 9.18 miles climbing 1004 pealing for 1 hr 26 mins. Still average hr was 123. I stopped for blows along the way esp on the Rabbit Ears ridge climb.

I rode against runners competing. I called Climbing when I was and runners yielded. Most runners were not running very fast.

Watched game at PJs sitting at the bar right under a big screen TV. Loud band playing prevented conversing. I left mid way thru 2nd half as I did not want to watch the beat down.

Sat. back at my van I found a business card stuck on the driver’s window, I retrieved it, it was from Mick and Beth formerly of Rivers Eatery in Cable, WI. Nice people with whom we connected. They are here for a few days. We texted but made no meeting. Today on my ride out western Gateway trails at the intersection of Girdner and Axis low and behold they were hiking towards me. Mick recognized me he said because of my different color gloves. We visited until finally agreeing to meet back at TH. I pedaled away finishing before them: I pedaled uphill faster than hikers. Although earlier on Girdner a runner caught me on uphill, I never heard him. He ran by but in short while trail turned down and I caught him, he stepped aside, I covered some distance that I thought would keep me well ahead. Nope, he caught me again, this time I rested allowing him to disappear.

So today I headed to Sedona ahead of tourons from the Valley. Spring break, nice day, lots of visitors, traffic backs up well before the Y, need to beat the crowd. Parked at Cultural Park. Thought about riding Girdner out then looping Anaconda, Snake back but Doug said Dry Creek was still running

so I rode Snake to shooting bank then out to bridge over Dry Creek to check water flow. Turned around retracing Snake then Girdner to intersection with Stirrup that I intended to ride. However, a local rider was at the intersection, he had ridden Girdner from the start and reported it was fine.

We had no knowledge of Axis to climb out. I talked myself into Axis being dry. Girdner to Axis was firm. Then I met Mick and Beth. Ran into the old Mountain Bike Heaven gang, greeted old buddies, some ride ebikes. Ride was 11.2 miles climbing 1079′ pedaling for 1 hr 42 mins, average HR was 126 which is at threshold.

Back down to VOC at outlet mall parking, wash is still running.

I don’t need anything I can’t get on my own. My life is basic.

I read an Indian cholesterol reducing recipe using fresh cilantro and mint etc that needs to be blended, chopped whatever. I googled portable blenders then picked one that charges via USB. It arrived recently then I put it to blending this concoction that is real green then dipping blue corn chips into the blob. Herbal knowledge, may it be better than old wives’ tales.

A break in wetness occurred on ed for me to perform a parking lot service on my bike parked in front of Absolute Bikes in VOC. Location chosen for shop support to break free my crank arm and in case I needed knowledge above my base level. I switched back to 30T chain ring and its chain. Why I am not working in a shop: I swapped out the rings then put the crank back in and started to tighten the bolt. I looked on the pavement: oopps, needed washer on the ground, back off the crank bolt then put on the washer then put crank arm back on and tightened the bolt. Checked my work, oopps, both cranks are in same orientation. Back out the bolt, correct crank orientation then tighten down. Practice makes perfect, all parts correctly installed and functioning.

Then to reacquaint my body to larger ring I pedaled Verde Valley School rd out to Oak Creek and Red Rock crossing. Several washes crossed the pavement with several more out on the dirt surface. Was able to ride through the flows as were internal combustion engine rigs. Arrived at turn around to see raging creek covering entire dry feet crossing rocks. No way today to cross.

Body did not care for the effort as my breathing was really labored, ring was not the issue.

Yesterday was laundry day. Clean clothes. Doug invited me on their dog walk out Carroll canyon area. We found trails to be dry and bikes that went by us were not muddy. Carroll canyon area faces S receiving impact of SW winds both wet and dry, sun breaks thru clouds that takes back what clouds dumped. A short sprinkle hit us at our low point turn around to hike back uphill. Drove back to VOC.

Last night I watched the Zags beat UCLA on a last second 3 pointer like 2 years ago. Nail biter. Zags move on to Elite 8 on Sat.

Sitting at laundromat parking faced into sun sucking up cloudy solar gain and waiting for predicted sunny afternoon for a ride. Oops, sprinkles on windshield.

Rain falling on rocky land flows off down washes until source of water flow ends be it rain or snow melt. Then washes become dry. This is the wash at the mall running mostly clear of carried sand.