Wed night forecast materialized dumping perhaps 5″ of dry snow. I woke up and looked out side window to see several inches of snow stacked on top of wooden fence. Sufficient depth of snow on pavement walk to Doug’s door required short rubber boots. Doug grabbed the snow shovel then shoveled entire parking area. The snow melted at the ground which worked to wick moisture up into snow pack which made a shovel scoop heavy with water. Snow plastered trees causing numerous limbs and trunks to snap. The dead end road Doug is on was never plowed, we watched several cars drive down the snow depth, in places it appeared to be frame dragging deep. Sun came out enhancing melt off. Patience made the road more passable. I waited till after noon to drive down to laundromat. My solar panel was sufficiently covered to prevent solar gain. I braked hard on downhills to cause the snow to slide off with no success. I needed the panel collecting energy to the batteries. I needed a ladder and a broom to sweep the snow off. Who could help me? I was in Bashas shopping center also home to Sedona Water Works where I buy my filtered water. They might have what I need and would let me use it. Score. David had the stuff, I swept off the panel and energy followed.
Thursday. Festival starts Friday afternoon. No way able to ride snow covered trails. All events were cancelled for Fri. Fri noon we walked residential streets to coffee shop at Dry Creek rd. Just a few feet of sidewalks were shoveled.
Festival commenced on Sat. we walked residential streets to venue. I bid Doug and Leia adieu as I embarked on my solo stroll. I walked around. At entrance was USFS booth where they discouraged riding trails but could not closing the trails. Muddy and wet. I spent the afternoon visiting. I did not need or want anything which kept me out of eye candy booths. Visited with David at I9. Freehub said they would be here but they did not have a booth. Dinner time I walked downhill then drove over to crowded Picazzos. Bartender Robb remembered me as me him. He choreographed scoring me an open seat at the bar. Freehub was “hosting” a 9:30 rally at Stagecoach down the road. I drove down and scored a parking spot at the front door. I walked in and cruised the crowd looking for hopefully Brandon, the publisher. I took up a spot near the front door. I ran into him as he just walked in. We made eye contact and greeted each other warmly then began a long conversation about whatever. He wore no identification badges, he said he travels incognito. Neither of us were recognized allowing for quality conversation albeit competing with rising talking and a electronic DJ “music”. I stayed put surrounded by men taller than me, I did meet 2 other Freehub people but connected with no one else. I left after 10:30 for Doug’s and bed.
Today sunshine was sky cover. Doug and I decided that trails would still be too wet plus the festival crowd numbers. We went for a hike out S side of 89A down upper Red Rock road. We hiked popular trails with no bike traffic. Much shuttle traffic on the road, seemed a mix of shuttle back up but riders were pedaling up the road. I counted 3 small puddles until we hit secret slickrock trail which was a trickle of muddy water. We could have ridden on dry trails. Tomorrow we will ride on empty festival crowd trails.
Zags play in semi final round tomorrow night at 9:30. Late night at PJs. They were number 2 seeded to ST Marys but Zags are ranked higher in the polls.