Sunday I left Beaverhead for Prescott. I have a van checkup appointment on Tues. I scored campsite reservation at Yavapai XG for Sun and Mon. I chose paid camping as I wanted an assured spot after my ride with local Jimmy and Christine that might go later than I would feel comfortable finding an open dispersed spot. Dispersed camping is limited to assigned spots that I suspected would be filled. 2 nights for the price of 1 with my senior discount card.
Warren drove the van for evaluation of fan clutch and I hoped that if he noticed anything amiss he would sense it. Whatever the secondary rev sound did not occur for him and the cooling system performed. He giving it a goodness pat that should have lessened my apprehension of climbing out of Verde Rive basin on l 17. I worry. van pulled the grade and the extra revving didn’t happen.
Arrived Jimmy & Christine’s, Lee arrived later. Jimmy lead us on a Goldwater Lake loop ride. Jimmy, Christine, and me ride Revel bikes, a rascal, Ranger, and Rail in that order. Lee don’t remember. Pedaled road a ways to start of dirt, FS land. Nice single track. Rode around the lakes, Upper and Lower.
Hung out at their house afterwards visiting. Late afternoon I bid adieu driving up to Yavapai XG and my reserved spot. Campgrounds have instituted an on line reservation system that does what it is. There are several first come sites that are just that. Again paying for a site is eliminated stress. Nice site. Campground not full. Chilly night necessitated heater running before leaving cover comfort.
Trailforks was my ride research medium. Jimmy told me to ride trail 332. I found it on TF then used the trail as on a posted route. I was able to ride from the van following the selected route. My Patagonia bike shorts have a side pocket on the left thigh holding the phone flat against the outside of my leg. Location keeps the phone in place and easy access. I used to carry the phone inside my pack but to read the map I would have to take the pack off, read the phone, then put the pack back on. Took time and attention to place pack straps in place.
Trail tread here is mostly decomposed granite that acts like ball bearings when not weighted correctly. Trails I rode were well designed and built single track except for climb up Little Granite which was eroded wide, steeper fall line. I walked quite a few places. Elevation is 6,000′, 1,500′ higher than Sedona, I say I was affected.
Great signage at every intersection
Oak trees are leaving out.
I first rode at Prescott before Trailforks using paper map and description that kept me confused and not enjoying my ride as navigation was what it was back then.
Today’s ride was 14.7 miles climbing1795′, pedaling for 2 hrs 13 mins. Elapsed time was more. 2 hours seems to be most ride time that I can survive. My average speed on my rides is upper 6 mph.
Friday night I socialized in VOC, dinner at Colt at the bar, then a glass of wine at PJs, spent the night at the mall parking lot.
Sat I drove up to Sedona for a Western Gateway ramble with dry Dry Creek. I crossed it at this spot. Spring runoff moved lots of sand
Sat driving back from Sedona Jimmy and I passed each other I learned later. This is Jimmy I met back at The Hub in Brevard. We have shared camp spots in several states. I replied to his text telling him where I would be sleeping. He arrived later, he told me he had spent the previous night at this spot. Jimmy travel living vehicle is a VW Westy, he’s making it work. Live in what you drive.
Yuccas are flowering. Blossoms are open during the day, some are closed, either because they haven’t reached maturity, or have not been pollinated. Nature’s way: Blossoms open at night in anticipation of the yucca moth that pollinates. Specific relationship.
I called bike shop in Dolores to learn of conditions. Scott said Boggy Draw still has its name sake. It might be still too wet for a visit maybe later this week. Plan is fluid dependent upon van check up tomorrow. If I am able to drive away I will head back to VOC. Wed final ride in Sedona, then Thurs head for Moab. Figure if I leave in time I can do laundry in Moab.
Finished ” Nowhere for Very Long” written by a woman who embraced van life in the SW. Even life distilled can be complicated.
Read the season first trail news from Wood River Valley. Effects of winter have not melted out, just lower trails like at Croy are rideable, most as up to snow then coast back down. So far I have a mid June Bend appointment as a commitment. I will allocate time for snow free rides like Moab.
My Bend care giver sent a referral to a cardio clinic in Bend. I will start pestering them for an appointment. I wore a Holter recorder for 1 week that recorded electrical heart activity. Results were normal. Just dealing with plaque coating the inside of my heart arteries. So far none of the GPs have told me to take it easy, back off on the hard heart work. Will my condition be treated before I break my heart?
Late night. Bed time. Chilly 54 degrees at 5787′.