Location: N Klondike BLM paid XG, senior fee $11 / night. Share with range cows, bouquet of cow shit. Some feeding on previously eaten back shrubs that have stout pointed stickers. Public lands abused by a few but paid for by all.
Tues shop in Prescott examined my van, their evaluation is the fan clutch engages when not required but is just an annoyance, said better to have it engaging instead of frozen and an overheated engine. Low priority for replacement. Thing engages seems willy nilly and stays on. Engine temp has behaved. Drove back to Sedona. stayed out at MP4 with Jimmy.
Wed back to VOC. Last adjustment by DR Dave who has done a good job of putting bones in their place which has mostly eliminated my head ache.
One last ride, another success of Llama ramp.
My chest area in places says it hurts. Concern is heart is not happy from calcification of arteries. Because I lack knowledge I have been bidding the devil before I meet him. I would be leaving Sedona area and the medical community shortly and I needed evaluation before leaving. Wed after my ride I drove down to Cottonwood hospital ER. I walked in seeing a packed waiting room. Oh well, I need to wait my turn. I spent maybe 4 hours reading Gone Girl. Triage EKG and blood draw then return to the holding pen. About 1 AM I was walked back to a room. DR Shank (yes) was attending. No cardio knowledge passed other than giving symptoms of a heart attack, His determination was sore chest wall muscles. released back to the undiagnosed living. Drove back to VOC outlet mall. During drive 3 of the braking system warning lights lit up. Next opportunity to have something fixed. No dinner, in bed at 2 AM.
Thurs morn figuring actions. Had planned on driving to Moab, do my wash, drive up and ride Rodeo, and find a spot for the night. Happy path. Called Prescott shop for appraisal. Brakes still work, just not all the ABS performance. Van good to go. On the road to Sedona laundromat. During the cleaning cycle I decided I could still make Moab for last event. Wind velocity contacting my van at whatever direction made for a fully engaged drive. Winds were from aft of beam helped with fuel burn I suspect, at least no head wind. Stopped at GearHead for filtered water and across the street to City Market for 2 days of groceries. Darkness falling. Drove N out and up from town towards Horsethief area. I drove to the high place I like but it was occupied by an absent owner. Plan B spot next to it was plugged as was the last one on the ridge. Shit. I jammed the van onto a small flat spot across the dirt track from the big camper. I encroached. The guy did not engage me.
Friday’s ride was of Rodeo accessed down an OHV path passing numerous camp spots, just several were occupied. I figure on relocating here for the night. Over the years I had stayed here. Last night I feared no openings. During the ride a loud clunking started. Back at the van I checked what I have knowledge of finding everything was good. Next thought is a pivot or bottom bracket problem needing more experienced resolution. Hasty drive to Double Down, the local revel shop. Monte, owner, listened to me tell of my knowledge. He reached down and disengaged the derailleur clutch then stepped on a pedal: no clunk. He explained that the clutch needed lube, I squirted Triflow and later Boeshield. Noise went away. Said clutch is failing and lube might be short term solution, In any case I still have $ in the bank. More water and additional groceries then headed back to Horsethief out to dispersed sights, parked in plan B spot. Other traffic drove in during the day but never filled all spots.
Sat I rode a piece of Rodeo to get to Chisholm trail. I encountered maybe 10 people on various mtn bikes, maybe an illegal ebike, people not mountain bikers, no helmets, gym shorts, running shoes, etc and riding opposite traffic. WTF? I saw where their tracks hit Rodeo in full view of a do not enter posted sign. People showed contempt. 13.6 miles climbing 1158′ pedaling for 2 hr 3 mins. Heart average was 116 beats while not seizing.
Warm enough during the night to not desire heater until just before slipping out from under my single layer summer weight down blanket.
Sunday scratch pancakes, forgot to put in the melted butter. Butter makes everything better tasting. Today plan was for ride, drive back to town for water and food, then head to N Klondike BLM XG. I like riding Chisholm trail out and back from Horsethief. Trail rides exciting well in both directions plus it makes for a shorter ride. I drove out to TH at trail crossing on Horsethief road sparing the 3 mile out and back from where I slept and I was driving to town anyway.
Mock orange plants are emitting fragrance for a base odor.
Desert is dry. little splash of spring blooms. Hedgehogs are few. Out at N Klondike the state flower, Sago Lily, are abundant.
Sunday resupplied back in town then turned back heading to N Klondike and hope of scoring an open site. Two years ago the BLM established a paid campground and closed off any formerly primitive spots. I feared judging from full Horsethief XG that this XG would be filled. It’s a 2 mile washboard road drive to XG. To my surprise many spots were open. I picked site #1 at entrance as it had distance to next site. Score. Full on sun. Presently van thermometer reads 80 degrees.
Joy of riding from camp awaited me. .6 mile pedal to TH and start of Dino. You don’t visit Moab to ride dirt trails. Moab is about slick rock. Comfort is full suspension bike. Trails here are more tech and more climbing than Horsethief. Land slopes upward to the north. Dino and EKG traverse sidehill. Other trails leave heading up hill to top[ of ridge connecting with trails. I climbed Little Salty which gets after it. Took several blow breaks.
Settling: what causes one to eschew effort in favor of stasis? Yes, my body is age affected. But what is my brain doing? Are the drive impulses fading allowing walking instead of struggling for more distance pedaling? Back at my leaving friends in the Puget Sound for Spokane going away gathering I was given a wooden rocking chair. I was just 40, why do I need a retirement chair. They told me I would have plenty of time to break it in. The chair made it to my Spokane homes. Presently it is stored in my former neighbor’s barn. I have yet to start its break in. Pulse rate at wake up is in upper 40s, I have no body fat, body parts hurt before, during, and after riding. Albeit none smarting enough for me to settle.
Scored cardiologist appointment in Bend, July 20. I accept that my arteries are clogged and that someday either one becomes fully blocked or a piece of plaque breaks free and plugs an artery. Or maybe blood will continue to supply the heart allowing me to continue my life style and make it work hard forever. The GPs defer to cardio DR for treatment. That knowledge is waiting for the appointment 66 days into the future.
Tomorrow another ride from camp then drive back to town for several nights of city camping at Reid’s.
My med script needs to be refilled on May 24 at Walgreens in Fruita. 9 more Moab days. Receiving Wood River trail reports telling of snow coverage and high run offs. I have a dentist appointment in Bend on June 13th. Allocate days till then.