Indian Springs to Price to Fruita

Two nights ago at Indian Springs TH several showers fell propelled by increasing wind velocity. Drove away heading to Price just as headlights weren’t burned. County rds with dirt work farming on both sides of the road. Wheeled equipment preceded me leaving rolled on dirt that made sounds as it struck my sheet metal, road surface was sort of slippery. Length of patch was determined by last mud cast off. At a stop spot I viewed the splatters that would need car wash to remove it. Material was dirt and not feed lot manure. Hit I84 heading east across Idaho interstate driving 70mph in 80mph zones. Windy the van jiggled and I jaggled keeping between the white lines. Highway turned south into north UT then became I15 heading south. Made it thru the greater Salt Lake sprawl easily, little traffic. At southern end a break in the mountains became Hwy 6 to climb Soldier Pass then drop into Price, UT. Well, actual distance was greater than my recall. Again little traffic. Dropped into Price, mid Sunday afternoon.

Above Price is a trail system, original trail is named Luke’s because his owner walked him here and while Luke walked hither and tither he hung marking flags. The trail was bikified becoming part of later hand built trails. I learned this from the owner of Luke when he worked at only bike shop in town. Luke and I exchanged acquaintances. System is on a mesa with finger ridges with drop offs. A length of trail ran a finger hugging the drop off edge. Twisty w/ short sight lines keeps the speed down and attention focused.

on Lukes, above Price. Juniper tree cover
trails stay at this elevation, looking up north Price

Small short height rocks were norm, lots of small suspension action. I stayed at a developed TH with a CXT outhouse. These trails stimulate reflexes keeping attention focused. Location breaks up a drive.

So, concluded short story is I believe one or more of my wheels need to be balanced at Discount for lifetime paid. From Price the last store before Cottonwood, AZ is in Grand Junction, CO, east of Fruita. The vibrations irritate me. Fruita is a jog to the east on I70 which is where I am postponing Moab several days. I also wanted to visit folks at OTE bike shop. I visited with Rebecca and Dave whom I have known for many years, more so now they live here instead of Green Bay and meet somewhere on the road. History with people is important.  I planned on riding out at Mary’s today but my shoulder started louder braking such that pain told me to not beat my body. So last night I went on line and made an appointment earliest was tomorrow at 1:15 in Junction.

Daylight savings time ended during Sat-Sun night. Time zone smacked. Thurs I left OR on Pacific daylight, way east in Or I lost an hour entering Mountain time for Fri and Sat. Sunday night clocks fell back, I lost only 1 hour instead of 2. Mountain Standard.

Temperature is rising as I move south. Moved the cold temp riding clothes to the laundry bag, back wearing shorts and short sleeve jersey.

In Fruita I car washed the van and tree sprayer washed the bike.

Serendipity

Heater is working again, as a result of post title. Tech support from seller said check controller. Which I did that started the title as I disassembled the original controller that was used for original heater. I rendered that controller inoperable. I kept the controller that came with present heater but not the harness. The new controller plug did not connect to existing harness. I worked w/ tech at garage to sequence work to replace the harness and install new controller. Turned control knob to vent that blew air, switched to heat high that signaled heater to ignite which it did and turned on green led. Problem was unhappiness between the brain and the machine. Now adjusting to forced air  thermostatically regulated heat.

That was Wed. Thurs. morn I strung the cable across my driven in access to my land signifying I have left. Drove to Bend, did my wash, bought another loaf of gluten free bread.

Now, Sat morn, S of Kimberly,ID to ride Indian Springs with Steve who is driving down from Bellevue. Warmer here.

Short report, more later as typing this on my phone and need to prepare for first ride off Bend’s trails. Cows effect.

8:18 Mountain time, daylight savings ends tonight. Gain the hour I lost crossing into mountain time from Pacific.

Before Steve’s arrival at 10:43, 2 mins before his stated 10;45 plan, I set off for a preride of close piece of trail that went over exposed bedrock. I walked this piece yesterday and thinking about riding it. Terrain adjustment after months of riding pumice and under tree cover. I successfully rolled a step up and let the suspension handle the irregular rock blobs. I gained confidence. Rode without my pack which was an unnatural feeling.

Steve pulled in. We completed preride get ready. Our route at the start was traverse on Sweet and Low to Dry Gulch to climb up to Snakeskin then going down Backdoor and Switchback. We pedaled away. Good firm dirt and no cow shit.

Steve on Dry Gulch climb

Exit out of the Gulch was Snakeskin which we might have taken. Navigation problem as there is little bike traffic tread wear. I lead the first miss as we had left Snakeskin onto a very faint social trail. We back tracked till finding real Snakeskin. Crossed the road then turned down Upper Sugarloaf. Recent tracks, few riders. Steve led somewhere we missed the trail, each of us consulted digital trail location. We rode untracked pieces that others had taken other trails. We rode up, over, down, over, etc Switchback which was reality: many purpose built switchbacks.

sagebrush, cow grazing destruction, wayout here

Ride was 14.9 miles climbing 1519′ pedaling for 2 hrs 27 mins.

Steve chose to miss a time commitment which he told me that he was 1 hr 1/2 late and we were a long ways back. Brief post ride visit and he headed back up wood River Valley. I drove into Kimberly for sink water, drink water, and groceries. Local gas station attendant allowed me use of kitchen faucet. Then returned to TH for the night.

Plan is to leave here early to drive thru Salt Lake mess on Sunday with different traffic and on to Price to ride trails above town then spend the night. Monday head to N Klondike of Moab trails.

I arrived Bend area on June 12 into Ponderosa Pine forests etc. Under tree cover, short sight lines. I rode here to day in the wide open after 5 months covered up. Sagebrush is prominent vegetation that trails negotiate, tread sight line is short. I have ridden here many times over the years. Reintroduction to technical riding.

Van made a gallon of diesel last for 27 miles from Bend to Ontario, OR. Highway 20 driving.

 

 

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