Yesterday I rode from the corral spot out the road then up Dead Ringer to JEM TH where about 5 rigs were parked, one was occupied by an older couple in hiking boots. Hmm, Seems I need to refine my definition of older. Crossed the empty highway onto Goulds then the spin around the mesa reconnecting to Goulds back to corral. Wonderful condition day:
OK, slight chill that was abated by sufficient protection. 10.5 miles pedaling for 1 hr 22 mins. All alone.
Solitude for me is an outcome of my lifestyle as I live out of town and ride out of town trails by myself. I seek aloneness. Curmudgeon, ornery old man. I eschew crowds of more than 5 people. I hear or read people saying that they seek out of doors activity because they live around lots of people and civilization. They escape to the outdoors then return to civilization. Me, I live and play out in the outdoors and only join humanity for provisions and social interaction. The desert above Hurkin is spacious and no night people. Contrast to next stop Sedona that the trails are on US public lands but up against private land. Hard to separate from the mass.
Two large glasses of wine introduced into my body as I am emptying the box wine, what (?) a box. Spell check fixes the spelling, no check on the thoughts.
Wide open desert and naked geology here.
Tonight I am staying nearby.
I finished my last book creating need for next book. I googled book reviews and picked 3. Short story today I called local big box book seller who said she had those 3 in her hand for my pick up down in St George. And today was 33% savings on hardcovers on those books. Drove down to ST George to pick up books. Reason to sleep out at Santa Clara staging for a ride here tomorrow.
I stayed at the corral for 3 nights and days. I relied on 1 solar panel to capture sufficient energy to charge my camper batteries. This summer a new controller was installed which is bluetooth for me to see the batteries capacity. one night I neglected to read the charge wishing enough juice to power the heater and fridge. I woke chilly and the heater flashing red LEDs. I cleared the fault and the heater lit for few seconds then quit and flashed codes. The fridge joined in with its fault code. I surmised no electric, solution was to start the cold diesel and allow to run for 30 mins. Fridge restarted telling me low voltage. I left to propex off as the blower sucks energy. Outside temp is in 20s, inside maybe low fifties. Back up is cat heater that I commanded to send warmth. Only the pilot light would light but not open the valve for heat. I applied percussive persuasion to no avail, valve would not open. I shock out my down sleeping bag and covered my bed with it. I gave the heater another go, this time the valve opened and I set it on high. Doesn’t use electricity. The forced hot air heater produces more enjoyable heat. In the morning I checked battery voltage that was sufficient, Batteries seem to take charge so they are not toast. The next 2 nights the batteries remained strong meet the needs of full time consumption of fridge and maker of heated air.
I mix the tech trail pieces with more pedaling pieces for rides, 1 ride pedal, next a bit more upper body effort. The Hurricane Cliffs trails offer that mix.
Tomorrow is the chunk of Santa Clara trails of Barrel Roll.
Next stop is Sedona. On the way there I plan on riding the trails outside of Kanab that I passed on my way here. OTE guy told me of new trails outside Page similar to Church Rocks fossilized sand dunes that I will ride. Two new to me trails. Then Sedona for New Years.