Lesson in life learned in first grade. Classroom had a restroom. To use it you would raise your hand, the teacher would call on you and ask you what’s up. ” Can I go to the restroom”? No, you can not she would reply as I am sure you are able, you must ask permission then you can go. Having the ability meets permission. I think this explains my riding funk. My brain makes promises based on my ability to ride but body controls permission to ride. My body’s vote share has been increasing such that rides are becoming shorter and more risk adverse. I don’t have to ride every day.

Yesterday I drove down to Santa Clara to ride Barrel Roll. Parked at bottom, first pedal stroke was uphill. Catch trail to BLM trailhead. Today I backed off on effort and discomfort as I stopped for several blows where last year I rode non stop. Rode Precipice which in places hangs on edge hence the name. Many rock features to surmount. I have been gaining confidence in the bike and my ability to keep both it and my body under control. I learned an exercise to strengthen hips that I have been doing almost daily for several years which has added climbing strength such that I was able to motor up and over most of the problems on Precipice. Picked up Barrel Roll which has more features strung together that ability and permission were in accord for me to walk. Attention focused. Demanding short ride.

Monday was chiro foot treatment, issue is / are several bones in my foot don’t move per drawing. DR treatment helped but did not break those bones loose. He suggested rolling a golf ball under my foot, size of ball puts pressure in the joint versus larger ball I was using that just bridges joint, Like riding a 26″ vs a 29ner. Still not proper movement. Walking is still uncomfortable.

Spent last 2 nights down at Quail Creek spot at 2,700′, even lower than town of Hurkin and warmer. Warm enough for the heater to  shut off when set temp is reached. First night I woke sweated up under single down blanket layer. When heater shuts down the blower stops eliminating its noise. Quiet. I await the heater igniting which it does now all the time. I have memories of ignition problems of the past that raise concern on igniting.

66 degrees at 2:17PM. Hot. No ride today. two trail systems can be ridden from anchor spot at Quail, both are more demanding than permission given. Difficulty is both technical and exertion. I don’t need to ride even the lesser difficult trail.

I queried ANGI for house builder, 2 have called me so far. I have a well estimate. I am working to commitment to have house built this summer.

Forecast starting Fri is for greater probability of precip. But so does Sedona.  An ordered book is scheduled to arrive on the 27th so I remain here for its arrival.

Weather conditions here in Hurkin have been low 40s to 60s. And no recent precip. I wanted to ride trails S of Cedar City which sits at almost 6,000′ which about 3,000′ higher than Hurkin. I watched their forecast that called for temps in 50s towards the weekend. I figured that trails would be free of any snow. Enough for me to drive up there yesterday driving htrough La Verkin and Torquerville then on to I 15 N which right off the exchange had a 3rd  lane for slow rigs. Big climb on interstate. Followed google maps directions to trailhead and Pyramid Ridge campground on BLM land.

I am repeating a previous visit. First off the sign at campground read camping by reservation only, not the previous way of paper work. I can write a check faster than navigating the recreation web page. I see benefit of electronic reservations showing campground choices and reserving chosen site. This site displayed every campsite and its status. I sought a level site that I could point nose into morning sun. The site I wanted did not show but nobody showed up. Leveling blocks established level per air bubble.

Chilly 40s, not 50sasforecast. I picked up trail from back of van, not the TH. Intention was to ride Turnpike, a N / S traversing trail to its northern end to climb up Lichen It to descending high point along ridge to drop back down to short piece of Turnpike, same as previous ride. This time I rode over scattered patches of refrozen snow holding bike tracks. I did a traction check learning that tire might hold. I chose lines that maximized balance. I was worked. Tread was firm.

As I rode I started seeing more snow where I believed I would be riding. At the N end I saw a BLM sign to effect don’t ride trails from 12/1 to a spring date I didn’t note. Me riding a closed trail isn’t my way. Signed trails that is. More snow and sign solidified decision to return same way. I checked out TH and saw the standalone posted same sign. Maybe 10 other people walked or biked the trail. I paid for the site before learning the above. I paid for the site so I spent then night.

Morning temp outside was low 20s, inside low 50s. I checked the sink water temp which was in 40s. Heater is a heat exchanger that can only put so many BTUs into circulating inside air and runs all night. My doubled over summer weight down blanket has been loosing loft, esp at my feet. Sewn thru baffling is meant to keep down located. The body perspires to keep skin moist, that moisture moved into blanket dampening the down. I needed warm feet. Back in Hurkin I ran the blanket in laundromat dryer for 45 mins on low heat. Restored loft is lacking. Plan B was to buy replacement. Googled same maker, sale price, always spend $ to save $.

Back in Bend I hiked up Pistol butte. My left foot clicked, bone movements, that previously would return to proper alignment. This hike no return movement leaving me with chronic pain in that foot. In Moab I sought PT as trying soft tissue correction first. One visit gave me several stretches that I performed as prescribed. Some reduction but still pain with every step. Another PT session here in Hurkin working soft tissue. Therapist worked the foot creating several pops indicating joint movement. Much better. I called a local chiro where I am an established patient, he works on feet. I’m down for a Mon morn foot adjustment hoping for eliminating the pain. I choose not even to hike, just walk as required.

So, I’m anchored here until all shipped items are picked up then until trail conditions deteriorate. 75 degrees, sunny, no wind. Temp at van ceiling is 86 with door open. It’s 3:19PM, sundown is 5:17. Soon solar warmth diminishes and air turns chilly like right now. Going to shut slider door to capture warmth.

Thurs I rode a rocky part of Rim trail. I relish the suspension with my pedaling hooking up the rear wheel for traction and forward motion. And properly placed pedal strokes.

Bikes data:

Bike                                             first ride date             last ride date            # of rides            Mileage

Turner 5Spot                               3/2014                              4/16                          192                   2366

Turner RFX                                 3/16                                5/21                            1151                 16,113

Revel Rail                                     6/21                                not yet                       491                    6339

That’s per Garmin data reporting.

Use it until it no longer works then seek repair. Today was my long anticipated and dreaded ortho appointment here in ST George. At the office X-Rays were taken of different poses that the examining  professional read and interpreted to me. I have useful range of motion and a gap exits between the ball and socket of my shoulder which indicates presence of cartilage. Told that as long as it works, don’t mess. He said damage has been done and I am not hurting the joint all things considered. He gave me handout for shoulder health as in strengthening and stretching that I will get after. This result contrasted  with Bend DR who just checked arm strength and not the X-ray views the ST George clinic did. I am choosing this result that does not require a 6 month recovery period and I a able to live with present condition. Lighter spirits now.

So, after last post I rode 3 straight days. Today finishes a rest day. Friday and Sat I rode the Hurricane Cliffs area and Sunday rode long Prospector and Church Rocks loop. Saturday was 20.3 miles. The Hurricane Cliffs trails present length and difficulty choices, I kept lengthening this ride when choice presented itself. Pedaled for 2 hrs 45 mins with no body pains. Sunday, another excellent weather condition day I was back on same trails linked differently or additional ones,

Sunday I rode Prospector from N end from Leeds out then a loop around Church Rocks and returned same way.  Prospector is a popular trail for horses as seen by 2 developed horse trailheads. The  N part becomes gooey once wet, and from the intersection with the side trail from the second TH the tread is sand mixed in with rock and is a good to ride when the cliffs are wet. I wanted a pedal day by riding from N end. 15.5 miles pedaling for 2 hrs 9 mins. Again body cooperated.

I rode here today because I wanted to versus it being the only choice.

Chilly nights that heat loss from the van is greater than the heat out put of now performing heater. Like low 50s at sliding out of bed time. I have been parking the nose of the van to catch morning solar gain. I have been shaded by geographical features that delay the desired warmth. I bundle up in the morning, even wearing sheepskin booties until the sun warmth heats me up then I remove layers. Life in my van.

More aches and damaged body parts to deal with. Using the time here for their attention.

Planning on driving up to Cedar City tomorrow for 2 days of riding returning for Thurs PT treatment on my left foot that sends pain signal each time weight is placed on it. Body damage.

So I can’t lick them I will belittle the rider. Mbikes are motorized, riders on them are lazy by letting machine do the hard work. I call them LM for Lazy Motor. I have been seeing these riders not being the sales pitch of older or with disabilities riders. I watched 4 riders “pedal” up Dead Ringer creating a dust plume. I am waiting for deluge of motorized gravel bikes. People will spend money to reduce or eliminate effort to recreate.

On that note the to be warmed bed is calling.