Wetness and sunshine

Creating this at 11AM with much of the day ahead but I need to make time now to write.

Monday and Tues were wet so no riding, hung out on pavement inside with heater on. Wed I hiked up Rabbit ears from Jacks canyon TH for getting outside. As I was hiking uphill a woman mountain biker was carrying her speed towards me. Never a squeeze of either brake lever as she flew by. She did say thanks. Rant: etiquette, yes bikers are to yield to hikers, I did not assert my hierarchy. To me, all users are sharing same resource such that neither party is more privileged, I stepped off trail, she should have slowed down before me, or better yet would have stopped and asked to go by. Should I have stood my ground I would not be using all my fingers for this.

Another issue bothers me. The Forest Service has not allowed motorized travel on non motorized trails. Several of the Sedona Mountain bike patrollers ride these M bikes in violation of law. When their legs don’t go in the same direction as their lips, why should I listen to them for advice or information?

Thurs was laundry day in the rain.

Friday Doug and Leia drove down to the Village for a hike on Transcept out and back. Beautiful day. Per Trailforks the trail is 3.1 miles, it is not a linear trail as it goes in and out of several gulleys dropping from the summit mesa. I rode / scrambled myself and bike years ago when it was a social trail, it has since been adopted into trail system. No way would I accompany my bike on this trail.  As we were hiking back 2 mountain bikers were wrestling their bikes towards us climbing up a particularly nasty face. I wondered why someone would be riding this? A touron that read about it and was learning how hard / nasty it was? No it was 2 locals who know what it’s about. Duh.

Zags played Turs night but just espn+ that PJs doesn’t get, and XM played it on a station I do not receive. Watched on espn word version.

Sat Ian invited me for a Black Canyon segment ride for Copper Mtn cherry stem route. Trail here is full on exposed to sun so best to ride before season heat.

Trail tread is broken chunks of sharp edged hard rock. My rear tire hooks up on the edges as the rock seems to move to lock onto others for traction climbing. Descending I am not as comfortable as same type of rocks move when I corner. Ian smokes it all. We rode it counter clockwise as it climbs better and descends better also. 14.6 miles climbing 1503′ pedaling for 2 hrs 8 mins. I was worked.

Back in daylight to sleep out at Beaverhead. On the drive in a rig had parked on the established preferred track that my van needed. I stopped and waited for what I hoped the driver, if behind the wheel, would move. No. I got out and started walking to the rig, before I got there the driver moved out of the way. I continued to the spot I wanted. Shortly the driver, a woman, walked up to me and started a blabber conversation, I had interest to remain as far away from her as I could. She parked about 50′ away which is too close to my liking when she had lots of distance to chose from. Later she drove several more feet to almost block the preferred rut out. I drove out at 8  AM to squeeze by her. She had something up her sleeve to park to partially block access.

So today at present is sunny, 57 degrees with noticeable wind velocity. Doug is leading me on a ride shortly.

This morning my resting pulse was 51 beats per minute with 99% O2 saturation. But moderately high blood pressure.