Sunday I set out for prolly my last ride here. 2.34 miles into the ride the front axle let go, its threads tripped out. I tightened it but just as it got to snug it spun free. Curses. I was on Aerie just after the bermed corner. I was just short of descent over numerous rocks. I would have had to walk up that. Drove to Thunder Mountain to buy replacement. By then temp was in 80s making too warm to ride. Mechanical attachment shoes  don’t walk as well.

Yesterday was the final closing of my defective vein. Today’s method was 4 injections of glue in the vein below my knee. Now I am recovering to ride on Sat. So, perhaps another ride before leaving.

Been riding by myself and making trail choices. I know the trails, how I put them together is my choice but I ask myself what Doug would have chosen? So imprinted in my memory of all our rides together. Only by leaving here and riding there will I overcome what would Doug do?

Old time friends Les and Gloria are down here doing their thing. We worked together at Spokane Boeing plant back in the day. Meeting them for dinner this evening.

I checked my spreadsheet for what years I have spent in Sedona: Every year for 16 years. You only know change if you have seen it before. Tourist traffic has picked up over my first visit. Used to park on Dry Creek rd right where social trail Chuck Wagon crossed the road. Currently the land manager has closed off shoulder parking but the crowds keeping coming to park for Devil’s Bridge feature that I have never visited. The city is providing shuttle buses to hiking trail heads from larger remote parking lots.

I carry a camera with me yet I seldom take pics as I have lived this place for so long I have seen it all many times. SO, no pics here.

Dentist tooth repair shortly for a front tooth.

Need to leave for above.

Recovery from vein gluing is little stress to body, meaning like 30 mins of walking a day. Not sure if that is max or min. Reading of info said I could go back to normal activity. Dunno. So I errored on cautious side to limit walking to under an hour. On Sat I felt that I could do an easy ride. I drove out Dry Creek road to bottom of Canyon of Fools for less hilly ride. My leg sent no pain signals prior to pedaling. Route kept me off significant climbs. My leg started barking part way into my ride. Such a beautiful day. I disciplined myself for shortness and ease. Ride was 5,55 miles gaining 417′ pedaling for 52 mins. There is now pain in my leg which limits leg movement. I do not know if I adversely affected the sealing of the vein. Purpose of sealing vein was for body to redirect the returning blood to another vein. I will call clinic of Mon to gain info. I walked 30 mins today experiencing less pain.

Spending nights out off Beaverhead rd now populated by many beef cows grazing eating their choice vegetation then leaving behind the left overs plus pounded earth from their hoofs. USFS land of many abuses benefitting the few while paid for by the rest of us. Environmental destruction. The FS has closed off roads that don’t benefit the rancher.

Unintended consequences: The FS put up road closed carsonite posts on a mapped road out off Beaverhead. The dirt track that is unmapped accesses dispersed camp spots. Those few camp spots are litter free. Off the closed piece people are dumping wood waste and people litter. Seems regulation followers go where not prohibited and clean up after themselves where as the noncompliant people are using the restricted area for dumping. Seems by closing off access opens it up for dumpers. I believe that if road were open law abiders would use it and their presence would deter the dumpers from littering.

Sunshine with little shade. Getting warmer. Weak internet signal out Beaverhead that stifles data acquisition and transmission. I drive back to VOC for signal and whatever groceries, water, or propane I need. I will be returning to Beaverhead shortly. Presently I am reading The Goldfinch, 2014 winner of Pulitzer. Massive tome, small print, many words on its 771 pages, I’m on page 631. I park the van to create shade and wind block for outside sitting. Bike riding consumes chunk of day that is being filled with no activity. It’s too nice to be outside. Some days I visit Absolute bike shop for human interaction and maintaining social and verbal skills. No local bookstore.

The van has been inconstantly sending not happy sounds like turbo. I discussed symptoms with repair shop here that have worked on it. I was told to bring it by for their trouble shooting. The van needs to be acting up for them to figure problem. I drove there on Friday but the van behaved and has since. Been going on for since transmission replacement 2 years ago. I stay on top of van’s health. This condition puts me on pins and needles of uncertainty. 304,000 miles, almost 18 years old.

First step to correct venous insufficiency was completed yesterday up at Flag. Back in March ultrasound of my left leg discovered several valves in superficial vein where not working per print. Solution was to glue shut the vein to cause the body to renetwork returning blood to a properly functioning system of back flow valves. I accepted solution with reservation on fixing date being later than I wanted to be here enjoying Sedona red rock riding. Wow! The clinic scheduled me for yesterday and 2 weeks later for other vein treatments. Procedure performed by a local injection of lydocane in left leg at point of insertion of catheter then inserted way up the vein to junction with next plumbing located using ultrasound. Hose was withdrawn stopping to squirt a drop of super glue several places then removed. The inserting hardware is much larger than regular IV. Wound is bandaged. I changed from hospital gown to my clothes and walked out. Now begins this stage of recovery of easy usage, maybe Sat ride. Time is required for body to reconfigure plumbing and the glued spots to become blocking scar. Today i am noticing like a tight feeling in the leg, seems like a muscle restriction that seems to affect my curb walking balance. The next procedure requires more recovery time.

SO, yesterday completed 5 straight days of riding here in Sedona. Tues afternoon I was parked out in desert when a Sprinter stopped behind. I saw that was friend Bill from Gunnison. In past years he has visited here with me, I thought time for his visit had passed. I was pleasantly surprised. Wife Susan was along even better. They left snow and skiing for early season riding. We shared campsite and for the next 5 days of riding. I performed Doug’s role of route planning and leading. Both had ridden here over the years, Bill more so. They are 20+ years younger than me, I was unable to match their speed and ride time. I lead from the back. Good dose of system and social trails.

There were 2 rides here that I had ridden before, several solo. I put off riding them because? Complicated. I was unsure of my performance both endurance and proficiency. Then I told myself it was about riding alone because safety is another person along. Bill and Susan brought safety, now I looked deeper inward. I completed both of the rides unscathed. I walked about the same features and steepness.

First break through ride was Hogs on Friday. Weather here hasn’t settled into early summer, forecast for today was overcast, and strong winds, and chilly showers later. Windy it was. Bill and Susan’s skills were what I watched. Bill is accomplished. 15.3 miles climbing 1526′, pedaling for 2 hrs 34 mins. Average beats per minute was 111. I rode all in one gear: 30T oval chain ring and 34T on cassette. This gear seems to need fewer beats per minute. Windy at Chicken Point.

Second ride was Catwalk on Sunday. Several miles of basalt riding on shoulder of Scheurman. First part was climbing much I pushed my bike while they pedaled. I am suspicious of my proficiency contributing to aging psyche. Perhaps I challenge myself less. Walking is easier than grunting a steep climb. 14.4 miles climbing 1647′, pedaling for 2 hrs 16 mins, average bpm was 113. Again using same gear. Climbed Old Post, descended Carroll canyon, climbed Old Post then finished on Skywalker. I was tuckered.

On Saturday we started from bottom of Canyon of Fools heading out to ride Mescal. Chuck Wagon was plugged with hikers until junction with Devil’s Bridge. Mescal itself was not crowded. As I encounter way more hikers than bikers.

Beautiful day after chilly and windy ride the day before.

Sunday they headed back to Gunnison. Bid a wonderful adieu.

On easter I needed propane up at Ace in Sedona. I planned on riding up there afterwards. Store was closed. WTF? Plan B was tractor supply in Cottonwood. Drove down to store. Attendant attached me to their tank and hit the flow lever, except the connection was not tight allowing gas escaping. No go, no fill. Plan C was driving more to other store. On the way there I remembered a gas station had a propane tank. I stopped, yes they would pump, and yes I filled up. Forecast was calling for showers. Dead Horse was nearby. I was told those trails dried out quickly. I geared up to learn  myself that veracity. Sedona trails would have been too wet to ride. Short story happened at the land ownership change from state to federal an elevation band of clay like dirt was layered down. A group of people were performing trail work, the dirt held their muddy foot prints. Swell, not so firm. Hope springs eternal from the human breast, perseverance in hope conditions improve. Hope was rewarded as I climbed above the mud to ride on firm tread. Weather forecast was iffy and was threatening. I arrived at decision intersection to add about 5 miles loop on dirt that might be suspect. Enough was enough as I chose the descent back home. Down low I encountered that same elevation band that stuck to my tires leaving just the knob tips mudless.

Sitting here inside van parked at outlet mall. Windows are covered for privacy. Van temp is comfortable but rising from solar gain. Preference here is to be incognito, don’t live outside. Attraction is strong internet. Last night I walked over to PJs to watch the championship game. City camping noises. Forecast is for dry for desert living, temp will permit shorts and maybe suntanning.

Creative juices have been spent.

This year the cacophony of mate seeking male cicadas from the 13 year cycle and the infamous 17  year brood will coincide in parts of the eastern US.