I grew up in Ohio, graduated college in Ohio, not OSU Buckeyes. I do favor the Bucks and play with the rivalry between Ohio and the state up north. The Bucks were rated #2 Nationally against underdog UM and playing at the Horseshoe. And they got beat, again. I allowed an event I had no control over affect my mental state. I was really down when the Zags lost. I enjoyed my first Hurkin ride today, I, the physical plant, and bike played the gentle bermed turns on hero dirt. I rode during the second half of the game, I stopped maybe 3 times to view the internet. Last was the final score. Oh, well, back to pedaling.

Thursday I drove down to Moab to do laundry before Waba Sabi meal and volunteer. In the teens overnight freezing the puddles. Lower 50s inside. Clean clothes stowed away. Drove to meal site, parked, and consumed time before feeding. I felt a jolt and a bang sound coming from my van: someone hit me. I jumped out sped to back of van. A full size pickup with a topper was culprit. I banged on topper yelling to attract driver’s attention. Door opened, it was a volunteer we knew of each other. My guess is he hit a pedal which jolted the rear wheel loose breaking the Volle strap then bouncing rear wheel off wheel track, a pedal prolly caught on the box preventing the bike falling more. Guy was watching his backup video which said plenty of room. I removed bike and put front wheel in and pedaled away feeling for anything not working. Seemed OK, Man said he will make good if damaged. Parted on level keel. Today I tested the bike on a ride learning all parts worked as should with no creaks.

Yesterday I drove away from Moab. My route is to take me on highways not driven. Up to I 70 W to State highway 24 to 12 . Twisty windy, steep ups and downs repeated many times. Up high in 9,000′, snow spotted blanketing. Memorable image was a short red sand dune with wind carved ripples with a low patch of fresh white snow. Escalante. Spectacular views and heads up driving. One section was on a knife’s edge, exposure. I experience vibration coming from front wheels that I believe is out of balance wheel, other wise the van ran as it should. Route was to take me thru Zion NP using my pass for no fee, this would be shorter than going around. I committed a navigational blunder turning too early for the park, I sensed I could be wrong so I stopped at maybe Duck something. I walked into an establishment and asked a woman if road thru park is opened. She looked at me puzzled and asked which park. Then I knew I blundered. I could have saved it by continuing to Cedar City then down to Hurkin. Turned around retraced route back to 89 then south to rd to East entrance to Zion. Lots of people and traffic in the park. Then Springdale was a zoo. Next unknown debacle was driving Sheep Bridge rd, Previously the road had been kept decently graded. I soon experienced miles of washboard. Won’t drive that road again.

25 degrees at dark wake up, 53 inside this morning Sunlight cleared shading mesa warming my front seat. I watched the thermometer while listening to the first half of the Bucks game. Temp rose to 50s at half time, time to go for a ride.

I rode from sleep spot catching Goulds over to TH at start of JEM. Most number of rigs I had ever seen. Many M-bikes. Dirt was firm. Shared my ride with less than 15.

Finished ride. I needed to tear down the bottom bracket area as I believe it is sending noise signals. Warm in sunshine to work on the outdoor bike stand. I discovered a loose bolt holding the chain ring on to the spindle. I cleaned parts up then reassembled then pedaled a short distance without the skritch sound. May I have been successful.

Drove into town for resupply. Stopped at OTE which was hopping, stayed out of the way. Shock had not arrived. Back out to corral spot. 31 degrees at 9:15 at 3930′.

No pics taken.

Bed time.

Forecast several days ago called for precip starting last night continuing all day and into night. Sunshine on Wed, Waba on Thurs, leave on Fri. living around Moab is reaching its end. I figured how to consume remaining time based on weather. Yesterday was prolly last ride, find place to hunker for today, and resupply to support.

Sunday I left Klondike for town to resupply, specifically drinking water. Then drove back up canyon to the Brand M trails to ride, Chilly and windy, what sun warmth gave the wind took  away.

Brand M trails I ride have challenges most I make and the same ones I still walk. Most walked ones are because my engine lacks output. I watched a rider pedal by me on Deadman’s giving me an image of successful matching his skill and bike to trail tread which was rock bedrock. Pedaling will overcome most problems. I am fully aware of what had been down in the past is not what the old gray goose is today. All of the trail is rideable which is a compliment to the trail design. The bikes are so much more capable. Slow speed balance method. I planned a shorter ride finishing just under an hour. The wind speed lessened my enjoyment of being outside.

Tomorrow I planed on riding up at Horsethief after spending the night up there. Up there past the turn I take for previous spot a road goers off to access another spur to go up to a large flat spot. Place is full on exposed. Over the years I have stayed there and today I wanted to accept weather exposure to stay there. Darn, BLM closed off the spur up to the spot. Returned to prefered spot down the road. All alone, empty. I have stayed off this road for many visits, observation: absolutely clean. Just old fire rings. Cleanliness of dispersed camp spots has been my experience.

You just don’t get this kind of riding everywhere everyday. Yesterday would be my last ride here. I drove out to where Chisholm crosses the highway for start lessening pedal time from and back to anchor. In upper 30s when I parked facing the sun. Empty trailhead. I sat on my chair soaking up solar gain and checking raising temp of at least 40 before venturing out. During my wait several other rigs disgorged riders. Between checks the temp jumped to 52, time to get after it. Horsethief system offers many choices of route and direction and effort. Bull canyon is nearby that I haven’t ridden for several visits. It’s a descent followed by climb home. Mixed in of course are ups and downs. It’s also a bucket list trail attracting riders and being worn. I have ridden this route many times, today I chose lesser traffic trails. Again, you don’t get this kind of riding everyday.  At every intersection a map is posted showing a smiley face for your location. Trailforks shows same info. I figured my route and read the maps. At 1 intersection I misfigured which trail. I did not tune into direction and elevation drop but enjoyed the descent that would have to be regained ahead. I arrived at an intersection and map: OOPS, Wrong direction. I was presented with 2 choices: 1)  climb back to last intersection, or 2) continue down to another intersection to climb out. I chose the return knowing that what I coasted down would be muscle power up. I made what I attempted. Clouds moved in during my ride blocking solar gain. Forecast appears to becoming reality.

At ride start I pedaled maybe 50 feet when my chain broke. WTF? Cause was improperly seated magic link after I removed it yesterday. I always carry spare link in my pack which I dug out and installed and seated. My bike is sending a discontent sound under pedal load that I haven’t learned its source. I removed the chain 2 days ago to check rest of drive train, the links were not bending freely. WTF? too much Squirt gumming flex? First time this happened, too much wax, maybe it will wear away over miles? I think chain is not playing with chain ring. I do my wrenching outside, here I put off pulling parts apart because it’s more comfortable inside my van.

Towards morning I heard pisting sounds outside. Sprinkles started continuing to daylight. Yep, rain. Then changed to snow in the air and melting on ground here, up higher snow stayed longer but melted out as snow returned to rain. Hunkered down on slick rock. Nearby this morning just several rigs spent the night, I stayed and they all left. 36 degrees out at 11:10 AM at 4390′, inside 71 at the ceiling. One night of propane burn, burning about a gallon a day. Today the heater will burn all day and night

Upon occasion I consume THC while on a ride. I notice I modify my pedaling to more closely pedal all the time while applying more muscle on downstroke. Also I seem to pedal while attacking the stepups. I seem to take the same risks. I notice an insufficient recall of that ride. Short term memory loss. I have consumed prior to ride start using the influence to convince myself that I really want to do this.

Batteries appear to be loosing their ability to store energy. I have been running the engine for 30 mins at a time, today maybe more as solar is hidden.

I went searching again for a replaced for current CORE. I selected another Suunto model that was delivered to me here in Moab. Anticipation was keen with a sense of discipline as it remained boxed until I settled in at N Klondike xg. I opened the clever packaging and set to learning and setting it up. It’s main purpose is to process performance data via algorithms resulting in knowledge about your body. Plus gps, compass, and more. I go it to working so that I could muddle my way thru setup. I pushed buttons for set up. I completely missed that it was a touch screen for selections. Records sleeping data. I already record  data from bike computer and a topo app. And I only know performance when on bike. I read this To stop time, untie yourself from time. Thinking about info from new watch would couple me closer to time. I decided to return it.

A parallel idea was percolating in the conscious mind of buying a shock. Something caught my eye for Cane Creek coil shock. Returning the watch would be almost  50%, and the shock was warehouse sale price. Coil shock is more enjoyable, an enhancement in quality of ride. Today the warming sun was streaming through the windshield warming my sitting seat. I called Cane seeking info. Short answer: I ordered a Kitsuma Coil shock to be delivered at Hurkin maybe next week. Cane is near Asheville, NC. Kitsuma is a local challenging trail that I rode back in ’09. Just 1 memory comes to mind. Shock has 4 adjustment knobs to turn for suspension tuning, shock is not meant to set in the middle and forget like I have down on present shock. Measuring.

Enhancing the ride over came the quest for connecting to time allows me to know a little less.

Second night out at N Klondike XG, elevation 4692 which is 1,000′ lower than Horsethief. This morning at 6;30 it was 15 deg out and 50 inside. I had the pick of every site, I sought the one that got the longest daylight for warmth and solar charging.

It ain’t right that a rancher is permitted to graze to death the desert here and likely many other places. BLM land manager. I dispersed camp here for years and did sometimes many others before the BLM established a developed campground to corral people parking off road. Cows might have been here and maybe more moisture such that I did notice the degradation. My put is human’s caused less damage than the cows are doing. The XG is open to cows. Pay to sleep in a barn yard.

Today I let the sun heat me and the air, the temp hit 55 at ride’s end. I wore an additional upper layer and knickers. Warm up on the flat side of the valley, preparing for climbing effort ahead. I climbed Old Salty to Baby Steps 4×4 rd to Mega Steps descent to Dino and out. Mega Steps has at least 1 climb too much for my engine. Today I was setting up for a climb move but missed a rock staller stopping me abruptly tottering me to the back slope landing on my right hip, pelvis bone, no protective body padding. No feedback when I stood up so I pushed up rest of climb. Bone bruise.

Earlier I spent 2 nights on Willow Springs rd. The first day was cold, not hitting 40, and windy but sunny,  made the day rest day. Second day the temp made mid 40s and calm wind. I drove further out on the road to right at left hand turn before the soft sand filled wash. Klonzo trail system sandwiched between state trust land and Arches NP on BLM land. A 4×4 rd splits the tread type. I rode the left side climbing which is almost all hand dug dirt tread. I crossed the road to slick rock and sand patches. You don’t get this kind of riding everywhere.

Wed night in town I attended an appreciation of volunteers and staff of Moab Trails org. I wanted to be in a sea of my peers. I was acquainted with several attendees. Night in town spent in Reid’s driveway. Thurs was wash and provision for several nights out here. Which is where I am now, 9:20 PM, temp is 22 degrees. Chilly living, a second down comforter keeps me toasty.

Stepped into the galley to boil up a cup of tea.

Solar power lacks the punch when the sun is more direct and long enough to completely recharge the AGM batteries. Several days I ran the engine for 30 mins for needed boost. 2 AGM batteries, the larger is underneath the van exposed to outside temp, the smaller is underneath the passenger seat. Cold temp lessens storage power. Major demand comes from the heater.

Weak internet signal means no pics.

Enough, pleasant cup of sleep tea then snuggle under the covers.