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.