The FS has embarked on creating a 30 mile trail network out at Turkey Creek area. Last week I hiked out there on existing trail then bush bashed up to a freshly built trail that I knew nothing of. SO I hiked it heading back to bottom of Transcept trail. But I did not know its end until I arrived at it. Hand built. I returned same trail. A FS person rode up to me. I asked about the trail and supported build. I spoke of pitches and pavers for rock armoring as I had watched 2 builders armoring a short ride with just smooth pavers. Pitches are narrow standing rocks interspersed with flat pavers which provide support for pavers and  acting as a traction cleat for hikers and bikers. Pavers are slick to both bike tires and hikers shoes. Over time hikers will hike off the edge of the pavers which defeats purpose of armoring.

He was doing buffing of trail. I offered and did pull pin flags on my return. Doug asked me when I was going to ride the new work. I did just that yesterday, I parked at start and rode the entire length of 3.1 miles climbing 230′ and descending 312′. Trail design is to be a fast blue rating to finish at to be developed Turkey Creek trailhead. Trail ended up on familiar trails. I added ocotillo forest loop which is monster push a bike up broken up sandstone, mostly fall line.

Years ago I learned to ride it the opposite to drag brake down the rubble and still have hike a bike pieces climbing to it. This way it’s just a push up then skillful negotiation of downhill. Many years ago I would ride from outlet mall out the road to start dirt ride then return on pavement. Why pedal when I can start right on the dirt?

I encountered the rock work right at start. Already a skid mark was on a paver. The pavers had be gargoyled to keep   hikers on slick pavers.

Friday rain fell most of daylight, wet snowflakes mixed in. Forecast didn’t call for as much fell. Sat morn while still in bed I heard the spit of rain drops on the roof. The rd out to camp spot is dirt with clay bogs intermixed. When that dirt is wetted it looses adhesion turning into slippery glop. I drove away while still dry. I hunkered down at outlet sheltered from rain.

Bill and Susan left on Sat after a ride down here and reported trails were drier than I suspected them to be.

On Sun I drove up to borrow pit spot off Dry Creek rd. The FS has been doing site preparation for parking? I rode a mix of system and social trails. I rode Aerie from N to S. From high point heading S the rocks have grown to work my bike’s suspension. Writing of bike suspension, I ride a Revel Rail, Days ago Revel said they were abruptly going out of business as they lost their $ backers, Debt. My bike is almost 4 years old. I like the suspension.  Nary another recreator. Many miles of trails spread people out.

So, I am waiting arrival of mail order pieces some to arrive next week. I will be free to roam the country again. I will start planning my mountain biking the states travel. Dolores, CO, Boggy Draw will be ist stop about a 5 hr drive.

Temps will be in 70s which can be warm when exposed to sun. Night time has been open side door until bed time, then quiet no blower noise or music. I have been firing the heater in morning before crawling out from under my covers. wearing full time summer weather shorts and shirts.

Vegetation is greening up on plants still alive. Catclaw has been leafing for a week. Desert is still dead dry. Cows have been turned loose to graze out where I sleep. Environmental destroyers.

So, I returned to using the data gathering device, affectionately (?) called Boss by Susan. This morning I checked the sleep data and saw my heart rate was in the 50s versus upper 40s signifying insufficient recovery from yesterday’s ride and prolly from the day before cumulative from days before. Friends Bill and Susan from Gunnison arrived on Sunday, they coming from snow country and younger. I shared my trail knowledge and I hiked my bike.

Yesterday was a ride out at western Gateway on a mix of system and social trails under sunny skies and a stiff breeze. Started high dropping down to Dry Creek then climbing out other side for the likes of Last Frontier etc then dropping back to creek then climb out. 12.6 miles climbing 1165′ pedaling for 2 hrs.

The day before it was the Hogs and 80 degrees. This ride was the most technical for this visit. I am familiar with the trails. Susan asked me if there were trails here that I would want to ride but not by myself. My ride choices have been ones of mostly pedaling with tech features mixed in, this ride was heavy on the tech. 14.6 mikes climbing 1280′ pedaling for 2 hrs 19 mins. Recovery time per Garmin was 38 hrs.

On Monday I was fitted with a new night guard device replacing the current 1 that is 11 years old. Afterwards we rode out from the borrow pit off Dry creek, this ride has been the shortest with them.

Sunday Ian drove Brian and me over to Prescott to meet up with Jimmy for a ride. Our starting point was the high point of the route. It was like eating desert before the broccoli on the climb back. I prefer the opposite direction. I was the slowest, the others waited at trail junctions for me. Open forest, decomposed granite tread. Jimmy’s route choice lessened the climbing back, less painful. 9.95 miles climbing 778′ pedaling for 1hr 25 mins.

The younger riders talk during the climbs, me, not so as I am way out of earshot and just struggling to make air intake drive my legs.

REVEL bikes has closed its doors just now. Lost their sugar daddy to service debt. They just introduced 2 models, 1 being an enduro ebike. Bill and Susan own Tomichi Cycles in Gunnison. Informative conversations from their shop owners’ take. Industry is shaking.

We have been camping off Beaverhead. We left camping stuff there with a note attached with hope that the stuff will still be there and the spot will be saved for us. So far dispersed camping etiquette  is respected.

Forecast 2 days ago wanted showers for today which came to be. I was laying in bed when I heard the first spits of rain on my roof. It turned to be a harbinger of the day so far. They drove away this morning for their ride while I drove into the village incase the rain wetted the clay dirt enough to make it slippery. Light rain is falling now, more than showers forecast.  I might be city camping tonight.

Temperature dropped to chilly, heater running and long sleeved shirt, still wearing shorts but a jacket. Bill and Susan’s van is for carrying their stuff and sleeping, they live outside. Rain and chilly will affect them. 40 degrees, forecast says maybe snow.

So much for catching up.

Friend Steve from Sun Valley area visited and I got to be the local guide. Steve has visited me here b4, I just know trails better that allowed me to make routes that were favorable to me that he received the benefit of. Steve is almost my age and has the same facial hair color that I do. He knocked on my door early Wed morn with snow on his jacket. Hello cold and wet. Forecast wanted showers not rain. Another layer and rain coat carried in hydration pack. First ride was Rabbit Ears going now favored clockwise direction new direction for Steve.

Thurs was drive up to W Sedona for laundry. We met up later at gravel pit for ride out here that does not have the climb out of Dry Creek, Ride was 7.02 miles climbing 525′ pedaling for exercising 1 hr 11 mins. This distance and time suited us.

Friday we rode what I call Llama route. Our infamous Llama problem is a short pedalable rock armored pitch that requires more of our bodies than we can squeeze out. I made it 2X, 1 time in front of Steve. I had been telling Steve about my new coil shock opened up the bike’s performance. He said he would buy a shock after I made the problem. I attacked the problem 3 times but failed. Steve said he will trust my word when I tell him I made it which would set him free to buy one. He rides a Revel Rascal that was a data point for Revel suspension for me and an Evil something. His rear brake loosened an air bubble that caused the brake to fail requiring bleed that he learned as he wheeled it out of his lodging. 10.5 miles climbing 856′ pedaling 1 hr 28 mins.

Sat back to Sedona to ride from Cultural park where all rides go down then finish on uphill climb. A better ride is the reverse. Roundabout start then Girdner to Dry Creek crossing on Axis that has 2 hike a bike pushes for both of us, me every time, continue climb on Bolo to Last Frontier then traversing social trails. Down Rover to continue down on Rupp the start of climb out on Girdner to final trail Stirrup. 9.2 miles climbing 846′ pedaling for 1 hr 28 mins.

Sunday, Steve’s last day, we rode Rabbit Ears again as he said he liked the ride. This time I would make sure he rides the Big Rock system trail instead of he chose a better defined social trail. Today after he rode the system piece he said he didn’t know how much he missed. We start from outlet mall pedaling 1 mile to start of dirt at crowded Bell Rock. Big Park loop to start of Rabbit Ears that climbs straight away to high point  and start of downhill. Several breath blows stops during the climb. Our bodies have aged, spring chickens left us years ago. 8.77 miles climbing 833′ pedaling for 1 hr 17 mins.

Steve and I have a coast off seeing which bike is faster. He rides a 29 and I ride  27.5 wheels. His wheels are faster because of wheel size. The 1 mile road climb gong out is all coastable after pedaling hard stopping at road intersection. He is slightly faster when I am out of his draft zone, however, drafting I’m right with him. We had a coast off back in his backyard on a dirt rode which I won because I made a faster turn. Both of our rear hubs are l9 but mine is the improved Hydra. Previously I rode the Torch same as Steve, they were noticeably louder.

Yesterday I chose to sleep out in desert where I could leave my windows uncovered. I invited Steve for dinner that he accepted. I made Captain Craig chicken dish over smashed Yukon Gold potatoes. Skillet dinner. Lip smacking god review. He brought desert of gelato. Place was crowded, most I have experienced.

Steve left this morning. I am making today a rest day. Forecast wants 80s starting Wed. Hot, full sunshine, no shade, low humidity. Dead dry. I have changed back to summer clothes after last week’s cold.

I put the new Suunto Peak instrument in the drawer replacing it with Core which is more basic and doesn’t tell me of my short comings in fitness. The Peak tells what my sleep was, it tells me if I have been sitting for 2 hours, and much more. I choose what I want to see. It records data that loads onto an app on my phone. It’s a fitness watch.

Ocotillo is leaving out after flowers at tip of trunk start to flower. Sites that are more exposed to full sunshine show the growth. Out at Dry creek area I saw flowers on manzanita bushes. Cat claw is still barren as environment signal has not started their leafing out. While bare they are easy to avoid, when leafed they blend in.

Starting on tomorrow’s ride it will be choosing how much to hurt myself.