Yesterday spit rain enough for regular speed windshield wipers while on I-15 to ST George & back. Late in afternoon up in Hurricane the temp dropped both because of time of day and 600′ higher. I am staying @ Jem TH @ 4200′. Late yesterday afternoon when I drove out to camp it was snowing big wet snow flakes. Rain was mixed in. My ventilation fan in the ceiling leaked for the first time since 10/26/08 when it was roofer sealed by old school buddy S (that’s his nickname from school days). Leak ceased when snow only fell. Sky lightens almost 7:30. Saw pristine dry snow all around. Mountain sides were dressed in white hiding the reds & yellows of desert.

I walked out to the highway to learn of its condition to drop into town. Hwy drops down a steep wash on no shoulder cranking turns hardtop. I did  not want to negotiate the downhill unless conditions were in my favor. Before i reached the hwy an suv drove in. I now had a track to the cleared hwy. I decided that I needed to go into town to at least buy propane that I figured I needed to fill up on Wed.

I now have a solar panel to charge the rig battery for sound system usuage. I still hold my breath when I turn the key after even just 1 late day, night, & early morn radio usuage. I beleive I drained the battery after 2 days of flat out sticking in the van listening to sound draining the battery. The radio was played so long because I was healing & not leaving the van. The solar panel gives me comfort that I putting power back. I wonder if I am keeping energy up.

Question to my readers ( read Les). Under ideal conditions the charger puts out 5 watts per hour. The van stereo does not state it’s power requirement.  How many hours of 5 watts per hour will I need to make up for stereo consumption?

Drove out using the suv tracks. No funny business to check out traction. I figured if I didn’t make the hard road I could be stuck until snow melts & road dried out. Hwy was bare, wet, & dry making wash drop safe.

Bought propane, 5.3 gals; 5.8 is max. I would have run out before dinner if I would have stayed @ Jem waiting out drivable dirt road.

Today i hung out @ bike shop and later the city library, no Cosmopolitan mag. Tonight I plan on dirtbagging here in town. Forecast temp is 9 deg. Jem would be colder w/ slippery condition.

Hurricane is just outside the wrath of this strong winter storm. Hurricane got about an inch of snow. New Harmony near Cedar City about 40 miles north got 19. Route to Flag is affected by this storm.

Church Rocks is outside of Hurricane along I-15 is a good ride when wet as it binds the sand together. Tomorrow could be primo condition. I plan on sampling.

Using OTE wireless @ 230 megs vs my card @ 56 ks. Pictures still take time, almost the same annoying slowness.

2 days of mtn bike riding on desert road system going between hwy 59 (upper JEM th) & rt 9 (Virgin). Yesterday I rode to just short of Virgin river and back. heart rate was way high that I attributed to dry skin not making wet contact w/ hr pick up. Today i rode same route but rode thru development, out onto hwy 9 down to Sheep bridge, and then back up to upper JEM. Rode a bit of single track in there. I must remain on my bike. The ST I am riding is comfortable to me and predictable. I am under control as the trail lacks expert technical hardness. Heart rate is still way high, combination of healing, bp lowering med, & being out of shape. My chest wasn’t exploding or pounding even w/ high hr. Enjoyed a cold ride. Temp @12:30 completion was 35 deg. AT 7:45 AM it was 14 degs.

Yesterday’s ride was down same road a bit more gently. Dropped work effort to low on steep climbs.

Just been hanging @ OTE and getting some per fixes satiated by dog, Eddy, & 2 cats.

No more mice.

Tomorrow I will ride the 20 mile Hurricane loop.

Have new Suunto Core to replace the former Vector that i cracked the crystal on when I fell. More programming to learn. Spent early evening learning the workings.

Met a new health care provider this afternoon. I presented my case and issues and he told me that my chest pain is from rib injury and someday the pain will go away. I should start taking ibu now as my kidney can tolerate it and my pain will go away. He said the big concern is still falling. I can increase my activity level. Shop for doctors to get what i want to hear. No, really, the drs have been consistent. I have gone running to one anytime I feel some pain that i don’t understand.

So tomorrow another easy ride out Sheepsbridge road. Keep hr down & smooth out the bumps.

Watched the GU WSU game on internet tonight. ( Thanks Tom) A dog & cat fight w/ GU finding the where with all to come from 15 down to win by 5. Impressive win. Dickau made the game & was interviewed. Ya got to know Zag basketball to understand.

Had fun getting my propane system fixed today. Working w/ local people that have history and friendship with other local people and me getting involved was fun. So far I have enjoyed my stay here.

New blood pressure med, not the big beta blocker killer, that will not compete w/ my exercise.

Insurance company is contesting the hospital claims by asking for more info. They believe my injury is from an accident, which it was.

Weather is still favorable w/ dry, clear skies, temp in upper 50s & lows a bit below freezing. However the wind makes itself felt. i have been parked in town and the van has been rocking sideways.

I will be here at least until Tues. AM. I am thinking. Subject to change.

Addendum:

2 days ago after dinner I learned that i had a companion aboard. I was sitting @ my table when a mouse scampered up onto the dresser. How did it get in? No idea. The mouse crept up to my computer. How to get it to leave? I put a piece of cheese on the table w/in arms reach and put on a long fingered riding glove on my right hand and all but cupped the cheese. The mouse returned after awhile. I closed my fist but the mouse was quicker and escaped. It didn’t return. It was climbing around behind the bed pedestal where I could not reach it. I accepted the fact that the darn thing would be scurrying around all night. Next day it would be all out effort w/ a trap. I put the bed down, crawled in, and started reading while hearing the nails scratch on metal 7 wood. It figured how to get out: right where I was sitting. Several times it crawled on my bed. I flicked the bedding causing it to catapult into the air and then run away. I blocked it’s scurrying out of my mind for a fitful sleep. Yesterday @ the local ACE I scored the savage spring trap made in Lititz, PA, next town to Manheim where I used to live. I baited it w/ peanutbutter and set it out during the day. No mouse activity, maybe it left. I watched the Zag game last night w/ the 2 traps set on the pedestal. Sometime during the game the mouse returned and the trap did it’s work. Mouse gone. I drove out to camp spot. I crawled into bed for reading. Darn, a mouse appeared. A peanutbutter baited trap was on the dresser. I watched the mouse sit on the trap and eat the peanutbutter off the release. I kept flinching my eyes waiting for the snap and splat. The mouse scored. I got up & rebaited the trap w/ more peanutbutter. Mouse returned and again feasted on the bait. No snap. Finally the mouse triggered the release which caught a rear leg. It crawled away w/ the leg trapped trying to get behind the bed. I grabbed the trap w/ mouse, opened the door, and released it outside. I wonder if I have an outside opening somewhere that allows mice to get in.  Or, did they jump in when the door was opened and I didn’t notice? I hope the later.