Today is first day of “kicking” the pain meds and experiencing unfettered my healing and the pain I subject myself to. The floor I’m sleeping on is a bit firmer than my bed. I continue to limit my physical efforts following dr’s orders. I am sleeping in a $10.00 Wal Mart 40 degree bag. I searched the Yellow Pages for a camping supply house and found just a backpacking shop and I already had that type of sleeping bag. The highway leading from Hurricane to I-15 is paved 4 lane, a prime Wal Mart location. End of justification.

I am camped @ upper TH of JEM trail outside of Hurricane. Parking lot sits a bit back off the road and is secluded w/ a great view of sunset that takes a long time to play out. 4200′. Temp during hot day is low 70s, nighttime is flirting w/ 40 degrees. Treeless. I am on the trail system. Sometimes riders might stop & engaged me in conversation. Almost everyone studies the back of the van as they go by.

Today i spent 4 hours creating a photo album of Utah rides. If you want to view it send me a comment and I will invite you to view. Uploading pics takes time from wireless. Time I have a bunch of presently.

Thing about this desert area is everything is layered in the sandstone formations.

3 days w/o a shower. Yesterday i drove round trip 40 miles to Springdale to bike shop for $5.00 shower. Several days ago I checked out Sand Hollow SP. Showers are $2.00 but an entrance fee is required. I could pay $4.00 and walk about 1/2 mile to shower, drive in for $10.00, primitive camp for $13, or full up site for I didn’t ask. Park is closer to town. Perhaps in several days when I might accept company I will primitive camp there for the $2.0 shower.

Today I walked very carefully about 30 mins in desert on road and then back on trail. Some pain. I don’t “understand” this healing no riding program. I feel I could ride. I wonder how far into a ride it would be before I peed blood again? Besides PUSH has my fork and Red Rock in ST George has my bike.

Today a group of Frogs ( canadians) stopped for a conversation. They have already ridden Sedona. They told me of a trail near Sullivan Lake north of Spokane that I have never ridden. Maybe this is Mel’s trail.

Just hanging @ JEM.

Established an account @ local video store. Rented several titles. Been gone so long from  movies that I have no titles speaking to me. Red Box is on line for box location and what is available to rent in each machine.  Their titles don’t interest me. A movie tonight and back into town for a resupply.

little creek w_ fall

Yesterday I bid adieu to living comforts.

I visited the BLM office and read about this desert environment and a little history. The exposed rocks tell a history of earth’s development. way too much to absorb.

Paid $8.00 for admission to an animal of the world museum. It was animals of the world, my mistake hoping that it would be about local desert life.

Drove back to Hurricane. Visited Over the Edge shop where Slower than Snot works. He was there. He rode 11 laps of the 25 hour race solo, 2nd place was 6 mins behind him; first place single speed. He said about 80 racers raced. Met Quentin, the owner of the shop. He knows Dean from Sedona. He is a Turner dealer, no Spot DW in med size.

Bought LA Confidential for same price to rent. Adding to my library.

Camped @ JEM TH. Slept in sleeping bag on floor. Not too bad. Slept well being “outside” again. Figure to drive back to ST George & buy a car camping sleeping bag which will be bigger and have cotton “sheeting” instead of backpacking mummy, nylon sleeping bag. Possible strategy: camp @ a popular place, snag a rider to lower my bed, and then catch somebody else to raise it the next day.  Rider stopped this AM asking for chain lube which I shared. He lowered & raised my bed for me to retrieve my stash.

Injury is still painful causing me to eat pain pills. Going to run out before pain gone. I suspect i damaged my kidney but not bled out when i fell @ Beacon back in Spokane. Scab will form over the tear and the blood will be reabsorbed. Not supposed to strain which will “pick” @ the forming scab. If I pee blood then i have ripped the wound open again. So far no blood.

Sitting here in great riding weather out @ JEM TH. Hard not to ride but I am healing and I do not have a bike. Discipline.