Right then left. Shoulders that is. My right shoulder needs a reverse repair that I continue to put off as ong as Iam able to love with the pain and loss of function. I have been given PT exercises to strengthen remaining muscles that I do erratically. Recently I took the bit out of my mouth and put effort and consitancy for those exercises. I have made the right shoulder slightly less painful, however, those exercises have provoked pain in the other shoulder that was repiared long time ago. Paradox of better and worser. Yesterday I made a return visit to an ortho here in ST George to learn about cortisone treatment as a way of postponing repair. New X-rays were taken that were compared to last year’s, no further damage. Cortisone is an anti inflammatory and possible pain reducer, not a cure. I chose to forgo possible temporary relief, which with elimination of pain, I might injure the joint further. I will still do exercises for right side at lesser strain to quiet down the left.

While there I asked about my painful right hip. X-rays were taken and reviewed seeing a soind hip. My pain is muscle caused. Last week my visit with a PT resulted in several stretching exercises that seemed to get at the pain source. However, I overdid the stretching resulting in almost locked hip. Too much. I have since lessened the effort which is helping. I did get a PT order that helper Eric in Sedona will use for further improvement.

Body parts wear from years of use. I have taken care of myself throughout my life that have delayed on set of worn parts. OK, so I made choices that did damage to my body parts that eating healthy and 8 hours of nightly sleep etc can’t overcome.

So much for that.

I ahve spent my life running away from what is catching up to me now. Bodies wear out both like above damaged parts and just the fact that the old gray goose ain’t what she used to be. Last week I rode trails at Santa Clara that are more challenging for what the bike has to roll over and the heart has to propel going uphill. The ride starts with a brutal climb with no warm up. My heart rate went to high and never returned. For the 1 hr 13 min of pedaling and hike a bike my heart beat 33 mins at 70 to 80% effort, 110 to 126 beats per minute, and 36 mins at 80 to 90%, 126 to 141 beats. My heart never was low, recovery time was 48 hrs. I pushed myself way too hard as the trail demanded. I don’t imagine riding this one again. A case for permission vs ability. Afterwards I drove up the climbing bumpy road and spent the night. Nighttime temps were slightly warmer than above Hurkin.

Last week I ran out of propane f the 3rd time this heating season. Not attention to known data.

My new Cane Creek Kitsuma coil shock has tuning adjustments that affect ride quality. Those adjustments when dialed in make the ride more controlled. I am absorbing the tuning instructions and making adjustments to both the shock and now the fork. I am making both softer. My last ride over the rocky Rim section of the Hurkin Cliffs IMBA epic was like I was given extra horse power. Previous settings made my suspension stiff which caused energy to overcome the feature. Now, the softer settings allow the suspension to absorb and not buck me. An enjoyable improvement.

11:20 AM, temp reached 51, time for a ride.

More later and editing.

On Wed I rode my new Cane Creek Kitsuma coil shock. I chose upper JEM area mesa rides. Coil is more supple. Learning the adjustments.

Thurs was a busy in town day: laundry. There is a local pistachio nut grower nearby. I have eaten their nuts for years. This year I called their office asking where to buy. Person said buy from the source. Google maps lead me there, places I had never seen. Google kept me found. Drive took me thru their orchard, short stubby trees. When nuts are ready for harvest a shaker is attached to the tree to shake the nuts loose. Went right to the source.

My right hip needs correction. First step was chiro adjustment which helped. Next was obtaining an order for physical therapy. I sought that order from urgent care same building as the PT clinic. Broohaha about patient care from UC. Have PT appointment next week. Muscle misalignment. Needs stretching method.

Nights out at corral are in the 20s, inside temp is in chilly 50s. I sleep warm under a summer weight down comforter. It’s the adjustment to chill when I slide out from under its warmth.

Today I let the sun energy streaming thru the windshield, sucking up warmth. Towards 10 the temp rose to the 50s, warm enough to ride. Geared up hitting Gould’s Rim piece of the Hurricane Cliffs IMBA epic right from parked van. Gould’s over to TH at top of JEM trail. Down JEM to its end  then climbed back out on Carne Asada to climb piece of JEM, over to TH, up Dead Ringer out to highway then school road pedal to van. 16.8 miles climbing 1211′, pedaling for 2 hrs 8 mins.

This afternoon post ride the temp was so enjoyable to stand in sunshine. Solar gain heated inside of van. Casual observation is that the replaced batteries were still strong. The new ones seem to have the same storage as previous. The solar panel sends about tops 85% capacity of batteries.

Tomorrow more of the same.

I learned something the other day from the attendant pumping my propane. I wanted to learn how her life was going on but she was interested in learning my experiences as I was the one not living here. Perhaps people who strike up a conversation with me want to learn same stuff. I should work up a short pitch.

Bed time.

Recently I came across info about new trails developed above ST George, up the road to access Ice House trail going downhill. Yesterday was my first business day in Hurkin area. First up was battery store to buy replacement batteries for the camper that were installed back in ’18. $600 on the barrelhead for new same batteries. I will be evaluating performance. Then several other stops. I was already near this new trail system and enough daylight remained to drive up there and ride some miles.

Access is from town, short piece of pavement then 5 miles of gravel. Today I enjoyed freshly graded dirt road and passed the grader. Big climb, road was not badly stutter bumped. I made the TH which is short of the start of Ice House downhill trail. I pedaled this climb 2X previously, this time I enjoyed just turning a wheel and pressing a pedal. Speed was just a bit faster than pedal speed. Made the tiny parking spot then drove several more feet to find an acceptable sleep spot. The spot was littered with brass ammo casings.

Geared up then pedaled away. Trails I rode were mostly all machine built and well laid out. Tread is over basalt babyheads, trail construction eliminated most, leaving the rest as rock gardens. Sharp edge hits. Late afternoon sun angle shifted visibility of chunks. Worse feet were when the sun shone directly in my eyes, visibility was impaired. I encountered only 1 rider, a local, who shared info. Trails were completed this spring but no rain fell to settle the new dust. Today the tread was dust free. Trails are in Trailforks for navigation. 10.5 miles climbing 883. System is on tilted earth. Spent the night.

Sunday I rode more of the Hurkin Cliffs system, today far fewer rigs and riders compared to Sat. Today my plan was descending Chinatown wash to connect to Rim system. I had ridden all these trails over the years, today I looked to evaluate my performance on features. Much improved I attribute to lowering saddle.  Trails here are a mx of firm rolled down dirt pock marked from cows. Dirt was firm. Played at carving turns on JEM. I climbed out on Dead Ringer then finished on Gould’s back to corral. 16.2 miles climbing 1053, pedaling for 2 hrs 4 mins, average beats per min was 116.

Sun I drove back down to town then out to Quail creek camp spot. However, road construction closed spots. A guy was heading out from spot who told me about closure. He said he would try Red Cliffs XG which was nearest camp spot. Registration is all on line. I picked a spot then drove out to the empty XG. My spot took creative block placement to level the van. Warm enough for the heater to exceed the heat loss which turned it off, so quiet without blower noise.

Today back to Hurkin. I sought body repair from local Chiro, repeat patient, to fix my right hip issues. Bought coffee beans at local roaster, River Rock Roasting, long time customer. Now outside OTE waiting for fork service to be completed. I have my new  Cane Creek Kitsuma coil shock waiting to be installed to set sag then my learning which direction turning which knob will affect ride quality.

I think I heard the term “Downwork” or maybe I made it up as applied to riding a motorized bicycle. Downwork riding. Like your car having electric windows instead of hand cranked. Applies to whatever lessens human energy expenditure.  Or maybe applies to whatever energy savings when recreating. Is lift skiing downwork from skinning up to earn your turns?