My big event was finally climbing the Llama ramp problem. I played mental mind games in anticipation of my attempt. I told myself that I was at the top. I postponed my success several times. Finally the day arrived. Not much nerves, almost resignation. I pedaled away from outlet mall parking lot where I start all my VOC rides, 1 mile pavement to Bell Rock TH. My body is manifesting its aged condition as I run ot of breath on climbs. I arrived at slick rock patch at the ramp site. I caught my breath while studying the feature and working solution in my mind. Time to put up: I let gravity pull me downward until pitch turned up and my bigger gear caught up with the load. Attempt number 1 failed short of the top as did 2 and 3. On the 4th go effort clicked and I made it to the top and over like I had been doing it forever. SUCCESS!!. OK, I made it, am I able to do it consistently? I needed to find out. I went at it 2 more times w/o success. I made mistake of looking at my front wheel to steer between rocks. This can be fixed. I continued my ride.

During this ride I encountered 3 of the VVCC elder statesmen, each of us in our 70s. Dan is 78, he just had a valve replaced in his heart. Heart health became a conversation topic as I have my own issue with calcification of my coronary arteries. Dan’s replacement took 6 months from the time the GP wrote referral to walking out of operating room. I waited 3 weeks for heart institute to call and schedule my appointment. I hunted their phone number, called, no human just voice mail that was returned next day. Soonest appoijntment is July. WTF?.  I questioned the person learning that if it becomes a medical emergency go to the hospital where a cardio is on call. SO, only fix it when it becomes broken versus maintenance. I won’t be here in July. My plan is to have the cardio referral sent to the Bend health care organization before I arrive to be scheduled when I am in Bend. I learned that the GPs’ expertise doesn’t include my heart condition.

Writing about another heart issue is van health. It makes like a secondary engine shifting sound. Warren allowed me to stop by for his exam. I drove up but the noise did not happen. Warren would not listen to me attempting to describe the sound. He focused on fan clutch. During our drive the sound never occurred and the temp gauge remained where it should validating fan solution. Fan was never the cause of this noise. I made a service appointment with a shop in Prescott earliest is next Tues. Van runs but this sound unsettles me. I need the cause detected and understood and fixed. I worry constantly about me and things breaking down. Nerves. I will drive over Sunday to ride Prescott trails and spend 2 nights at a FS campground.

Otherwise riding here either here or west Sedona. Starting Monday and lasting for 2 weeks highway 179 to Sedona will be under construction causing delays. I have avoided experiencing the delay until tomorrow, Thurs, laundry day up there.

I like the western gateway trails as there is less climbing. Amazing in spite of number of cars at parking spots I have the trails to myself.

I am parked at the outlet underneath the fully leafed out AZ sycamore trees. Amazing how quickly they leafed out and now producing flowers. Cottonwood trees elsewhere have been letting loose their namesake , many are on my carpet. Dry Beaver is now just a trickle, it is fed by snow melt up on the rim which must be almost melted out.

My forearms are peeling revealing a healthy tan. I have been hiking shirtless timing my exposure to 1 hour.

I replaced my rear tire after 27 rides over 317 miles because it was well worn. Knobs on left side show carving, less so on the right. I know I have more confidence angulating to the left as the left shoulder works. Right side I can’t seem to drive shoulder into turn. Ridden bike 381 rides covering 5191 miles over 454,000′ climbed, like 87’/mile.

Plan is after van health is addressed I will start north.

Dropped my bike off last night at Absolute here in VOC to bleed rear brake. Last week I rode 6 out of 7 days, dunno if going to start this week adding to 4th day in a row. Darn EDGE and my body clashing with data, after yesterday’s 14.7 miles climbing 1375′ pedaling for 2 hrs 22 mins with average bpm of 114, EDGE reports 5 hr recovery. Perhaps I am stronger or riding more conservatively that is reason for short recovery. Suspect computer issue, albeit my morning pulse rate is like 45 bpm which indicates recovery.

I rode a piece of Last Frontier, legacy social trail and system trail. New part is bench cut into steep hill side, never a full vertical cliff face but an out slope fall will bounce several times before coming to rest. Rough topography.

Been mixing rides here and up in Sedona. Dry Creek is its name sake which opens up rides crossing the creek multiple times. Because I was here and viewed the high waters then and now the dry creek bed do I know the creek really runs.

Sitting at former outlet mall parking lot, had the orbic internet receiver on the passenger’s seat in full shot of sunshine heated it up to its too hot to work mode and shut off. Lost train of thought in my writing.

So I ride Formula Cura brakes, a 2 pot on the front and the more powerful 4 pot on the rear. two days ago I performed some in the sun maintenance by removing the rear wheel to check pad wear and to clean the pods. I squeezed the brake lever to advance the pods then flushed off with alcohol, reinstalled the pads and wheel then pedaled away. I noticed the brake lever pulled like air was in the line yet the brake locked up the wheel as it should. Visited Absolute prior to ride, deemed maybe needed to be bled. After 2 rides I returned yesterday to make a bleed appointment. Received text earlier that bike is ready. My effort was either suspect of there was actually air in the line somehow. Quentin at OTE in Hurricane told me there are 2 kinds on shops: a city shop or a destination shop. The former is drop your bike off and wait for several days for service. The later is you are here for a visit and your bike needs repair to get on your bike quickly. Absolute has been treating me as a destination shop for which i am appreciative. Another shop in town told me to drop my bike off and wait for several days. Didn’t go there. Absolute to my experience better wrenches and service plus I have a better connection to community.

Sedona weather is just right for riding as trails are dry, blue skies, temps below 80. Some days winds are noticeable. A note from Cog Wild in Bend reported snow pack is 172% of average and they have not had a 70 degree day yet. No hurry to make Bend. Suspect similar snow pack conditions on other places heading there.

Once when I was riding behind Bill and watching him climb a feature I asked for tip, He said he accelerates before the climb for momentum. Since then I have attempted same with success but more often than not the feature is on a climb that had already depleted my energy. There is the feature on Llama, a climbing ramp, that I have not been able to master. Last ride there I watched a rider accelerate down the slick rock to carry his speed onto the ramp and make the top. I followed his example for 3 tries. The first i was pleased that the suspension sucked up the rough and almost made the top. Confidence inspiring. Second attempt was more speed and different gear, almost made it. Third attempt almost made it. Thing is pushing a higher gear for speed makes for a hard pedal to finish the climb. I now believe I will make it to the to[p on next ride. Carrying speed and / or helping weight shift to lighten the front.

Rabbit Ears Big Park ride right out of VOC is a climb then descent and some more pedaling up and coasting down. While only 9.14 miles which includes 2 miles of road riding is short, the climb up Rabbit Ears ridge is taxing. This is from the perspective of a 73 year old.

Then there is the Carroll canyon area for enjoyment as in spending time up right on my bike. There ride choices are either up or down, only how you put your choices together determines how much climbing you do to get the downhill. I rode down Scorpion, formerly when a social trail was named Special Ed goes over several basalt rock features. I still walk the same features and able to make others as rocks have been pried out of tread. 9 miles climbing 1040′ pedaling for 1 hr 29 mins.

So far the easiest pedaling is the Western Gateway trails: lesser hard climbing. And knowing how to connect the trails.

Been staying out off Beaverhead Flats road on cattle range grazing. Lots of cows: Equipped bulls, nursing cows, calves. I watched several bulls chase down a cow that was sending mount me signal. Bull mounted and almost collapsed the cow. Dunno if his red stinker found its target. Cows destroy the land that provides their feed. Trampled land and cow shit. Beaverhead does not get the number of campers like rd 525 W of Sedona which is not grazed. Albeit I have noticed more campers off the first right after the overlook. I used to stay there when fewer people were there, now too many people.

Walgreens pharmacy is closed Sat and Sun.

So, pleasant day. Working on first sun burn peel. Will prolly go for timed shirtless walk to blend in white to red.

That’s 3,000 rides since I started my odyssey back in 2008. Per my spread sheet the ride today was the three thousandth, covering 43,247 miles, ridden at least once in 49 states. Like 2 1/2 months short of 15 years living on the road in my home converted 2006 Dodge Sprinter.

Today was another prime spring day: sunshine, calm, dry trails, temp warmer than worn light weight wool jersey. Rode from mall parking, Bell Rock, Big Park, Single track by pass, Baby Bell, Llama,  and more. Stamina continues to diminish not able to complete climbs, age effected or unhappy heart muscle, I suspect the latter. Still unridden problem on Llama albeit dirt work at first rock to ramp up the rest. Needs stronger engine to power up it.

Lessons in better armoring on Llama. Dig in pitches among the pavers makes for a less slippery climb and gargoyles will not be needed.

There are many examples of well built armoring on Breezy: tread on the rocks and no gargoyles.

Not many people, hikers and bikers, out and it was a beautiful day.

Rode out Templeton then turned down Breezy wash. Trail in wash bottom at wash crossings were runoff affected from March rains. Breezy from Templeton up to end was really washed away. Washed away as the trail is in the wash but the forceful water moved rocks changing or eliminating lines. Seems water remains long enough for plant life to emerge in Breezy:

Hit Slim for descent home. Towards the bottom I stopped to let hikers climb by. Motion to my right rear: rider descending  off trail. It was Jacob from Absolute Bike shop. I stopped at same shop on my ride out and announced I was riding my 3,000th ride. Jacob asked if he could join me. He was on the clock so all we shared were feet ridden in the parking lot. He took the pic later.

14.2 miles climbing 1207′ pedaling for 2 hrs 12 mins. Average HR was 124, 1 hr 21 mins anaerobic. I beat my body. Cardio will prolly want a stress test while hooked up to their instruments and it will prolly be a treadmill and I don’t run.

Thurs was laundry day up in Sedona. Americana coffee served by Rae at Oak Creek Espresso, great to be known as she made my coffee before I got to cashier to order it. Leave VOC by 10AM for smooth traffic speed to the Y. Cleaned clothes, visited with George, the original owner, and my host for my Hawaii ride. I chose Soldier Wash trails as I had not ridden them this visit. parked at Posse Grounds which was packed. All alone until I hit Jordan and Devil’s Kitchen and Sacred Pools: scads of hikers, never seen so many people and they all walked in. Fun challenging descent on Javelina. I shorted my climb out by pedaling Crusty to connect to Adobe Jack.

Afterwards headed back down to VOC, traffic backup almost to stop light at Airport, about 25 mins to clear Oak Creek bridge. Too many people. And more will be coming as the tourist assoc split from city council. Attracting visitors to city but city has to manage the influx.

Fri afternoon I had a virtual meeting with fill in DR. I asked about test results on my heart. I have artery blockage that he said is not heart attack level yet. Comment was on high cholesterol. He kicked my problem down the DR corridor for a cardio referral to occur some time in near future.  Primary DR returns May 1, I will schedule an appointment with him before I leave.

Habits, they prevent us from doing what we want. Yes, repeat problem solution and it becomes a habit. I get water from same sink in VOC because I know it. I camp at same spot off Beaverhead because I always find an open spot and the road to it is Sprinter friendly. I visit same places as again I have solved my problems for a visit. Picking the known is security, the unknown is, well, unknown. I change only if my choice was undesirable or I found a more attractive place and worthy of moving.

Sleep spot off Beaverhead  can be very quiet depending upon how far out the road away from the paved road. traffic drops as the evening grows. Nights are becoming warmer enough to not run the furnace eliminating blower noise. What remains is ears burning quiet. Out there again for tonight. Difference in quiet was noted when I stayed in town last Sat night.