Wet events. Last week was mix of freeze thaw days and sunshine. This week wet events again. Trails are better up in W Sedona.

Doug and I have been riding together. He has a better understanding of connecting social and system trails which is fine for me as really need just one navigator and 1 follower. Carroll canyon area trails face sunshine for dry tread.

Doug, Leia, dog Swift, and I have mixed in hiking days.

Last Frontier trail piece here is a reroute of social  version. There is exposure on  trails. Find and follow the tread across the cliff face.

My van health is still suspect. The check engine control light turned on last week and remained on for several days then turned off. Engine runs, I suspect not at full health. My health is also in need of understanding and repair. I scored an appointment with my primary DR up in Flag that is a climbing drive up from here at 4,500′ to Flag’s 7,000′. I made a rental car reservation instead of driving but I talked myself out of it and drove the canyon up. Van performed w/o light turning on. Local shop believes stumble is caused by flex plate which requires dropping the transmission, however, the shop is working through rigs ahead of me.

Yesterday Doug and I squeezed in a ride before weather change that appeared to catch us before ride completion. We ride away from Cultural Park away from weather. We kept a weather eye, we reached the furthest point of our ride then turned back into the weather. Looked serious and the forecast supported our concern. We got caught in a weather hole, different from a sucker hole in that weather hit with wind and sprinkles then quit, clouds leaving exposing blue skies. I pedaled for 1 hr 48 mins climbing’ over  miles with average heart rate of 117 so the weather decision was ok.

I have stayed in Sedona driveway for a week as I deem the desert too wet to drive on. Forecast for near future is for rain and snow but above freezing temps. It is what it is and adjustments are made. Doug and Leia were joking about my payment of their driveway was to fix dinner. They were joshing but I accepted the opportunity and fixed a skillet dinner last night we shared.

Yesterday’s ride took us 3 times across flowing Dry Creek that covered some of the stepping stones. I managed to keep my shoes dry. We stopped at one place. At pedal start is noticed a pedal strike rock that my left pedal would hit as I was mounting my bike. I knew my pedal would strike the rock which would result in a fall. Shit, that’s what happened. I ended up entwined in my bike. Doug rescued my by separating the 2 of us. I have 3 band aids on my right leg and 2 on the left to staunch blood flow. I recognized the prospect of falling but carried on. Dumber and dumber.

At present here in Sedona winds have been gusting rocking my van and the keyboard. Latest gust was 44mph. Thurs night forecast is for  to 2″ of snow.

Last week I sat in a barber’s chair for a neatening up. I now look well groomed, just over the edge of acceptance.

Forecast delivered another blow of winter nasty. Sun was last nice day for maybe this weekend. Monday conditions changed, I rested because of. Tues became nastier with rain and wind. Drove out to paved spot for the night but told can’t camp at scenic overlooks just as light faded. dashed out to MP4 with hopes dirt was firm and would remain that way in the morning to drive out. Van stumbles at a low rpm which negates slow driving speed over ruts. Score the first spot. Temp dropped and rain changed to snow  blown by strong wind. Van rocked during the night. I had opened the roof fan while cooking dinner then shut it for the night, in the morning it was frozen shut as was the ground. Please van start and drive out was what I worried about all night. Van started and I bounced over ruts to pavement back to VOC. Check engine control light turned back on and engine runs rough. Made VOC and spent the day there. Little solar gain but fan hatch did melt free. Spent night on side drive in VOC. Cold, 23 degrees out, 51 inside.

My body is not happy matching van’s health. Seems my blood pressure is climbing. Drove up to Instant Care in Sedona for understanding. I have been recording BP from my home device and medical instruments. At IC the nurse took my BP, result was 120/70 which is well below my data. She tried again on other arm, same result. I brought my device that agreed with my data which was not per theirs. IC said I need to see primary DR for diagnosis as they did with acute and mine is chronic. Concern was their reading was not correct so I visited a dr office for their check which agreed with both my data and device revealing for me elevated BP. I will make appointment w/ primary up in Flag.

Then over to laundromat for Thurs wash. I saw a CA licensed car parked there with 2 muddy mountain bikes, handicap license to boot. I took pics of same as below. Woman jumps out of car yelling at me not having permission to take pics of her car. I asked her if she rides her local trails when muddy.

DR appointment in Flag on Mon, will prolly rent a car for the day for the round trip.

Van work won’t be done till late next week hopefully. Will drop transmission and prolly install new flex plate.

Sunny  at 40 degrees but well below freezing at night creating dreaded free thaw that above riders trashed our trails on.

Sunday I rode with Ian down to join Jimmy and Christine, Lee, and Elijah to ride a piece of the Black Canyon trail going north. Jimmy is former owner of Bike and Bean, Ian is part of that former gang, I met Lee her first ride here back years ago. We met at TH off AZ 69 near Mayer. Route was lollipop on BCT then side loop on S shoulder of Copper mtn. Weather was shorts warm, last nice day for near forecast future, get it today before Sedona trails receive more precip and freeze thaw mud. The tread on BCT is firm.

Trail is pedal ride, nothing to lift up the front wheel. 14.7 miles climbing 1476′. Elevation in low 4,xxx’.

Rode thru this patch of purple rocks. Share reason for color.

Jimmy rides a Revel Rascal, Christine, his wife, rides a Ranger, Craig, the friend, rides a Rail. 3 Revel riders.

Back at the TH we lingered in the more pleasant weather visiting. Jimmy and Christine are looking forward to traveling the country like I have been doing.

Super Bowl was played yesterday.

Today forecast called for snow after 11. I drove up to Sedona for PT, snow started falling at completion of treatment. Back with Eric, an avid mountain biker and other activities. I returned to VOC where snow had let up with none sticking. Forecast calls for well below freezing at night and not much above freezing during sunshine.

Group ride dynamics are different than just Doug and I riding together. Today we pretty much kept our heads down and pedaled. Doug and I pedal the same effort but seem to stop more frequently. But when I ride by myself I pretty much ride with maybe a short safety meeting break. In every ride our heart rates are well above a hike.  You are either a biker or a tourist, multi recreating sucks: your body follows your eyes.