Quiet night in cow pasture. Up @ 6:30 for bfast and make it to Bill & Susan’s for 8:00 departure for Canyon Creek. Looked out through out night & early morning portended nixing the ride because of rain clouds. Arrived on time to greeting of ride cancelled. Moved to plan B ride of more Hartman’s w/ Susan leading. I was good for that plan. After more visiting we rode off in their toy pickup w/ our bikes’ handlebar overhanging the bed edges. Drove out beyond where Dave & I rode. More ST dirt bike trails, digging riding over the tech challenges, still walked a few but my riding skills have improved. Susan was ahead when she rerode a section back towards me. She said she missed the upcoming rollover. She rode it and I followed just behind but not close enough to see her line. I rolled it, it was about 22″ drop w/ a less than stuff your fork run out. Confidence is growing. I could ride perhaps (4) 3 hour rides out there.

Hartman is becoming known which is a blessing and a curse in that there are 80 (?) miles of  ST connected at times by old jeep roads. The curse is the supporting infrastructure to guide campers to protect the environment ( designated camp sites and toilet facilities) is not present. As more people camp and to an extent denigrate the environment w/o rec management the land will suffer. So, just quietly enjoy Hartman’s.

Back @ Bill & Susan’s more pleasant visiting went on. It was their day off and were good to be @ rest. Nice people; felt comfortable like I had known Bill for maybe 45 minutes which was length of time he shared a ride w/ me @ Sedona. I enjoyed our time together. Watched time pass on counter clock and just let it go.

Finally bid adieu and drove off towards Grand Junction where there are newer trails, some over my head technical but lesser trails exist. Stopped @ a western clothing store in Gunnison and finally bought my buffalo fur “cowboy” hat. It’s like Duvall’s hat in Lonesome Dove movie. A new sheriff is in town.

Parked right off the taxiway of Montrose airport behind hangers on a dead end gravel road right across the street from a truck parking lot. It has internet. I can hear engines running from here. Just about 6,000′, lowest I have been since 7/1. Down out of the big mtns.

Tomorrow is Grand Junction. Forecast is still for possible heavy rain storms.

Rain that is, desert life. Looking west from camp I watched the rain clouds come in b4 I felt rain. Temp was 34, not far below snow level. I am camped @ 4080 or so. Forecast is for rain all week w/ 2 days calling for heavy rain. Sunday offers sunshine but I was told that there is rain coming in next week also. Trails are sandy w/ some clay some places, either way the trails need a day of clear weather b4 riding. Moves riding here into next week perhaps on new Spot.

Drove back into town. Found a bakery for wonderful fat pill baked  good and real NY bagels. Scored today.

Sealing of the roof appears to be keeping me dry.

Hung @ B & B, skipped the spa. Tomorrow. Today I read on CNN of a drs explanation of why older people might take a bath once a week and why it is OK. Some infrequent bathes is caused by senility in that a person forgets when last bath was and why need one now. DR said as long as   a person wears clean clothes and washes off apparent dirt infrequent bathing is ok. DR didn’t address old custom of once a week bathes typified by pioneers and early settlers. I have weaned myself from once a day shower. I do like one after a ride but I miss out in colder weather because it is too cold for outside or there is not one close by. I have driven some miles for a shower.

Jason @ bike shop said that if you boil bike brake pads for 5 miles  and that’s all there is.you can regain ~ 70% of stopping power after the pads are contaminated. And that the Nevegal tire is a piece of crap. I’m nuetral, because I have them now doesn’t make me a defender of them. But when enough side lugs fall off I will accept their replacement tire.

Drove up canyon beyond Sedona early evening. Along the way i recognized places I have ridden high up on peaks. Someday I’ll take pictures from the down looking up. And the peaks that are based in the valley have snow on them. Freezing level is to drop not quite to Oak Creek where B & B is. I can stay out of the snow by driving down canyon.

Letting the rain put my riding on hold is ok for recovery. My left rotator cuff is bothering me from perhaps the stiches fall as I twisted around. The wound is more painful on bumpy downhills.

received comment from Sam in Brevard, NC at his shop, The Hub. He said he is expanding so business was good enough?

Off to watch Inglorious Basterds

Last night & tonight I splurged and spent $25 ea night to camp @ McDowell regional park. Very nice desert campground. Got in last night just about dark after driving ATV trashed back roads looking for a primitive spot to stay. Too many motor heads and the litter was disgusting. I wonder if they eat their young.

Picked campsite on outer loop by myself. The flight path to Phoenix airport is almost right over park. AT night the sky is lit by landing lights and navigation blinking lights. Stage lll means quiet engines. The planes are still a good ways up, must drop like a rock to the runway.

Yesterday drove up from Tucson. Stopped @ DNA cycles in town to buy another slime tube. Spoke w/ Chris who was the one to set my bike up last spring w/ new stem & monkey bars. He remembered me.

Called around to several bike shops seeking leg armor. Found a store & bought a pair of shin & knee protection, kind of like a baseball catcher’s get up. Hardshell on the fronts. Need it for cactus in Sedona. Next is maybe flat pedals and skate shoes.

Called Grace this AM. She will be in San Diego at end of month. I was planning on visiting w/ her there. She told me the drug company that is sponsoring her has a full itinerary and she has no free time for a visit. Cancelled plan. She said that it is bitter cold in the SE, Yesterday was the first race of the Snake Gap time challenge, it was 22 degrees. There are several creeks to ride across. She said water froze on the bikes causing all kinds of problems. She said some riders claimed peeing on derailleurs to make them work. Last March I got to sweep the 33 mile course. Won’t be back there this year for a go.

Campground host, John & wife Sandy (who has a Turner Flux) are mtn bikers. He shared trail info w/ me this AM for my ride.

30 mile desert ride, 2835′ climbed in 70 degree sunshine. Trail for most part is old double track w/ some ST added, some of which was unoriginal machine cut. Good big ring spinning.

Tomorrow is the Cactus Cup race course just down the road. Dirtbag camp in town. Still have several more rides to do here before I head back to Sedona.

Desert: