It might be legal but it ain’t right as the cows continue to graze the leaves and down to small twigs on the sage brush. The ground cover is brown, maybe dormant because of drought, yet the cows have grazed them down to a stubble. Lots of cow shit plops. And we the people paying for the damage while receiving a pittance from the money that is doing the damage. It ain’t right. Wonder that present policies were created back in the early day when resource extractors saw the bounty that with current technology told themselves that it will never run out. Times changed, as did technology and man caused environmental affects, yet this form of resource extraction continues in spite of causing damage.  Cows have little fear of humans, so far I have not been challenged.

Yesterday I drove down to town dropping from 56xx’ at Horsethief to Moab down on the bank of the Colorado River at 40xx’. Warmer for sure. Took on water and groceries then headed up and out to N Klondike area for several days. Again just enjoying the smooth road surface. Still rigs occupying sites. I saw a white van parked in an opening in the sage at an edge. Enough room for me to park at the far edge. Watching rigs pull in continue down to the end then bunch up high density. After while I heard my name called form outside my van. I looked out, it was Jimi. I drove past where he’s posted up with his VW Westy. He pedaled back to his rig and I set off for a rock scramble out of the valley. Problem solving skills applied as I boulder and rock hopped gaining elevation while picking my line to step only of hard mineral surface.  I hoped I would see riders, maybe 9, I picked a more technical trail thinned out the crowd. I reached my high point then headed back down on a different line. I picked up a trail for the rest of my hike out. I sat down along the way to enjoy sunshine. I took off my shirt to work on coloring my winter pate. Three 30’s men riders road by bouncing over the features. One came back to visit. He asked me to wear his sunglasses for him to take my picture. He said it was the reflection he wanted. Youngsters. He told of his monster ride he did yesterday and it was his first ride of the season. I told him he will get over it with time. He was riding a Revel niner. Nice and shiny.

The trail emptied into the parking area. 3 riders, a man and 2 women, were post ride hanging. I stopped and invited myself into their midst. I asked them if stories about their ride had grown since being done. They said they will grow when they meet with others later on. The couple are from Victor, ID, I was able to connect. She was raised in Birmingham, AL, I connected with riding Oak Mtn.

I watched them sitting on chairs in the sun with food and drinks. back when I lived in a house I skied both lift and backcountry. Contrast the 2 activities that I participated. Backcountry skiing was being outside from closing the car door to opening it later. Skiing used many hours of climbing for just a few minutes of coasting down. Sometimes the ski out was after sundown. Back at the rigs it was pretty much stow the gear and maybe change clothes. Too cold to hang out. I never wore a heart rate monitor to learn what I did to my body. Take away is then entire day was spent playing. Now mountain biking is different in effort time and visiting. My rides, physical effort, is much shorter duration than skiing. Computer data tells me what I do to my body. Then post ride activity is under more pleasant conditions. Difference caused contrast.

Warm night last night. I lowered the turn on thermostat setting. At head hitting pillow time the turn on temp had not been reached. I cross my fingers each time it switches on that it will start. Several days of successfully lighting has moved into the next sampling size. I don’t hold my breath anymore but keep an eye on the green diode running light. I can’t depend upon it until it is lit.

Yesterday’s forecast called for a wind event today from noon till 9 tonight. 45mph gusts. Ride solution today is to finish my ride well before noon. Still out at N Klondike. I was pedaling just after the top of the hour NPR news. I rode EKG out and returned on the pedal friendly trails on the west side of the valley. EKG undulates traversing the slope. The line could be compared to the track of an ekg. Just lots of short climbs and downhills while following either the  red paint stripes or portable guide structures. I pedaled into the rising sun in places the angle of the sun and the location of the tread aligned lowering my look ahead to the top of my front wheel. Route finding the red dashes.

The trail markers routed problem avoidance, if it was marked I could roll down it or step up. Some places the sun lit up upcoming stripes. Saw 1 rider who got out earlier than me. EKG is a black diamond trail. I rode everything except for when my effort was caused by lack of engine power. I am pleased with my effort.

I returned on the pedal trails which are enjoyable as I can pedal for long stretches on a smooth tread creatively routed

And managing the users

13.7 miles climbing 1047′ pedaled for 2 hrs. Today heart rate was lower. Yesterday my heart rate did not drop which told me recovery was not complete from Sat ride. I checked my pulse this morning while in bed, rate was in upper 50s where it should be. Recovery complete. Get after it. Today my average bpm was 117. Better.

4 PM wind event has been happening for (pick and amount of time) awhile. Van is rocking but not to the beat of Outlaw Country on XM. Waylon at present.

Going to stay here tonight then ride here again tomorrow. Wind is to be less.

Slow internet connection.

Check. Smart phone knows all and it agrees. Cold and windy. Last night the furnace started on its own and ran all night as I set the dial to be warm setting. Yesterday it was 32 degrees, today it was 28. Yesterday was windy, and clear and chilly. I was cold inside the van, the furnace shut off after awhile because the location of the thermostat is at the back of the van and that end was square to solar gain. I wanted to ride but I didn’t want to ride in low 40s with strong winds. I dillied and dallied till said “alright”. Cooped up is enough. Knickers, heavy wool jersey and wind shell, oh and knee socks. The dirt dried out. I decided on a shorter ride around Rodeo and not Bull canyon. I pedaled from camp.

Camp is a noun and a verb, you got to know the context it is used in. For me, per Sedona city regulations I camp because I cook food on a stove and cover myself with non wearable articles. Doesn’t have to be inside  a vehicle. For me I mostly just park overnight not making an outside presence. Maybe I camp “lite” as compared with full on camping with set up of tents, chairs, tables, clothes line hung, you get the picture. So, OK, I will call what I do as “camping”, and I “camp”.

So, I pedaled from camp on dirt track then road. The high winds moved sand around and the precip held redistributed sand making for a much smoother road. Turned right down dead end designated off road track down past where I also like to stay, to the dead end then social trail down to Rodeo. I rode Rodeo loop around continuing past  where I entered to connect to Chisholm, turn left pedal till trail to group camp sites before then Lasso joins which is sandy, climbs to road, turn right pedal the road to the offroad route back to van. 15.8 miles pedaling for 2 hrs climbing 997′. My average heart rate was 128 which is at my anaerobic threshold. I don’t set out to ride like wind sprints or intervals, I just work at my pedaling.

Rodeo is a fun 8.5 mile loop with around 500′ of climbing. It’s up on top which means no big climbs, just short pitches.

As I wrote the furnace ran all night, it was 56 inside and 28 out this morning. It is what it is. At 6 AM Wait Wait comes on XM. Today I woke up in time to tune in and I listened to entire hour while beneath the covers. I will be riding from camp meaning several hours of free time before pedaling.

Windy and chilly again today, a repeat of yesterday. I planned riding Bull canyon down to Arth’s then climbing back on Get away. Shuttle traffic is dropped off up at intersection of highway and Gemini bridges dirt road, They coast down Get Away till cut over to Bull which is downhill, some go on to ride the Portal. Groups of riders, must have been shuttle groups. At times I was by myself then I would overtake a stopped group, one group changed leads several times. Finally at Get Away the shuttle crowd continued down then I began the pedal back up.

Climb out on Get Away is climbing for most part. A blue square trail. Until I hit the Bull crossover the traffic was mostly uphill. Then past Bull encountered downhill traffic. Take away on etiquette was a mix bag as several practiced tread in the dirt as they allowed me to climb by while several encounters the trail was contested not yielding to me climbing. I am grouch in my claiming uphill  rights. I ride looking ahead scanning for other users going either way. Glancing way ahead helps plan how I will ride what my wheels will soon be rolling over. Maximize conservation of effort. Look beyond up, look out. Once junction with Bull the ride is going back.  What went down when fresh is now up when tired. I did see fewer than 10 Indian Paintbrush blooming plants. Desert here is dry also.

I don’t hammer, I coast quite a few feet, I pedal as needed to overcome gravity and less on flats and none on downhill. What I do to my body is captured in the EDGE computer. I wear a heart rate monitor chest strap that sends data to computer that interprets it according to programed algorithms. At the end of the ride I read the displayed data. 22.4 miles climbing 1660′ pedaling for 2 hrs 56 mins. Average mph 7.65. Again average hr was 128, I was above for 1 hr 44 mins. My breathing is usually what causes me to pause to catch my breath. While pedaling the smooth sandy part of Get Away I attempted to ride below max hr. Never really got down to it as I just pedaled. Recovery is 31 hours.

Clouds left, La Sals shown forth

So, tomorrow is Sunday. Breakfast will be scratch pancakes which I make only every Sunday going back years. I clipped the recipe from the Spokesman paper in Spokane years ago. In past years I added wild blueberries and huckleberries that I picked, all others just frozen berries kept frozen in my fridge. Anticipation.

Lots of people out here and full campground. Lots of bikers, more than I have every experienced. Perhaps I should attempt to understand their stories. Who are these riders? They are way younger than me.

Furnace switched on and started first go. I am not insane because a change did occur as a result of my previous effort.

Tomorrow I need to go down to town for resupply. Might do a short Navajo Rocks loop sharing with weekend crowd.

Last night I made a lentil stew of my concoction, enough for 2 dinners. Tonight I warmed the leftovers for refueling. Lentils, a legume, are a good source of protein as I had only 1 chicken thigh instead of usual 2.

Time to check off a task from to do this thing to live in better peace list. Dishes. kitchen cleanup.

 

Yesterday’s forecast was for a wind event, just sometimes forecasters nail their prediction with history of whiffing.

I left N Klondike really enjoying change of improved road with no bumps. Drove down to town ahead of rush that bottlenecks a backup. Treatment for my gastro condition is blood work to learn if my body overcame whatever it was. Blood draw at hospital walk in. Phlebotomist had been awarded an honor that the plaque on the wall stated. Complimented her on the recognition and the stick. Blood UPSed somewhere, Follow up DR appointment in a month. Anyway, requirement of body condition was no fat for 6 hours. My morning fat is a small amount of butter on 2 pieces of toast. This AM just honey.

This trip put me in between outings. This was Wed, Thurs is laundry day, drive back to town, resupply then drive up to Horsethief for several days. Chose to stay at Willow Springs as it is the closest to town. For me I am looking for a place to sleep that is “legal” and level. I stay at the first right off Willow Springs rd creeping up slick rock with buckets and bulges to harm a misplaced wheel or too low. I park at the outer edge facing away from in coming traffic. Scored my desirable spot, back end pointed into the wind. The wind had been steadily increasing during the day, after my arrival it picked up with a vengeance(?). Strong enough to carry grains of sand in clouds. Sand has no moisture content unable to resist the lure of traveling. I watched as past impressions in the sand were obliterated, surface was scallop in waves like sand on a beach. Several gusts were like dust devils that swarmed my van. The side door was open for comfort, I was slow to close it to the wind resulting in a fine layer of dust wherever it settled inside. I watched several rigs go out past me even past the past spot I used. High clearance and nobody to correct them. Then the place became crowded, 4 vans and several other rigs. I walked up on slick rock later after the wind died down. I looked out the road, mass of white manmade objects. 2 leg locusts, hordes of camping rigs.

Just too many people. Yes, I am in that group. Rationalization: Yeah, but I am grandfathered in as I have been doing this since before it blew up. Small head sense of entitlement? How dare all these people crowd me out of where it used to be just me and maybe other scattered others?

Yes, back to fool. Today’s forecast called for lessening wind, chilly, and precip in 30% shower range and more likely in PM. This will work. Plan was to drive down to Bar M trails and ride before going into town to do wash. I made the parking lot and changed. I kept a weather eye that went only to lip of plateau above. I saw the sky showing its cards of rain. I stepped out of the van into reality and really quickly decided that I needed another layer and a wind shell. I got back in the van to add. I looked at the sky again. More serious and no clearing afterwards. I chanced to look at a windward window to see what was maybe a rain drop. Hmm, maybe a shower, I can carry my rain coat in case. I waited and watched as more landed. Hmm. I resigned myself to being rained out. It poured. I changed back then drove down to town smooth sailing. Laundromat is in first block off Main st. I turned down the 1 block street, no place to street park. Crowded, please have just one open machine for me. The place had many open machines. I wash everything in 1 load on cold. I seperate wool and synthetics to line dry from the dyer clothes. I started for the door to walk to the van to hang them up but stopped: it was pouring and blowing. Hmm, I only need to go to the van when the dryer cycle is done and  I have folded the clothes. It worked. It was a shower that ended before my walk. Crowded town. Too many people.

Resupplied then headed out of town. Moab is on US191 a major N S highway. From either end it enters downtown on four lanes. Speed lowered closer to town down to 30 mph. To the North right at the end of town a lane is choked off and remains I lane till the bridge. Road construction has been going on to add a lane in each direction to make it all 4 lane. Construction closes down to 1 lane in each direction. Some days backups occur. My travel plan is to stay ahead of any bottleneck. Next trip into town will be Sunday morn.

Change: Age. Books to read. Authors that I grew up with were either my age or older. Think Mark Twain and Tom Robbins. I have read many of their works. The dead ones no longer added books to my list on my peers were adding to theirs. I have read all of Robbins. Time marched on and these writers quit writing joining the dead ones in not adding to my to reads. As happens people younger than myself are writers and winning recognition for their efforts. It’s just that I don’t see them. I have not established a connection to any. The several that  I have read write from perspectives shaped by less history than my age. What do any of them know about a hand cranked telephone answered by an operator who asks for the number you want. Oh, and it is a party line. OK, I am not living by my writing as I do not rural electrification. Anyway picking this new one The Night Watchman by Louise Erdich, who per the back jacket ” is from one of the most acclaimed writers of our time.” Maybe it was a senior citizen nap that I missed her. Oh, never mind, she was born in 1954, 5 years after me. She might know about party lines. Point: age affects perspective.

About fool. Outdoor activity favors minimal harsh conditions. Presently conditions are lets stay inside and hope that it will clear. Sometimes skies part to reveal the sun and all is good. Commit to the outdoor activity moving away from that shelter. Then bang, the backslap of the weather hits you in the face with more of what you were sheltering from. You got suckered into a sucker hole. Well, I was not born just yesterday. Tomorrow the trails up here at Horsethief will be primo.

I drove up here to a spot past Horsethief campground, the big flat open spot where that large group of young people hung out last weekend. During the drive it was raining hard enough for full on wipers and heat as the temp dropped as I climbed. Above Horsethief road turn off I could see fresh snow on the ground, prolly just the plants. Chilly. No fresh rig tracks heading to spot. I scored the empty spot. I stepped outside down on the ground. When dry I treated the surface as just sand. Today with just a bit of water the sand became sticky clogging my sandals with about 1/4″ of sand. Barefoot now, sandals in a time out. Good news is rain quit and the dry air is sucking moisture back up which should make for brown pow tomorrow, first tracks.

At sleep spot I turned on the furnace. When the thermostat said go it started its lighting sequence. It turned on but would not light. It cycled itself to no success. It shuts off then lights up a pulsing 1 flash light just like earlier this year before it was serviced. I went thru several recycles again no ignite. I called the service shop and left a message. Maybe an hour has passed. I switched on the furnace hoping it would work when every previous attempt failed. Definition of insanity: Repeating the same thing hoping for a different outcome. Me questioning my sanity? Well, it responded small ignites then stall, then ignite and burn for a few more seconds, then finally catch and run. Presently the thermostat has shut it down. Will it ignite before I finish this which is almost at its end.

I have now ordered all the parts needed for the Rail. The Absolute Black oval chain ring is at Steve’s, the Oneup dropper post is on its way to Steve’s. This one was available and rated highly. Praxis cranks and bottom bracket are on order. Steve UPSd my rebuilt I9 wheel to me, when I pick it up I will put it on my bike in place of current I9 wheel then send it back to I9 who will make it boost. Now, devil’s in the details.

?So, today the weatherman was light on the probability.

Sucker? While sitting here I have been watching the sky and thinking I could ride soon. I just looked at the windshield to see rain drops in spite of sunshine to the west. Writing this has kept me from being a sucker.

I made scratch skillet cornbread before dinner.

Tomorrow big ride.

?