New Year’s eve celebration,? I spent quiet night at the town sleep spot, I was not awakened by whatever went on outside.

Ian invited me on a ride to start the new year. I invited Doug along. Others accepted his invitation, the group being of riders I have known for years plus a new guy. New guy was youngest and had color in his hair, the rest of us had lots of gray, some white.

We rode from Bell Rock TH and headed away from others. At first were system trails, some of which were rolled firm sand then mixed in old social trail, back to system then the nasty basalt babyheads and unattached heads. Last piece is too nasty for me to repeat that even the experienced riders walked. I enjoyed myself being in company of people I have known for years. Finished the day with a sit down at local pizza establishment. I drove out to sleep spot off Beaverhead and I was treated to a colorful sunset.

Dry desert. I did not see signs of cows being grazed out there compared to last year. Cows have eaten native vegetation at the time of the plants reproduction hence eliminating food for the next year. Just a rant against the few who reap the benefit of use of public land but is paid for by all of us.

I mix in socializing with solitude. Sleeping on public land mean unblocked windows, in town I block windows which creates a cave.

Doug and I rode out Skywalker area yesterday. I am struggling with almost any kind of climb, I get out of breath. When I got back to the van after the ride I checked my O2 saturation level to read 98% so I get what I need but age affected. I am working on reestablishing my confidence on Sedona trails.

I spent the night in their driveway again. Short evening shower created puddles. The temp was warm enough for the heater to shut off.

Leia has treated me to 2 dinners, tonight I return her favor by preparing Country Captain chicken dinner.

So Friday I drove to the Red Mesa trail system outside of Page. Another brand new trailhead and trails. Many trail miles crammed into a small area. Perimeter loop trail was machine scraped. Single tracks went off hither and yon. Most places paint dashes told the route. Some signage.

I was not whole heartedly involved for this ride. The blue color ability trails were technical, and as much as I wanted to stay on top of my bike, I feared the blacks would be really black for me to avoid.

BLM, different jurisdictions, spending $ to build new trail systems.

Changed form bike rider to van driver then pointed S down RT 89 to Flag to an interstate jog to exit onto 89A down Oak Creek canyon. Spectacular geology and colors. Today the sun was at late afternoon height casting the E facing canyon walls in shadow plus it was in my eyes. Sedona traffic backed up just short of uptown mass of vehicles and just 1 lane instead of 2. Sheesh, driving up Cook’s hill solid backup to get down  to Y. Yes, back in Sedona, recall traffic flow. This is like a spring break. Familiarity.

Destination was Doug and Leia’s rental. Made their driveway. Warm greetings shared. Swift, their dog, and I have an established relationship so she nosed in for greeting.  Comfortable evening somewhat lubricated by Scotch. Warm evening in their driveway, the furnace actually reached the lower thermostat setting and turned off eliminating the blower noise. I slid out of bed pleasantly warm.

Doug and I ride together. We both know trails here. Again, I become a follower as Doug figures a ride. Sat we met out at Cultural park which is now a signed city facility, closed from 10PM to 5 AM. Today at the beginning Doug routed us in a new way to me. Variation to get to the same place. System trails till we crossed dry Dry Creek connecting bunches of social trails to rejoin system trails up the way. Beautiful day

Doug, being faster, led and would stop when he wanted. I would catch up then we would visit for minutes. The riding gave us the opportunity to soak up being outside Dec 30th in light weight jerseys. Welcome to Sedona ride. I am recalibrating my reflexes to match Sedona tread. I pedaled for 2 hr 2 mins covering 14 miles climbing 1198′; by the clock, elapsed time was 4 1/2 hours. Towards then end I developed strong hunger pains from light lunch energy uptake and I failed to prepare for a long day from all the gab stops. Finale was climb up Axis.

Back at D & L’s place to continue friendship and to refuel on Leia’s home fixins’.

Back in my house parked in their driveway for the night. Pleasant temp evening. Sunday breakfast is my scratch blueberry pancakes. I ate entire batch to not even save several for later snack. I cleaned up kitchen and was just staring to gather the makings of my skillet cornbread. The skillet was on the propane fueled stove burner preheating for only a short moment when the burned faded: Ran out of propane. I retuned the cornmeal fixings back to storage. A short morning visit with Doug then I headed out. Hardware store for propane, full fill-up, fridge fired back up. Visited at Thunder Mountain with past connections. I bought a pair of their shop socks as they are a Revel dealer. Then down to VOC for reconnects. Spent time at Absolute for only 1 new guy to meet, others were known and reconnects.

D & L drove down. I met them here. Our group finally agreed on a hike out Turkey Creek area. I rode with then to a turnout on Verde Valley School road. Our hike was on trails that Doug and I have ridden. We well traveled when we heard a woman’s voice we answered back, she joined us. She asked for directions as she and her sister were lost and she was on 911 asking for help. We learned where they needed to go then acted as their guide as we were going in their direction. The trail is on FS land with private built up against the boundary. We saw a social trail heading in their desired direction so we hiked it to fence line of private property. It was now up to them to figure out the streets to get back to their car. Us 3 did a good deed.

New Year’s eve sleep spot is behind outlet mall in VOC. Might walk over to PJs to expose myself to revelry. Tomorrow Ian invited  me on a ride. Grocery store ran out of broccoli that I wanted for my dinner. Run on other groceries also.

Zags lost as did Ohio State. I have allowed their misfortune to adversely affect me.

And that is all he created.

 

 

 

Yesterday was last day in Hurkin. Started day with laundry, coffee at River Rock, $40 of diesel, picked up new Grip shifter at OTE. Then steered towards Kanab to ride a new system on Tilt mesa.

SW desert land.

BLM developed this trail system for mtn bikes and class 1 M-bikes. Parking lot size sim to what a grocery store would have. Trail runs the perimeter of mesa with other trails inside. Just finished earlier this year. Place to stop and ride on the way to somewhere. Well laid out and built.

Prolly shortest ride lasting 36 mins riding 3.31 miles. System has more miles that necessitate descending then climbing back up to repeat.

Some patches of slick rock

All alone there.

Late afternoon ride. Transitioned from riding to sitting behind wheel for drive to Cottonwood Canyon outside the Escalante National monument. I found this spot on a previous pass thru. 21 degrees in morning.

This morning after oatmeal, coffee, and toast breakfast I continued to Page, now in AZ to ride Red Mesa, another brand new system of mesa riding on slick rock. Presently 32 degrees full sunshine but not moving the temp.

Stopped at Glen Canyon dam overlook.

Ride here shortly then continue to Sedona and city riding.