Yesterday I rode from the corral spot out the road then up Dead Ringer to JEM TH where about 5 rigs were parked, one was occupied by an older couple in hiking boots. Hmm, Seems I need to refine my definition of older. Crossed the empty highway onto Goulds then the spin around the mesa reconnecting to Goulds back to corral. Wonderful condition day:

OK, slight chill that was abated by sufficient protection. 10.5 miles pedaling for 1 hr 22 mins. All alone.

Solitude for me is an outcome of my lifestyle as I live out of town and ride out of town trails by myself. I seek aloneness. Curmudgeon, ornery old man. I eschew crowds of more than 5 people. I hear or read people saying that they seek out of doors activity because they live around lots of people and civilization. They escape to the outdoors then return to civilization. Me, I live and play out in the outdoors and only join humanity for provisions and social interaction. The desert above Hurkin is spacious and no night people. Contrast to next stop Sedona that the trails are on US public lands but up against private land. Hard to separate from the mass.

Two large glasses of wine introduced into my body as I am emptying the box wine, what (?) a box. Spell check fixes the spelling, no check on the thoughts.

Wide open desert and naked geology here.

Tonight I am staying nearby.

I finished my last book creating need for next book. I googled book reviews and picked 3. Short story today I called local big box book seller who said she had those 3 in her hand for my pick up down in St George. And today was 33% savings on hardcovers on those books. Drove down to ST George to pick up books. Reason to sleep out at Santa Clara  staging for a ride here tomorrow.

I stayed at the corral for 3 nights and days. I relied on 1 solar panel to capture sufficient energy to charge my camper batteries. This summer a new controller was installed which is bluetooth for me to see the batteries capacity. one night I neglected to read the charge wishing enough juice to power the heater and fridge. I woke chilly and the heater flashing red LEDs. I cleared the fault and the heater lit for few seconds then quit and flashed codes. The fridge joined in with its fault code. I surmised no electric, solution was to start the cold diesel and allow to run for 30 mins. Fridge restarted telling me low voltage. I left to propex off as the blower sucks energy. Outside temp is in 20s, inside maybe low fifties. Back up is cat heater that I commanded to send warmth. Only  the pilot light would light but not open the valve for heat. I applied percussive persuasion to no avail, valve would not open. I shock out my down sleeping bag and covered my bed with it. I gave the heater another go, this time the valve opened and I set it on high. Doesn’t use electricity. The forced hot air heater produces more enjoyable heat. In the morning I checked battery voltage that was sufficient, Batteries seem to take charge so they are not toast. The next 2 nights the batteries remained strong meet the needs of full time consumption of fridge and maker of heated air.

I mix the tech trail pieces with more pedaling pieces for rides, 1 ride pedal, next a bit more upper body effort. The Hurricane Cliffs trails offer that mix.

Tomorrow is the chunk of Santa Clara trails of Barrel Roll.

Next stop is Sedona. On the way there I plan on riding the trails outside of Kanab that I passed on my way here. OTE guy told me of new trails outside Page similar to Church Rocks fossilized sand dunes that I will ride. Two new to me trails. Then Sedona for New Years.

Lesson in life learned in first grade. Classroom had a restroom. To use it you would raise your hand, the teacher would call on you and ask you what’s up. ” Can I go to the restroom”? No, you can not she would reply as I am sure you are able, you must ask permission then you can go. Having the ability meets permission. I think this explains my riding funk. My brain makes promises based on my ability to ride but body controls permission to ride. My body’s vote share has been increasing such that rides are becoming shorter and more risk adverse. I don’t have to ride every day.

Yesterday I drove down to Santa Clara to ride Barrel Roll. Parked at bottom, first pedal stroke was uphill. Catch trail to BLM trailhead. Today I backed off on effort and discomfort as I stopped for several blows where last year I rode non stop. Rode Precipice which in places hangs on edge hence the name. Many rock features to surmount. I have been gaining confidence in the bike and my ability to keep both it and my body under control. I learned an exercise to strengthen hips that I have been doing almost daily for several years which has added climbing strength such that I was able to motor up and over most of the problems on Precipice. Picked up Barrel Roll which has more features strung together that ability and permission were in accord for me to walk. Attention focused. Demanding short ride.

Monday was chiro foot treatment, issue is / are several bones in my foot don’t move per drawing. DR treatment helped but did not break those bones loose. He suggested rolling a golf ball under my foot, size of ball puts pressure in the joint versus larger ball I was using that just bridges joint, Like riding a 26″ vs a 29ner. Still not proper movement. Walking is still uncomfortable.

Spent last 2 nights down at Quail Creek spot at 2,700′, even lower than town of Hurkin and warmer. Warm enough for the heater to  shut off when set temp is reached. First night I woke sweated up under single down blanket layer. When heater shuts down the blower stops eliminating its noise. Quiet. I await the heater igniting which it does now all the time. I have memories of ignition problems of the past that raise concern on igniting.

66 degrees at 2:17PM. Hot. No ride today. two trail systems can be ridden from anchor spot at Quail, both are more demanding than permission given. Difficulty is both technical and exertion. I don’t need to ride even the lesser difficult trail.

I queried ANGI for house builder, 2 have called me so far. I have a well estimate. I am working to commitment to have house built this summer.

Forecast starting Fri is for greater probability of precip. But so does Sedona.  An ordered book is scheduled to arrive on the 27th so I remain here for its arrival.

Weather conditions here in Hurkin have been low 40s to 60s. And no recent precip. I wanted to ride trails S of Cedar City which sits at almost 6,000′ which about 3,000′ higher than Hurkin. I watched their forecast that called for temps in 50s towards the weekend. I figured that trails would be free of any snow. Enough for me to drive up there yesterday driving htrough La Verkin and Torquerville then on to I 15 N which right off the exchange had a 3rd  lane for slow rigs. Big climb on interstate. Followed google maps directions to trailhead and Pyramid Ridge campground on BLM land.

I am repeating a previous visit. First off the sign at campground read camping by reservation only, not the previous way of paper work. I can write a check faster than navigating the recreation web page. I see benefit of electronic reservations showing campground choices and reserving chosen site. This site displayed every campsite and its status. I sought a level site that I could point nose into morning sun. The site I wanted did not show but nobody showed up. Leveling blocks established level per air bubble.

Chilly 40s, not 50sasforecast. I picked up trail from back of van, not the TH. Intention was to ride Turnpike, a N / S traversing trail to its northern end to climb up Lichen It to descending high point along ridge to drop back down to short piece of Turnpike, same as previous ride. This time I rode over scattered patches of refrozen snow holding bike tracks. I did a traction check learning that tire might hold. I chose lines that maximized balance. I was worked. Tread was firm.

As I rode I started seeing more snow where I believed I would be riding. At the N end I saw a BLM sign to effect don’t ride trails from 12/1 to a spring date I didn’t note. Me riding a closed trail isn’t my way. Signed trails that is. More snow and sign solidified decision to return same way. I checked out TH and saw the standalone posted same sign. Maybe 10 other people walked or biked the trail. I paid for the site before learning the above. I paid for the site so I spent then night.

Morning temp outside was low 20s, inside low 50s. I checked the sink water temp which was in 40s. Heater is a heat exchanger that can only put so many BTUs into circulating inside air and runs all night. My doubled over summer weight down blanket has been loosing loft, esp at my feet. Sewn thru baffling is meant to keep down located. The body perspires to keep skin moist, that moisture moved into blanket dampening the down. I needed warm feet. Back in Hurkin I ran the blanket in laundromat dryer for 45 mins on low heat. Restored loft is lacking. Plan B was to buy replacement. Googled same maker, sale price, always spend $ to save $.

Back in Bend I hiked up Pistol butte. My left foot clicked, bone movements, that previously would return to proper alignment. This hike no return movement leaving me with chronic pain in that foot. In Moab I sought PT as trying soft tissue correction first. One visit gave me several stretches that I performed as prescribed. Some reduction but still pain with every step. Another PT session here in Hurkin working soft tissue. Therapist worked the foot creating several pops indicating joint movement. Much better. I called a local chiro where I am an established patient, he works on feet. I’m down for a Mon morn foot adjustment hoping for eliminating the pain. I choose not even to hike, just walk as required.

So, I’m anchored here until all shipped items are picked up then until trail conditions deteriorate. 75 degrees, sunny, no wind. Temp at van ceiling is 86 with door open. It’s 3:19PM, sundown is 5:17. Soon solar warmth diminishes and air turns chilly like right now. Going to shut slider door to capture warmth.

Thurs I rode a rocky part of Rim trail. I relish the suspension with my pedaling hooking up the rear wheel for traction and forward motion. And properly placed pedal strokes.

Bikes data:

Bike                                             first ride date             last ride date            # of rides            Mileage

Turner 5Spot                               3/2014                              4/16                          192                   2366

Turner RFX                                 3/16                                5/21                            1151                 16,113

Revel Rail                                     6/21                                not yet                       491                    6339

That’s per Garmin data reporting.