Use it until it no longer works then seek repair. Today was my long anticipated and dreaded ortho appointment here in ST George. At the office X-Rays were taken of different poses that the examining  professional read and interpreted to me. I have useful range of motion and a gap exits between the ball and socket of my shoulder which indicates presence of cartilage. Told that as long as it works, don’t mess. He said damage has been done and I am not hurting the joint all things considered. He gave me handout for shoulder health as in strengthening and stretching that I will get after. This result contrasted  with Bend DR who just checked arm strength and not the X-ray views the ST George clinic did. I am choosing this result that does not require a 6 month recovery period and I a able to live with present condition. Lighter spirits now.

So, after last post I rode 3 straight days. Today finishes a rest day. Friday and Sat I rode the Hurricane Cliffs area and Sunday rode long Prospector and Church Rocks loop. Saturday was 20.3 miles. The Hurricane Cliffs trails present length and difficulty choices, I kept lengthening this ride when choice presented itself. Pedaled for 2 hrs 45 mins with no body pains. Sunday, another excellent weather condition day I was back on same trails linked differently or additional ones,

Sunday I rode Prospector from N end from Leeds out then a loop around Church Rocks and returned same way.  Prospector is a popular trail for horses as seen by 2 developed horse trailheads. The  N part becomes gooey once wet, and from the intersection with the side trail from the second TH the tread is sand mixed in with rock and is a good to ride when the cliffs are wet. I wanted a pedal day by riding from N end. 15.5 miles pedaling for 2 hrs 9 mins. Again body cooperated.

I rode here today because I wanted to versus it being the only choice.

Chilly nights that heat loss from the van is greater than the heat out put of now performing heater. Like low 50s at sliding out of bed time. I have been parking the nose of the van to catch morning solar gain. I have been shaded by geographical features that delay the desired warmth. I bundle up in the morning, even wearing sheepskin booties until the sun warmth heats me up then I remove layers. Life in my van.

More aches and damaged body parts to deal with. Using the time here for their attention.

Planning on driving up to Cedar City tomorrow for 2 days of riding returning for Thurs PT treatment on my left foot that sends pain signal each time weight is placed on it. Body damage.

So I can’t lick them I will belittle the rider. Mbikes are motorized, riders on them are lazy by letting machine do the hard work. I call them LM for Lazy Motor. I have been seeing these riders not being the sales pitch of older or with disabilities riders. I watched 4 riders “pedal” up Dead Ringer creating a dust plume. I am waiting for deluge of motorized gravel bikes. People will spend money to reduce or eliminate effort to recreate.

On that note the to be warmed bed is calling.

Overuse rest day. Since Nov 26, Sunday I had ridden 7 days, out of 12 days. Weather here is just stellar for being outside: sunshine, temps in 50s to low 70s. And no precip forecast. No sense of urgency to get it while it’s good.

On Monday I accepted the challenge of driving out to Gooseberry on dirt road that could be big washboard bumpy which was first challenge. Riding Gander trail was secondary. The road had been recently graded to that the van’s suspension and its contents were appreciative. Miles of dead straight sight line passing over short sections of road that grading did not dig out the bumps. Turned on to Gooseberry road that was in better smoother condition. Turned off onto social road first right after crossing cattle guard. I remembered this spot from last time here, maybe back in 2017. Memory revcall was from there up would be nasty crawling. Tomorrow I would pedal up the road for Gander loop.

Tues AM I lingered inside heated van toill solar gain turned off the heater. Trailforks elevation profile showed riding trail from top back to van elevation drop. Over the years I had ridden the trail up and down and also climbing the road to descend. Wonderful road recently graded and nasty rock slabs removed, condition was acceptable to drive van up. Soft dirt climb to Windmill trailhead then out to edge of Gooseberry mesa to upper end of Gander which would for most art hug the edge of the mesa rim. All alone, not even a rig in either of 2 trailhead parking. Gander is a suitable name as it is a male goose and trail is on Gooseberry mesa.

On a previous ride I hooked a handlebar on a tree on the mesa edge that changed my direction of travel to the edge. Hair raising close. Today I noticed many protruding limbs had been sawed off. Blue ability tech features with several being better left unattempted.

12.3 miles climbing 797′ pedaling for 1 hr 57 mins. I would like to ride trail again but road roughness dissuades me.

Spent a second night with hope of riding Wire Mesa the next day should my aching shoulders not be barking at wake up. My left shoulder is now hurting from overuse. The right just always aches. I talked myself into riding Wire as it is just a 7 mile blue loop and is nearby. Again trail runs close to mesa edge when land permits. No pics taken. 7.29 miles all mesa single track climbing 515′ pedaling for 1 hr 6 mins.

My left shoulder needs attention. Being an established patient made seeking attention easier. Medicare requires a physician referral for PT. The Urgent Care providers could write the referral and the PT clinic is part of the group and in same building. I called PT and scored an appointment for this afternoon. The nurse practioner poked her finger on my sore spot then wrote the referral.

I use Trailforks for trail info. On trail description there might be  m-bikes permitted. I read Wire trail info and saw motorized bikes were allowed. I called local BLM office and spoke with staff member who is also a self propelled mountain biker. At present the local office does not allow motorized travel on non motorized trails but they are not enforcing the ban. I encounter many m-bikes on Hurricane Cliffs trails and also Santa Clara trails but there are no signs permitting power assist bikes. I learned that BLM signs the trail to what is permitted, the FS goes the other way only designating not permitted user. I told BLM guy that BLM needs to develop a sticker showing m-bikes are permitted and until that happens those bikes are not permitted. I just don’t understand how much money a rider will pay to recreate without effort. (yes, pedal assist bikes require muscle effort).

On Sunday I rode Hurricane cliffs trails starting and ending at Sheep Bridge road and highway. Excellent weather and nary another rider.

at 2:30PM temp is 71 degrees warm. Today is a warm rest day.

Presently hunkered down near Quail Lake, broken clouds, 47 degrees out, 73 at the ceiling, slight breeze.

Yesterday morning Doug and Leia visited me out at Goulds corral where I spent the night. They are making their way to Sedona from Canada. They arrived Hurricane the day before where we visited into the night, they stayed in their motel room and I drove up to corral. Enjoy their company as we share experiences of being home free. Nice morning sunshine warmth. Weather forecast wanted slight chance of precip, we visited until time came for them to shuffle along and me to go on a ride.

Weather started saying precip coming. I geared up for a shorter ride out Goulds then mesa ride above corral. Chilly enough for knickers and 2 wool tops.

Rake and ride trail tracks along edge of mesa. Across the highway the Dead Ringer trail bench cut on steep hillside is visible, looks scary which it is because of exposure.

View goes on forever:

On the mesa a squall line upwind from me was nearing that but urgency in my return pedal. I raced the squall back to shelter of van. I put the bike on the van then climbed inside, literally moments later precip wetted the windshield. Short lived. Shorter ride also 7.87 miles climbing 548′, pedaling for 1 hr 5 mins, still worked effort.

I changed out of riding clothes then drove down to town, visited OTE to pick up my UPS order of gluten free Happy Camper bread, grocery shopped , then drove to Quail for the night. Stopped at gas station on the way that has local pistachios. Heater ran flawlessly all night.

Wed I parked at same corral staging for a ride and overnight. I pedaled out the road to Sheep Bridge road to pick up JEM trail part way down. Ride went down Chinatown Wash to join Rim trail. Lots of small features to overcome. Bike suspension allows pedaling while suspension rolls over without being bucked. When my engine provides the power. Encountered solo rider who sported gray in his beard. Interesting conversation ensued as we enjoyed each other’s company. I gave him a navigation fact that changed his route. Some miles later we ran into each other again and continued visiting. Both times the stasis cooled my engine. 15.9 miles climbing 1132′ pedaling for 2hrs 6min,average bpm was 121, a workout. Climbed Dear Ringer as seen on above pic.

Settled in for rest of day and night at corral. Thurs morn I started bfast, I had poured coffee water into the saucepan.  I noticed that the green led for the heater had gone out indicating thermostat temp had been reached but heat should have been required. HMMM, heater problem? For check I sparked the lighter to the burner. Nothing. Propane tank was empty. Not yet 7AM, closest propane source would not open till 8. I started the engine for heat then drove down to River Rock coffee shop for coffee, a muffin and warmth. Just after 8 I drove short distance to propane supplier where an attendant and I reacquainted ourselves, such a friendly woman. She and her husband are from Seattle now enjoying desert here, 3 years now, she said they are staying.

My body is wearing out from my lifestyle. My left side parts are now barking as shoulder, thumb, and foot send unhappy signals. I believe I have an allergic reaction to the statin which constricted my throat and breathing. Foot pain happens with every step which lessens enjoyment of walking. PT helped but I wonder if cause is now structural.

Debating whether to ride. Zags game at 8 PM, no sports bars in Hurkin.