Two nights ago at Indian Springs TH several showers fell propelled by increasing wind velocity. Drove away heading to Price just as headlights weren’t burned. County rds with dirt work farming on both sides of the road. Wheeled equipment preceded me leaving rolled on dirt that made sounds as it struck my sheet metal, road surface was sort of slippery. Length of patch was determined by last mud cast off. At a stop spot I viewed the splatters that would need car wash to remove it. Material was dirt and not feed lot manure. Hit I84 heading east across Idaho interstate driving 70mph in 80mph zones. Windy the van jiggled and I jaggled keeping between the white lines. Highway turned south into north UT then became I15 heading south. Made it thru the greater Salt Lake sprawl easily, little traffic. At southern end a break in the mountains became Hwy 6 to climb Soldier Pass then drop into Price, UT. Well, actual distance was greater than my recall. Again little traffic. Dropped into Price, mid Sunday afternoon.

Above Price is a trail system, original trail is named Luke’s because his owner walked him here and while Luke walked hither and tither he hung marking flags. The trail was bikified becoming part of later hand built trails. I learned this from the owner of Luke when he worked at only bike shop in town. Luke and I exchanged acquaintances. System is on a mesa with finger ridges with drop offs. A length of trail ran a finger hugging the drop off edge. Twisty w/ short sight lines keeps the speed down and attention focused.

Small short height rocks were norm, lots of small suspension action. I stayed at a developed TH with a CXT outhouse. These trails stimulate reflexes keeping attention focused. Location breaks up a drive.

So, concluded short story is I believe one or more of my wheels need to be balanced at Discount for lifetime paid. From Price the last store before Cottonwood, AZ is in Grand Junction, CO, east of Fruita. The vibrations irritate me. Fruita is a jog to the east on I70 which is where I am postponing Moab several days. I also wanted to visit folks at OTE bike shop. I visited with Rebecca and Dave whom I have known for many years, more so now they live here instead of Green Bay and meet somewhere on the road. History with people is important.  I planned on riding out at Mary’s today but my shoulder started louder braking such that pain told me to not beat my body. So last night I went on line and made an appointment earliest was tomorrow at 1:15 in Junction.

Daylight savings time ended during Sat-Sun night. Time zone smacked. Thurs I left OR on Pacific daylight, way east in Or I lost an hour entering Mountain time for Fri and Sat. Sunday night clocks fell back, I lost only 1 hour instead of 2. Mountain Standard.

Temperature is rising as I move south. Moved the cold temp riding clothes to the laundry bag, back wearing shorts and short sleeve jersey.

In Fruita I car washed the van and tree sprayer washed the bike.

Heater is working again, as a result of post title. Tech support from seller said check controller. Which I did that started the title as I disassembled the original controller that was used for original heater. I rendered that controller inoperable. I kept the controller that came with present heater but not the harness. The new controller plug did not connect to existing harness. I worked w/ tech at garage to sequence work to replace the harness and install new controller. Turned control knob to vent that blew air, switched to heat high that signaled heater to ignite which it did and turned on green led. Problem was unhappiness between the brain and the machine. Now adjusting to forced air  thermostatically regulated heat.

That was Wed. Thurs. morn I strung the cable across my driven in access to my land signifying I have left. Drove to Bend, did my wash, bought another loaf of gluten free bread.

Now, Sat morn, S of Kimberly,ID to ride Indian Springs with Steve who is driving down from Bellevue. Warmer here.

Short report, more later as typing this on my phone and need to prepare for first ride off Bend’s trails. Cows effect.

8:18 Mountain time, daylight savings ends tonight. Gain the hour I lost crossing into mountain time from Pacific.

Before Steve’s arrival at 10:43, 2 mins before his stated 10;45 plan, I set off for a preride of close piece of trail that went over exposed bedrock. I walked this piece yesterday and thinking about riding it. Terrain adjustment after months of riding pumice and under tree cover. I successfully rolled a step up and let the suspension handle the irregular rock blobs. I gained confidence. Rode without my pack which was an unnatural feeling.

Steve pulled in. We completed preride get ready. Our route at the start was traverse on Sweet and Low to Dry Gulch to climb up to Snakeskin then going down Backdoor and Switchback. We pedaled away. Good firm dirt and no cow shit.

Exit out of the Gulch was Snakeskin which we might have taken. Navigation problem as there is little bike traffic tread wear. I lead the first miss as we had left Snakeskin onto a very faint social trail. We back tracked till finding real Snakeskin. Crossed the road then turned down Upper Sugarloaf. Recent tracks, few riders. Steve led somewhere we missed the trail, each of us consulted digital trail location. We rode untracked pieces that others had taken other trails. We rode up, over, down, over, etc Switchback which was reality: many purpose built switchbacks.

Ride was 14.9 miles climbing 1519′ pedaling for 2 hrs 27 mins.

Steve chose to miss a time commitment which he told me that he was 1 hr 1/2 late and we were a long ways back. Brief post ride visit and he headed back up wood River Valley. I drove into Kimberly for sink water, drink water, and groceries. Local gas station attendant allowed me use of kitchen faucet. Then returned to TH for the night.

Plan is to leave here early to drive thru Salt Lake mess on Sunday with different traffic and on to Price to ride trails above town then spend the night. Monday head to N Klondike of Moab trails.

I arrived Bend area on June 12 into Ponderosa Pine forests etc. Under tree cover, short sight lines. I rode here to day in the wide open after 5 months covered up. Sagebrush is prominent vegetation that trails negotiate, tread sight line is short. I have ridden here many times over the years. Reintroduction to technical riding.

Van made a gallon of diesel last for 27 miles from Bend to Ontario, OR. Highway 20 driving.

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Previous 40 degrees was a heat wave. Sat AM temp was 16 degrees. The water vapor from cat heater solidified on inside of windshield, not vapor but ice. Sat day temp was closer to 30 degrees. I could ride but I could also hang in environmentally  controlled spaces. Sunshine, as day progressed, solar gain  lessened the bite. Made it a rest day. College football, Buckeyes of OSU played later in day, listened to game on XM.

Life lesson: resort bars cater to visitors who spend day away from resort then return later. I pass the 7th mountain resort on way out of town. Sat I finally stopped in with anticipation of socializing and watching a football game. I was only patron but did get pick of which game on which TV. The bartender and I traded self help conversations. Stayed for an $11 glass of bottle wine. Back out to rd 41 spot catching late afternoon warmth, as sun lowered in the sky the temp dropped.

Sunday forecast called for high 40s warm enough for a ride. At wake up time temp was 16 degrees out, 54 inside. Humidity  was 54 % from heater. Again solid ice on windshield. Sunshine.

PT Dave spoke highly of riding conditions at Swamp Wells east of town where I had not ridden this visit. Last year I rode there on trails that were dry and loose. Not enjoyable. He said trails were solid. OK, I will go experience them myself. Driving heading east with bright sunshine in my eyes. Arrived at TH, temp was just 31 degrees, temp would only climb per forecast and solar gain. I was there. OK. Knickers, knee socks, wool t-shirt, heavy wool jersey, wind shirt, and new winter riding gloves. Stuck my head outside for breath check: no cloud. I would be chilly until muscle contractions warmth made the bite be a memory. Tread was firm for sure, not dusty. Rode up Swamp Wells trail which climbs, P Pine tree cover. Pedaled for solid hour before stopping for a clothing break to remove t-shirt. Scattered patches of snow in plant shade but not on trail. Trail continued climbing as were the increasing frequency of snow patches now that were on the tread.

Riders had preceded me perhaps just after snow had fallen several days ago so I was not making fresh tracks. I remembered the trail still climbing to a traverse across the face of Kelsey Butte. The tread became snow covered. Made hairpin turn on the face.

Self inflicted mental angst from earlier safety meeting made riding on the snow scary for fear of sliding out fall. I kept my wheels on the ridden in track. I linked small bare ground patches for braking. I never tested my traction limit, I knew trail would loose elevation out of snow, I just had to stay on top of my bike. Back on brown dirt.

I paid attention to ceanothus bushes that their leaves were slightly curled upwards, adjustment to cold and no water to freeze.

Beautiful day. Lower sun, fewer hours of light. I became antsy as the return trail was still a ways away. The intersections were marked with FS signs that I had yet to see. There were no social trails for confusion. The trail kept going away from comfort of van. I could not have missed the return that could have meant more climbing and snow cover. I rode pieces that I remembered so I was still heading  correctly. Whew, hit intersection, now 2 hours of solid pedaling. Return was mostly downhill with the sun at my back. I was on way to home.

23.1 miles climbing 1955′ pedaling for 3 hrs 11 mins. Average heart rate was 127, 1 beat into anaerobic zone. Spent 1 hr 57 mins in 80 to 90 % effort. Temp at van was 61 degrees facing sunshine. Once out of sun temp hit 48 degrees. I encountered just a few riders, non heading in my direction. Riders were climbing up what I was coasting down.

Returned to Bend for propane, pot, and groceries then back to rd 41 spot. Forecast for today is increasing warmth that I will wait for before riding prolly my last Bend ride. Sunshine has melted ground frost, 27 degrees on way to forecasted 56. Tonight’s low is up to 30 degrees.

Cat heater raises humidity to almost 50% which is higher than outside.

Tomorrow is new suspension, Wed is new heater install. Thurs is laundry here then on the road west and south to Moab.