My typing skill is better than hunt and peck, I know where the keys are but my eyes still need to see them. My speed is better than glacial. My mind works faster than my fingers can find the keys. I have watched typists hitting the keys right along with my words. Maybe their comments. So, I use slowness as creation avoidance. I am sitting at the former outlet mall consuming time to arrival of Zags ist round game.

Last weekend was Sedona Mountain Bike festival attended by umpteen thousand best friends. Open day was Friday after snow had been cleared from walkways. And weather was shitting cold, blowing, and wet, I was warm and dry down here. I did go up Sat arriving at gate 30 mins prior to 10 AM opening. I learned that Turner would be exhibiting his titanium hard tail bikes and I wanted to visit. As I approached his booth we eye locked and called each other by name then started connecting. Found l-9 booth chatted with David and the owner, Clint. Then I just walked around observing and chatting. Brandon and Forest from Freehub mag. Spent the night in town at Doug’s.

Sunday Doug, Leia, and me hiked over to trail named Skidmark so named as a steep slickrock descent ended abruptly onto a wheel suck. Years ago Danny lead me on this hike while I was recovering from broken collar bone. Trail over to it is like a climbers way trail. Skilled scrambling ability. mid afternoon hike, just great weather and conditions to spend outside.

Monday Doug said lets ride as his shoulder was happy. Dry Creek area. Again we encountered less than 10 people. Another ride was on Mescal where many more than 10 to share the trail. Riding out here is at bottom of climbs, trails we ride are mostly contour. Just 2 liners are hung to dry meaning same number of rides from last Thurs laundry.

Yesterday I rode down here on system  trails with elevation. FS built full Single Track  Bypass which parallels heavily used Bell Rock Pathway. Nice rideable trail that attracts foot traffic. This trail is mountain bike rider focused as it plays with contour of land versus a point to point trail like Bell Rock. Still pass on Llama problem, I’m saving myself for Steve to spot me when he arrives first of month.

Last 3 weekends were wet, last 2 snow. Enough precip filled shallow pits on dirt track out to preferred spot off beaverhead. I knew enough to stay away to allow sloppy puddles dried up. I still drove over slime spots. So nice to be out in desert where I don’t cover windows, full sun to recharge batteries, sunset view, no traffic noise. Just how I like to live. Albeit web signal is weak 2 bar.

Oh, I did rebuy the Suunto Peak 9 time piece. I printed the 66 page PDF manual. Device pairs with phone via Bluetooth. I am acquiring skill to understand its workings which for me is good mental effort.

Time piece indicates time to be moving in direction of short walk over to PJs to watch the Zags.

Daylight savings time is rejected in Arizona. The sun did come up however. Arizona is now Pacific daylight savings meaning 3 hours behind the east coast. Zags semi final game on Monday is played in Las Vegas and televised here at 9:30 PM tomorrow night. I will prolly be the only patron at PJs during the game time.

Previous Thurs was extremely windy. Forecast for Fri called for precip starting as rain then turning to snow. Fri morn while laying in bed putting off starting my day I heard the spliffs of rain which shortly changed to big wet snow flakes which fell for most of the day. I stayed hunkered down inside the entire day but for a wet walk over to Oak Creek espresso for coffee and a sit down. Clouds blocked solar gain to charge batteries but I ran the engine for 30 mins for power boost. Heater ran all day. Thurs night I looked at propane gauge which indicated I would need refueling early sat morn. I worried that the tank would run dry during the night, if through the night then sometime during bfast. Propane kept the heat on and cooked my oatmeal and heated water for cleanup. I buy propane at Ace up in W Sedona, store opens at 8  AM. I needed to be there at store opening for refueling before running out of propane. Several inches of pure white snow covered red rocks etc, beautiful morning. I arrived at Ace a few minutes before opening. Tank took 5.2 gal, max is 5.6. Propane runs the fridge that burns 24 hrs, the stove when cooking, and the heater when needed.

After fueling I drove up to cultural park for scenery.

Sunshine and low 50 temp returned the white to liquid. Way too wet to ride. Mid afternoon I drove out Verde Valley school rd for a hike in the Transcept area which the sun warms and dries the dirt. I hiked a way trail that I had down hiked from Transcept previously. I walked on several small patches of snow and more wet spots but was mostly dry feet. Later I drove up to Absolute to visit and learn what the rental bikes looked like upon return. Shop had 1 return that I saw and it was very clean, I was told person spent half hour hosing off.

Forecast for last night called for temp at 34, this morning the temp was 28 degrees for a hard freeze not allowing moisture to soak in. This morning at 9:41 Arizona time temp is 57. Trails might be dry enough for ride after lunch. Snow remains on N facing aspects.

Google found a contractor in La Pine. They replied to me to set up a tele call for info. I listened to her info. Their construction price is the lowest so far still in excess of saved $ from my house sale. I have my 401k $ that I will tap to make up the difference. My concern is running out of $ while still alive. But then my $ will prolly outlive me so wrestling with spending for now weighed against having enough for future is a conundrum. I keep putting off proceeding with whole construction as I would have many decisions to make which will take time away from doing what I want. Then my body is wearing down such that riding takes more from me.

Last week I rode just 1 ride which was Rabbit clockwise which is more enjoyable than climbing up the ridge. I still exceed my breathing capacity on the climb but the descent down the ridge is letting gravity pull me over all the rocks. The bike’s suspension inspires confidence by rolling over the bumps.

So this off my to do list. Now letting water absorption determine the rest of my day.

Last Monday I started coming down with a chest cold. I finished my ride on Monday as the hacking started. Hacking became wracking and my temp started rising topping out at 102 degrees on Wed. Fever dropped down to normal mid 97 on Friday. I hunkered down drinking plenty of water and isolating. Cough lessened as week progressed. No appetite. No drive to even walk. I hiked Sat and Sunday finally. Today I am not ready to ride which nasty snow flurry day helped looking out the windows. Tomorrow’s forecast is for riding weather for a lesser stressful ride. Get it done as March coming in  like a lion is in force w/ snow forecast later in the week. Last week during convalesce weather was hot enough for shorts and warm sleeping.

Yesterday I hiked out Turkey Creek area again calling to question my riding prowess as I walked over the rubble my wheels would roll over should my balance be spot on and a full dose of confidence. Area receives few visitors, I did not share a trail.

Hunkered down at former Cultural Park watching snow clouds. So far this winter Flagstaff has received just 8″ of snow, normal is 58. Just no moisture. 41 degrees and windy.