wet days in Sedona

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Yesterday was a shower quest. I headed W on rt 89 towards Cottonwood. Didn’t travel far before I came upon an RV park, not a resort. Got a shower for $5.00. Continued into Cottonwood to see what it was about. Seems to be a bedroom borough to Sedona what w/ Walmart & a big Fry’s grocery & home depot. Continued on loop to Camp Verde. Checked an RV park who said insurance was too high to offer non guest showers, however the guy gave me a recommendation. Checked them out, nicer RV park but want $10.00. Finished loop driving back N on I-17 to Sedona exit. I was told that Hilton day spa sells day passses. Found the place , walked in & started chatting w/ a guy @ desk. Finally asked for day pass, no what i really wanted was just a shower. Oh, he said, see me on my shifts and I will let you in for 30mins for free. Score. He’s off @ 1:00. I will show up towards end of his shift someday and be introduced to next shift person to see if he will honor the permission. It is S of Oak Creek below B & B.

Hung @ B & B and then drove up canyon to uptown Sedona. Window shopped, bought ice cream cone made localally. Very tasty.

Back @ Deer pass. Went for a walk under threatening skies. Made it back b4 clouds opened up and poured. Rained until 10:00 anyway, sometimes really pounding on roof. Patching held again. Rain quit during night.

Wed is a shop ride. I bailed because I was sure the trails would be just too wet. I took pics today, unfortunately some were into the sun. Hung in a parking lot in West Sedona and did computer work. I looked up and saw Rama & Doug riding by on the way back to MBH. They appeared to be free of mud. Darn, I could have ridden.

I walked to MBH to talk to Rama. His shop was locked up. I was leaving when i heard my name and saw Rama in the doorway of the restaurant across the side street from his shop. I joined him, Doug, & Kenny while they refueled on better food than Burger King. Rama validated me by inviting me on a torturous ride outside Phoenix late this month. I’ve been made!

Stopped @ Oak Creek brew pub for a 14 oz.

Forecast for tonight and tomorrow is for heavy rain. I am camped on more gravelly surface and believe that the h2o will perk so that I am still able to drive out. Sedona appears to be just a tad low for rain to be snow. Rama invited me on a snow ride tomorrow @ 6AM if it does.

Back @ Deer Pass w/ a full load of provisions in case I get rained in. Might see some real gully washers.

Waiting on bike parts to arrive @ B & B.

They predicted it and it came

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Rain that is, desert life. Looking west from camp I watched the rain clouds come in b4 I felt rain. Temp was 34, not far below snow level. I am camped @ 4080 or so. Forecast is for rain all week w/ 2 days calling for heavy rain. Sunday offers sunshine but I was told that there is rain coming in next week also. Trails are sandy w/ some clay some places, either way the trails need a day of clear weather b4 riding. Moves riding here into next week perhaps on new Spot.

Drove back into town. Found a bakery for wonderful fat pill baked  good and real NY bagels. Scored today.

Sealing of the roof appears to be keeping me dry.

Hung @ B & B, skipped the spa. Tomorrow. Today I read on CNN of a drs explanation of why older people might take a bath once a week and why it is OK. Some infrequent bathes is caused by senility in that a person forgets when last bath was and why need one now. DR said as long as   a person wears clean clothes and washes off apparent dirt infrequent bathing is ok. DR didn’t address old custom of once a week bathes typified by pioneers and early settlers. I have weaned myself from once a day shower. I do like one after a ride but I miss out in colder weather because it is too cold for outside or there is not one close by. I have driven some miles for a shower.

Jason @ bike shop said that if you boil bike brake pads for 5 miles  and that’s all there is.you can regain ~ 70% of stopping power after the pads are contaminated. And that the Nevegal tire is a piece of crap. I’m nuetral, because I have them now doesn’t make me a defender of them. But when enough side lugs fall off I will accept their replacement tire.

Drove up canyon beyond Sedona early evening. Along the way i recognized places I have ridden high up on peaks. Someday I’ll take pictures from the down looking up. And the peaks that are based in the valley have snow on them. Freezing level is to drop not quite to Oak Creek where B & B is. I can stay out of the snow by driving down canyon.

Letting the rain put my riding on hold is ok for recovery. My left rotator cuff is bothering me from perhaps the stiches fall as I twisted around. The wound is more painful on bumpy downhills.

received comment from Sam in Brevard, NC at his shop, The Hub. He said he is expanding so business was good enough?

Off to watch Inglorious Basterds

Another ride day in Sedona

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Quiet night in parking lot.

Drove to MBH for Sunday shop ride @ 10:30 or there abouts. Tim, John, & Kevin & rode w/ b4; Mike joined who is known by others. That’s it. Beautiful day short sleeve jerseys and shorts w/ leg protection. A bit of riding around in the desert seeking this new trail and found it. I exceeded the tire sandstone friction and slipped out in a soft fall. New trail dropped us onto Bike way main trail and then onto st why west of town. Mike said he knew this trail that was up the hillside that would lead into other trails. We hopped a 4 strand barb wire fence and rode thru desert to base of hill and then hike a biked our way upwards among the prickly pear and juniper trees. We hit the trail Mike knew about. Safety meeting to celebrate, the results were disastrous for the rest of my ride. I lost the fine muscle control to finely balance and then just brain farts missing a move. The riding speed is normally about walking speed, sometimes a less technical section for recuperation. I fell behind when i walked a section but would catch back up on the less techy stuff. Again, this is pretty technical riding.

Trails are between the last houses and the steepness of the sandstone buttes. The higher up normally the more technical. The guys ride big hit bikes, my Spot all mtn bike is light weight. It walks better than their heavier bikes.

Wash cloth wiped the sweat & dust off me. Drove to Oak Creek tap room for a Nut Brown Ale and watch a little football. One beer and I was bound for the desert camp.

Haven’t been sleeping well that last several nights in spite of the hard rides. Feeling tired.

Forecast for this week is rain all thru;  past mid week forecast is for possible heavy rains. Need a shower, might try the Hilton spa if it rains.