before sunup the winds blew violently rocking me and the van. A few sprinkles, the wind died down, the sun came out and the temp shot up into the 50s. Mostly clear skies.

Hung @ OTE for an afternoon ride allowing as much time for evaporation while getting the great part of the day for riding. While waiting for the right time a guy walks in. We learn his name is Grant and he is from Canmore, BC down on a riding exploration for a place to hang late this winter. Dave, Quentin, & I engaged him conversation. Dave & I  invited him on our Church Rock ride.

Grant is a chemist. I asked him to explain relative humidity. Short answer: the dryer the air and the higher the temp the greater the evaporation. The desert lacks the vegetation of say the leafed out deciduous trees on the Appalachians which transpire ground water up into the air drying the ground. There is more moisture there than here. Ever been in a humid desert?

Met up w/ Dannie, a local rider riding by herself. We globbed her on. Fund day riding pieces of slick rock. I rode a few more places today. Confidence and days of healing are liberating my reticence.

Yesterday was Over the Edge (OTE) bike shop’s 2 year anniversary. Dave wanted to throw a party for the store after our ride. He had a non Utah bottle of wine and he wanted to share it at the shop. We crashed the store and enlisted a receptive Quentin to the party. I provided munchies for Dave, Quentin, Dannie, and myself. We saluted the anniversary. Party was opened to public, we were it. Dave said that red wine & chocolate taste good.  I Bought a bag of  baking chocolate chips, 63% cacao. Wine was gone. I mentioned that chocolate & scotch taste good. Dave concurred. I brought out Scotch. The chocolate was gone before the scotch was corked.

Enjoyed hanging here. I would like to glob onto other riders going to Gooseberry & Little Creek. Weather is warmer & dry. Want to ride more of the trails before I leave.

Back @ same parking lot.

Grant & I are going to ride part of Hurricane Rim tomorrow. Should be snow free and mostly dry.

Yesterday afternoon I saw Invictus, theater was about 1/2 full, one of the miniplexes. Line was formed for next show when our show finished. Message to me: the oppressed come to power and forgive  the oppressor and integrate them into new elected leadership of Mendella. I am not a critic, I offer my like of it.

Back in Hurricane for hi speed connection using OTE wireless except computer wouldn’t recognize. Slow night.

Drove up to Hurricane rim th which is on an overlook of town, get great view of scrap yard. Temp was 37 and snowing. Back in town @ my sleep spot it was 31.

Quiet night w/ less business traffic. Snowing trending to rain. No ride today. Decided that I would hike a bunch of miles on the rim trail. Headed out in fog low clouds. Misting. I am experiencing precipitation in the desert. Hiked to mile marker 5 in hour 37 mins. Still good bit of 3 inches of snow still there, w/ varying depths. Another rider rode over my tracks. he made it to mile 4 1/2 before turning around. He rode a bit more than me. All by myself.

Zags play this afternoon on FSN. Checked out sports bar in town but they didn’t buy the coverage package. Back to OTE to use wireless. Hung in shop until game time. Watched it on my computer inside my tepid van. Didn’t have to buy food w/ my scotch.

Weather forecast is for rain / snow mix into Sun night then turn sunny, dry, & warm. Take several days to dry trails & access roads out. I will stay here a few more days to let weather clear.

Sealing job appears to have stopped the leak.

yesterday I rode w/ Dave & Monte @ church rocks, my first challenging ride. I walked some spots still. Confidence is getting better. Chilly clear day. Some mud, no snow on trails. A couple of deep red sand traps that we walked thru. Sucking up riding patches of sandstone while it lasts.

Too soft to be staying @ Jem th. Still sleeping in town parking lot. This AM a tractor trailer was parked behind me waiting to get deliver to a customer. There might have been a disconnect between the 2. I experienced the driver starting the noisy diesel and letting it run for several minutes & then shutting it off. I suspect he was keeping warm.

Last Monday during the rain before snow watewr leaked in around the exhaust fan. Today I visited Mike Duffy again. His helper smeared some good sealant all around vent & over S’ patch. Thank goodness I am not worried about weight or aerodynamics.

Today Clint Eastwood’s new movie Invictus opens. I am in a movie theater parking lot waiting the 4:15 showing.

I visited the book store hoping to find the tattoo woman to no luck.

Snow is still forecast for area. Next week the temps come back up to 50s.

Blood pressure is way down low 115 / 70.  Heart rate on ride yesterday is still too high. Not getting riding in because of weather. Cold is OK it is the wet trails that tires mess up.