Outside temp dropped to 32. I slept w/ the down blanket doubled over just about right.

While camped out in desert on Beaverhead flat road I was feasted on by some biting insects that left itchy welts on my lower legs and arms because they were not covered. I even have several on my bald spot when my hat was off. Everyday they receded and itch less. Glad to be up in the colder climes where the mosquitoes have not appeared and perhaps won’t due to scarcity of standing h2o.

Drug my feet waiting for sun to warm things up. Replaced chain @ 360 miles hoping that the cluster gears had not stretched. During the hard steep climbs the chain did not skip, however, there is gear wear, perhaps the chain will wear to the gears before replacing both.. again. I have ridden 3200 miles & spent $4400 on bike stuff, more than a dollar spent per mile ridden. I have a great bike set up that is now a joy to ride.

Rode from camp later in AM. 2 guys caught me. Later we chatted and Matt, the local offered suggestions that modified my ride plan for the better shorter. The terrain reminds me of places in the WA Cascades. Mixed P-pine & Doug fir.

I will probably stay here a few more days here. the riding is good but is like most of the western mtn rides. Hiking trails, twisty, narrow, rocky, etc. I got to thinking about what keeps me in a place after several rides with the anticipation of something different the next ride? Here is a relief from constant tough technical @ Sedona, here I can spin and negotiate rocks where Sedona was mostly all movable rocks all the time. This is a brain vacation.

Misplaced my hat this afternoon. Perplexed as to where I left it, fear aquacenter shower room. Brain fart.

Met John where I am camped. He runs bike tours during the winter in S AZ. He is in the slow season and is camping back out of the way and riding thru the summer heat. Desert Storm disabled vet.

Gracie left a voice message that among other things she fixed the dinner I fixed for her for visiting friends and it was a success. I can fix it in my galley.

Off to other things

Dateline: Flagstaff,AZ

Up & at it early & drove North and climbed to Flagstaff. I chose to drive S to I-17 instead of driving holiday weekend traffic up the canyon going North. Sedona sits around 4000′ & change, Flagstaff is 7200′. Climbed out of desert and into mixed open P-pine & Doug fir. Flagstaff is a sleepy town of 55,000 plus. Not a tourist stop but it is on RT 66.

GPSd Absolute Bikes for ride & map info, arrived before opening. There was no sign stating today’s closure. GPSd grocery store while I waited. Back @ shop a young rigid single speed rider gave me maybe 3 days of riding out here @ Dry lake Hills area. Primitive camping also.

Drove to informal TH and parked amid 9 other rigs. Saw broken window glass in several places which generated concern and caution. A guy said hello and asked questions about my van. I am the tourist trap. He told me that Rocky Ridge is an ok uphill instead of recommended road ride. I took his word & headed out.

Rocky Ridge is its namesake. The rocks here are blobs of embedded, round, grippy shapes. I made more than I would have made last week but still walked several. The new bars make me sit up straighter which lightens up the front end which allows for easier front wheel lofting. Also my head is up so I can see further down trail.

Dropped out on rugged 2 wheel drive road to climb the rest of the way. Seems like the climb took just over an hour & climbed 1500′, just like the ol’ west rides: Get the climb in on a road and then downhill on ST. What a view from ridge. This area rises solely from desert below. Trail has dirt on it and more rocks. The trail snaked between some pretty tight pinch spots like derailleur snappers. I scraped thru a spot and thought I ripped the derai… . but no.

A guy was riding up trail as I was going down. He looked familiar, yes he is, he rode on the shop ride yesterday in Sedona. He and his female friend are Aussies over here on business and they tacked on a week of bike riding vaca. He asked if I was following him. T-storm had been threatening. They were on their way up into it and I was going down away from it. I put on my rainjacket when I felt serious sprinkles. A little while later they caught up w/ me and we enjoyed the technical rocks the rest of way down.

I missed debriefing w/ the Seattle guy after yesterday’s ride. At first during the ride he was quiet like he was accessing a comparison w/ what he knows for rides. And then he became verbose. Oh, well, I told him.

Temp dropped up here, forecast is for 37 degrees. No outside shower and probably down comforter sleeping. Great sleeping. Cold enough almost for knee warmers.

Will ride from camp tomorrow. rented a movie from red box for this evening’ distraction.

Excitement of another shop ride woke me early. Made it to ride on time.

Mtn Bike Heaven, Roma, the owner leader, Sponge Bob & Amp whom I met @ Fruita, several other riders from last Sunday. Dean bailed early. Larger group today. Soil was “alive” after 2 days of good rain, some mud holes, some places standing h2o. More of same Sedona shop rides: who knows where we were but they do. Enjoyed bike set up.

Out of towner, flew in from Seattle. Told him of my opinion of the riding here that it is unique. It took him awhile but he caught on. Water ran red mud color.

rode 21 miles & 2377′ in 3 1/2 hours riding time but maybe 5 hours out. Not as hot today. Knowledgeable people stop in shade. Here there are junipers a bit taller than head high that offer shade. A favorite trail is a wash w/ rocks, ledges, some small trail away for a problem & then back in. One was maybe 14′ deep and a bit wider than handlebar and it was serpentine w/ a climb thrown in.

I have ridden in 45 states 220 rides, I put Sedona at the top of a special heap, this is just such unique riding. There is a myraid of trails, most not mapped, no sustained climbs, lots of technical challenges, sketchy trails, desert w/ shade, trails are rough hand built, not as well made as Black Canyon, red color, some slick rock, lots of moving rock, drops & roll overs, glad to trust 5.5″ travel up front (Kudos to PUSH who tuned shock so that I get all but 1/8″ of shock travel w/ no bottoming out, front fork likewise). Cactus and slime tubes. Hook up w/ locals for real ride. Could spend more days riding here. Great potential for wintering.

Did wash. Dashed back to camp amid sprinkles & wind to take outside shower before rain. Showered but no rain.

Busy area this eve. Ranger made round trip but didn’t stop. 2 cars are back there tent camping.

Too many tourists. Encountered way many on trails.

Tomorrow is Flagstaff for several days. It is @ 7000′, back in  elevation mode form 4000′ here.

Clean body for clean flannel sheets, life’s simple pleasures.

My legs are chewed up from desert pokey things and these little biting gnats that leave welts.