Headed out last night w/ plan to drive further up hwy 400 to next road to find a place away from quaking aspen TH. Succeeded. However it was out of cell phone range so i missed my Sunday ride w/ Andy.

Wind died down overnight. Up & at it early. Drove back down to QA TH for ride. Today plan is to do an easy ride for rest of body & knee that still hurts. Putzing around @ TH deciding on ride. Stood at the trail map when a bluebird w/ a beetle in its mouth landed almost @ my feet. What a pretty bird: the blue is iridescent. I got about 10 winks & it flew up into a tree to consume its catch.

Finally headed out on prime Zuni Mtn ST. Kept heart rate down and enjoyed scenery by going slower. Checked out scenic overlook on Lost Lake Rim trail. Looked out over desert plateau to the end of skyline.

Meet Albert & wife Becky, owners of defunct local bike shop. He had comments about his customers.

Crossed a barb wire fence where i hooked a barb into my shorts, almost got hung up.

Back @ TH Blaine was just starting out. He had issues w/ his drive train that I said I could fix if he would get his cluster and call me.

Stopped @ Red Rocks XG for a shower. Host same as before and fee was same.

Back into Gallup to do wash. Gallup has beaucoup laundromats, most are 24 hour along historic rt 66. Clean clothes and bike gear drying on line in back of van. Low humidity assures quick drying time.

Blaine called me as I was walking in the Albertson’s parking lot w/ my hands full. He had the parts and was ready to meet me to install. He arrived, we moved to an abandoned building just off  rt 66. And Jack showed up. We all chatted about our rides and he ribbed me about missing a business permit. He has been reading my blog.

Fixed Blaine’s bike: replaced drive train. He thanked me. Like me long ago he doesn’t know how to work on bikes. But I do now.

Drove thru town on rt 66 to Amerigas parking lot for night. Tomorrow school is in session so I might have an early wake up.

Plan tomorrow is to call PO for pedals and then ride High Desert & then drive to Albuquerque

I am competing w/ Wait Wait don’t tell me.

40 mph gusts, 36 mph average out @ high desert ride. Good trails in desert. Will ride again b4 leaving. Started out w/ sprinkles and hopes that more rain would not fall. I was told that when the soil gets wet it becomes sticky and binds up wheels. No fun, don’t ride. 19 miles, 1939′ climbed. Wind made climbs into head wind hard and dicey on narrow trails. 7000 foot elevation rides like Fruita and Moab Sovereign trails.

Back into town to buy beer. GPSd package store fom trail guide: way out in country, bit of hard neighborhood but it was closed. GPS worked but need screening tool to vet choice.

Stopped @ Safeway for groceries. Parking lot plugged. Walking in parking lot was sporty as many drivers seemed to be using me to sharpen their fine motor skills. Store was more than plugged. There were like maybe 50 people waiting to be checked out. Just too many to even put food on my table tonight. I noticed a laundromat out near ride was plugged. DO all these people come into town on Sats? Might try again later this afternoon to see if the crowd returned home.

Rode w/ these young people @ their local trail that is home to dawn to Dusk ride where you win based on how many laps you ride. The elevation got me on every hill but kept up on flats & downhills. they told me that after their race the trails would be like butter as all the wheels would ride out old ruts and foot  prints. We shortened our ride because of sprinkles. I wore my rain coat and the rain stopped. Later I took the coat off and the sucker hole was long enough to finish ride. 40 mph winds head on to back of van where the road bike was hiding under the rain cover. The bike and rack were moving in the wind. Cover made a perfect wind stop.

Parked just off end of airport runway head into wind and van is still rocking. Why yes, I am alone and I am typing this.

Pedals didn’t arrive via USPS so I am here at least until Monday.

Will probably go back to Quaking Aspen TH for another night of 7800′ elevation sleeping.

Dateline: Gallup, NM

Yesterday I drove out into USFS land to Quaking Aspen TH for local trails. I drove I-40 and exited @ Fort Wingate to drive up into forest. An older white Ford pick up followed me up road and turned in behind me. I’m paranoid for some reason and I think I fouled this dfriver and he followed mw out to settle some unknown score. I get out and start walking towards truck, driver is out walking towards me. i see a bike handlebar sticking over the bed edge and suddenly everything is cool.

Jack introduces himself, he followed me because of my van. He is a local and involved w/ these trails. We strike up a friendly conversation and offers a beer. Beer goes down and conversation goes on. Another midwestern transplant from Wis & has been thru SPokane. He offers a shower for Thurs. eve. I try and talk him in to a ride today to show me the trails but he said he felt he needeed to do house chores as he had ridden the last 3 days.

Another rider was in TH, Blaine, a Navajo Indian. He is havong some bike issues so i helped as i could. He shared some personal stories about spirits and Native Culture. He gave me an Indian weapon carving. He shared w/ me because he knows I am an explorer.

He left and Jack and a buddy show up on their evening ride. I offer beers and they down one & complete their ride.

34 deg in AM. Fridge cut out several times during night because of elevation in excess of 3500′, camped @ 7600′ there abouts.

Bfast @ TH and putzed around waiting for sun warmth. Beautiful day: sunshine, no clouds, no humidity, ride temp in low 70s. A pickup pulls in and a guy gets his bike and splits before  I can ask for a rdie share. I leave a bit later following the well mapped trails thur P-pine & open forest floor, flat desert forest. I catch up w/ rider and ride his wheel for a while before we stopped. Met Doug, 65 yo local. We struck up a conversation & shared the ride. Doud is a tough old codger as he has ridden his road bike self supported just finishing a ride to SC. First rider I have ridden with older than me. he is a bit slower than me and I enjoy the high elevation pace that allows me to sort of breathe. Our trails split but we umplanned rejoined @ Sheet rock stock pen and chatted over snacks. We rode a new trail in system. These trails are mostly scatch & ride. later I learned from Jack that they can ride a trail in in about 6 months.

At the TH Doug said he was going to do another ride up to fire tower and I joined him following his wheel. We climbed the fire tower. Doug is a solitary person like me but we each allowed each other to share our selves. Iasked Doug if he ever thought about writing his adventures and he said no as there are so many other stories already. he invited me over to meet his wife & son & a shower. For another day.

I drove back into Gallup & called Jack to accept his shower offer. His house is SW w/ stucco & adobe. I know that if I ever build another house the inside will be the exposed timber & adobe. More great conversation. he seems to be leaning to a ride tomorrow. He is a grade school teacher and their school is on spring break. Really neat house like i would want. SW architecture.

Drove to Safeway parking lot for a grocery dinner. While eating Brett sees my van and starts up a conversation. He is driving thru and is a mountain biker and wanted to talk. He and his buddy are cooking out on the tailgate in parking lot.

Amazing driving E on I-40: Desert. Exit and climb S and low and behold I am in P-pine forest and no slab sandstone. What a change.

Emailed Stan the writer of the guide book and he replied and invited in several other people & I have a big ride for Sat. Cool.

So, off to drive back up into forest for high elveation acclimation.

Fastly typed competing w/ the clock.