last night before bed I stepped outside my van w/ intent of going to a mall entrance to see if any signs were posted prohibiting overnight parking. And I almost stepped into the path of a security vehicle. Security man said go ahead and stay as he was leaving soon and nobody would be around afterwards so stay. Cool permission granted w/o concern of being rousted.

Drove back to Sportsmobile and waited for solar panel arrival. Susan called manufacture and learned panel wasn’t shipped until Mon and ecd now is Friday. Oh well.

Met owner of Sportsmobile. He and his dad started it 40 years ago. They were the first to convert VW vans into campers! Check out Sportsmobile’s website for used vans. They have a Sprinter like mine w/ their conversion.

Drove to Walnut Creek park and rode what I could put together. At first the trails were marked but then the carsonite markers were removed and I wandered. Hand built trails, some old jeep roads. Some on hard packed clay. Mostly flat, had fun carving turns. Lots of riders coming & going while i was there.

Needed a shower. remembered that bicyclesportshop had a locker room w/ shower. Drove back into downtown to shop. Walked in and looked for a big cheese but didn’t find one so I walked straight to locker room and showered and left store.

Drove back to REI mall parking lot for another stay. Blue bird day, temp in upper 70s w/low humidity but parking spot was still in sun. Walked around mall parking lot looking @ stores. Checked out Whole Foods grocery store. Wow. I’d go bankrupt from all the wonderful food choices.

Fixed dinner and started computer work when a security man called me out. Not same guy from last night. He asked how long I was going to stay and I told him about last night. This guy called his boss and I knew the answer was no. The security man showed me where his land quit and the other started and said that the next property does not have security patrol. So I will move over there shortly.

Another ride in Austin tomorrow, new place to sleep and shower.

Might not make Fruita festival.

Found a mesquite tree that has greater than 1′ long thorns. Somepalces they were backed up w/ a prickly pear cactus. Poison ivy leaves are somtimes lobed loke a sasafras mitten leaf. Stay on the maintained trails.

Turner’s demo bile person emailed me asking for ride ideas around Philly / Baltimore DC areas. City rides for high population density. Sales.

Dateline: Gallup, NM

Jack wasn’t able to ride w/ me.

Plan B is to ride & route find Quasimoto from Qauking Aspen TH where I am camped. At first I thought about riding 2.5 miles on road each way to zero out route description. decided to make the route work starting part way thru ride. Almost all 25.57 miles & 2470′ climb in riding time of 3  hours 40 mins was desert ST. Like just about no tracks until I rode back onto the signed trails from quaking aspen. Ride description was about OK. In places there were no bike tracks. i missed 1 junction & rode inner loop 3 times, outer 2x and reroad main trail. Well laid out ST. After i crossed hwy 400 the trails got interesting and my body started showing signs of excertion & high elevation. Lost track of guide book descriotion. I beleived that if I stayed on trail I would end out @ sheet rock lake and then pick up signed trails back to TH. It worked. tread is mostly soft soil that sucks speed away. Ride beat me. Didn’t run out of h2o but probably should have carried the 100 oz bag vs the 70 ozs. I will for future rides.

Called PO and pedals are not here but PO is open tomorrow.

Called Red Rock SP to inquire about a shower. Was told = $3.00. OK and the XG is close in to gallup for internet access. XG host greats me: gray haired pulled back ponytail & missing some teeth, of indescriminate age greets me. I say i want a shower, He asked if I am staying I say no, just a shower. he gives me the key for free. Washed sweat, sunscreen, & grit off. Getting biker sunburn.

Forecast is for showers & t-storms tomorrow which will rain out ride if rain falls. This clay soaks up h2o & turns into gumbo and hardens casting the bike track in which takes beaucoup days to ride out if ever.

Quick posting to drive back to Quaking Aspen free camping @ 7200′

Ponderosa pine & alligator tree so named because of its bark. Needles are scale like.

Dateline: Austin, TX all day

Noisy night @ dialysis parking lot. Was warm then chilled off and sometime it rained gently and I did not hear it start. Bikes got wet!

Drove short distance to Sportsmobile and turned my van over to them. They allow customers to walk around the shop and I watched work on my van and others. Kevin told me that business is down converting about 4 vans a month from 20 and heads are down accordingly. I am having 2 battery storage containers installed, at least 1 battery, & a solar collector. Holes were cut in the floor for the battery containers. Per RV standards the batteries have to vent to outside. The optional van battery is installed under the passenger’s seat and is not vented to outside and it does not appear to be a deep cycle. Battery electricity is interesting stuff. The solar panel is scheduled to arrive tomorrow and be installed by EOB and then I head North.

I washed to Turner & replaced the handlebar grips. Later I drove to Cycleprogression to visit w/ owner, Alex to buy shock reducers and to ride his Turner DW link Sultan. I have pictures of the bike. When Boeing stock goes back up and if Dave Turner and I can work a deal I will upgrade. Right now it is a want and not a need. No pedal bob on hammering. The suspension tunes out what the shock has to tuned out to rid the bob.

Drove down road to Bicyclesportshop for brake pads. Formula brakes are not very popular but are very highly regarded. Finding pads & parts is a chore. On duty manger is from Michigan and we talked of our rides in his state. He gave me a shop pint glass.

Drove thru part of downtown Austin and freeways coming & going. Traffic. Downtown core had people outside physically active.

Drove back to REI and hung in a corner in mall parking lot in shade and made myself at home.

New issues of Dirtrag and Bike magazine are out & in my possession. No reviews for FATS or MT Zion. Compete w/ writing this.

Emailed Dave Turner on trip status. He replied and asked if I will help their demo trip w/ ride ideas. I said sure.

Eggbeater pedals springs are weak again allowing my feet to release under load. Riding the limestone the last 2 days I made some moves and my foot disengaged. Not good. I have an RA from Crank Bros. I just need to decide when to send them in and where to return ship them.

Emailed an OK riding group yesterday & received a reply to ride in Ardmore, OK on Sat. He said that this trail is the best in the state. I will drive straight North & then East across OK to hit AR. Bit extra driving but in pursuit of best trail in state is what I will do.