On Wed I rode my new Cane Creek Kitsuma coil shock. I chose upper JEM area mesa rides. Coil is more supple. Learning the adjustments.

Thurs was a busy in town day: laundry. There is a local pistachio nut grower nearby. I have eaten their nuts for years. This year I called their office asking where to buy. Person said buy from the source. Google maps lead me there, places I had never seen. Google kept me found. Drive took me thru their orchard, short stubby trees. When nuts are ready for harvest a shaker is attached to the tree to shake the nuts loose. Went right to the source.

My right hip needs correction. First step was chiro adjustment which helped. Next was obtaining an order for physical therapy. I sought that order from urgent care same building as the PT clinic. Broohaha about patient care from UC. Have PT appointment next week. Muscle misalignment. Needs stretching method.

Nights out at corral are in the 20s, inside temp is in chilly 50s. I sleep warm under a summer weight down comforter. It’s the adjustment to chill when I slide out from under its warmth.

Today I let the sun energy streaming thru the windshield, sucking up warmth. Towards 10 the temp rose to the 50s, warm enough to ride. Geared up hitting Gould’s Rim piece of the Hurricane Cliffs IMBA epic right from parked van. Gould’s over to TH at top of JEM trail. Down JEM to its end  then climbed back out on Carne Asada to climb piece of JEM, over to TH, up Dead Ringer out to highway then school road pedal to van. 16.8 miles climbing 1211′, pedaling for 2 hrs 8 mins.

This afternoon post ride the temp was so enjoyable to stand in sunshine. Solar gain heated inside of van. Casual observation is that the replaced batteries were still strong. The new ones seem to have the same storage as previous. The solar panel sends about tops 85% capacity of batteries.

Tomorrow more of the same.

I learned something the other day from the attendant pumping my propane. I wanted to learn how her life was going on but she was interested in learning my experiences as I was the one not living here. Perhaps people who strike up a conversation with me want to learn same stuff. I should work up a short pitch.

Bed time.

Recently I came across info about new trails developed above ST George, up the road to access Ice House trail going downhill. Yesterday was my first business day in Hurkin area. First up was battery store to buy replacement batteries for the camper that were installed back in ’18. $600 on the barrelhead for new same batteries. I will be evaluating performance. Then several other stops. I was already near this new trail system and enough daylight remained to drive up there and ride some miles.

Access is from town, short piece of pavement then 5 miles of gravel. Today I enjoyed freshly graded dirt road and passed the grader. Big climb, road was not badly stutter bumped. I made the TH which is short of the start of Ice House downhill trail. I pedaled this climb 2X previously, this time I enjoyed just turning a wheel and pressing a pedal. Speed was just a bit faster than pedal speed. Made the tiny parking spot then drove several more feet to find an acceptable sleep spot. The spot was littered with brass ammo casings.

Geared up then pedaled away. Trails I rode were mostly all machine built and well laid out. Tread is over basalt babyheads, trail construction eliminated most, leaving the rest as rock gardens. Sharp edge hits. Late afternoon sun angle shifted visibility of chunks. Worse feet were when the sun shone directly in my eyes, visibility was impaired. I encountered only 1 rider, a local, who shared info. Trails were completed this spring but no rain fell to settle the new dust. Today the tread was dust free. Trails are in Trailforks for navigation. 10.5 miles climbing 883. System is on tilted earth. Spent the night.

Sunday I rode more of the Hurkin Cliffs system, today far fewer rigs and riders compared to Sat. Today my plan was descending Chinatown wash to connect to Rim system. I had ridden all these trails over the years, today I looked to evaluate my performance on features. Much improved I attribute to lowering saddle.  Trails here are a mx of firm rolled down dirt pock marked from cows. Dirt was firm. Played at carving turns on JEM. I climbed out on Dead Ringer then finished on Gould’s back to corral. 16.2 miles climbing 1053, pedaling for 2 hrs 4 mins, average beats per min was 116.

Sun I drove back down to town then out to Quail creek camp spot. However, road construction closed spots. A guy was heading out from spot who told me about closure. He said he would try Red Cliffs XG which was nearest camp spot. Registration is all on line. I picked a spot then drove out to the empty XG. My spot took creative block placement to level the van. Warm enough for the heater to exceed the heat loss which turned it off, so quiet without blower noise.

Today back to Hurkin. I sought body repair from local Chiro, repeat patient, to fix my right hip issues. Bought coffee beans at local roaster, River Rock Roasting, long time customer. Now outside OTE waiting for fork service to be completed. I have my new  Cane Creek Kitsuma coil shock waiting to be installed to set sag then my learning which direction turning which knob will affect ride quality.

I think I heard the term “Downwork” or maybe I made it up as applied to riding a motorized bicycle. Downwork riding. Like your car having electric windows instead of hand cranked. Applies to whatever lessens human energy expenditure.  Or maybe applies to whatever energy savings when recreating. Is lift skiing downwork from skinning up to earn your turns?

I grew up in Ohio, graduated college in Ohio, not OSU Buckeyes. I do favor the Bucks and play with the rivalry between Ohio and the state up north. The Bucks were rated #2 Nationally against underdog UM and playing at the Horseshoe. And they got beat, again. I allowed an event I had no control over affect my mental state. I was really down when the Zags lost. I enjoyed my first Hurkin ride today, I, the physical plant, and bike played the gentle bermed turns on hero dirt. I rode during the second half of the game, I stopped maybe 3 times to view the internet. Last was the final score. Oh, well, back to pedaling.

Thursday I drove down to Moab to do laundry before Waba Sabi meal and volunteer. In the teens overnight freezing the puddles. Lower 50s inside. Clean clothes stowed away. Drove to meal site, parked, and consumed time before feeding. I felt a jolt and a bang sound coming from my van: someone hit me. I jumped out sped to back of van. A full size pickup with a topper was culprit. I banged on topper yelling to attract driver’s attention. Door opened, it was a volunteer we knew of each other. My guess is he hit a pedal which jolted the rear wheel loose breaking the Volle strap then bouncing rear wheel off wheel track, a pedal prolly caught on the box preventing the bike falling more. Guy was watching his backup video which said plenty of room. I removed bike and put front wheel in and pedaled away feeling for anything not working. Seemed OK, Man said he will make good if damaged. Parted on level keel. Today I tested the bike on a ride learning all parts worked as should with no creaks.

Yesterday I drove away from Moab. My route is to take me on highways not driven. Up to I 70 W to State highway 24 to 12 . Twisty windy, steep ups and downs repeated many times. Up high in 9,000′, snow spotted blanketing. Memorable image was a short red sand dune with wind carved ripples with a low patch of fresh white snow. Escalante. Spectacular views and heads up driving. One section was on a knife’s edge, exposure. I experience vibration coming from front wheels that I believe is out of balance wheel, other wise the van ran as it should. Route was to take me thru Zion NP using my pass for no fee, this would be shorter than going around. I committed a navigational blunder turning too early for the park, I sensed I could be wrong so I stopped at maybe Duck something. I walked into an establishment and asked a woman if road thru park is opened. She looked at me puzzled and asked which park. Then I knew I blundered. I could have saved it by continuing to Cedar City then down to Hurkin. Turned around retraced route back to 89 then south to rd to East entrance to Zion. Lots of people and traffic in the park. Then Springdale was a zoo. Next unknown debacle was driving Sheep Bridge rd, Previously the road had been kept decently graded. I soon experienced miles of washboard. Won’t drive that road again.

25 degrees at dark wake up, 53 inside this morning Sunlight cleared shading mesa warming my front seat. I watched the thermometer while listening to the first half of the Bucks game. Temp rose to 50s at half time, time to go for a ride.

I rode from sleep spot catching Goulds over to TH at start of JEM. Most number of rigs I had ever seen. Many M-bikes. Dirt was firm. Shared my ride with less than 15.

Finished ride. I needed to tear down the bottom bracket area as I believe it is sending noise signals. Warm in sunshine to work on the outdoor bike stand. I discovered a loose bolt holding the chain ring on to the spindle. I cleaned parts up then reassembled then pedaled a short distance without the skritch sound. May I have been successful.

Drove into town for resupply. Stopped at OTE which was hopping, stayed out of the way. Shock had not arrived. Back out to corral spot. 31 degrees at 9:15 at 3930′.

No pics taken.

Bed time.