tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78306216811663036502024-03-05T08:43:28.851-08:00An American ExplorerScott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.comBlogger225125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-85527706212311389982023-01-31T13:48:00.006-08:002023-01-31T13:52:30.462-08:00Revenge of the 29'er: The Route<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_lgiSnyWKXF0pOORk6Pr4FEFMD5bPZcVqmQoIc423BgdfyGqtAJrMlOVzbPeFMA_AJoTW2JM-S0TPfT30FOlaAMcx35CnyeJ2MPGe0PxcjlMlrgAhoMRkWWfweMTw4d9mH7qw0XNeOuT-k1CJoisJddfJKXk9M6J0DdqUvs5WUqOv_KuYTfPkA8/s3500/WOR0028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2189" data-original-width="3500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_lgiSnyWKXF0pOORk6Pr4FEFMD5bPZcVqmQoIc423BgdfyGqtAJrMlOVzbPeFMA_AJoTW2JM-S0TPfT30FOlaAMcx35CnyeJ2MPGe0PxcjlMlrgAhoMRkWWfweMTw4d9mH7qw0XNeOuT-k1CJoisJddfJKXk9M6J0DdqUvs5WUqOv_KuYTfPkA8/w640-h400/WOR0028.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Using RidewithGPS, I was able to discover the dirt roads to bypass the hideously developed sections of the route that had so bothered me from my previous tours. As the horrors of Pipeline Rd. illustrate, sometimes this can backfire. I'm glad I did the route and proud of my effort, but that section is not one I'd like to repeat. The rest was good--if sometimes very hard riding--and the route through the East Mojave Preserve was brilliant and highly recommended. Below are links to the route. The first is the whole enchilada in all its gnarly glory. The second is a partial workaround to the section getting from Rt. 95/Lake Havasu turn-off to Pipeline Rd. If you recall from the journal, I encountered a couple of locked gates that I was just barely able to squeeze through and, fortunately, got across without conflict. I DO NOT recommend this to anyone thinking of enjoying the delights of my particular route. Using satellite view on Google Earth, you can actually see the gates just past mile 5 on the second link. No bueno. But near mile 5, you will also see an arroyo that leads south around the property and hooks up with dirt roads. I HAVE NOT ridden this section, so rider beware, but it looks like a viable option. Be prepared for deep, slow sand. Study the images carefully and work it out. Do NOT trespass. Closer study of the area in RidewithGPS reveals some other possible options bypassing this to the south. Do your homework.<br /></p><p><b>The whole enchilada:</b></p><p><a href="https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41164179">https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41164179</a><br /></p><p> <b>The partial workaround:</b><br /></p><p><a href="https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41891246">https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41891246</a></p><p> </p><p> <br /></p><p> </p>Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-33815315036116460842023-01-31T13:29:00.001-08:002023-01-31T13:29:19.849-08:00Revenge of the 29'er Gear Talk<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8kCc77_e1Hxzu2mURVRNsXM9QAAcz-1XLVKngXHQ6XW26c--dyQIEJShXXCO6YyXwrAqi7df7sHC77IwjKjQOyepH6PP7Sfhgsy-5WVBZCo-QeevpujxuGAFQ77dGrKtX6dbg-hpxwlz3Fc0_CqNgCEymjYhj6fUs0cpzwgauP9_O5x88MAYyAs/s4096/IMG_20221230_170307178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8kCc77_e1Hxzu2mURVRNsXM9QAAcz-1XLVKngXHQ6XW26c--dyQIEJShXXCO6YyXwrAqi7df7sHC77IwjKjQOyepH6PP7Sfhgsy-5WVBZCo-QeevpujxuGAFQ77dGrKtX6dbg-hpxwlz3Fc0_CqNgCEymjYhj6fUs0cpzwgauP9_O5x88MAYyAs/w640-h480/IMG_20221230_170307178.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Gear Talk </b></span><br /><br /> Here’s a quick breakdown of my equipment, what worked, what didn’t, what I’ll do differently for my next tour. <br /><br /> <b>The Bike</b> <br /><br /> Ivan is a 2021 XL Surly “Krampus” 29’er + steel mountain bike. It has a 1x12 Shimano Deore drive train but with Microshift thumb shifter. I found that the stock trigger shifter was actually injuring my hand. There was something about the repeated pushing under the bar with my right thumb that was leading to growing and persistent pain. The Microshift is a fantastic unit. It provides a number of ways to move the gears—thumb, knuckle, full hand. Also, I find it to be much more precise and less prone to missing a gear. The trigger shifter has a certain amount of slack in the system that makes it likely that sometimes I would not push hard enough and thus not fully make the shift. No bueno. This virtually never happens with the Microshift. Can’t recommend this change enough. <br /><br /> <b>Jones bars:</b> These are fantastic, employing an ergonomic sweep that many find addictive. They also allow plenty of ways to lash on gear, which proved especially useful for carrying the big water bag on the long dry stretches. Love ‘em. Also, I adore Ergon grips, which are a requirement for me, providing a wide platform for my hands. I do have an extra tall steering tube riser to give me a much more upright posture. This totally eliminated hand pressure issues (along with the grips) and very much eased lower back strain. For reference, the ends of my grips are about 1.25” higher than my seat. <br /><br /> <b>Old Man Mtn. rear rack:</b> Bomber. Nice wide platform helped with loading and strapping things down. Get one. <br /><br /> <b>Surly fork-mounted front rack:</b> Oh, boy, do I love this thing. It’s super solid and provided a really quick and easy way to lock down my front load. It was a snap to add extra stuff like a sweater or windbreaker that I needed to shed. For me, the standard front load ended up being my sleeping gear—bag (puffy jacket usually included in that compression sack, sometimes other clothing I’d only need at night like fleece pants), sleeping pad, and the fat, heavy extra tire. This nearly two-pound boat anchor was a drag but seemed like necessary insurance given the remote nature of my ride. <br /><br /> <b>Wheels:</b> These were the stock WTB that, I presume, were wound a little too tight as the holes in the rear rim started cracking—most of them. As mentioned in the narrative, this gave me a good deal of stress, but backing off the tension seemed to do the trick. The wheel held up for the duration. I’m replacing both wheels with another set of WTB’s 40mm but assembled by a different company and using DT Swiss hubs. We’ll see how they do. <br /><br /> <b>Tires:</b> Maxxis Rekon 2.8’s. These are fantastic tires. Light, durable and grippy. Set up tubeless with about 4 oz of Stans sealant in each, these skins never failed me. Roughly speaking, I’d run 20 psi or little below off pavement and 30 psi on pavement. I got many small punctures that sealed immediately. Fantastico! In addition to the spare Rekon (a 2.6” to save weight and bulk), I carried a full complement of tire plugs, patches, sutures, glue, boots, and two tubes, one being the super light Tubelo brand. Very pricey with some dodgy reviews, but I got one anyway. None of these were used. The more beating the tires, took, however, the more the sealant tended to seep through different areas—sidewalls, punctures, etc. The PSI never dropped, but the tires started to look a bit leprotic. I’ve since learned that Orange Seal doesn’t do this, so I’ll be switching over for the next set of tires. <br /><br /> <b>Brakes:</b> These were the stock mid-grade Tektro hydraulics. They have a great feel and, especially with the added 203 mm rotors, good stopping power. However, as noted, the front one did fail me when I needed it the most. I guess the fluid boiled and I lost braking power. When things cooled down, I eventually got almost all the braking power back, but the experience was enough to get me to switch to a cable actuated brake system. These are easier to service, especially in the field, and will not suffer brake fade. I don’t think, under cycling conditions, that steel cables can boil. I’m very concerned about this as most future bike tours will be with our 34 lb. cattle dog, Patchy, plus the trailer and water for him, so on descents, my base load will jump about 50 lbs. Add this to my 185 lbs. + bike + camping gear. I’m swapping out the Tektros for TRP Spyke, which have superb feel and stopping power. I look forward to giving them a real test. <br /><br /> Update: I installed and did a few rides on the Spykes. Fantastico! Quiet, strong, easy to adjust. I’m a fan so far. <p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxShpJVgP48Kx9aXM4v0d4FFERLFqdTqgdTiDVperipnGl3RFPHsf6s6LWnby_tBgkSAisNKbH9gKgEcVl5xH08Kyu1_wIsk6743KkQo-y3DkShkPwOUiDGiq53tJ0ttB1rvJURJE5HB4dUG--cOH-8EPbSQVTofWbN3mVRd9y0Bx2btxbNhtuT4/s4096/IMG_20221230_170332126.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxShpJVgP48Kx9aXM4v0d4FFERLFqdTqgdTiDVperipnGl3RFPHsf6s6LWnby_tBgkSAisNKbH9gKgEcVl5xH08Kyu1_wIsk6743KkQo-y3DkShkPwOUiDGiq53tJ0ttB1rvJURJE5HB4dUG--cOH-8EPbSQVTofWbN3mVRd9y0Bx2btxbNhtuT4/w640-h480/IMG_20221230_170332126.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30vn9VW1lOYIC0338lyjPEKtFnpFibPhVfnGS0BHG_0S1XInN8Ti2zbOvZqujAebK4yhcPqOI8lCEZ1Dumq51oLzJ2D-sEqumXGkaSAyptikaTBdpLw-_UFnGvJj053wRPWOoL77pcn8g6JwCuy86R8szQmqaHL3--ZVnqIHr_UHnxK57T-kmLfg/s4096/IMG_20221231_121718092.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30vn9VW1lOYIC0338lyjPEKtFnpFibPhVfnGS0BHG_0S1XInN8Ti2zbOvZqujAebK4yhcPqOI8lCEZ1Dumq51oLzJ2D-sEqumXGkaSAyptikaTBdpLw-_UFnGvJj053wRPWOoL77pcn8g6JwCuy86R8szQmqaHL3--ZVnqIHr_UHnxK57T-kmLfg/w640-h480/IMG_20221231_121718092.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /> <b>Seat post:</b> I’m running a Thudbuster LT shock absorbing seat post. This is another must have. It takes so much sting out of rough terrain, allowing me to stay seated longer. Highly recommended. <br /><br /> <b>Panniers and bags: </b>These were a combination of bags made by my talented wife, Jodi, and commercial offerings. Jodi made the frame bag, the panniers, and the little green top tube bag against the seat post. The front top tube bag is a Revelate, and the feed bags are by a Ukranian crafts person. They’re Kasy Bags, and they’re brilliant. Jodi found them on Etsy, and I hope he’s okay given the madness going over there. Shipping was a little expensive but worth every penny. <br /><br /> <b> </b></p><b>Sleeping and Camping Gear </b><br /><p><br /> <b>Bag:</b> My wife and I are both now using quilts by Enlightened Equipment. These are superb and made in the USA. They offer a bunch of designs with many custom options. Go get one! Or two! <br /><br /> <b>Tent:</b> An ancient Sierra Designs Light Year single person tent. I purchased it back in 2007 for my solo coast-to-coast tour, and it has seen me through many adventures. It’s heavy by modern standards, clocking in at about 3.5 lbs for a single person tent. But I had it, didn’t have to buy a new one, and it worked. The main door zipper is starting to go, however, and I did have to totally re-seam seal the whole tent before leaving. The new version is much lighter, but other options are lighter still. A single person tent shouldn’t weigh more than about 2 lbs. these days. <br /><br /> <b>Pad:</b> As I described in the narrative, my “new” pad failed me—a Nemo Tensor insulated ultralight. When it works, it’s great, but the technology is simply not reliable. Jodi encountered some other campers who have had similar bad experiences with the pad. The manufacturer is good about replacing them, but if you need to rely on it for remote packing, I vote no. My replacement was a now discontinued Thermarest model that worked great. My only complaint is the 20” width. As a 6’4” fella, it feels a bit tight. But it got the job done. I’m shopping around for other options. <br /><br /> <b>Stove:</b> A Soto “Fusion Trek” model. It runs on small gas cannisters with the universal screw connector. This stove has a hose connection, so you can put a windscreen around the burner if necessary. Great stove. I was only using it for coffee, however, going for cold dinners. It turns out I could have got by with a single canister but carried an extra one that I used on the last day. A lighter stove would have worked just fine. <br /><br /> <b>Pot:</b> Old titanium Ever New. Ever great! <br /><br /> <b>Mug:</b> GSI insulated plastic mug with a tight lid. This is the bomb. Doesn’t leak. Get one. <br /><br /> <span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Navigation and Communication</b></span><br /><br /> <b>Cell Phone:</b> I’ve been using a basic Android smart phone running a RidewithGPS app for navigation. Keeping the phone in navigation mode EATS battery power, so I carried two 10,000 mAh batteries to keep things topped up. Another key tactic was to NOT leave it on navigation mode. I would turn it off and on depending on the complexity of the route—or my anxiety about distance or elevation profile. By only using the navigation when necessary, I could get lots more time out of one battery charge. I never fully ran down an auxiliary battery, so, technically, I could have gotten by with just one. I did top off all gear at the motel, the only time I did so on the full tour—over two weeks of riding. <br /><br /> <b>GPS locator:</b> For emergencies and communication when out of cell phone range, I carried a Garmin InReach Mini. This thing is FANTASTIC. Weighing in at only 3.5 oz, it can send out an SOS with GPS coordinates if necessary, and it also works to send text messages via email or phone service texting. There are a handful of generic quick messages, but with a Blue Tooth connection to the phone, you can compose more elaborate messages with ease. There is a yearly fee plus a monthly charge, so it’s not super cheap, but you can pay for it by-the-month as needed and then reboot when you head out for your next adventure. Yearly plans are a little cheaper. Tracking points help friends and family keep an eye of your progress. I did use the Mini to check in a few times when cell service was not available, and it worked exactly as advertised. Schweet. <br /><br /> </p>Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-64035589714253333802023-01-31T13:18:00.002-08:002023-01-31T13:18:54.507-08:00Revenge of the 29'er Day 16<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryeymBplmRXzxel8P2TfNxfotlK__m_yVKKrzXegwaGwoMJRgnaLOGZht-pKEWln7xTxKxvfXsH9Hr2pjUAdRP5GnVVHPC_rOZEgTxFDf4p_jWeSM8shKZ8TQzFdO0tw0iI5zwcBhasxeJuHr99RlriaK-m2D_Cwz5pS5WxKULNVCgtZCcsRDEBI/s4096/IMG_20221211_074917593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryeymBplmRXzxel8P2TfNxfotlK__m_yVKKrzXegwaGwoMJRgnaLOGZht-pKEWln7xTxKxvfXsH9Hr2pjUAdRP5GnVVHPC_rOZEgTxFDf4p_jWeSM8shKZ8TQzFdO0tw0iI5zwcBhasxeJuHr99RlriaK-m2D_Cwz5pS5WxKULNVCgtZCcsRDEBI/w640-h480/IMG_20221211_074917593.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
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<![endif]--><b>Day 16: The final miles. 36 miles/3630 ft. climb <br /></b><br /> Twelve days without a break, and I was feeling it. The night passed well enough, however, and the temperature at 5AM was only 44 deg. F., the warmest morning of the tour. A clump of mountain mahogany helped blocked whatever winds came our way, although I had lain Ivan on his side just in case the breezes got a little frisky. It was a most fitting and excellent emergency bivi for a wayward, exhausted bike packer. <br /><br /> I climbed before first sun and, as I suspected, only had 300 ft. to gain to reach the summit, enough to warm up. The descent down into the Peeples Valley was fast but an unexpected ice bath. An ocean of cold air lay in wait, and I shivered down to my bones as I rolled out into the expanses of golden grasses, distant, granite studded mountains, and large ranches with imposing gates. My aching hip and sore bum kept me moving, shifting positions, standing out of the saddle. I was ready for the tour to be over, especially dealing with cold mornings. <br /><br /> Climb descend climb descend, reel in the distant village of Wilhoit at the base of the final mountain passes before Prescott. No winds for much of the morning but kicking in on the last miles, but from the south and manageable. These would “freshen,” as they say, a little later and provide some head-on entertainment but never for long as the route twisted and turned, gaining and losing elevation, the way flanked by scrub, mesquite, and mahogany, tall golden grasses. <br /><br /> Former Marine on quad rolled up to the store in Wilhoit, the final supply point before the rugged snaking road biting into the mountains above. A bit overweight, smoking a cig, swilling coffee, close shaven head, he asked about my trip. He was astonished, although I had to give him serious respect for being a Marine, which he brushed off. I meant it, though, and wondered what lay in his past–Iraq, Afghanistan? Marines always seem to be in the thick of it. <br /><br /> Back on the road, 16 miles to go. This tour was going down, and a clear sky meant no snow. I would make my deadline. Climb, coast, climb, rest, repeat. No records to break, I decided to let the ache in my left hip dictate how long I would ride for each section. I stopped at prominent corners, gazing down on vibrant pines and chaparral, the signs of a solid monsoon season months before. <br /><br /> Far sooner than I could believe, I crested the first pass at 6,100 ft., my second highest of the tour. I knew from a previous ride that this was NOT the end, as a sweet fast drop was followed by another climb, even a little higher. I banked into the fast downhill turns, brushing the tips of the tall blond grass, feeling the speed. Bottom out, gear down, crank again. This was it, I could feel it. Stand out of the saddle, swing and pump, Ivan and me joined at the hip–among other places. He responded like the over-loaded mule that he was, dependable and slow. The front brake had recovered from the Rollercoaster of Horrors and seemed normal. <br /><br /> The Welcome to Prescott sign. That was it. I stopped for obligatory selfie and Ivan photos and stood about, gaping in the swirling breezes, this time trending tail, and I pushed off for the drop to Prescott, probably the last time I would do this ride, three times from California, once from Bar Harbor, Maine. With the hardcore bike packing element, this tour was a solid final act. It was time for other things, whatever they might be. <br /><br /> I hit the key turn and battled the last insult, another climb to my friends’ house. I grinned at my aching body, knowing the shower and rest to come. And there it was, in through the carport under the towering pine, up to the side of the house. 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<![endif]--><b>Day 15: 56 miles/3850 ft. Climb </b><br /><br /> Twenty nine deg. morning—again. I tried to work quickly in the cold early hours, knowing I had a big day ahead. No rest for wicked bike packers. No sir. Layered up, I rode into the freezing morning light, determined to get to Congress, perhaps beyond. <br /><br /> The day slowly warmed and the layers came off. The deep ache in my left hip would rise again and again throughout the day, ensuring regular breaks. Music helped fuel the miles, and the low angle of the climb and descent to Hwy 93 kept my pace well above 10 mph, often in the mid-teens. I reeled in hills forested with stately saguaro and the angry spined cholla. A reasonable shoulder and low traffic, as predicted, ensured the distance was low stress. It was all coming together. <br /><br /> Congress was mine by three pm. I knew that I had to tackle the notorious Yarnell Hill, something of a wall the climbs steeply above town. I was achy, sore, in desperate need of a rest day, but the coming storm had other ideas. Knuckle up, butter cup. Remember Jodi’s wise words: “It’s only pain. How long do you expect to live, anyway?” Well, I wasn’t expecting to die, not this day. The classic old general store had been replaced by a tediously generic Dollar General, but I got what I needed at a gas station, loading up with water, extra bars, food for the night, and a fat final night’s brew. I attacked the grade, climbing higher and higher and higher, a slow battle of attrition as the sun dropped behind me. I would race the line of darkness as it crept across the desert basin, the Yarnell escarpment facing due west. If I could dispatch a sizable chunk of this climb, the next day’s work would be easier. <br /><br /> I kept my eyes sharp for possible bivouac zones, not so frequent on this craggy mountain wall, huge blocks of granite overhanging the road and spilling out into the desert below like so many gigantic dice. The golden light washed over my straining carcass like a benediction and a threat. Where will I camp? <br /><br /> THERE. <br /><br /> At the end of a long steady pitch, the road hooked back into the mountain, a flat spot above. I knew there would be some sort of access. I rounded the corner, slipping into the chill shadows, and climbed steeply away from the main road, leaving the occasional automobile to continue up the mountain without me. My first examination was not encouraging—the flat terrain was good but too exposed, and a paved connector between the two sides of the road would ensure at least some traffic. Higher? A “No Trespassing” sign hung on a slack cable between metal posts, the road beyond overgrown and long unused. It led up to the overlook I’d seen from below. Begging forgiveness from man, beast and the gods, I easily pushed Ivan around the gate and up to a perfect campsite. This would have to do. The sun dipped as I pitched my tent on the edge of the world, the vast deserts of the American West spread out below me. Yeah, this would do nicely. <br /><br /> Well thrashed from my long day, my legs yelped in protest as I squatted and stood repeatedly to pitch the tent and get everything ready. I took occasional hits of the cold beer as I went about my chores, grinning through the aches as the reality of what I’d done sank in. This was it, my last night, and I’d bagged most of the first big climb to Prescott. After a quick talk with Jodi, I watched the sun dip below the horizon.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRCp6EsfV747SDVY6oVyWt1AZUiJuyD__keW7DSBb44R6HGMeAQG9RpA3vE_KpgBFt3ihIyUxHXT0aC-MvuBiwqKyqbXXflEgXH58vuKAAFCHpScl9E2-KHDLPM9VQ6sSxsS8C1vJEqIq4somGW3PICFtjo1VtwcxnpnVxGPDOgDtYRjtS95xgK0/s4096/IMG_20221210_140120913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRCp6EsfV747SDVY6oVyWt1AZUiJuyD__keW7DSBb44R6HGMeAQG9RpA3vE_KpgBFt3ihIyUxHXT0aC-MvuBiwqKyqbXXflEgXH58vuKAAFCHpScl9E2-KHDLPM9VQ6sSxsS8C1vJEqIq4somGW3PICFtjo1VtwcxnpnVxGPDOgDtYRjtS95xgK0/w640-h480/IMG_20221210_140120913.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYP24jicjoaeNfYu7HACDS5oxHEkI6cRJqN3dwItVJ7FJOOfB2kOHZCTGL0K3xWqte38FV7nBFN3J_Ji95rfA-l1udSHGtMlLsUeEf2cApsWy46bwVOu36JdhxiVuN6e4r30Txwu4fWgM7HjpZH1SP-AqPmVOoUnZVuZZ2W-b68EoSRSqXoaRHhI/s4096/IMG_20221210_140412796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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</p>Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-53835868749065370942023-01-31T13:05:00.002-08:002023-08-19T14:32:25.357-07:00Revenge of the 29'er Day 14<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIbCLf4TEEVXmiEMDZVFbOydJmZ-qdcZUC1THWeb573PmpGXdmITvTq6h5lVVppIi9cxIwc0jFI2FGMU_u5u9J1VOG4WSNyS77WujGuqlL3QkKiQNbpe1RkSaYhwLfo323FB_O1GbmIEKDpOMHSaxyU8YTxZrABiUJ0CxLP5sjbCNabIOdUYfu8Y/s4096/IMG_20221209_072253186.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIbCLf4TEEVXmiEMDZVFbOydJmZ-qdcZUC1THWeb573PmpGXdmITvTq6h5lVVppIi9cxIwc0jFI2FGMU_u5u9J1VOG4WSNyS77WujGuqlL3QkKiQNbpe1RkSaYhwLfo323FB_O1GbmIEKDpOMHSaxyU8YTxZrABiUJ0CxLP5sjbCNabIOdUYfu8Y/w640-h480/IMG_20221209_072253186.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Day 14: 35 miles/2.7k climb</span> <br /></b><br /><b>The Choss Wall of Stupid </b><br /><br /> Damp mist hung over the river as I stumbled about in the frozen morning shadows. Cold, damp AM 29 deg. F., frost on everything. My salvation: Coffee. <br /><br /> As I packed Ivan, nearly ready to go, my camp still in shadow due to a strategically placed hill to the east—gah!—I heard the rumble of ATV’s. In a moment, a couple of rigs broke through the gap in the willows and pulled to a stop in front of me. Two younger men and a grey-haired fellow climbed out and we exchanged greetings—flannel and fleece and big smiles. “We’re here to check our traps!” said the youngest man, perhaps in his early 20’s. “Look, Grandpa, looks like we got one! You can see him right there.” <br /><br /> “Yeah, I see it,” replied Grandpa. <br /><br /> The youngest slipped into waders and sloshed out through the shallow water and came back with a huge beaver clamped in a trap, quite dead. I was heartbroken. While I have nothing against hunters, especially if they take the craft seriously, trapping always seemed, in this modern age, needless and needlessly cruel. I realized as the young man hoisted the creature, slick and dripping, easily thirty pounds, its huge teeth protruding, that the splashing I’d heard the night before wasn’t the burros that were about but the final throws of the beaver. Although the river was named after a famous trapper, the market for beaver hats and pelts has long been replaced by other products. The death seemed gratuitous. To their credit, the trappers said they were going to eat the large rodent, and I couldn’t really be angry with them. They even invited me to their camp for a meal. I was bound to the road, however, with miles to make. I said goodbye and pushed off through the sand, a day of suffering ahead. I’d have little time or frame of mind to reflect on the incident at the river. <br /><br /> Less than a mile of sandy surfing from camp, the ATV track hooked out of the wash and up a very steep grade to the east, totally un-rideable. Crap. The first push of the day and I’d hardly gotten started. Dismount, shoulder to the bars, and push. <br /><br /> Or not. <br /><br /> <b>A tale of weakness, temptation and stupid. <br /></b><br /> Right away my feet were skidding, Ivan pushing back with a vengeance. I suddenly lost heart. Really? This? Again? I looked about. Ah, maybe…. I looked back at the wash and realized that maybe I could continue along it and intersect the route up ahead. Sure. That’s the ticket. <br /><br />I lowered Fat Ivan back to the wash and rode for a little then pushed along the sandy bottom through a magical slot of deep red stone, the sun glowing warm in the morning light. Fantastic. But as I pushed I realized what was likely to happen. Sure, I’d intersect the road, that much I knew from looking at maps and satellite photos. But that could easily mean a cul-de-sac of a berm rather than a sandy wash—both were possibilities. As the walls of the canyon climbed, the odds of a simple intersection faded. And died. I lifted Ivan through a couple of rocks and encountered the end, a steep wall leading up to the road, easily visible less than a hundred feet above. <br /><br /> My problem as a mountain climber is that I could see how it might go. Sure, it was steep and obviously loose, but if I could push Ivan diagonally across the slope, I could eventually make it up to a low break where the angle eased. Of course, I could back track, but that meant pushing, too. Why go back when you can move forward? Any steeper, and I would have done the smart thing. Instead, I assaulted the “Choss Wall of Death,” as I called it then, “choss” being an English term climbers use to describe rotten rock. <br /><br /> What ensued was the hardest push of the tour—totally desperate, feet skidding, more than once Ivan pushing me back, threatening to cartwheel both of us down the slope. Yelling, fighting, sweating, animal grunting and power screams. I’d been a complete fool. Jodi was right, of course, when I told her about it later. It wasn’t the “Choss Wall of Death.” It was the “Choss Wall of Stupid.” An old saying came flooding in with painful truth: If you’re going to be stupid, you’d better be tough. <br /><br /> I guess I was tough enough. I successfully jujitsued Ivan to the top and began the long day of my continued punishment underneath a perfect Arizona sky. Roller after roller after roller ground on into the afternoon, my brakes suddenly fading in the front from the hard grabbing I was forced into by the steep broken slopes. Without a good front brake, I had to walk down a few of the slopes. A slow descent was preferable to broken bones at the bottom. <br /><br /> About midday, a white Chevy Suburban rumbled up behind me as I topped another hard slog. Two smiling gents looked over and asked if I needed help—“You okay for water?” I said I thought I was okay, but I didn’t know if I’d make my destination for the day. I complained about the obvious challenges of the route. The younger one quipped: “The purgatory of Pipeline Rd!” I was thinking more like Inferno, but I loved the line. The two men were geologists from the USGS out do field work. Eventually the driver said, “Hey, we’re parking just up the road, and we’ll leave the water jug behind the rig. You’ll be riding right past us.” <br /><br /> “Okay,” I replied. “Maybe I will top off my bottles.” <br /><br /> They motored ahead, effortlessly climbing the slopes in 4x4 low. I soldiered on, one wave at a time, but before long, I descended to their rig. As promised, the water jug was out. And a breakfast bar. And an apple. And an ice cold fucking beautiful beer. Oh, the humanity. I topped off my water bottles, munched down the bar, and slammed that beer with gusto. The apple I would save for later. I etched a strong note of thanks in the dust on their back window. Pushed hard emotionally and physically, this act of kindness left me with a few tears as I pushed up the next grade. Road angels of the first order. All hail back country geologists! <br /><br /> Periodically, like an old soothsayer gazing into chicken entrails, I’d study the elevation profile on my GPS map. Surely that next summit—that one!—has got to be the last. And so it was. I grunted a final slog to find the way ahead virtually clear of the death rollers. A bump or two on the way down bled out to a broad, smooth basin, sand visible from even my high vantage point. Front brake be damned, I saddled up and rocketed down the crazy slopes until gravity was overcome by sand and I pedaled once again in the Land of Flat. Soon I came across The Four ATV’ers of the Resurrection who offered me beer and intel on the route ahead. While I didn’t have time for more of the ice cold ambrosia, the knowledge that the climbing road miles across the basin was, in fact, paved gave wings to my knobby tires as I slipped and pumped, pushed a little, but quickly headed south. I would make Wenden on Rt. 60. Just keep the pedals moving, chump. <br /><br /> Pavement, another climb of a few miles, a final summit, and long, low angle descent took me to Wenden and the day’s last sunlight. I camped at the back of a ratty town park where no one bothered me. <br /><br /> I had survived the trials of Pipeline Rd. And I never had to ride it again. Ever. <br /><br /><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPA5ZQHkRC99H2_W3cMdyTwNQB77p-ZwbTHlZLWv4KnFuJWSYlwt5-admm6UsvYl0LJBx59ISkarYI9shZQ1yMxaaO9ZrBq6l6gY3vTqSUoI43s7bYIbNySDFE6kBsC5yaATL_nzJO1SHh7Nxic5BT7dajMD42M9zye8QuAgROk7eqW_Jw8Nytozw/s4096/IMG_20221209_074430663.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="3072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPA5ZQHkRC99H2_W3cMdyTwNQB77p-ZwbTHlZLWv4KnFuJWSYlwt5-admm6UsvYl0LJBx59ISkarYI9shZQ1yMxaaO9ZrBq6l6gY3vTqSUoI43s7bYIbNySDFE6kBsC5yaATL_nzJO1SHh7Nxic5BT7dajMD42M9zye8QuAgROk7eqW_Jw8Nytozw/w480-h640/IMG_20221209_074430663.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIi9yP3a0YrKPgb-RBOXRGh4ZmSGsnT420lAONAo7kdiMu3cHuEFERg65ET6hQATCoYmgEqDZdUcYYCWBfSKvXlU9o7Q6cNqNHUw9rpJnmrPTzuZHAZoL7LYwi_FiRnKRb5IjJG38RLiY4T83HchEHmZ-Hj5TZDC7Q1D8ctjTUim76NVZEd6T3es/s4096/IMG_20221209_094531421_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSis9fUIzwdvWmhyNhJtOO20XT9ZrQIWiXxLeXIdszSsMjBQqolJsM_HFRE_6Fwren1kA3j699-Gi6Ptie3gMC50Z3uZ-QPB4vJpZ3XxNOOdYvYdS4xtmu9OmLo2Xt_YLathaRDRFr4Ueppu483-lKyobOG9fMZDJwt70AmsDdY-VeMvgGCOBfTW0/w640-h480/IMG_20221209_150144030_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-83030175974204887472023-01-31T12:56:00.000-08:002023-01-31T12:56:20.687-08:00Revenge of the 29'er Day Day 13<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQhLQBbf8ARrLYpTWYyhAo2GlTFihIGmj1i4ICpP4uRfe4BWsEiRmToIKC2i_R50ZIArmdec8BoFZ3EXEMsKDzrWm3KapZvq4XAk_XIKGWQEvyWMIZLYsJq4bvljMhpp0tQguppzPKCVX4fUy4DSFK8z81tOsHx79FCohvAOnVi9FEIUgCUr31bBI/s4096/IMG_20221208_080300050_BURST000_COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQhLQBbf8ARrLYpTWYyhAo2GlTFihIGmj1i4ICpP4uRfe4BWsEiRmToIKC2i_R50ZIArmdec8BoFZ3EXEMsKDzrWm3KapZvq4XAk_XIKGWQEvyWMIZLYsJq4bvljMhpp0tQguppzPKCVX4fUy4DSFK8z81tOsHx79FCohvAOnVi9FEIUgCUr31bBI/w640-h480/IMG_20221208_080300050_BURST000_COVER.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><b>Day 13: 35 miles/2010 ft. climb <br /></b><br /> The Sands of Despair lead to the Rollercoaster of Doom. <br /><br /> I could not believe that this ride would make me wish for sand riding, but when I hit the mountains, I discovered how easy the sandy riding had been. <br /><br /> A cloudless gem of day, little wind and cool enough to make the desperate work ahead manageable–though still plenty desperate. The "road" I followed was for installing and servicing the gas pipeline it was named after–not for general travel, and I soon discovered what that implied: horrendous relentless rollers of nauseating steepness, frequently loose, unstable and un-rideable. <br /><br /> Wave after wave, like the famed Banzai Pipeline in high season, the crumbling walls kept coming, pounding down upon my sweating head, threatening to break my spirit and crack my skull. A soft, sandy arroyo would lead to a leg and shoulder busting push, eliciting F bombs, C bombs, MF bombs, grunts, groans, feet slipping, bike slipping, a breather at each summit where I would look on with dread at the sea of loose gravel waves leering at me in the distance. I'd saddle up and ride the other side, sliding, jouncing, fighting for control – You got this. You got this. No mistakes. Bottom out at speed, slam into the sand or hard-edged crease and begin again. Over and over. Force prisoners to do this and they'd have your head at The Hague. But I fucking volunteered for this abuse. Be careful when you go to follow a line on a map. It may take you places beyond your imagination. <br /><br /> And so the afternoon and my Theater of the Absurd wore on. I wondered for a time if I would make it to the river, but one nasty little wave put me on top, the golden willows lining the river below. At last. <br /><br /> A quick and sketchy drop brought me down to the river level, but ANOTHER monster wave led back up to where the pipeline stretches high across the water and willows. No. Fucking. Way. <br /><br /> I switched my GPS map to satellite view I and discovered an alternate track down through the mesquite and iron wood. Yes. Ducking branches, lifting Ivan gingerly over some fallen barbwire, I slipped down to the waterline and regained the route. Hah! My mapped route, however, was a dead end, as I had suspected from close inspection on Google Earth. I quickly ran into an impenetrable swamp and deep thickets of brush–uh, no. <br /><br /> Minutes were critical now as the sun was setting. I frantically studied the satellite view and found the alternate track I needed. I back tracked a few yards, took my turn, and gunned for glory. Heavily over grown, slapping branches, pumping hard through the sand, this path was not going to make it easy on me. But the path widened, tire tracks appeared–this HAD to be it. A turn, a turn, a sandy fish-tailing turn…and the river, an obvious, short, easy crossing. Hallelujah and pass the brewskis, this day was almost over. No brewskis, though. <br /><br /> The water looked quite shallow. There were few rocks to be found here in the shallows, so barefoot it would be. I'd brought neoprene booties for this job, but they were buried, and I could see a campsite just there a few yards away. Off with the shoes and socks, grab Ivan, in a moment we were on the other side. <br /><br /> The hard slant of late autumn light glowed on the volcanic ridge to the east, Saguaro, mesquite, palo verde across the slope. A quiet ripple like a Zen fountain drifted through the canyon. Tall willow glowed in bright yellow hung overhead, the evening sun showering through for the final moments of the day. I took a brief bandana bath and dressed in full long underwear and fleece, reclining in my camp chair as the moon rose through the trees, the cold settling around me. I so desperately wanted a rest day here, a time to think, reflect, soak in the light and sounds, but the storm was coming, the snow to impede my progress. It was work hard every day and get it done. These moments of rest and reflection were welcome indeed. <br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRboKcYFxwgrw-NQ4L9M7EjMmeQv3RAYH4AaDEKux6LgfdsedaVR8Mj0mVoiSUVPE9DT-kLZNbU4zjKmpOD0KYiWe8mRiqRSCkzEZdZf6ygrB0wz2KMr5RsLLv-t2Bk22WQLHaH_osz0edggRBt_FfxrrW25Cb4OvVDndxlUbVrVequURG9BpsBdA/s4096/IMG_20221208_101841061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRboKcYFxwgrw-NQ4L9M7EjMmeQv3RAYH4AaDEKux6LgfdsedaVR8Mj0mVoiSUVPE9DT-kLZNbU4zjKmpOD0KYiWe8mRiqRSCkzEZdZf6ygrB0wz2KMr5RsLLv-t2Bk22WQLHaH_osz0edggRBt_FfxrrW25Cb4OvVDndxlUbVrVequURG9BpsBdA/w640-h480/IMG_20221208_101841061.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain lion tracks following cattle tracks--yoiks!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4P0Wi-C0eD4UjG8J0ApeWCGs7GDgpfpiBcbA0C5ZMaKPXbPJ49-JAHxkLNWXpNofxUZrLvitm2Q1XhEbDnHvo1t2MIFU5EhqRA_oVr1g17_DYqdoMJmJloa4S95VrTSQVuLA3OdfLV9H-titeCBsbza28Uptr3dIn8IuK9AecAedt10LTRsgzuM/s4096/IMG_20221208_165338810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4P0Wi-C0eD4UjG8J0ApeWCGs7GDgpfpiBcbA0C5ZMaKPXbPJ49-JAHxkLNWXpNofxUZrLvitm2Q1XhEbDnHvo1t2MIFU5EhqRA_oVr1g17_DYqdoMJmJloa4S95VrTSQVuLA3OdfLV9H-titeCBsbza28Uptr3dIn8IuK9AecAedt10LTRsgzuM/w640-h480/IMG_20221208_165338810.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-2921956675016383752023-01-31T12:47:00.001-08:002023-01-31T12:47:06.957-08:00Revenege of the 29'er Day 12<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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<![endif]--><br /><br /><b>Day 12: 43 miles/1870 ft. climb <br /></b><br /> The Roaring 40 and the Sands of Despair--that would be an appropriate title for today’s grunting. I exited Motel 6 before 8AM and pedaled the rest of the way across town to pick up my super-secret, Lord Google inspired route to Hwy 40, a path to bypass crossing the river and dealing with traffic on the other side–and skip more Hwy 40 riding. Lots of sand and steep, short grinders took me along the rail tracks. I passed idling trains in town and was braced for the sonic storm should one come along. Ear plugs, eh? But it never came. Instead I battled sand, a very brief hike-a-bike or two, and eventually lugged the bike over the tracks where my preloaded route description said I should–anything to avoid some of this sand and deep, soft gravel. Low and behold, on the other side I picked up a good road and made excellent time to Pirate Cove, an RV/boating resort on the Colorado river, which I’d been paralleling for some miles along its slow, meandering course. I left the train behind, landed on pavement and pumped at last up to Hwy 40, much busier here than back in CA. <br /><br /> That’s right, I’d crossed into Arizona at last. To the south, the wild and rugged Needles bristled in morning light, difficult to access, a boat, really, the only reasonable way to get back in there. Maybe one day. For me it was the industrial overload of the freeway shoulder. It was very broken and rough to start, simple enough on Ivan, but I’d pedaled it on a low-slung trike last time, and it was a horror show, the rampant bits of retread wire–”road snakes” Jodi called them–finally puncturing one of my tires. On Ivan? Not much. It was like a moderately rough but serviceable dirt track but in blacktop. Ivan’s plump tires made short work of the fractured surface and smoothed out the countless cracks. I knocked out the mile or two of crap easily and slipped onto the smooth shoulder that would take me all the way to the Rt. 95 turnoff, now less than 8 miles away. <br /><br /> Truck after truck after truck after truck roared by. The vast commercial vacuum of the greater Phoenix/ Tucson region was pulling in vast amounts of economic activity. I was a mere speck, a pedal-addled spin doctor laboring away a few feet from thousands of tons of Mack and Peterbuilt and Volvo and their precious cargo. It didn’t bother me that much as I knew it was temporary. Just bang out the miles, Scotty, and you’ll leave all this behind. The sun rose and warmed and I labored beside the interstate. <br /><br /> At the Love’s Travel station, a lovely woman stood next to me as I was filling my large (labeled “medium”) coffee. She looked at me and my big drink and said, “They better watch out for you today!” Indeed, I said I was a cyclist from California–as if the garish jersey wasn’t enough–and that this would help me down the road. “Are you going to do that French thing?” she asked. <br /><br /> “The Tour de France?” <br /><br /> “Yeah, that one.” <br /><br /> I laughed and assured her I wasn’t nearly strong enough–and being 60 would limit my chances, too. She would hear nothing of it. “You came all the way from California, I’m sure you could do it.” <br /><br /> “Well, thank you,” I said. “It’s nice to know someone believes in me.” <br /><br /> I smiled, and went to get my water containers. It was a long fifty or more miles until my next water source. I strapped the big red bag to my trusty Jones bars and hit the road, navigating by phone until it was clear where I was headed, although I would check in periodically to confirm my route or work out an alternative. I found it exciting to be following at last the lines I’d imagined months ago, routes that I thought would go but I’d never ridden. The map, however, sure as hell is not the territory. Believe me. <br /><br /> Have you ever wondered what it would be like to ride those roller coaster service roads that parallel major highways? Well, now I know. It’s a difficult pain in the ass and a regular stab to the legs as steep rollers and soft, sandy washes alternated like fixed, decaying waves in a concretized sea in storm swell. As a cyclist, the waves don’t come at you, you attack them, again and again, quick bouncy drop, power through the sand, hit the wall beyond, pedal–or not. One particular wave was ridiculously steep and I barely managed to push Ivan up its crumbling face, my feet fighting for purchase. Thankfully, this only happened a couple of times, but the way was always challenging. And little did I know what the swells foretold. <br /><br /> I made steady progress until a long line of barbed wire, a locked gate and a “No Trespassing” sign glared at me in the midday Arizona sun. What? The terrain to either side was not workable, steep, loose, no road. I was NOT going to back track. There had to be away. The owner’s house was up the hill. If they were in and looking, they could see me. Perhaps my sweaty lanky self was on camera as the sign proclaimed. I didn’t care. I was going. This would not stop me. I noticed that the posts holding the gate had a gap low on one side, barred across the top, but the opening was large, easy for me, and, I quickly decided, big enough for Ivan. On yer side mate, in the dirt! Easy boy, easy. I lowered the portly Ivan on his side, and worked the big front wheel and bars through without too much trouble, slid through his shorter back quarters, and we were done! I crawled through quickly, mounted up, and rode like the wind. In a couple of hundred yards, I came to the other side of the property. This time, I could see, my presence was blocked from view of the Master’s house. This gate had a similar opening–as I’d hoped, or maybe I wasn’t even thinking that far ahead. Just keep moving. But it did have the gap with the bar–only it was a little tighter, and one side had barbed wired wrapping the post. That inch or two made a difference, so I struggled to tilt, lift, lay, twist and pray Ivan’s fat fore quarters through–WITHOUT puncturing the water bag strapped to the bars. Ivan complained–a lot–but he finally got through with me hot on his tail. C”mon, boy, let’s ride! Down a quick drop, further out of sight. Free. No shotgun blast or ranting rancher followed our dust plume. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance 29’er do it again. <br /><br /> And then another fence, locked gate “No Trespassing.” Shit. I scanned the scene, not wanting to risk a blatant run like the last. Hey, an arroyo, a track or two down there. Maybe I can do an end run? I swung Ivan to the south and dropped into a classic Arizona wash, arroyo muy seco, flanked by Mesquite, creosote, an Ocotillo or two, and the bottom was firm hard pan–great riding. At speed, I rolled with joy down the green wash until it was cut by another dirt road that took me back to the main line and, at last, free from any other private blockades. I motored east, my sights set on Pipeline Rd. and my eventual, fateful swing to the south. <br /><br /> It came at last, as they always do if you keep the wheels turning. Funny how that works. I had hopes but no great expectations for the surface quality. My hopes were dashed and my worst expectations realized–mile after mile of fine, loose sand and washboard, leading to a point beyond imagining over the horizon. Occasionally, I’d hit a firm patch and my speed would shoot up to 9 or 10 mph, but more commonly I was mired in soft, sandy fingers grabbing at my rims, adding effort to each pedal stroke, sometimes stopping me altogether. I was often forced to ride the washboard as it was the only track firm enough to allow progress, so jouncing and bouncing, fish tailing and sliding, I forged on as the sun sagged under the lateness of the day. <br /><br /> At three I was at my usual find-camp-time, but I resolved to get to mile 43, and make it I did, less than an hour before sunset. I called Jodi and we laughed about our days, but I had to get to it, pitching tent, cleaning up. At last, with a full moon rising, I sat down to eat. <br /><br /> And my dinner guest arrived. <br /><br /> A small, pale, adorable kit fox decided I was the evening’s entertainment. “Dances with Kit Fox” will be my new name as we ran about camp, chasing from one side of a spindly creosote to the other. The fabulous beast would run a few yards away, and always circle back, once almost sniffing my shoe! Oh, how I wanted to take it home as a beloved friend. I suppose, at some time lost in history, a wolf-like creature came into a camp much like this fox–and stayed. Dogs and humans have been together ever since. <br /><br /> The nearly full moon rose bright and imposing above the distant desert peaks, and I was more than ready for bed. A big day tomorrow–more sand, more washboard, and camp at the Bill Williams river. <br /> <br /><br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPd89SwV7zhNtR_Er5A71WuJEiIo28WLNxeBi0yaDuZorFS2raMmBzyB9nFCiwx5mL2r9_wY-egi7-68MaxF4m__SHJICICarDLnPfbRqYcunda1WxQPqAwYEom3wyPxzHX1wEWXZwUx9p6G5kybTNoNuoh55TbZQxFWdQkzgdPMUywdNFaDf50uw/s4096/IMG_20221207_081448407_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPd89SwV7zhNtR_Er5A71WuJEiIo28WLNxeBi0yaDuZorFS2raMmBzyB9nFCiwx5mL2r9_wY-egi7-68MaxF4m__SHJICICarDLnPfbRqYcunda1WxQPqAwYEom3wyPxzHX1wEWXZwUx9p6G5kybTNoNuoh55TbZQxFWdQkzgdPMUywdNFaDf50uw/w640-h480/IMG_20221207_081448407_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqV6aVNT1gT6S0qKHJ5T5q0zjj3lOATksqaU2D1zdH_DLpC-S-piP85w9he1wPmAYAuD06sZTnadzNFfxhb26nk7cDlS_Rp6DaH8AWpLEL7o7R8VjIR47CTeiQb5veW9wHu1_AMW1r7xbJueh-PnhW_mxgP0EA8YgM7BAJZhpAVdoB8Omm_0kqjE/s4096/IMG_20221207_092342768_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwUZPo3j_CQJteRfFzKgo3Cw94rLyv0Y-WsJR5YPEcucPFS12IZwoO5SO3ebKkC38kfUwowmW4UTEeFxeOoboznojkTy7q2eZipVUXVHCVjuu-F6ZUNrlYGe7bId5-btiLJ83UaN47DP3khn9q3kd69p3ZYsnDRKxCoqKSEXok_aKwCxcIVwCfpE/s3264/IMG_20221206_093911585_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwUZPo3j_CQJteRfFzKgo3Cw94rLyv0Y-WsJR5YPEcucPFS12IZwoO5SO3ebKkC38kfUwowmW4UTEeFxeOoboznojkTy7q2eZipVUXVHCVjuu-F6ZUNrlYGe7bId5-btiLJ83UaN47DP3khn9q3kd69p3ZYsnDRKxCoqKSEXok_aKwCxcIVwCfpE/w640-h480/IMG_20221206_093911585_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you feel lucky, punk?<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><p><b>Day 11: 36 miles/1380 ft. climb </b><br /><br /> A shocker. I actually slept a chunk of the night. The traffic slowed considerably, and silicone earplugs are worth their weight in gold. Jam those suckers in deep, pull the hat down over your eyes, and you can sleep through a lot, mister, I tell you what. Still, I was up and out before 6AM, puttering about in the 36 deg. F. chill. The interstate was rumbling, the train a-grumbling, the day coming to life through the throbbing arteries of transport. Anyone who thinks electrics are going to replace diesel any time soon is delusional. The world economy runs on the stuff. It’s staggering. Me? In the morning I run on coffee, and soon the little stove was purring and coffee was on. Life would continue. <br /><br /> I rolled a little before 8AM, slipped onto the wide, smooth shoulder, and started the miles as the big rigs and plebes raced by. To be honest–and, why not?--I kind of enjoyed the riding. It was so fast and easy, the shoulder comfortably wide, and the very smooth pavement kept the tire noise down. The rigs were not so obnoxious, and though it wasn’t necessary, many swung into the other lane to give me even more room. Yay truckers. <br /><br /> I worried for a time about being stopped by CHP, but the on-ramp held no sign prohibiting bicycle traffic–that would come later–and I even rolled by a Chippy standing watch over road construction in the median. All was good. The high heaving desert spread out around me under a cool, grey sky, the temperatures perfect for working hard, but the climbs were so low angle that I could blitz them at 9 mph with ease. To those used to traveling and Maserati speeds, that may sound like a joke, but on a phat knobby tired loaded bike, that’s warp speed going uphill. <br /><br /> On the first summit about seven miles out, the off-ramp was clear about cyclists getting off the highway. So that previous section WAS legal? Interesting. On the other side of the overpass, the down ramp said no go for bikes. Hmmm, okay. I remembered this from before. To “follow the rules,” you would have to ride north some miles, pick up Route 66 and take it east to Hwy 95–a death trap two-lane, no shoulder, high speed connector to Vegas that I’d ridden almost 20 years before. I would NOT ever ride it again. So off down past the sign, back on to the beautiful shoulder of Hwy 40. No LEO’s ruffled my feathers or even appeared on the road as far as I could tell. <br /><br /> The last gentle climb ended in a summit festooned with garbage alongside signs proclaiming $1,000 fines for littering. Yeah, right. Looked like an untapped revenue stream to me. I took a photo for posterity and pushed off, down the 15 + mile descent into the Colorado River zone, leaving behind the Mojave and entering the Colorado Desert, my third of this tour. The Sonoran desert was just over the river a bit, and I’d be there tomorrow. A wide-open vista for dozens of miles in every direction opened up, the sharp rocky needles of Needles rising above the river, settlements filling the low country along the water, a slate of grey overhead with more interesting clouds due east, many, many miles away. <br /><br /> A developing ache in my left hip that would nag me for the remainder of the tour caused me to pause during the long descent. I definitely needed to adapt better to this style of riding, but I eventually dropped into Needles, a scruffy, blistered little highway installation catering almost exclusively to people passing through. Although almost five thousand people call it home, it doesn’t feel like a place to linger, especially in summer when temperatures are well over 100 deg. F. On this cool December day, I pulled up to a Subway/Gas Station to rest and get my bearings. <br /><br /> I leaned Ivan up against a post and sat down to search the area for supplies. I really wanted a grocery store to set up for the next section. As I searched using my phone, a large Hispanic fellow with a Subway uniform shirt on, stepped out of the building and sat next to me, a big soft drink in his hand. Close shaved head, a broad, welcoming smile, and a couple of neck tattoos greeted me warmly. He was fascinated by my bike and journey. He made a point of mentioning his previous addiction a couple of times and how bikes were his main source of transportation. I have a big soft spot for addicts. They’ve been through the wars, and when they get out the other side they have a level of self-knowledge and a deep, personal feel for the struggle of life that is profound. He was sweet and supportive, giving me multiple fist bumps, especially when he asked what happens if I bust my phone. Satellite connector! “Wow, you’ve thought of everything!” Fist bump. <br /><br /> I went in search of food—Subway guy recommending the mini-mart associated with the next gas station down the road. They had a few things but meager were the pickings. I discovered that Needles is something of a food desert, not a single normal grocery store for a community of nearly 5,000 souls. The best I could discover was an anemic Dollar General. At least I could score some tortillas a peanut butter thick with hydrogenated oils--the travails of the long distance bike packer. <br /><br /> <br /><br />At last I landed at the Motel 6, the manager somehow remembering me from three years before. Hah! I was “home” again. Long hot shower, laundry, a bit of delivered pizza and a salad covered the rest. Dominoes really has improved its game, in case you were wondering. <br /><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHL7tyf_k60Vx0S34csKncs0Ej-hSCK1yf-63U0L0If3IRseMiV-OGbzESS4kBeTWwViOqOCcEIeOoPGB5eGqFZpUHicWDQRxbUyaCvvbUPYaPslklYwoEN6O5bnNESlr072b0XaU0ALkZbZf92W6TmrYXaM5Y7bz0CSBLxzMGfjY3m1eG-EEGQoM/s4096/IMG_20221206_101022993_BURST000_COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHL7tyf_k60Vx0S34csKncs0Ej-hSCK1yf-63U0L0If3IRseMiV-OGbzESS4kBeTWwViOqOCcEIeOoPGB5eGqFZpUHicWDQRxbUyaCvvbUPYaPslklYwoEN6O5bnNESlr072b0XaU0ALkZbZf92W6TmrYXaM5Y7bz0CSBLxzMGfjY3m1eG-EEGQoM/w640-h480/IMG_20221206_101022993_BURST000_COVER.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4A6RLJFZZr6oIpZ7_cwjEcZejIjhaizytLGluuVZnCxe5FlrmmJo-RAaFoCOT-84ycX8GSk0OnobVvgz2mCk8KSD4sjst3JmpTzgbZPcIaIwTXEhidbdrRJweKR29SOOKyrogm7fFJQa80YaCc9T1YLH8XV_k0iumECd365ZW1XA8ddYMACtIWoQ/s4096/IMG_20221206_163923120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4A6RLJFZZr6oIpZ7_cwjEcZejIjhaizytLGluuVZnCxe5FlrmmJo-RAaFoCOT-84ycX8GSk0OnobVvgz2mCk8KSD4sjst3JmpTzgbZPcIaIwTXEhidbdrRJweKR29SOOKyrogm7fFJQa80YaCc9T1YLH8XV_k0iumECd365ZW1XA8ddYMACtIWoQ/w640-h480/IMG_20221206_163923120.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZtIEEWiE96-zRGzqY8Owc-J6uyZhHeFNySXzaH9C0pFEipi1r5h246kKJ7GLgJejaHAvWuGo7D55kv_0IOUkIN6tDa8kK15tjuey4mrSkztA01A-yD0hTnnuWqpbEnSQr-tBGhJsGMJaXq1tAbHyjve7K4kN3xlbacjwqUNmjCAHANfJvr8DKzo/s4096/IMG_20221206_163937533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZtIEEWiE96-zRGzqY8Owc-J6uyZhHeFNySXzaH9C0pFEipi1r5h246kKJ7GLgJejaHAvWuGo7D55kv_0IOUkIN6tDa8kK15tjuey4mrSkztA01A-yD0hTnnuWqpbEnSQr-tBGhJsGMJaXq1tAbHyjve7K4kN3xlbacjwqUNmjCAHANfJvr8DKzo/w640-h480/IMG_20221206_163937533.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /><br /> <br /><br /> </p>Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-62853566742875687412023-01-31T10:51:00.005-08:002023-01-31T10:51:51.827-08:00Revenge of the 29'er Day 10<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMO0rzu2e1nroZxF_C6DcNxtMJ9jYXUoDv1l-ci1rk-S_QkKQQu8al8W_em0FbqK11p11ZEWOk0CbN5Rp6BnligqG7q1pMCxc_5b735JF4SdNmickKi77TBI6X8lqXJdDkuUTDntoNMrevrKvesp4eTYBC7uC2Jmjj2M2L3Dj-EZ7SuL3TDkqDu8k/s4096/IMG_20221205_064707433_BURST000_COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMO0rzu2e1nroZxF_C6DcNxtMJ9jYXUoDv1l-ci1rk-S_QkKQQu8al8W_em0FbqK11p11ZEWOk0CbN5Rp6BnligqG7q1pMCxc_5b735JF4SdNmickKi77TBI6X8lqXJdDkuUTDntoNMrevrKvesp4eTYBC7uC2Jmjj2M2L3Dj-EZ7SuL3TDkqDu8k/w640-h480/IMG_20221205_064707433_BURST000_COVER.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><b>Day 10: 26 miles/260 ft. climb <br /></b><br /> An easy day, a nice follow up to the big crossing of the Midland Hills/New York Mountains. I awoke to find an astonishing amount of moisture in and on the tent–everything soaked, almost as bad as camping beside the Great Lakes during my transcontinental tour in 2007. And, of course, lots of solid grey clouds blocked the sun so that temperatures climbed only very slowly, and the soaking tent refused to dry. Ugh. I lingered and lingered, staggered about with one coffee, ate breakfast, had another coffee. I was able to somewhat dry the sleeping bag but gave up on the tent and stuffed its sodden yards into the bag for later drying. I REALLY wanted a sunny, lazy morning, but the road gods had other plans. Still, the riding would be mostly downhill, even if only marginally, so the gods took away and gave back some, too. <br /><br /> Lots of sand marked the day’s progress, once again surfing the sandy creosote seas. I was very grateful for the 2.8 inch knobbies and decided that 3.0’s would not be too much tire for this route. I was grateful, too, for the direction I was riding. Coming UP this track with a loaded bike would be tedious indeed. As I sailed it, I could maintain a good head of steam and float over much of the softest bits, occasionally fish-tailing and fighting for control. Great fun! And generally fast–speeds in the low/mid-teens kept me motivated. The spindly greenery flanking the route flew by and I rolled and rolled and rolled, chugging miles like cold beers on a hot afternoon. <br /><br /> Eventually I hit Goffs, a 19th Century town that came into its own with the booming traffic of Old Route 66. WWII saw fifteen thousand soldiers stationed here to learn desert warfare. But then the big Hwy 40 went in, and the town dried up and blew away, now some key buildings restored by a few loving people to commemorate this historic site. I ate lunch and contemplated the flow of time. <br /><br /> By 2pm, I was in Fenner, the roar of the highway and the occasional train, the glow of the lamps above the pumps, all meant a marginal night. But there was food, water, a brewski or two. Life could be much worse. I would endure. Talks with Jodi and my buddy Bill in Prescott helped ease the loneliness of the long distance 29’er. Time for more food, perhaps another brew, maybe some Netflix if it would stream. Tomorrow, it would be the industrial noise of riding Hwy 40 for to Needles and a motel–with showers. <br /> </p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhZKE5XTgtz__Ie_4djbl1f9uopZIxH2UtW9Px0-nAmNp09CTDsolwlDvfDKiBqho5QINZyFaciUvBfkbbO6ned4Kx-cEJ41N5uxvFnisZ2enAmoKY0vDyeWSMgRz_ZWtgxSVocSKGbJJZ4OLbY9rhb6cwDZT0qTBHnogtNWGJqQ4jHPCMg14Jkw/s4096/IMG_20221205_100342880_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="3072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhZKE5XTgtz__Ie_4djbl1f9uopZIxH2UtW9Px0-nAmNp09CTDsolwlDvfDKiBqho5QINZyFaciUvBfkbbO6ned4Kx-cEJ41N5uxvFnisZ2enAmoKY0vDyeWSMgRz_ZWtgxSVocSKGbJJZ4OLbY9rhb6cwDZT0qTBHnogtNWGJqQ4jHPCMg14Jkw/w480-h640/IMG_20221205_100342880_HDR.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMoiclkmjIu6ClJyKJq-z3ZhU8rGSUSUpOqtTR99rQzZ_CQIiHpHqCCLeQqRCTm0gzc4LtsgL41iu5i-yDB2J_Mn8wXD2yo14_rosjlPkUdYj2RjsO7to07Mtsj40L31DJU55rBuFj4c09YrSebXmMDqjiKAGlL1NfRZguTw6sBPio9G-ftJ_QRE/s4096/IMG_20221205_125234807_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3yZ8-zYmN3PzlKBsvQdk9545mr2ftcIn_g516R8WSaRUqf1kj0NS0RVn1FBccuBRBr1eYIYX0yvl-Tx0b0itD2ZmrLutij_efzmmSHVZC-IZVy0Snycih9ri6kNtJ9PZbEaIzd4r52C4fNL3JpSPgY5doRHkyauA0lcT1Sw249jEuhtszOKcNSI/s4096/IMG_20221205_143409257_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3yZ8-zYmN3PzlKBsvQdk9545mr2ftcIn_g516R8WSaRUqf1kj0NS0RVn1FBccuBRBr1eYIYX0yvl-Tx0b0itD2ZmrLutij_efzmmSHVZC-IZVy0Snycih9ri6kNtJ9PZbEaIzd4r52C4fNL3JpSPgY5doRHkyauA0lcT1Sw249jEuhtszOKcNSI/w640-h480/IMG_20221205_143409257_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTWrY-JGpZeLhtPTuSHmYsEMy-VDsRqNwAX8xBldJfDzsGox6krox_VDtSWw_HBpKA59-0o0fV14BPzb0qU9My0ASPHPjK1bT0KjAO11GQiIJ7Ie-ljnUByqVAKKfVqvHIUouEvikfrk_svVn0Az5D7oMVvARXTenTwVpv3V3Ao02rDEMMADp0l4/s4096/IMG_20221205_150321377_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTWrY-JGpZeLhtPTuSHmYsEMy-VDsRqNwAX8xBldJfDzsGox6krox_VDtSWw_HBpKA59-0o0fV14BPzb0qU9My0ASPHPjK1bT0KjAO11GQiIJ7Ie-ljnUByqVAKKfVqvHIUouEvikfrk_svVn0Az5D7oMVvARXTenTwVpv3V3Ao02rDEMMADp0l4/w640-h480/IMG_20221205_150321377_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /> <br /><br /> </p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-68793583988817136572023-01-31T10:45:00.001-08:002023-01-31T10:45:44.900-08:00Revenge of the 29'er Day 9<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ToRoDg8Tb9m7GJht1Kpr26VtbgG7Q7DSoXGoHUJTlfzv8TxDAz4Tfp2av1AiT7ORjwWCAya7UvIFDMuPZhhqoycgGzUrzAe1eYKRXk-9CONgnmlLm42T3xdAq0cZyxaTXi5QI1-NKdgEi5yTMHjVBPJx5toamn9PrBnuGUE02OXvXOmVhNDbLu8/s4096/IMG_20221204_091346844_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ToRoDg8Tb9m7GJht1Kpr26VtbgG7Q7DSoXGoHUJTlfzv8TxDAz4Tfp2av1AiT7ORjwWCAya7UvIFDMuPZhhqoycgGzUrzAe1eYKRXk-9CONgnmlLm42T3xdAq0cZyxaTXi5QI1-NKdgEi5yTMHjVBPJx5toamn9PrBnuGUE02OXvXOmVhNDbLu8/w640-h480/IMG_20221204_091346844_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><b>Day 9: 37.3 miles/2190 ft. climb </b><br /><br /> Something I said to one of the motorists at the Shell station echoed in my mind, knocking around my head bone here and there. She asked how old I was. “I’m sixty,” I replied. Indeed, that is my age, and I’ve mentioned it before once or twice to people I’ve encountered on the tour. She was surprised, saying I didn’t look that old. I thanked her, but for some reason, this time the utterance had more gravity. I’m sixty fucking years old. What the actual hell? How does that even happen? I don’t know what sixty feels like, what sixty looks like–except to think back on my parents or look at the wider society. But ME? Sixty? So totally unthinkable. How did I get here? Gradually and then all at once, as Hemmingway said about bankruptcy. You live your life, and if you’re lucky and don’t die, you’ll be sixty eventually. Happens all the time–BUT NOT TO ME. Except it did. It used to seem so old, like an old person’s age, but now it’s just me. Retired. An AARP member. Jesus Christ on a cracker. <br /><br /> And I like riding bikes. <br /><br /> This morning started too early with what I was sure was a rodent chewing on my tires. The fekking bastard. I yelled, turned on my headlamp, shined it about–nothing. Then I heard the chewing sound again. Maybe the food in the panniers. I suited up and scrambled out of the tent at 4:30AM, hell bent on getting control of the situation. I found no offending mouse, but I lumbered about in the dark thirty cold, sealing up the panniers–should have done that before–and climbed back in to wait out the final dark hours. Off and on throughout the night, I’d felt the tent shift, heard the wind in the Joshua tree spines above me, in the creosote bushes. I thought too much of the forecast that predicted headwinds gusting up to 21 mph. Grrrr…. <br /><br /> Somehow I fell asleep and awoke sometime later to brightness filtering through the tent walls. Six thirty. Time to boogie. Not too bad, 39 deg. F. The temperature of champions, or something. Lots of grey in the sky, but even so, I was gifted with some sun, and as I was about to depart, it was warm and I had to layer down a bit. <br /><br /> The first miles were through the bombed out appearance of the Joshua tree forest, the remains of the Cima Fire that burned over forty three thousand of acres and an estimated 1.3 million Joshua trees. Cima Dome, the enormous swollen lump to the south, had been home to one of the greatest Joshua forests in the region–a magnificent vegetable, by the way, that is only found in high desert southern and eastern California and a small wedge of Arizona and nowhere else on the planet. Strange and wonderful twisted creatures they are. And here was a no-man’s land, rank upon rank of burned and toppled trees, many of them hundreds of years old. Hopefully, you could see some that had survived, their tips green and reaching upward in that contorted, comical style. The grasses that sprouted after the fire had dried out with the summer season, and now the vast blackened forest had a blond base stretching to the horizon. It glowed in the sun like a young surfer’s close cropped hair. <br /><br /> I climbed with enthusiasm in the early cool air, anxious about the coming wind but thankful for the cloud cover. At the summit, gazing at the distant New York Mtns. I would skirt, the granite Teutonia Peak, an old favorite, to my right, I knew I needed to suit up for the miles long drop to Cima–a long, long way to a mostly empty and desiccated place that seemed to have one occupied dwelling, a newer manufactured home. Here I encountered traffic for the first time. Thanks to Lord Google and who knows what else, the East Mojave Preserve was now a kind of “commuter” path between Hwy 40 in the south and Hwy 15 to the north and, especially, Las Vegas. Not heavy by many biking standards, the traffic did put me on alert, so I attached my rear view helmet mirror and kept an eye on overtaking traffic, giving them all a nice wave well ahead of time to remind them of a human being they should avoid. Less than five quick downhill miles and I was done, cutting off onto Cedar Canyon Rd. <br /><br /> The ride so far had been fantastic, but the cake was about to come. Paved at first when I expected dirt, I ascended quickly and was a little surprised to see traffic coming down. Maybe this wasn’t the 4x4 road I was expecting. When a conventional sedan rolled by in a cloud of dust, I knew this was going to be a pretty good rood. It was, in fact, one off the best dirt roads I’ve had the pleasure of riding. The sandy sections were short–big payoff there with the fat tires–and the rest was mostly smooth, hard gravel, fast climbing. I didn’t even bother to lower the PSI in my tires. I’d climb better with them nice and firm. And so I did, dodging in the process a pack of Overlanders! driving way too fast, sending up immense clouds of dust. I motioned with a downward had to slow down, and most of them did–except one who didn’t even seem to see me, turning a bit late but safely enough and roaring by in a tsunami of dust and gravel. Thanks, buddy! The next clown bearing down hard at speed didn’t like my attempt to get him to slow down–which you would THINK would be the most basic kind of courtesy. As I motioned downward to slow, he glared at me and offered me his two middle fingers and a vicious scowl, as if having to slow down for, oh, twenty, thirty seconds, was some sort of horrendous insult. What a complete and total ass. He must be great fun to live with. Ladies, steer clear. He’s a loser. <br /><br /> My anger at the encounter fueled my legs for a while and I charged the summit, taking no prisoners, giving no quarter, telling no lies, just good hard bike packing, the junipers filling in the rocky slopes, the sun bearing down bright and warm, the wind, astoundingly, at my back. I’d out-witted the wind monster! A classic cliff banded mesa appeared ahead as I hit the intersection for Black Canyon Rd., the track rising steep and sandy to the south. This was supposed to be closed, but there appeared fresh tracks, and no sign blocked access. Hmmm… I could take it to Hole-in-the-Wall campground and make it to Fenner that way, but I’d carried all this agua. Screw it. I’d stay on Cedar Canyon–and make the best decision of the tour so far. <br /><br /> More fantastic hard pack led up to the summit pass where I had lunch, the view a meal in itself, fantastic mesas, boulders and juniper forests radiant in the late season light. Stupid happy was I. A couple of very nice motorists stopped to ask if I were okay, I said I was fantastic. Every other driver was superb, but programmed to pay attention to risks, we hang onto our experiences with the bad ones so much stronger. To hell with that guy. I was the winner here. <br /><br /> Mile after mile of fast roads led me down out of the mountains, but I had to stop at the stone cabin, a gorgeous structure of rounded granite rocks stacked and cemented above a beautiful canyon, a spring below for water. One Bert Smith, lungs badly damaged by mustard gas in WWI, moved to the Mojave in the late 1920’s, hoping the desert climate—and perhaps isolation from the madness of the world—would help, but he didn’t expect to live long. I suspect much to his surprise, he lived another 25 years. Later, an artist moved in and lived for a time, selling his work to tourists on the Jeep excursions that were popular at the time. Now the fabulous cabin is a reminder of a long ago time and of the sacrifice of our veterans. I paused in the fabulous afternoon light and tried to imagine living there for decades. <br /><br /> As always, daylight was fleeting, so more descent along fast sandy tracks led to a camp in a perfect arroyo. The warm winds died as I settled in, a fat moon overhead. <br /><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEififR56t5AXGuGlPVmpPoVjKwRn6RQ5zM-Q_uMy5fLuvi0gJeKRUIIB1NNfP0IvFhKsZG11nwBWmO2LlEg_c-LbHdzDtjeTDF7nfnlKBCnKQbheCs4t0Fa2LoYu7ww-t4ErZVBPFdfwtCgLYtJYOLLBdaXjB_OPgKaTTcDo_SHGWFWlK6MqxW2y20/s4096/IMG_20221204_111503109_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEififR56t5AXGuGlPVmpPoVjKwRn6RQ5zM-Q_uMy5fLuvi0gJeKRUIIB1NNfP0IvFhKsZG11nwBWmO2LlEg_c-LbHdzDtjeTDF7nfnlKBCnKQbheCs4t0Fa2LoYu7ww-t4ErZVBPFdfwtCgLYtJYOLLBdaXjB_OPgKaTTcDo_SHGWFWlK6MqxW2y20/w640-h480/IMG_20221204_111503109_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzthY4rPczJj_Fjq-DuQlr15iJyCDlNEwSAgvdMhpmDTHsKg9wo5z2NSsTU7Du6NwR19yNyzkxaxE1zA2z8L2NlAwnaOq2Iq6jj3ov0W-ey7Hquj3YLWBP_7HyKp2mW0QHMTCZNtfzKwmZCOCEGoQzEo4iYpE7wBn-hkdt_leZUgz7bVVw_ozEmeQ/s4096/IMG_20221204_120158099_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LWrg2i5BCj-RJjEW5ah-3ACZJA3mPBATrwwaXPe-kZDPHKRqND8MAvrero97DawRMN11Ls6MOTU_bBR6iI6YYtZuJRanoDgt4wynd_9Hb9pe9nXXUCcpvKZ40AL98Zw9vIUyKrMb6RIIVoEeWkT3jp1EM_y9UiriPwPdj2xRuqhCSar0_xESp4M/w640-h480/IMG_20221204_131608281_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi--3MEs8v06aFWVl_3aPnx4B16L54pSJr2aTTQ4xqUJnAr2ixSihtMHhhs_SaCF1hMRwF97HPhwc0keWnvCguz1yOClKSw4Z6XlfFBOUAkoX5sM7viItX3DQW_wYmRzpjbsBD7mSs-ZwB7e_Ql1KggEHm_5VsbrwEM2SUKhvHC3oRBanpYDMDKWk/s4096/IMG_20221204_131714699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi--3MEs8v06aFWVl_3aPnx4B16L54pSJr2aTTQ4xqUJnAr2ixSihtMHhhs_SaCF1hMRwF97HPhwc0keWnvCguz1yOClKSw4Z6XlfFBOUAkoX5sM7viItX3DQW_wYmRzpjbsBD7mSs-ZwB7e_Ql1KggEHm_5VsbrwEM2SUKhvHC3oRBanpYDMDKWk/w640-h480/IMG_20221204_131714699.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqL4_Fvj56DGLfBOWkziKW0PuzdqlE_UAsz7_9OkJ3g7CHWqhaOxSW-hWQGVpuLYkL1B2lg4-PUCWWkOu7mu3ZKVquqa_uRVLNZbU3yBGuRwxSdT6G0GEWdUfnpyf-CPXQuSOENH98t7UdInqRP47DBUZNH7awAx2waNGSvHpucTAKAHytSCzD20/s4096/IMG_20221204_140802097_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqL4_Fvj56DGLfBOWkziKW0PuzdqlE_UAsz7_9OkJ3g7CHWqhaOxSW-hWQGVpuLYkL1B2lg4-PUCWWkOu7mu3ZKVquqa_uRVLNZbU3yBGuRwxSdT6G0GEWdUfnpyf-CPXQuSOENH98t7UdInqRP47DBUZNH7awAx2waNGSvHpucTAKAHytSCzD20/w640-h480/IMG_20221204_140802097_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /><br /> <br /><br /> </p>Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-30531181011070611642023-01-31T09:45:00.000-08:002023-01-31T09:45:13.671-08:00Revenge of the 29'er Day 8<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqea1yPUkf5JpH4H_n92y8J5o4ANrwWotx2qQXFHwCe9J65kwCyeA5V5zL0urlxU01qfwqCs-cAO-VsUqZoTVlhlCL43lU6OZF08QvbEj3vGg_NsiDdp_wN6MDxn1BcvxLOOJsqOk81MnQIsDsCGvv_qR4KQ8FpJNeeRG-w7FIa2p1nNb_75Jz9A/s4096/IMG_20221203_103834794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqea1yPUkf5JpH4H_n92y8J5o4ANrwWotx2qQXFHwCe9J65kwCyeA5V5zL0urlxU01qfwqCs-cAO-VsUqZoTVlhlCL43lU6OZF08QvbEj3vGg_NsiDdp_wN6MDxn1BcvxLOOJsqOk81MnQIsDsCGvv_qR4KQ8FpJNeeRG-w7FIa2p1nNb_75Jz9A/w640-h480/IMG_20221203_103834794.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><b>Day 8: 34.5 miles/1,540 ft. climb </b><br /><br /> What if I told you that I did this tour because I needed to meet a charming big game hunting guide from the north of England in the middle of the Mojave? Sometimes these chance encounters feel that way, that you needed something you had never imagined. <br /><br /> He pulled in late and mentioned that his group was going to be coming in the next day. He politely asked if it were okay if he camped on the other side of the campground. I can’t imagine what he would have said had I said – “No good. You gotta go!” His accent was a dead giveaway, and I looked forward to talking to him more, which we did when I emerged from my tent after a 13 hour session. Early cold dark condition’s forced me in, and I didn’t get out except to heed the call of nature and jump back into the warm bag. <br /><br /> The early light filtered through the nylon, and I couldn’t stand lying down anymore. Get up! When I stood up, I was immediately disappointed at the grey sky–no early sun to warm the bones of this cold bike packer, not today. Jeff, the hunting guide, began moving things over, just his truck and a tent for now–other guides and a cook would be coming soon, a big tent going up. Big Sahib Hunter would be treated like a king by this outfit. Jeff explained that there were only two tags released in the whole state for a desert big horn sheep hunt, and people interested in such things were likely to get only one chance in their lives to pursue this game. These were often older, obviously wealthy, given what this guide service must cost. People like Jeff spend months, years wandering these mountains, studying the animals, doing, really, the work the prospective hunter should be doing but for countless reasons did not. As a result, this man from England has a job that takes him into the wildest portions of the state for weeks at a time. His huge enthusiasm for the terrain and the animals was infectious. Our talk brought back a flood of memories when I used to hunt with my father, the ghosts of my past swirling about me as I stood with coffee in hand below the old craggy walls of the Kingston Mountains, some of the upper reaches dusted with snow. <br /><br /> Before long, Jeff motored off on his quad to scout animals, his binoculars strapped to his chest over a camouflaged jacket. And then it was just me and the quiet. I puttered about, finishing breakfast, knowing the day was not to be a very difficult one, and some of it on pavement. Then something strange happened. The sun began to break through the grey muck and warm my hungry frame. Ra! The Sun God. What’s not to like? At last I looked at Ivan, fully locked and loaded, and could put it off no longer: Shall we go for a ride? Ivan, the strong, silent type, said nothing, but I could tell. We crunched down the gravel track together and dropped out of the mountains and into vast slopes of Joshua trees and deep green creosote, the day warming and brightening as we went. <br /><br /> Riding Ivan is for me something of a struggle–not that he doesn’t respond to my commands and carry the weight and take the beatings without complaint. No, the issue is with me. Coming from a long history of riding recumbents, this upright bicycle world is still a tough one for me, the saddle issues, the back, the shoulders, all of these conspire against me to diminish the experience. I believe I need to work on strength and flexibility, especially in my back and shoulders, to make this a more pleasurable experience. I do get into the zone sometimes, but the back and shoulders get me, even with the rather upright posture I’ve built into Ivan’s layout. Playing music has, many times, helped me overcome the discomfort and keep riding, but I find I do take a lot of breaks, two or three per hour of riding, sometimes more depending on the need for pictures, clothing changes and the like. How these hardcore riders go for hours is astounding to me. Still, pausing frequently has many advantages in seeing the country, hearing what is and isn’t there, taking the landscape into every molecule so that you can replay it later. So our travel is a herky jerky affair: Bang out a few miles, pause, drink, look around; saddle up for another round. I wasn’t here to break records even if the big miles of other riders sometimes nagged at the back of my mind. They make it sound so casual. I was finding that for me, on a heavily loaded bike with big tires that 30-40 miles is a good day, doubly so with so few daylight hours. <br /><br /> So think of this: The night has been freezing–literally or close enough, so getting up in the dark is far from optimal. So you finally get the nerve and climb out of the tent around 6:30AM as the day is getting on its way. Coffee, breakfast, gaping at the surrounding gorgeous takes time. Breaking camp and getting loaded is astoundingly time consuming. You have to be pretty motivated to be on the road in an hour from when you wake up. One and a half to two is easy to do. So let’s say on this hypothetical morning, you get rolling at 8AM. You have only seven hours, basically, to get everything done for the day–riding, resting, eating, maybe chatting with someone at a store, because by 3pm, you better be looking for a camp. The temps start to drop, the sun seeming to accelerate towards the horizon. By a little after four, give or take depending on the terrain, boom, sun down, temps dropping, standing around gets less and less comfortable, so it’s back into the tent for another 12 hour suspended animation. Winter touring has its own rhythm, that’s for sure. <br /><br /> About 30 miles into the day, I crossed a milestone–Hwy 15, the massive artery between LA and Vegas. This was critical for me because the Shell station on the south side is where I would get water and supplies for the East Mojave Preserve. In the distance, I could see the vast scar left from the Cima Dome blaze that took out millions of Joshua trees. The enormous dome looked bald, a pale pate in the sun that should have been deep green. The next day I would get an up close view. <br /><br /> The Shell station lived up to its reputation as a busy stop over–with 30 kinds of jerky! And a tinkling fountain urinal in the men’s room—rank stank and dingy–no bueno. I got the supplies I needed at astronomical prices, including a massive fried chicken sandwich (I’d ordered grilled, but no matter), chatted with some motorists, and pushed off to the south, moving back into Joshua trees and a miles-long straightaway. You don’t do a lot of turning on some of these desert tracks. I cranked until it seemed prudent to stop. That’s the beauty of carrying enough water and supplies, you can just…camp. Another lurid sunset and a talk on the phone with my abandoned wife–having too much fun in my absence, if you ask me–and it was off to bed for another round of Mojave dreams and coyote songs. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJI-YvlNNtdbr0p4kRYD34uCK1iwo-eUZABcESMGkOlF_XeiClycQgLHrHqT9fx7AF1dgP5cGj0Z_A9sgc6fUA9Z9G18gct2pC9mQMR5GXAfQKDjtUEhfaS5gGMnSCRyylD8a5gCWCYKpb_7eqMGOZ1o8JnRkuJo7vb3DdLmRMGDA5wxtaAI7tz3Y/s4096/IMG_20221203_091406853_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJI-YvlNNtdbr0p4kRYD34uCK1iwo-eUZABcESMGkOlF_XeiClycQgLHrHqT9fx7AF1dgP5cGj0Z_A9sgc6fUA9Z9G18gct2pC9mQMR5GXAfQKDjtUEhfaS5gGMnSCRyylD8a5gCWCYKpb_7eqMGOZ1o8JnRkuJo7vb3DdLmRMGDA5wxtaAI7tz3Y/w640-h480/IMG_20221203_091406853_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxohceBud78KL_AZK6BVhISjQvP3LuOBLplqdeAlIjyrPOkn8sODGCnSdCKQ9_8D8C_qEBQ68XMk8_HYMuVF6gV8-NfrrbrxnoUgSW_JyRnqmTonBYXJl-ttNXPH-YsdJ6tAHYw-1ky43FsGQBdftB6Mji2QeEeecEnRCDnqO-_5wSlNRtbTzu314/s4096/IMG_20221203_134348770_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxohceBud78KL_AZK6BVhISjQvP3LuOBLplqdeAlIjyrPOkn8sODGCnSdCKQ9_8D8C_qEBQ68XMk8_HYMuVF6gV8-NfrrbrxnoUgSW_JyRnqmTonBYXJl-ttNXPH-YsdJ6tAHYw-1ky43FsGQBdftB6Mji2QeEeecEnRCDnqO-_5wSlNRtbTzu314/w640-h480/IMG_20221203_134348770_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheY3ewC6GC1zMm1nC_iGYhpeQYwkAus2CYaYk6LfHHTY57jIzeGXS9XYkgoOJdBhdyWa6FsQ6Lx7fx0UqSDYLtCB5ZqD_qS37bL36v_w42kppK3OVq7ZRLP-0ZGgwxkwsQvCq1tox1WxhYQ94_NvJcuetN0I75vaxZeND-B2mQJJH9LC5wvmcYt70/s4096/IMG_20221203_141612921_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheY3ewC6GC1zMm1nC_iGYhpeQYwkAus2CYaYk6LfHHTY57jIzeGXS9XYkgoOJdBhdyWa6FsQ6Lx7fx0UqSDYLtCB5ZqD_qS37bL36v_w42kppK3OVq7ZRLP-0ZGgwxkwsQvCq1tox1WxhYQ94_NvJcuetN0I75vaxZeND-B2mQJJH9LC5wvmcYt70/w640-h480/IMG_20221203_141612921_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeQ85OdEv0EzkIRXhy7QdMvmhmx11Ylh76DnL3S3ZnbxoZdTSQva9zYB11tNFXDZKScBBLlZTIRXp8pNBD7zjFmhk8Bw9T4I0zA3fsxQ2qYJ9o2k4Wg7-ip5H_8PbeJo4vkuYaPZLg-i9nSPA3CLW8wzCAClE7Fog6LaPQqUNmu49BATTGdASRy8/s4096/IMG_20221203_155302112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeQ85OdEv0EzkIRXhy7QdMvmhmx11Ylh76DnL3S3ZnbxoZdTSQva9zYB11tNFXDZKScBBLlZTIRXp8pNBD7zjFmhk8Bw9T4I0zA3fsxQ2qYJ9o2k4Wg7-ip5H_8PbeJo4vkuYaPZLg-i9nSPA3CLW8wzCAClE7Fog6LaPQqUNmu49BATTGdASRy8/w640-h480/IMG_20221203_155302112.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /> </p>Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-24716759624721958912023-01-31T09:40:00.001-08:002023-01-31T09:40:32.814-08:00Revenge of the 29'er Day 7<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhyiaT_freIHdJ2SOoxGkFeDRf0qXrpdPKUphhYq_r0Y82XkJ8lrWCF8UcnRDbRufmI3Opdw3cMdzieFWCte_1_Z56Nb2aVpWtfjyPbwO1YySnWOCfLoyRC7sXd2Xw6pKf86SRQ35lFwqmAtlSNfuJ-gZqgwKOAwP6ZRBF5QjEuBA9fPl14Jl7jw/s4096/IMG_20221202_082850604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhyiaT_freIHdJ2SOoxGkFeDRf0qXrpdPKUphhYq_r0Y82XkJ8lrWCF8UcnRDbRufmI3Opdw3cMdzieFWCte_1_Z56Nb2aVpWtfjyPbwO1YySnWOCfLoyRC7sXd2Xw6pKf86SRQ35lFwqmAtlSNfuJ-gZqgwKOAwP6ZRBF5QjEuBA9fPl14Jl7jw/w640-h480/IMG_20221202_082850604.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><b>Day 7: 34 miles/4060 ft. climb </b><br /><br /> One small number, one big–at least for me, anyway, with a fully stuffed Ivan to contend with. Those two always work with an inversion. More climbing equals fewer miles. Not being much of an Olympian, for me and this sixty year old carcass, this was a good, hard, hard day. I could have added a lot of miles, but short, short days and the appearance of a perfect camp cut my effort to the quick. But first I had to start. <br /><br /> I had been right to worry about this day, so I was up at 5 and rolling by 7AM, a new course record. The wind was light to nothing, and flying through the pale alkali flats and folds, the dark and light chocolate slopes and gnarled teeth on the skyline was a chilly joy. I worried a little about the rear wheel, and I had backed off the tension on the rest of the spokes, which popped and pinged a couple of times as everything settled in. I cringed a little even as I had anticipated just this occurrence. But the wheel didn’t explode as I climbed a few gentle rollers through Tecopa, famous for its healing waters, the spiritual center of this Land of the Lotus Eaters, a place outside the mainstream hustle. <br /><br /> Along the Old Spanish Trail, ratty trailers adorned the ridge above a solitary bearded old man, sitting in his car, a smoldering cigarette hanging from his whiskered lips as he looked out at the sunrise on the serrated range above Shoshone and route 127, all of it behind me now as I climbed out of the valley, astonished again and again by the views opening out to the north. The back of the old smoker’s car had a bumper sticker: I Love Tecopa. So, he was in the right place then. <br /><br /> A couple of miles further on, I stopped to change and listen to the silence, the easing of the wind feeling like a commuted prison sentence. I could hear! And just then a chorus of coyotes broke into song. Now that’s what I’m talking about. <br /><br /> Sand, loose gravel, long avenues of firm and smooth runs that gave me hope, for most of the day I did not have to battle lumpy washboard and rocks. I was grateful, but the soft crap wore me down, every stroke requiring extra effort, pedals in pudding. Except for a couple of sweet little drops, all of the day’s riding speed was in the low middle digits, just grinding and grinding. I needed a boost and pulled out the IPod and set some music, a tonic to my legs and soul. On the sad news of losing Christie McVie from Fleetwood Mac, I put on Rumors and contemplated the nearly 50 years since I first heard that album. Thoughts of my long gone parents and childhood filled my mind as my body worked to the compelling rhythm of the music, a sound track to my youth. So much gone. But here I was, a sixty year old man pedaling a grotesquely heavy pudgy bike up a huge mountain pass. What the actual hell? Madness. But it’s my madness, and I’ll take it with me to the grave. <br /><br /> Deep into the mountains, I climbed, the effort and steepening slope wearing me down. A big mining operation appeared, some heavy machinery out of sight pushing more slag down the incline, a giant boulder bouncing and sending up dust. The angle of the road became too much, so hike-a-bike it was. I re-saddled a bit later, but as the huge peaks closed in, jagged limestone on one side, steeper and more dramatic granite on the other, I gave up and just pushed, the last quarter mile all about brute animal effort. No music now, just my breath, sweat and pumping legs, shoulders aching as I muscled the big bike to over 5,000 ft. and the summit of the pass. Victory! Fantastic mountains and dry folded plains reached out, beaconing. And so I went. </p><p>I resolved to get down under 4k, but a campground appeared and that was that. A view of the craggy peaks, a stand of yucca or two–and a restroom. No changing out in the cold. I could use the loo. Brilliant. I worked fast as the sun did its end-of-the-day kamikaze dive for the horizon. Four pm in the afternoon. Seriously? Gah. Good night.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjq4043sH5luqBhQ8err5c5zgNQ_t50H1mFx8kQe-kgO6FtHUrjuHBNLpRvGKv4Mnmm2bDynwrtPGcdduaoUGyPlm4Ts8xs_xq9GvSuk8siCwyWC-ykxeLttXMWkRAnCTsEGvbTsoyU549eVMzEny7ASZJA5pg1RW7isrGeDX6YxEFtIAgAF0HZQc/s4096/IMG_20221202_101449994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjq4043sH5luqBhQ8err5c5zgNQ_t50H1mFx8kQe-kgO6FtHUrjuHBNLpRvGKv4Mnmm2bDynwrtPGcdduaoUGyPlm4Ts8xs_xq9GvSuk8siCwyWC-ykxeLttXMWkRAnCTsEGvbTsoyU549eVMzEny7ASZJA5pg1RW7isrGeDX6YxEFtIAgAF0HZQc/w640-h480/IMG_20221202_101449994.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPmV88q7Dv3D_cV14yjJTW_Ph9-wmI-mFd555OzrZKf-GlTo7yl5KGv8cOzGtQ2X4q1mfSbDYUztGCrnOnACgZdaIJQRS6LLQL424wAPaFzWOIqwWleSqXGR-cOytih0BXEOYZDwlFP7OE29joTqMJjI7glqmZZWXmcCGyZEe-OawynIxUoFuWNw/s4096/IMG_20221202_134351334_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPmV88q7Dv3D_cV14yjJTW_Ph9-wmI-mFd555OzrZKf-GlTo7yl5KGv8cOzGtQ2X4q1mfSbDYUztGCrnOnACgZdaIJQRS6LLQL424wAPaFzWOIqwWleSqXGR-cOytih0BXEOYZDwlFP7OE29joTqMJjI7glqmZZWXmcCGyZEe-OawynIxUoFuWNw/w640-h480/IMG_20221202_134351334_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWpMpJ_Ctak1SyoVFWSAvi9Kx-RPOewwvb2vWPiCMOJpkzSP6wfiKxh7iz2xJoDostrStT9RGoyJsaG0atXsnB_GLzy-li1NhIS3YCkW0wfMOjrmVABywu5kE0cNvm1LV6lV1KTJmiwvakPznkTr_Kv4rkFhSzFfrVP9JWvNNZOMimL8nkywOy2M/s4096/IMG_20221202_140550361_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWpMpJ_Ctak1SyoVFWSAvi9Kx-RPOewwvb2vWPiCMOJpkzSP6wfiKxh7iz2xJoDostrStT9RGoyJsaG0atXsnB_GLzy-li1NhIS3YCkW0wfMOjrmVABywu5kE0cNvm1LV6lV1KTJmiwvakPznkTr_Kv4rkFhSzFfrVP9JWvNNZOMimL8nkywOy2M/w640-h480/IMG_20221202_140550361_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GDaiAEu61gI8_zk5rLIb6mAI4mwQNM1Wj49Gnbzu0qS6upYmik164zINzJfhAgLJcHKRa6RXp1ftS46e5oT5wOcx4j_ETlx8gf_6w3D-QGUi-wcxIAT-CYupenQCm8UHtnSKKsE12PCQgfSQvAl49CCKNNNTkb8_0zCSNTQ40LUkyM09HtoDkUw/s4096/IMG_20221202_140556276_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GDaiAEu61gI8_zk5rLIb6mAI4mwQNM1Wj49Gnbzu0qS6upYmik164zINzJfhAgLJcHKRa6RXp1ftS46e5oT5wOcx4j_ETlx8gf_6w3D-QGUi-wcxIAT-CYupenQCm8UHtnSKKsE12PCQgfSQvAl49CCKNNNTkb8_0zCSNTQ40LUkyM09HtoDkUw/w640-h480/IMG_20221202_140556276_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2aC6ur9A4q3hp31IFHYlDv_mtjl7-nl2Gs25ZBJfRYPuE2i73BirnqohhOCkgKDG4CyuOzWQ7mvYkWtmy7EFwDNFfZfiQrprEPdfCOigcv581NgBg3kz623JvamfPYVIWFDKFOylI-gTrYK3UJXM8xL5yEYzsdYooucbYxq-SLSKPkOemBpNbLXY/s4096/IMG_20221202_141602777_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2aC6ur9A4q3hp31IFHYlDv_mtjl7-nl2Gs25ZBJfRYPuE2i73BirnqohhOCkgKDG4CyuOzWQ7mvYkWtmy7EFwDNFfZfiQrprEPdfCOigcv581NgBg3kz623JvamfPYVIWFDKFOylI-gTrYK3UJXM8xL5yEYzsdYooucbYxq-SLSKPkOemBpNbLXY/w640-h480/IMG_20221202_141602777_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The text and photos have been literally burned off due to the extreme desert sun.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /><br /><br /> </p>Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-83141346488365643942023-01-30T15:58:00.002-08:002023-01-30T15:58:39.052-08:00Revenge of the 29'er Day 6<p><img aria-label="Photo - Landscape - Dec 1, 2022, 11:31:14 AM" class="BiCYpc" data-atf="false" data-iml="90655329" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZCUcZstKdWow5Z0UDN11dZQlMEbPZUx28FQPTSYBCPGJsS5P25OW2yVSYLl97s6pY1Wq-K8Xflkd4q_oypEPnJxRUp0TnWXj_PxEErzBdFlRk4Qs1dENET_D9PG5Gzhy6rmXD3hWmpc/w640-h480/?authuser=0" style="transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px) rotate(0deg);" width="640" /> <br /></p><p> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></b></p><b>Day 6: 19.1 miles/120 climb <br /></b><br /> Base on the numbers, you would think I had an easy day. The numbers never tell the whole story, not even close. <br /><br /> I waited until my bladder and boredom could take it no longer and crawled from the tent about 6:30AM. The sun was just below the horizon, but I could see from the heavy grey streaking of the sky that it would be a marginal morning, the hoped for warmth of direct sun foiled by the edges of a storm that would be leaving feet of snow in the Sierras. All night, I had slept and tossed in stillness, and my lazy morning at least was the same, but I could see lenticulars building, and the mountain range many miles away to the southeast was vanishing in the dust. It was only a matter of time before I, too, would sample the wind. <br /><br /> I took my time–only about 18 miles to go, after all–and walked about with coffee, finding an abandoned water trough and tank. Ah, the high Mojave, perfect cattle country. Never. These remnants of rusting dreams struck me. I thought of the man, many years ago, dreams of some cattle operation consuming his imagination until the relentless heat and dryness burned them up and set him moving on to the next big thing. This, of course, is the way of the West, and perhaps the dreams of Vegas will dry up and blow away, too, as Lake Mead drops ever lower. It was always a tenuous proposition. <br /><br /> After my second cup o’ Joe, I finally got packing in earnest, and just as I was about to start moving, the wind picked up, and the only people I’d seen in a day drove past in a 4x4 with pop-up camper. They waved and vanished in a cloud of dust. Into the wind, bucko. <br /><br /> And for several hours, it was all about the wind beating me back, not the worst I’d ever faced, and the insanely gentle almost-not downhill trend did help, and often I could average 6–7 mph on the sandy, gravely, rutted track. In fact, the amount of loose material made me glad I was headed south and not the other way. My climbing had mostly been on fairly firm surfaces if not always smooth. But this crap? Ugh. <br /><br /> A couple of times I just enjoyed a stroll with the bike, chewing on a bar, drinking water, enjoying the alien planet landscape of pointed peaks and thrashing creosote bushes. After a quarter mile or so, I’d saddle up and make a few miles. I KNEW the pavement wasn’t far at this point, less than five miles, but that translates into almost an hour of hard riding. Just keep moving…. <br /><br /> At last, I could see the signs of the intersection and the pavement marking a turn away from the wind for a short distance. I whipped old Ivan, and together we broke through, Furnace Creek Wash Rd. now part of our history, known terrain and not an obscure line on a map. We’d been there. <br /><br /> I was buffeted and blasted as I cut down Rt. 127 towards Shoshone, and the final mile was a Battle Royale, straight into 20, 30 mph winds. But a mile wasn’t going to stop me, not this one. Whipped palms, dancing reeds along the Armargosa, the sun coming and going through the shifting grey bands, I pulled into the miniscule town and ate lunch in the ramada next to the store, a bit sheltered from the gale. <br /><br /> As I was finishing lunch, I noticed an older guy, scraggly beard, long johns under baggy shorts, crusty bare feet in open sandals, packing his recumbent trike and trailer. My last time through I’d been on my own recumbent trike, so I had to meet him. He said he sold his car and now uses the trike for everything, including rides to Pahrump and back for groceries–over 50 miles round trip. I couldn’t imagine he did it often—and certainly not in summer heat. Still there was. No doubt, this septuagenarian was a badass. He was a tough desert cyclist, and I liked him immediately. We talked bikes and ‘bents, and off he went. <br /><br /> A few supplies–never forget the date nut bread–and I was off to the RV park to get settled. After shower and laundry, which I hung on the wind shelter in my camp, I headed over to the Crowbar Café for an early dinner. There, as I demolished a massive chicken burrito, rice and beans and brews, I encountered an old guy, clean shaven, thick glasses, hunched over his own meal at the bar. Relying on a cane, he moved with slow, painful difficulty. Hard of hearing, he talked loudly with the waitress, then seemingly at me, although he didn’t turn around as I sat behind him. It took me a moment to realize it was me he was addressing. He rambled a bit, easily led astray by whatever music was playing, making random comments on the artist or some related point. He was traveling by himself, it seemed, in a gold station wagon, from Colorado, his home, no doubt to dodge the cold. He seemed a bit lonely, and I was happy to engage him. Besides music, we talked a bit of climbing–he’d done some and had a brother who climbed a lot–and even landed on Latin-American magical realism literature for a while. We both agreed that 100 Years of Solitude was one confusing book. He said he night give it another go, while I said I liked a lot of the scenes and imagery--Remedios the Beauty vanishing in a cloud of butterflies! <br /><br /> At last I finished my beer and jammed the last of the burrito, rice and beans down where it needed to go, and it was time for camp. I had some things to mess with on the bike, and this journal to update. I shook Mike’s hand and wished him well. His smile warmed me as I stepped out into the desert night. <br /><br /><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxNthWLiuyLcs96VAGnoAL8OmjGSPdSTMVcl4nq82Jya1rwGS7BJvvZtwvC52ISWuOn8wvq9X1ZHz4Hn2TQOg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p><br /></p><p><img aria-label="Photo - Landscape - Dec 1, 2022, 11:54:05 AM" class="BiCYpc" data-atf="false" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzWRUeiUjZczsqGFFqvLxWZLnKE-p4Z-vQr5Kq9UeNajQ39qch44A03-3ycFeCTk5GJcTVBang0SL52X4Zwsc_xZYM5-3AJKzVDU64QhNB3HbXICOkRDjmfYO-SD5gLiKG23VaJPvtkY/w640-h480/?authuser=0" style="transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px) rotate(0deg);" width="640" /></p><p><img aria-label="Photo - Landscape - Dec 1, 2022, 12:14:21 PM" class="BiCYpc" data-atf="false" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtW1G8YrxHe-LrL2DtOx-ECBoNRrll7ZzPMFk7uRo45ZhAUnraxrAc-FX3mfYigwNlNFS7J7qi5Y2dKI5XV-hWSLugiLhguA2z1aaQ5Q8qcuAzMAzWynfoY3_zB0yUrls0Crpkx2pYU4Y/w640-h480/?authuser=0" style="transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px) rotate(0deg);" width="640" /></p>Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-37038857985459924202023-01-29T15:25:00.022-08:002023-01-31T09:20:44.681-08:00Revenge of the 29'er Day 5<div class="separator"><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <br /></p></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATEvmWiYzkwcjwrOVhEgSYYvTnlrP6tufChVo7VOs9QlruzsxakUE0OiO0erhSifyTvF51-p-4IKVSsSgCcbziP9D9kYY6jkz12eeukVsW4a9V-IqikgrnbxLvLFiNa2c-Kh2Aj-B_FbLBX7XRF5o6vBj8M6uPlkEUdJvBuf996P9_4Tq7JKvWF8/s4096/IMG_20221130_074051378_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiATEvmWiYzkwcjwrOVhEgSYYvTnlrP6tufChVo7VOs9QlruzsxakUE0OiO0erhSifyTvF51-p-4IKVSsSgCcbziP9D9kYY6jkz12eeukVsW4a9V-IqikgrnbxLvLFiNa2c-Kh2Aj-B_FbLBX7XRF5o6vBj8M6uPlkEUdJvBuf996P9_4Tq7JKvWF8/w640-h480/IMG_20221130_074051378_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b> </b><p></p><p><b>Day 5: 38 miles/4.5k climb </b><br /><br /> I resolved to get out early. Out of the tent at dark thirty, shuffling about with my suddenly dim batteries. That’ll teach me to buy the cheapies. Susan’s new ones might come in handy after my cheapo replacements no doubt failed. <br /><br /> A few other campers got out early, too, as the first edge of sunlight touched the distant snow covered Telescope Peak. By working steadily and only chatting briefly with Susan, I was able to roll by about 7:30, a new record for the tour. <br /><br /> Today would be about the climb as I headed up towards Death Valley Junction and Dante’s View. Just past the fancy pants Inn at Death Valley, I discovered a wonder–a good flowing creek, astonishing in a place that averages less than three inches of rain per year. The big monsoonal flooding had really left a mark. I stopped to admire the sun on this rare gift. <br /><br /> The character of the climbing made the ascent manageable–very moderate slope indeed. My first 2,000 ft. went down by 10AM–wow. I felt fresh and ready to eat more miles. In my mind I contrasted this 2k with the climb out of Eureka Valley. Today’s effort was accomplished in about 13 miles; the Eureka climb went down in five! But this day still had lots instore for me. I kept at it, pausing to snack, change clothes. The wind was a fickle mistress, changing directions constantly–at my back, headwind, no wind, getting hot, getting cool. On several occasions, I had plans to make a mile marker, a little goal to keep me pumping, but had to give up and dress up–or down. <br /><br /> At lunch I hit the turnoff for Dante. I left the occasional motorist and took my own path–the dirt, gravel, sand and washboard of Furnace Creek Wash Rd. After a relaxing lunch, I saddled up Ivan, and it was headwinds for the rest of the day. Not a brutal asswhooping, but annoying and painful nonetheless, a constant hand in my face, holding down my speed and the temperature. The saving graces were fairly smooth patches through much of the washboard and the continued low angle of climb. My mapping software had claimed I would transition to pavement after a few miles, but I was pretty sure that was bullshit. I’d looked at this road from the other side, and nope, no pavement to be seen. As expected, when I hit pavement, it was dirt gravel and sand–although smoother than previous, so no complaints. <br /><br /> For hours I pedaled in solitude, fighting the wind, but in good spirits. In the early afternoon, I passed my 3,000 ft. goal for climbing, but I didn’t stop. I felt too good and needed more. The expanses of creosote bushes bent with the wind, a kind of haze in the distance as dust was carried from one valley to the next. Dry, lumpy mountains rose on both sides into a blue sky streaked with thin cirrus, a typical winter day in the desert. <br /><br /> The cold wind and weakening light of the afternoon started to bear down on my enthusiasm for camping, but I was making great time and by three I at long last topped the climb. Could I make it all the way to Shoshone and a warm meal inside? Did I want to? I decided to push on and see what came up. The lashing wind spurred me on. The sun was diving for the horizon, shadows cast long across the dirt and gravel as I gained speed, downhill at last. Push on, push on. Ten miles per hour, 12, 14! I was motoring, sliding a little through patches of loose gravel, floating at speed over others. Pure joy! <br /><br /> And still the sun. Camp? Keep going? What would it be? At 3:30, I stopped again to assess. The wind had suddenly died. Just to my west, a perfect spot for the tent, with even a low, sheltering berm. Camp it was. Pitch tent, inflate pad, clean up, message Jodi, get food! The beginning and end of each day are filled with chores. <br /><br /> Now, into the tent for another long, long desert night.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMI6tUaOCBpGAqnKbxy0-aQqgAyfUZovEIsGT2OIdlW4KdTP93KjAwKJDtLDJsIt4wwHhOHQH65ON11Pg8v00qYABQ_sVIDAYHI58ovAERxiqv9a2m62AgSSg_IInCU-qwJNHfLWkUcEmcakvHYPfJWM4iqzDA4qZ7z2b6mnJKaGZljuizXfDYvo/s4096/IMG_20221130_081742165_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMI6tUaOCBpGAqnKbxy0-aQqgAyfUZovEIsGT2OIdlW4KdTP93KjAwKJDtLDJsIt4wwHhOHQH65ON11Pg8v00qYABQ_sVIDAYHI58ovAERxiqv9a2m62AgSSg_IInCU-qwJNHfLWkUcEmcakvHYPfJWM4iqzDA4qZ7z2b6mnJKaGZljuizXfDYvo/w640-h480/IMG_20221130_081742165_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5uKhcE7UB1WXm0RPc-mGudQAGUFRXjmyOfES5uVU2rvugw6cd6GUkWxDhCZzr6Z1PgwWZoyr_thLwNL-EQoAGLWd4oA_RtRwnHv_QwhxwhXphJGkmgBLtNdoubfiY1FzHWta40Rtenn3pbeCC6zhubRH6jRyW-8lgstvDEjhIj7rgWtoM4xUhmg/s4096/IMG_20221130_132245510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5uKhcE7UB1WXm0RPc-mGudQAGUFRXjmyOfES5uVU2rvugw6cd6GUkWxDhCZzr6Z1PgwWZoyr_thLwNL-EQoAGLWd4oA_RtRwnHv_QwhxwhXphJGkmgBLtNdoubfiY1FzHWta40Rtenn3pbeCC6zhubRH6jRyW-8lgstvDEjhIj7rgWtoM4xUhmg/w640-h480/IMG_20221130_132245510.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgdS4Nl94HFoh1fePna_KWNtIF9rDSB5s_RAlJ66MxNHLcxV8zsF9FI4SP94Do7aXwcF9xu7Q2VJ1xMR5CmLhPSPTSG9duWaCVAVLeSib-zA6NL30M9toZZ5dodZcSSeyTcM_G5sD703APibMVAZ1eoEJ8KaQFoUFMGL5EBePxJwDdbSeef9TTFw/s4096/IMG_20221130_101106279_BURST000_COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="3072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgdS4Nl94HFoh1fePna_KWNtIF9rDSB5s_RAlJ66MxNHLcxV8zsF9FI4SP94Do7aXwcF9xu7Q2VJ1xMR5CmLhPSPTSG9duWaCVAVLeSib-zA6NL30M9toZZ5dodZcSSeyTcM_G5sD703APibMVAZ1eoEJ8KaQFoUFMGL5EBePxJwDdbSeef9TTFw/w480-h640/IMG_20221130_101106279_BURST000_COVER.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGyoPbBj6I-3fY707R1PF4vAOZLdgwmNFg-Zy6yzI2W6Gz1tWMUwFqsOOihh-uhDdJ2hBCL3PYkIn9xq6d0-Oh3XFD-ZhgtPfn7_cwJ6krfWjpeO_eaoqOO_q23mpyLlibzYI4UONjnuJJXiWEtjXuoeT6LW7PO-YiiEruMCqcMo4iohpmrqGTxE/s4096/IMG_20221130_082035256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGyoPbBj6I-3fY707R1PF4vAOZLdgwmNFg-Zy6yzI2W6Gz1tWMUwFqsOOihh-uhDdJ2hBCL3PYkIn9xq6d0-Oh3XFD-ZhgtPfn7_cwJ6krfWjpeO_eaoqOO_q23mpyLlibzYI4UONjnuJJXiWEtjXuoeT6LW7PO-YiiEruMCqcMo4iohpmrqGTxE/w640-h480/IMG_20221130_082035256.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhL5jj9K7nXNYZMOzaslcZy2KGk2Fj3xUsS-6MA53GzKUVkVisXMKnQoTM-wBfooW2e4WFtS6T5jQWk1YQMhq50_jR3nsYz2sHOP1NvyCGErfZmHUvjC1F-1NpM4IS-CqQ95gA8QWQnTN8zU5sEzMxyuJK_6aMTIMLxGYqnTUQrkHMkkZ7sFkwd4/s4096/IMG_20221130_082008990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhL5jj9K7nXNYZMOzaslcZy2KGk2Fj3xUsS-6MA53GzKUVkVisXMKnQoTM-wBfooW2e4WFtS6T5jQWk1YQMhq50_jR3nsYz2sHOP1NvyCGErfZmHUvjC1F-1NpM4IS-CqQ95gA8QWQnTN8zU5sEzMxyuJK_6aMTIMLxGYqnTUQrkHMkkZ7sFkwd4/w640-h480/IMG_20221130_082008990.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /> </p><p> <br /></p><p> <br /></p><p> <br /></p><p> <br /></p><p> </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span>
</p>Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-11074866747903632342023-01-29T15:00:00.012-08:002023-01-31T09:22:20.204-08:00Revenge of the 29'er Day 4<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbw10gmtKXbjKMjz4hkeBZqL3kFyclxeffF2DW6DwWeYh0VrbMMkn-H_3Ic327CWaB73_3ba1FzRWLNRq8v6sTotp2xSa0BCVVk9GZg2jOoxU3xyzr20CUnofbY7H2HpAjHyTxbTNSWQCbgBh1txW_lgHO05w6P7k6vNTVdqBmzKYxh2pX6zQS8sA/s4096/IMG_20221129_114900766_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbw10gmtKXbjKMjz4hkeBZqL3kFyclxeffF2DW6DwWeYh0VrbMMkn-H_3Ic327CWaB73_3ba1FzRWLNRq8v6sTotp2xSa0BCVVk9GZg2jOoxU3xyzr20CUnofbY7H2HpAjHyTxbTNSWQCbgBh1txW_lgHO05w6P7k6vNTVdqBmzKYxh2pX6zQS8sA/w640-h480/IMG_20221129_114900766_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><br /><br /><b>Day 4: Rest day–a couple of miles, little climb. </b><br /><br /> Hooray. I chatted with fellow campers, a couple of utlra runners who’d recently run Whitney in a blistering 4.5 hours, and a pleasant older couple who’d bike toured a lot in Europe. The husband noticed something that worried me–cracks around the nipples on the back rim of Ivan. Like an old Russian peasant, he had bad teeth. Poor, poor Ivan. But what of poor Scotty? This left me stressed and wondering whether or not to proceed. Probably they had been there for a while as the rim had been a little out of true, but what to do? <br /><br /> On a different front, Jodi was on her way through with Patchy to visit a friend at Red Rocks in Vegas. She could take the Death Valley route–recently re-opened (more good luck)--and bring me a sleeping pad that didn’t leak. I cycled back to the lodge to get wifi and research my options for the wheel. Had I discovered the problem earlier, I might have had Jodi bring the bike rack and bail on the tour, but she did not, and what I read online gave me some hope and some dread. Bike mechanics had seen these stresses endure for some time and NOT result in catastrophic failure. And while none had a story of the wheel going to pieces over this kind of problem, it could happen. Oy. <br /><br /> Jodi and Patch arrived in the early afternoon, having already been to the camp as cell was down. I waved as they pulled up, the big, familiar white Tundra and camper. It was strange to see them again on this tour, but I love my wife, so it’s always good. Patch jumped excitedly. I took the new pad and extra cereal. Finding decent chow is a struggle in these podunk areas. After just a few minutes, Jodi was gone. <br /><br /> A lovely trail angel, Susan, greeted me in the campground. She had befriended a French cyclist some years ago and had a soft spot for the pedal folk. I was happy to chat, and she ended up providing a beer and extra batteries. Superb. <br /><br /> So I decided to go for it. I’d lower the PSI on the rough stuff and take it slow, putting some extra weight up front. Worst case scenario with this mechanical is that I would have to message Jodi and wait for rescue–NOT something I even remotely wanted to do. No bike shops exist along my route, and waiting for a wheel to be shipped was not appealing. So I would ride carefully, monitor the wheel closely, and see how Ivan fared. Now, if this weird pain in my right forearm would just go away. Grrrrrr…. <br /><br /><br /><br /> </p><br />Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-86043283455751737292023-01-29T14:54:00.023-08:002023-01-31T09:26:56.704-08:00Revenge of the 29'er Day 3<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Fe-cnu4hcBTosN23TcasSqrSNOcQ2qq9jX7ybAX_yfb7SIz5REf6lv0lIApiVS9oH-TzwsKVEBrzsjFmTpqwHSXhKfeB_MKH_J8QqI_Ux8a98F90h3BEgYWOBClZl85nex8hrqjp6eejpUUaHmavbh-3CNBdn1QShJfNVWPfe6iDMAzbR6pvo4o/s4096/IMG_20221128_072247939_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Fe-cnu4hcBTosN23TcasSqrSNOcQ2qq9jX7ybAX_yfb7SIz5REf6lv0lIApiVS9oH-TzwsKVEBrzsjFmTpqwHSXhKfeB_MKH_J8QqI_Ux8a98F90h3BEgYWOBClZl85nex8hrqjp6eejpUUaHmavbh-3CNBdn1QShJfNVWPfe6iDMAzbR6pvo4o/w640-h480/IMG_20221128_072247939_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p> <b>Day 3: 65 miles/1,600 ft. climb <br /></b><br /> Night turned out more challenging than expected. After charging down a mix of Chana masala and salmon, I crawled into the tent and struggled to get to sleep. Then, about to fall asleep, a message comes through from Jodi. Hah, such timing. Still, happy to get it, and I only had about 11 more hours in the tent. Then I discovered that the pad would not hold air. Slowly, slowly, the air eased out, a silent killer. Periodically throughout the night, I would roll off the pad, pump in a few breaths of air and roll back on top. Even so, I got sleep–eleven hours, after all. <br /><br /> I grunted my way out of the little cave as the skyline brightened. While not a lot of climbing, I knew the day would be a long one, over fifty miles and some of that the bad dirt and gravel I’d been enjoying so far. The temperature hovered just below 40, not bad at about 3,000 ft. At the pass it had been in the low 20’s, a challenging bike packing zone for this hombre. I vowed to be moving by 8am. I started in the pedals at 8:05. Good work, punk. <br /><br /> I struggled with bad surfaces off and on, sometimes flying, sometimes bouncing like a rodeo clown off the horns of a disgruntled bull. Okay, not that bad, but I like the metaphor. Bad road, capiche? <br /><br /> Contrary to my feelings and impressions about a cursory glance at the route profile, I did precious little descending. The way followed a rolling traverse far above the valley floor, cutting across vast alluvial fans, titanic aprons of debris that I would come to understand better later in the day. Hard to the east, the Grapevine Mountains rose bleak and austere. <br /><br /> After an hour of tedium, at last I broke onto pavement. I let out a yell of freedom, blessed the road building engineers, put on the Eagles’ “Hotel California,” and shed tears of joy. I’d busted the big passes and rough tracks of northern Death Valley. Now all that remained of the day was to grind out the miles to Furnace Creek–and grind and grind and grind. I was officially on a “closed” road due to monsoon flooding and debris flows, but the surface was fine, the route clear. An occasional work truck would pass, the passengers returning my wave. As I’d hoped, no one cared. <br /><br /> Not far beyond the turnoff for Scotty’s Castle (yes, I do have a castle), this Scotty began to encounter the reasons for the official closure–mile after mile of millions of tons of rock, sand, and gravel had washed from these ancient Grapevine Mtns. down across the road, at times deeply undermining it such that chunks had fallen off. Here and there, the edge of the road was a sharp drop-off into a ragged erosive cavern below. Through it all was always at least one lane providing clear passage. My instinct about the park service having done some work paid off. If they had not? I would have been in a pretty serious situation. I would have been looking at perhaps dozens of miles where the riding would have been difficult in the extreme and sometimes impossible–that is get-off-and-push terrain. And that happens in bike packing. No shame in it, and it often comes as a welcome relief. The saddle is not always your friend. But when your speed goes from 14 mph to 2.5 mph, the calculus of travel gets serious. Lucky me, I never had to do those calculations. Butter my buns and call me a biscuit, I was a free man. <br /><br /> So while the road was good, the miles were long, a barrier of time and distance. Good music and riding conditions kept me moving, quick lunch and stretch, guzzle water, go! While my old recumbent road bike would have made this road a moderately pleasant crank, the heavily shod Ivan took some pushing, the limitations of a small bike seat, back and shoulder strain making the whole process more exhausting. By mile 50 I was ready to be done, but the road had differing views. Furnace Creek, shower, nirvana, was another 12 miles. Sweat, strain push, smooth pavement, speed, traffic, sun dipping lower and lower. By three o’clock or so this time of year, the darkness starts whispering: Better start lookin’ for a camp, boy. I am the night, and I’m a hungry hunter. I relaxed somewhat, knowing I’d have a campground and a shower–A SHOWER!--waiting. <br /><br /> A final drop through barren, sensuous hills, a turn, and the date palms of Furnace Creek filled my vision. Brace yerselves, mates, for a shower is $14. Worth every penny. I washed jersey and cycling shorts as I stood in the hot water. Zo, zo gut. <br /><br /> It was far too early for dinner even if the sun had just dropped behind Telescope Peak over 11,000 ft. above. I pedaled the last mile up to Texas Spring campground–a great tent-only section and no generators. Bliss. But this weary–if clean–bike packer was not about to cook his own dinner tonight, no sirree. Strap on lights and bomb back down to fill my gut at the $34 buffet ($37 with tax). Everything here is top dollar, the gas north of $7/gallon. Being so remote, it makes perfect sense. Prepare accordingly. <br /><br /> Camp, sleep, mattress pump. It’s a bike packer’s life for me.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYyxp0fSbnmAKX7-f1W262nCgwupEW-RZKUvyikNvg9eAXbeMboAkLBE6Owggvm1syoz4tPByhLJAyMp8UK7U_y5MJ2sO5lb9Dvhl_fOiXRxG7c8PrHYODsLSOnZa085_G5AdpodnQpVzBEA-gNqoXBlHsddQ7a3eXmJkdF70tBHE88uaHooTG-E/s4096/IMG_20221128_131324776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYyxp0fSbnmAKX7-f1W262nCgwupEW-RZKUvyikNvg9eAXbeMboAkLBE6Owggvm1syoz4tPByhLJAyMp8UK7U_y5MJ2sO5lb9Dvhl_fOiXRxG7c8PrHYODsLSOnZa085_G5AdpodnQpVzBEA-gNqoXBlHsddQ7a3eXmJkdF70tBHE88uaHooTG-E/w640-h480/IMG_20221128_131324776.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIdBnKy9RvdH4PO2miSN36ETRmREkIK1tfZ7jXZxhDwNGAkrQwhf358vXIMB7Nncfd6bcaMZ-Kq9yHHVTxVugFjE-bnkORrXfF5af-nltMd-3BVYD6xC7v3Vm8QS_67Z4p-td89CmcwcGMXsqsGtDuwZWs6jv1Lnq--B9_8gxSlsceKrQo905mKM/s4096/IMG_20221128_130228869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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</p>Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-44157209900211185832023-01-29T14:48:00.018-08:002023-01-31T09:31:50.477-08:00Revenge of the 29'er Day 2<div class="separator"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MJXfRbS6GsEOq1f9bowC3ynpPCmMZJgpfwjBv-ADIgqz1ZfVcKwhtqbeATWwICvuOINKh5f7D9BqM9-MfhaXBSlnLL_3z_dk7tJqb8Q4aFuMmSHwHLtwLzHUchJT1AY8UUKj6NgNzqaGLUsAxD1V6rBdcwy-VZtiVVmssjq1z_oAb2NwHoyeNQI/s4096/IMG_20221127_065913417_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MJXfRbS6GsEOq1f9bowC3ynpPCmMZJgpfwjBv-ADIgqz1ZfVcKwhtqbeATWwICvuOINKh5f7D9BqM9-MfhaXBSlnLL_3z_dk7tJqb8Q4aFuMmSHwHLtwLzHUchJT1AY8UUKj6NgNzqaGLUsAxD1V6rBdcwy-VZtiVVmssjq1z_oAb2NwHoyeNQI/w640-h480/IMG_20221127_065913417_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></p></div><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
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<![endif]--><b>Day 2: 50 miles/3k climb </b><br /><br /> Hard, remote, a test. Jodi and Patchy arrived before 9. SO good to see them. Huge hugs from Jo, squirmy jumps and spins from Patchy. Having them here made me miss them all the more. <br /><br /> Sunrise was cold, clear crystal, and the toe heaters worked! When Jo messaged me about coming early, I knew that was a good idea. The night had dropped into the low 20's, and two of my water bottles were mostly frozen. As I lifted my tooth brush out of my cup, a sliver of ice clung to the bristles. But I had to hustle to break camp. She arrived on the slope above just as I was finishing, her silver down puffy zipped up tight, the hard angle of the morning light sharp and bright. <br /><br /> Hugs, kisses, belly rubs – go! A cold, fast descent dropped me through a rugged canyon out into the sandy expanse of the Eureka Valley, the famous dunes glowing under the morning sun. At last, the pavement gave way to not pavement – soft sand mixed with hard washboard, Satan's road surface. I picked my line as best I could, swinging wide when a few Overlanders! came by. Two rigs were towing trailers. Ugh. <br /><br /> But ugh was me, too, fighting the road and looking with concern at the steep climb visible beyond, where, thankfully, the surface would again be paved. It gave me a better grip, but it punished me with steep, steep bottom gear effort. Sweat poured off me as I bit into the grind. Madness. But you volunteered! Jackass. I broke the climb up into a few sections, even walking a few yards to stretch my legs and ease my bum. <br /><br /> By lunchtime, I was on top. Off a spur road a few dozen yards away there was a parked Jeep, a woman standing, a man cursing under the front end, banging on something. I heard her say: “Can you fix it?” Ugh, sounded like an epic. I dropped below the summit to eat and inspect some very old mining equipment, rusted and long abandoned. Before departing, the couple got in the jeep and rolled down past me. I guess he did fix it. <br /><br /> The descent was a mixed bag, a substantial climb thrown in and lots of bumpy washboard to slow me down. Astounding views of twisted rock and grand reaches across the northern tip of Death Valley compensated for the frustrating progress. Shadows grew long as I rounded a big turn, “Crankshaft Corner,” the sign surrounded by, you guessed it, rusted crankshafts. <br /><br /> I dropped into the lower angled terrain below and at last encountered reasonably smooth riding, my pace picking up to about 12mph, sometimes higher. But it couldn't last, and it didn't. Before long I was battling washboard and loose gravel again, my speed plummeting as the shadows deepened and began to reach across the valley, a cold inevitable blade cutting into my day. Creosote blanketed the slopes for as far as I could see, waving gently in the headwind also slowing my progress. Fifty miles was the goal, damn it, and fifty miles it would be. Sore pretty much everywhere, I pushed on, mile after mile. <br /><br /> At last the odometer turned, and I could stop. I walked the bike down to a likely camp and called it a day. Message Jodi, set camp in the dark, eat, bed. </p><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7X2aPo-CI2foTDgyTfu4F3VksElE4njT1x2nSEKHCf_DAcPbqBy5z0el4ibuos5tpYxlp3gnwzyYf1y3DtiHHvTrI959IC6rvjYkDwzJlyu3K0KVi1niPp7_SRniq-eKh6SmbNozdZM_mfmHAw9-Tt7bjG-EV-iR1OHRbgrCDUEBWJnck-CE_Yg/s4096/IMG_20221127_094259104_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7X2aPo-CI2foTDgyTfu4F3VksElE4njT1x2nSEKHCf_DAcPbqBy5z0el4ibuos5tpYxlp3gnwzyYf1y3DtiHHvTrI959IC6rvjYkDwzJlyu3K0KVi1niPp7_SRniq-eKh6SmbNozdZM_mfmHAw9-Tt7bjG-EV-iR1OHRbgrCDUEBWJnck-CE_Yg/w640-h480/IMG_20221127_094259104_HDR.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p></p><p></p>Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-70926302964424904942023-01-24T16:33:00.031-08:002023-01-29T14:03:29.941-08:00Revenge of the 29're Day 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYybBOLLzZXChIHONYDJ14cMnkoRzJzFY3KdNRn9ZCfam8D9cdqibAbhqWVCR7CXfZs0USn-OGs5uEdELjgRqBFrpeglDEhVLVo-2jQeDev14T5SIbGtTMTO2Dshe9t7pU9ABtepMZVIZXbLVvb3jGz5pxHPL0yt9P1eeM-jVJOurW0k3Cn5MUSIE/s4096/IMG_20221126_080721247_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="3072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYybBOLLzZXChIHONYDJ14cMnkoRzJzFY3KdNRn9ZCfam8D9cdqibAbhqWVCR7CXfZs0USn-OGs5uEdELjgRqBFrpeglDEhVLVo-2jQeDev14T5SIbGtTMTO2Dshe9t7pU9ABtepMZVIZXbLVvb3jGz5pxHPL0yt9P1eeM-jVJOurW0k3Cn5MUSIE/w480-h640/IMG_20221126_080721247_HDR.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>Day 1: 32 miles; 3,800 ft climb</b><br /><br />Leading up to departure is usually a stressful affair–packing, organizing, plotting and planning. I obsess and annoy Jodi, understandably. But it’s my process. At last the bike was loaded–too portly for my desires, but everything seemed to fit. I rolled Ivan down the front stairs, Jodi took my picture, we said our goodbyes, and that was that. I missed her and Patch already, but sometimes I have to bite into a big project like this. I am blessed that she understands and sometimes tolerates my fits of solo adventuring, and this time she would meet me at the beginning of day 2 for a water drop. Above and beyond. I’m a lucky man. <br /><br />After a false start to lower my seat, I was gone, Jodi off to the east side for a big hike with Patch, me blazing south, eating miles under a cold grey sky, the White Mtns. capped and cloaked by icy clouds. Bundled against the 38 deg. F chill, I buzzed with my fat tires along the Mother Road, the avenue of wonders, Hwy 395, one of the great stretches of blacktop in North America, my home. <br /><br />In just over an hour, I landed in Big Pine, the first burg to the south, and coffeed up at Brewed Awakenings, a “spoonful of sarcasm” to get you rolling. I sipped a fat brew, warmed my toes by the fire, but couldn’t put off the inevitable–Death Valley Rd. and thousands of feet of climbing. Dig in, chump. This IS the point. <br /><br />I was pleasantly surprised how quickly the climbing progressed, taking breaks here and there, the sere, sometimes craggy canyon closing in, expanding, drawing me deeper and deeper into the mountains, a paved crease between the Inyos to the south and the Whites to the north, a back door entrance over the highest pass to Death Valley. <br /><br />The expected pulses of holiday traffic came and went–a fantastically expensive Sprinter van or two, a string of SUV’s bristling with “overlanding” gear–bolt on water and fuel tanks, tent toppers, the works. One bloke passed, stopped just above me as I ate lunch, thought better of this particular life choice, turned around and descended back to the valley. Beware Devil’s Gate, me bucko, for there be dragons! <br /><br />I pushed on, thinking I would camp below the summit, but it soon became clear that I could make the pass easily. As the chasm of the Owen’s Valley deepened behind me, the Sierra crest, dark in shadow and snow plastered, cut across the western horizon, a seemingly impenetrable wall of cold, jagged granite. <br /><br />Not long after 2pm, the summit was mine. Rigs parked and refilled tires after their journey out of the Saline Valley. I talked briefly to some Bishop locals who were intrigued by my rig, and after a quick photo op, I descended a short, rocky track to set up camp in the dust, a cold breeze giving urgency to my layering up and pitching the tent. Safe out of the breeze at over 7,500 ft., my shelter was a familiar place, a home and sanctuary for many journeys. I crawled in to write this journal and felt the warmth of the late sun through the tent walls. I knew it wouldn’t last. Before long, I would lay down and pass many hours sleeping, reading, sleeping some more, a minimum of 12 hours per camp in the nylon cocoon, the price one pays for late season touring. <br /><br />Tomorrow, Jodi and Patchy at 9AM! Eureka Valley and another stout climb. And thousands and thousands of feet of descending. Yar.<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozFK0c_ciqmp6IU8Ky-VE21PQVtCUoDhgvlrucOWIFvu1ZcGtx9jXERN14CBC1GKG38Usnz8eEABl7Qo7IWhSAaGNknTrgrQm3cEjYbulPiyuqgCv8YysUhPH2zplwLQekD03J6i_hfI3lxOl2czs6qzWABnJ99CuQj4YnFM_uOGs7GCKeIlEz1g/s4096/IMG_20221126_143539542_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozFK0c_ciqmp6IU8Ky-VE21PQVtCUoDhgvlrucOWIFvu1ZcGtx9jXERN14CBC1GKG38Usnz8eEABl7Qo7IWhSAaGNknTrgrQm3cEjYbulPiyuqgCv8YysUhPH2zplwLQekD03J6i_hfI3lxOl2czs6qzWABnJ99CuQj4YnFM_uOGs7GCKeIlEz1g/w640-h480/IMG_20221126_143539542_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ltcns0lU_e7gb2fkpTt_IgRU98957cP56Hm6FxdgbwT7g8YMfEingQ0Wyrdk1qxN3vFvSr-8J8K_s6xANTnqSlrbNw8pWantYWc_rFiPcfHLV15T2Hkh9-fWxC3aFUi0u3jEZpOAWFxmAtRoKTcSVMKyi3MH_MR4M5wAxAIGjlae7VrWvM-LAeI/s4096/IMG_20221126_134630270_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ltcns0lU_e7gb2fkpTt_IgRU98957cP56Hm6FxdgbwT7g8YMfEingQ0Wyrdk1qxN3vFvSr-8J8K_s6xANTnqSlrbNw8pWantYWc_rFiPcfHLV15T2Hkh9-fWxC3aFUi0u3jEZpOAWFxmAtRoKTcSVMKyi3MH_MR4M5wAxAIGjlae7VrWvM-LAeI/w640-h480/IMG_20221126_134630270_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxoY6Dei9xHCcOaGLyl4Osn5a5kjz3b85YCO-Mvcp8t-cuFNNtiApIlV6j6MzfI3jKfKfu6eZS9SY9zV5lxndQFUSTbtHyUhZAXIbsAo9vgTKX62hEzXsMYEJeLyj7sUBelZBfHeDEJU3d9FeUe8YQEv804IgxWdTiKC6nQwWNrSOUFftHsVZwAqQ/s4096/IMG_20221126_093824503_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxoY6Dei9xHCcOaGLyl4Osn5a5kjz3b85YCO-Mvcp8t-cuFNNtiApIlV6j6MzfI3jKfKfu6eZS9SY9zV5lxndQFUSTbtHyUhZAXIbsAo9vgTKX62hEzXsMYEJeLyj7sUBelZBfHeDEJU3d9FeUe8YQEv804IgxWdTiKC6nQwWNrSOUFftHsVZwAqQ/w640-h480/IMG_20221126_093824503_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaBqq8MHyqkReO7yFRm9Y6yZFpOhtReH2iXI2-o_xzwVNKEmFZNW8KJHP-TKzmYCNLqQRPcfHCYCiVp0vCtFJc3XC4R4Tzw0iy3D9G9g0bbKqpo1IuLBgjztXNcBMhVfyNdN6ML1HzbVyX02lBLQ87Dul-XPiL8BX7_taJxpSElBPwHVk33nNPOQ/s4096/IMG_20221126_093404152_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4096" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaBqq8MHyqkReO7yFRm9Y6yZFpOhtReH2iXI2-o_xzwVNKEmFZNW8KJHP-TKzmYCNLqQRPcfHCYCiVp0vCtFJc3XC4R4Tzw0iy3D9G9g0bbKqpo1IuLBgjztXNcBMhVfyNdN6ML1HzbVyX02lBLQ87Dul-XPiL8BX7_taJxpSElBPwHVk33nNPOQ/w640-h480/IMG_20221126_093404152_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></p> <br /><p></p><p><br />
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <br /></p>Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-65792592398750939032023-01-24T16:24:00.024-08:002023-01-29T13:53:09.865-08:00Bishop to Prescott: Revenge of the 29'er<div style="text-align: left;"> <br /></div><p></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TXyZ9YpNpx2WfMuRdRM6lqZO-5o5IaluLJ_I5s3XX1CFOrzFW3fN4k_VhZswJNEsqNR2pn-9f9RCtz9IZihknLvhnw_kNy83XE2V-hHdBKgYa364d9WykAU43VYWnqoP1mLuDoz1_lLl6AD70Fpx3UXWC680WaGKb9djKMIAMVRzLTyl0uloVjg/s1024/image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TXyZ9YpNpx2WfMuRdRM6lqZO-5o5IaluLJ_I5s3XX1CFOrzFW3fN4k_VhZswJNEsqNR2pn-9f9RCtz9IZihknLvhnw_kNy83XE2V-hHdBKgYa364d9WykAU43VYWnqoP1mLuDoz1_lLl6AD70Fpx3UXWC680WaGKb9djKMIAMVRzLTyl0uloVjg/w640-h360/image.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><b>It’s only pain. How long do you expect to live, anyway?<br /></b><br /> <span> </span>Jodi Friedlander <br /><br /><b>This isn’t my first rodeo. I hope it isn’t my last. </b><br /><br /> <span> </span>Me <br /><br /><b>Surlys are safe at home, but that’s not what Surlys are for. <br /></b><br /> <span> </span>A slogan for my bike brand—and life <br /><br />Leading up to this tour, I felt as if the forces of darkness were arrayed against me–foot surgery that took too long for us to manage the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route; then I discovered I had a hernia. What the what? Fortunately, the doc figured I could do the ride and get the surgery later. Then there was the carcinoma behind my ear… You get the picture. Turning 60 has come with a satchel of fun that I had not anticipated. I felt like I needed to make a statement, assert my athletic self in an unambiguous way, a role that I felt the Great Divide was supposed to fill. Now this. <br /><br />For the third time, I set out to ride from CA to AZ, but this time it was payback. The horrific traffic I experienced riding pavement of the last round could not be the final word on this terrain. The new bike, the big aggressive tires–why not skip lots of the pavement and go rogue? A new path was born, and a few hours of working with Lord Google revealed the way–a tougher, more remote access to Death Valley, a tougher mixed surface escape, a new, wilder traverse of the East Mojave, a complete bypass of the Lake Havasu development nightmare. And so it would be.
<br />Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-18220263197951783222021-08-15T13:46:00.004-07:002021-08-15T16:46:14.751-07:00A New Adventure: Getting Unbent, Getting Dirty<p><img alt="Rockies" class="o-image lazy" data-loaded="true" data-src="https://www.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/12/gem-lake-and-longs-peak-sunset_s-600x600-c-default.jpg" data-srcset="https://www.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/12/gem-lake-and-longs-peak-sunset_h-720x405-c-default.jpg 600w, https://www.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/12/gem-lake-and-longs-peak-sunset_h-960x540-c-default.jpg 960w,https://www.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/12/gem-lake-and-longs-peak-sunset_h-1200x675-c-default.jpg 1200w, https://www.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/12/gem-lake-and-longs-peak-sunset_h-1600x900-c-default.jpg 1600w" src="https://www.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/12/gem-lake-and-longs-peak-sunset_s-600x600-c-default.jpg" /> <br /></p><p>After fully two decades of almost exclusively riding recumbent bikes and trikes, we've sold off all of our three wheelers--tandem Greenspeed and two single Catrikes. We've decided to attempt the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, over 2,500 miles from Canada to Mexico. Because we are among the filthy unvaccinated to Covid, it looks like starting in Canada will not be an option, which is a shame as the stretch from Banff to Montana looked exceptional. But we've spent a lot of time in the Rockies and pedaled from Jasper to Mexico back in 2012, so it's not like we haven't experienced that country generally. Some of our fondest memories come from climbing those majestic peaks. Even so, starting at the US border will provide more than enough challenge. Also, since we've pedaled the stretch of desert from Silver City, New Mexico, to the border before, we've decided to end our tour in Silver City. The last section is not especially interesting, and Silver City is a fantastic place to finish--camping in town, restaurants, easy access to rental vehicles for the long drive home. But there are many realities between now and then. The struggle is real, and it has only just begun.</p><p>Originally, I'd imagined a few years ago that we would attempt this on our trikes, as the route has been done--once--on a trike by the touring powerhouse, Heidi Domeisen (<a href="https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1mr&doc_id=998&v=qB" target="_blank">Eat, Sleep, and Ride the Divide</a>). But a crazy cattle dog and years passed and, well, I kind of scrapped the idea. Then a friend sent us a link to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3O3ooTtrV4">Ryan Van Duzer's GDMBR</a> film in which he meets Canadian John Freeman and his dog, Mira. It looked all too good. Shouldn't we at least try--really try--to train our new hound, Patchy, in the ways of touring? He's a bit nuts, no doubt, but he's smart. Let's just try. We have nothing to lose. </p><p></p><p><img aria-label="Photo - Landscape - Nov 9, 2020, 9:31:32 AM" class="SzDcob" data-atf="false" data-iml="4818689" height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ZlZOZzkl6OcIq8R1LOgE-zqFKA2gWbXdabZlbzg0p2b2buk7tR0i7PB0ROiCOHLhut_SFradTmDVtws4LyZ7pfnY4DJ4Eu7OZv9VUBLGKW_LfooC6L9stp3xmTyAiA7szBivUR6q1uTnKUg79BaCWddgCXb0udCJJ_7ldovGVAXRFt_zdgWHLg0YP9bfCsf3gQIDBJjmJP3a51V5Y2Xe4C2V7jo7aHy2ERhVWSkYyYpTuihZ66DqAbg6kz1xqyU42RIO4q6alfLz1MQ9jWNu7zefSMpczlAoLfnQvqXpqfN69RgA7vU84oL2vQj_mHUFZ_G-tuXRqcxp-R3FViooYVPTCk-w3ww_dS6AJF3Kg7u0E1dW5PNLa1zCS2LgFmsZpaUCIjDXy5s2f2xlcSKwrDoD-fJ61C8hIRWsSEfe64cIED7j1ytAMmmXjCrpFittcE9ba6o5kSgLXgcsurZTnNGrC3HQ0it8vjwm64MGNXolV8zGY7iXb6tRvWTpo_1m42auJArG6i2e6MXTg-wYCa4k7FmVR4veEex1llBIHsWWOoxcTBoYqqlY6PpNj5Ya1R85W61aHQ_rqy96dP1CiGJY1KJBRAyIl_wPzZNkDOV-OvR3jmUMQxeKnlEZ4pdqvSrx3Ccojkx2_41Vb7IzC-iLqDnbvh7-WNVki8q1A4_fdyQxsMheZsBa9JHDaG-hks_j0t3kmxhvOg36vw=w640-h480?authuser=0" style="transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px) rotate(0deg);" width="640" /> </p><p>Once we decided to ride The Divide, the idea of trikes went out the window. Hauling a dog is no easy chore, and pavement makes the job a lot easier. But hauling a dog on dirt with a trike? I don't think so. While I have a deep and abiding love of all things 'bent, conventional bikes do provide greater hauling power. It's just easier to get some weight on the pedals and crank. Add to that the complexities of loose surfaces and sometimes narrow tracks, and recumbent trikes weren't going to cut it. So mountain bikes it would be. Below is the Surly "Krampus" that I finally procured in a landscape wiped clean of almost all inventory. During this pandemic, the American public suddenly discovered cycling, one of the few industries to see a boom rather than bust. Bike shoppes were formerly the domain of high level risk takers: How do you lose a lot of money? Open a bike shop. These days, however, you'll have to drive off customers with a stick--even if you are scrambling for inventory.</p><p><img aria-label="Photo - Landscape - Jul 27, 2021, 9:30:43 AM" class="SzDcob" data-atf="false" height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/3ZHtvvhwy7UwPd-aj5fLkuGN6RMiTwrGSy9Ps7uk_QuIu_fhtr3dDtjTiEN45BUFeswHZVIeNdemUkFPHJSLMkKw5lwFy5t4AywJLEPwWTinpXwuvPKskwfAA8Bnsw8xUbuMY5fHgIQH8Vk-kIVVmg0bnc77lrQylHMU0y6ZaXoRNjtdk7hor38Z4BUn53vsVqjTaUFsyqteCBnAG_vYr4KTBAjX21J8jyIxx2RkNfJzboHFGD0922ssajBUa2KR2TryFCU4MIBtfKwK4Bdh86_xOCB8WLqHIqiF5WqQWNNxtUZcHCq4-LOOE0Bg_jK6LGt1F_cjKl3C4XOKgELCgTA2Rz0zYpnjiYvmmKMV2uLNVb0W_OqXEbMgnq0Jw74UKr9GlRnkE7WYYidFeGMtHhm6rzLv2PTwT83LUpXor3mPw_cXao4tOSjrsODUOpWJvOZNSSya56yj6QwkSc010KRPtaoq6IwbX2tg5WzFEOi3tcHxC-VYGpAz2mN2oARye49QADlUr_rPRA2KdIuSxxa9-OTh0rDNV3lz4QW8A7efd1GR0tQKNkqAqZxQsLeEhw8lZwFn8ZY11chjs-jQKgld_wOnL_1G9heyEiVopEPJIj_3-xKPBIWHzk0AxY2eZ-anmkzg850qM4ADq9meOOJe6jCutfWhJ2E-iqZgoYW86cWhxwZ6Gve-lWN6SzdVkKw46GmARhSddD1EcQ=w640-h480?authuser=0" style="transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px) rotate(0deg);" width="640" /> </p><p>Jo's Karate Monkey with her custom frame bag:</p><p><img aria-label="Photo - Landscape - Aug 15, 2021, 4:25:26 PM" class="SzDcob" data-atf="false" data-iml="4306" height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/UA9c4Tsf2Ki_Sex3vFhDAwlsk9VZ81d5Hxmtmtn-a10Xt2rGVh7Fdw9A3yeEGiKQsT9oo4sSrhX9uvV5Y_bi4MWZ1plG63Ik7crksE6sjExy-ptPq3wfxEhbeBt-GGzzuxZxlvvAUlwZdVwBQ2nS_nrf3EQS5qqCtx-yxsa9MjSGeGWgcAC9gURn4eqae_Jx8v7z8GM_W10G2qNvrLGpjAtwDmq6hYhF5pPHTNlt_v8Jt_h0l8TXtL84snCOjr5_gCJtiuEvfYwvtGoBWvYi8fSJ76B57--eJHefZqpWnys4uNFuOYKCkjUUq-gsIlMsGpoBF2hvrmzJrhKQhGhJyl8Za4SH2Ib0QFLhFo9OGRfZIYGeX7ZQq4XWhwtzHEMnb5q20Y93zBEE2MOWi7EMzzpDwJ-AeBzFpTJgAm38KyIMmZ8oadDHWepJHjhdVMYrf2VFpwtNOaL_pq0Ke1owVwAf466tC5p6-e-lHOB6KIRytTw37kyRBCH2ZlmXllZ6dhukRik90QX3PbbbIW6UJVklwtcBiEz8vJIazFq6zNacGEzeHwqzLdT_SbGOSqInBjOiWcFJKYciUu67vn4N5rPpqPbSrXaMNsBBigYjcgUk4QqDv-amtBhqMgyfx8b_M4JU2lFu5J58g3OvpJtfQFfN1PMdk5UHkMtYrYNeF85q7czxkR8awONaJNF7o9Ztso6sYgWo4bmwvrMEUg=w640-h480?authuser=0" style="transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px) rotate(0deg);" width="640" /> <br /></p><p> Getting my bike was accelerated by finding a small-framed Surly "Karate Monkey" in great shape at our local bike shop. After much research, Jodi decided that this brand/model would be the most likely to fit her. And there just happened to be one at our tiny local shop. She rode it, we bought it. My search was on. I scoured the internet and finally found the Krampus in the heart of the upper Midwest. The KM sports 27.5 x 3" tires, while the Krampus is a 29'er plus. We wanted fat rubber for float and partial suspension. Right now we're hoping to avoid full suspension forks to save on weight, complexity and cost. The trailer in the photo is the Burley Coho XC, the only American single-wheel suspended trailer that could do the job. I wanted a BOB Ibex, but that company completely stopped manufacturing their bike trailers altogether. The legendary BOB was no more! Rip BOB.</p><p>We do own a regular BOB Yak trailer from our previous, mostly paved Great Divide route in 2012, and that became the initial training tool for Patchy. First thing: Get him used to the trailer. We parked it in the living room and started giving him treats and feeding him in the trailer.</p><p><img aria-label="Photo - Landscape - Jun 10, 2021, 6:56:29 AM" class="SzDcob" data-atf="false" data-iml="6524408" height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/u9o-HswLbifIbD9obtasHhfdgKXjjd7P2MqNuy6lDMl0WDrpTHhUPfhYUdvAiqWEwHVI5shlKECmxZpXUgsROgAdf-hfdRtMX_MgQVTmre9lIXgRGMq7fkFtYl-_Gk0JowvXY68ZgKFiH9J8YrTeGB94_5ToNwCifSjxpvPi9DXbuK7VPAwhtmDsYC4mtw7Ssy-yIfUO20oJrxxkcjIa9sZ7Z9eaVjAoVmD6uSUecWyteFVfeXpmUcNvlHetSPMWCK3TN6m89MZUJh4jHwSJXgzi3eAzvRPGh5CLjtxdJzfoI6WsG_JqrIX9dpmXDPlqa-U334JMmgQQNb9m7DF_pf3zf_sWXry4u7szMoItI2zfEen6EVkYlNWLZ2UmCU2Iv0P8FlzioUmgjkSb_AA7z0Obknm0bTkLLwydhZiBLVHppVP13_HaYoSRpt1Mupmb6QTyVYFwBu9xpdozq_WAc8a2dMDwKY9VNH3hayWTzVWNOIP5mNNoqArCyMSOgJDS7M2so2fSSSBDOeWwgWD1lIdERIU_q9cIcybsQXJ_3cklqvhieEsRsZhObCrtrSrPCi_bc4t0bYcLzXKPG8CmfQn2n1Qc5fj_2Eq_duWQBC-9c8mO7cbMpnSOulq2ZVZuDRzxezG9XDWCzwg2mGNugU-XlL17KiU_yUzqMnsZykX1LJRWeD_M60ZPUNtFkkv2Siwf2DsYMxJhrkFZxQ=w640-h480?authuser=0" style="transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px) rotate(0deg);" width="640" /> </p><p>This worked wonders, and soon we were towing him on easy terrain. Here's some video of a recent run with the Coho. He's been handling some fairly fast (20 mph) descents with elan. He only complains when Jodi gets ahead, like he needs to catch up or something. He IS a mama's boy after all.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzpm07H_pp5u0f7-lL2oukyEcvJN3z7XalOOVeFSnXjST_nYDks972CXtbFcZ3qPNx_B_urvRzof3IFdgY6Xg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>Right now I have two main concerns and challenges: One, training Patchy to trot alongside while leashed because he too often runs to exhaustion. We will have to regulate his output for long climbs. Two, getting my body, especially my butt, hands/shoulders adapted to conventional bikes. Suddenly, we're dealing with pressure points that were essentially non-issues with recumbents. Jodi has landed on a good setup, but I've been struggle a bit with saddles, creams, bar/grip combos. It's, well, a pain in the ass, give or take. I know much of the deal is just putting in miles and toughening up, but fit and kit matter a lot, too, so I'm determined to make it work. I'll post a lot more about gear later. It's an all-consuming enterprise with such an expedition. Fortunately, we have a whole year to train, experiment, and get it right.<br /></p><p> <br /></p>Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-70868659290158202532019-10-21T15:05:00.003-07:002019-10-21T15:05:47.613-07:00Greenspeed Tandem Trike for Sale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-73883443388102244312019-07-13T12:38:00.001-07:002019-07-14T08:19:58.173-07:00A Return to the Alpine: Red Slate Mountain<br />
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From the start, as a teenager, I thought of myself as a mountaineer. It was the high, snowy peaks that captured my youthful imagination. Living in coastal California meant that most of the time I was climbing on small rocks, but eventually I made it to the high peaks and scaled my first alpine summit when I was 16. In these hyper-protective, "safe space" times, it's hard to imagine parents letting their children with newly minted driver's licenses out on the the highways and into the wilderness on their own, but it seemed normal at the time, although I'm sure my parents had their worries. They understood, however, that to grow we needed to take on genuine challenges. I'm grateful for it every day.<br />
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With so much great rock to climb, however, and other interests and responsibilities, we drifted away from climbing big peaks. Cycle touring, a dog, the usual suspects left the big boots, crampons and axes in storage. It was time, however, to dust them off and head into the back country. Pictured above, Red Slate Mtn., 13,140 ft. high, was to be my objective, a peak I'd climbed a couple of decades ago via the obvious and compelling gully that diagonals across the face. I wanted to revisit that experience. On a bright July morning, I hoisted my 45 lbs. of battle rattle and headed up the Convict Creek trail.<br />
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<b>Day One: </b><br />
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Less than a hundred yards from the car, the sternum strap on my pack popped off. What the hell? For a little bit of strapping and a small buckle, this is something of a critical piece. No way was I scrambling and hiking without it. After some cursing, cutting my finger with a knife and generally failing to reattach the clip to the piping on the shoulder strap, I ran back to the truck and scored a mini-'biner that finally did the trick. In less than 15 minutes, the frustrated mountaineer was back on trail and trudging into the shadowed canyon beyond.<br />
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Red Slate appears up canyon. <br />
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The stunning limestone walls of Laurel Mtn.<br />
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Wild flowers lined the trail.<br />
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Land slides and erosion often obscured the route.<br />
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As I ascended, the roar of the creek and the stunning white water didn't fail to make an impression. Key to my success was being able to cross the creek, and I had tried to mentally prepare myself for retreat if it looked too dangerous. Before long, I was deep into the canyon and nearing the crossing.<br />
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Looking down canyon: <br />
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Somewhat cowed by the impressive sounds and sight of the rushing confluence of Convict Creek and the equally impressive flow from Lake Genevieve to the north, I dropped my load to evaluate my options.<br />
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I turned and as if transported there by the Starship Enterprise, I see this dude:<br />
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I called him Mr. Sketch. He must have slipped in behind the old bridge support I was sitting on while I was gripped looking at the creek. He did NOT look solid. I watched him teeter from rock to rock, struggling to balance with his massive stick. I got busy putting on my neoprene booties for my attempt.<br />
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I hoisted my load, leaving everything unbuckled in case of bail out, and proceeded to cross Genevieve creek first, the water rushing up to my knees and beyond as I plunged my legs into churning holes where I could not see the bottom. The booties did the trick, keeping my feet warm and providing grip, although the sharp edges of the rocks were uncomfortable. With each step I struggled to find a solid wedge for my feet. Quickly, I got to the other side and joined Mr. Sketch as we moved up stream to find, we hoped, a better way across the a main flow. I went first, leaning hard at times on the trekking pole, fighting dizziness from the rushing water, struggling here and there to maintain balance, leaning into the flow, working for precise footing with blind placements, the flow sometimes up against my thighs in the deepest holes. In moments, however, the deed was done, and I stood safe on the rubble-strewn southern bank.<br />
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I looked across at Mr. Sketch and gave him the cutting gesture across the throat--no go, amigo. I didn't trust him to pull it off. Prudence being the better part of valor, Mr. Sketch heeded my advice and retreated. I watched him carefully until he was back on firm ground. Excited now for the way ahead, I saddled up and forged up canyon. After so many years, I had virtually no recall of the details, and it was as if I hiked it for the first time. Ah, the benefits of a crappy memory.<br />
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The canyon is nothing short of stunning and one of the best in the Sierras--or anywhere. Giant limestone walls, a raging creek with scary snow bridges that only a fool would try to cross, snowy mountains up ahead. Scotty found his happy place.<br />
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At last I broke through to the upper canyon and got a good view of the peak.<br />
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And then even better from Mildred Lake:<br />
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The trail skirts the eastern end where this glorious bridge awaits. Good thing, because falling into the creek at this point would mean certain death. So glad I didn't have to shimmy across that log. It's pretty lightly attached at the far end.<br />
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View from the far side of the lake before a hot, brutal climb:<br />
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At last, over 7 miles and about 2,800 feet of climbing, Dorothy Lake, where, indeed, you are certainly no longer in Kansas--but as close to Oz as I ever expect to get in this life:<br />
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My humble one person abode where I spent some happy hours resting, reading, and contemplating the next day's hooliganisms.<br />
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It turns out that my chosen route, the big diagonal couloir, was in abysmal shape--a big, nasty melt groove in the lower half, loads of obvious rock fall damage--totally nasty and not worth doing. Plan B? The face to the right, facing northwest, had almost continual snow all the way to the summit, and it looked pretty steep at the top, at least the equal to the couloir, maybe steeper. That would be my line. Here's a pic with the line drawn, the photo from the next morning's approach:<br />
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That decided, I settled into domestic life, eating up the pages of Stephen Ambrose's <i>D-Day </i>and listening to the occasional fusillade of clattering stones as they rained down from the crumbling wall across the lake, a good reminder to choose my routes wisely. Finally, it was time to cook my regulation pasta meal on my most proud piece of outdoor gear: My home made Pepsi-can alcohol stove:<br />
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Kick back and relax in the cool evening--virtually no mosquitoes, bros!<br />
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<b>Day Two:</b><br />
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I slept surprisingly well, rising once at 2AM, then getting up for good at 4AM, scrambling out into the 40 degree morning to brew up coffee and choke down a bowl home made oat cereal. The anxiety of anticipation coursed through me as I hustled to get out of camp, finally clumping down the trail at 5AM, the east starting to glow through the trees. I hadn't seen a soul since the creek crossing the day before. I felt as if perhaps I should have started earlier, but route finding through the trees and rumbled topography between the lake and the peak was definitely improved by a little alpen glow as the morning progressed. Snow covered many portions of the route until I was dead reckoning up a class four headwall and along forested ridges until I was clear of the tree line not long after 6AM, the peak above burning with the morning light.<br />
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Although I'd done a couple of training hikes with a load and the boots, there is always an adjustment period to wearing these 2X4's strapped to your feet. Awkward, a bit of stumbling here and there, these old Sportivas are, however, spectacular boots and virtually never give me blisters. But they're pigs-- 3 lbs each! Add some stiff crampons, as I did once the snow slope started to get serious, and yer swinging a real load with each step and kick. Hard work, this.<br />
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Seven AM, crampons and heading up!<br />
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The snow, to put it bluntly, was fucking fantastic. Rock hard, providing a great purchase for crampons, indeed, making them absolutely essential once the angle increased. I carried two ice tools, although one would have done the trick. The upper headwall, however, would provide enough interest to make a second tool nice to have. One big advantage of my route choice was that its NW aspect meant solid shade for my entire ascent. In the photo above, I gunned for the shaded left side, rounded the corner and headed straight for the top.<br />
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Views NW after cresting the first snowfield: <br />
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Looking back down canyon: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RN-mpP3OHw63CeH8fluJzvkgkLWDQbom5WBv51ebzXbJbJRHMhnD5lWhvfduWkYtkTmqgbAweWkftq9DH-JCLwlrc9kLwhYScvMjGQ24HMqSUXFK9SUKFN8N0EpZ5Q03guxNvFGYj50/s1600/IMG_4604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RN-mpP3OHw63CeH8fluJzvkgkLWDQbom5WBv51ebzXbJbJRHMhnD5lWhvfduWkYtkTmqgbAweWkftq9DH-JCLwlrc9kLwhYScvMjGQ24HMqSUXFK9SUKFN8N0EpZ5Q03guxNvFGYj50/s640/IMG_4604.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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From here the route steepened. I felt the altitude start to kick me in the ass. But I did my best to maintain a steady pace--tool, front point, side step, tool, side step, front point, tool. And on and on. Occasionally, I'd get a recess to rest in and ease my throbbing calves. I couldn't believe my luck on the conditions. Snow so hard you could front point! Jamming in the ice axe shaft was out of the question--unless you wanted to hammer the shit out of it. I charged up, gasping, focused, alive. Before the steepest section of the wall, I came across a series of animal tracks cutting across the slope. What the hell creature was this?<br />
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Each print was roughly the size of my palm. Astonishing. I thought of those classic lines from Hemingway's <i>The Snows of Kilimanjaro</i>: "Kilimanjaro is a snow covered mountain 19,710 feet high and is said to be the highest mountain in Africa. Its western summit is called the Masai 'Ngaje Nagai,' the House of God. Close to the western summit is the dried and frozen carcass of a leopard. No one has explained what the leopard was seeking at that altitude." I shook my head and got after it, the wall impressing me with the seriousness of my task. The climbing was not technically difficult, but I was all by my lonesome in a definite "no fall" zone. A slip would mean a grotesque slide, the catch of a crampon, a full-on tomahawk flipping nightmare with six broken femurs. Focused, methodical, one step at a time gets it done.<br />
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I held the camera for a moment in my mouth, which resulted in these weird "mood" shots: <br />
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I found that if I put some stank on it, two or three kicks would give me a mini-step about three or four inches deep, so I didn't have to front point the whole way up the last pitch. Nice. Before long, I left the snow, took off the crampons, stowed the axes, and scrambled in minutes to the top, less than four hours after leaving camp. Happiness!<br />
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Summit Clif bar shot for Tom Grundy: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicxwogbq3_eO2pb6xJV9J_XbfSMK6-cIM_7JJ3SusQyo9LFsbLVW7EiANUPcWkmPaPIpbp5_vhsiMxyd1NhWEW_cruAyFY57r9P3sTpa4ivOYfPfauTJj9_HVIvmkKWFgsg-2J1oQ2a0/s1600/IMG_4619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicxwogbq3_eO2pb6xJV9J_XbfSMK6-cIM_7JJ3SusQyo9LFsbLVW7EiANUPcWkmPaPIpbp5_vhsiMxyd1NhWEW_cruAyFY57r9P3sTpa4ivOYfPfauTJj9_HVIvmkKWFgsg-2J1oQ2a0/s640/IMG_4619.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I lingered for about 45 minutes on top, contemplating my life and ascents, the twenty years or so since I last stood here, also alone. I thought of my first alpine summit forty one years before. I thought of Jodi and home and the need to get down. Getting to the top is only half the job. It ain't over til yer slammin' beers, so to speak.<br />
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On my last ascent, I'd boot skied for much of the descent, but it couldn't have been the way I just came up--too steep. I peered over the more western slope and saw the way--all scree and talus this time without a spec of snow to be found. Amazing. But it looked easy and safe. I loaded up and cast off, sometimes sliding down a couple of feet for every step--easy and fun. I danced with the angle of repose and stopped to photograph the amazing high altitude flowers.<br />
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I headed straight down then cut right to the snowy shoulder to re-gain my ascent route below the steep snow. <br />
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Fun to come down, a slogging nightmare to ascend. Choose wisely, Grasshopper:<br />
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All that remained was plunging down and a hot slog back to camp. I took one last parting shot from the lower snowfields. By enlarging the photo and looking closely, you can see the deteriorated condition of the gully, looking especially steep because of the head-on view. No more ascents this year. No bueno.<br />
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As I ambled the last mile back to camp, I encountered a young woman, a goddess to greet me on my return from Olympus, er, Red Slate. She smiled and was interested in my ascent. I was surprised to see anyone after my creek crossing stress. Or was I hallucinating? Was I alone and merely talking to myself? Who can say. I bid her good day and did not see her again. In camp, I lounged and read, brewed up some afternoon coffee and enjoyed the shade and mosquitoe-free hours before sunset, the shadows growing long, a breeze sighing through the stunted alpine forest. Good times, this.<br />
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Day Three:<br />
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Although I wasn't thinking about it at first, I was clearly a little worried about having to recross the creek. I packed and drank coffee and started out, skipping breakfast. I wanted to maximize my time hiking in the shade, and maybe the creek would be lower earlier in the day. I ended up getting to the crossing at nearly the same time as the way up. Creek was just as noisy and intimidating, but I got across just fine. Here are some photos from the way out.<br />
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It was Friday as I descended back to 7,600 ft. at the trail head, and the weekenders were on their way in, a few backpackers among them. I gave a warning about the creek and wished them well. I was a happy fool to have it behind me. Before noon, I dropped my pack at the truck. Sandals and AC for the drive home--yay! Another adventure in the bag.<br />
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For your edge-of-the-seat viewing pleasure, I give you Chris Labounty, a brave wingsuit flyer who did the first (only?) flights off Mt. Morrison and Laurel Mtn. Don't do this at home, kids. Or anywhere else. Chris died wingsuit flying not too long after this video came out.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOWWIpkZ-4A" target="_blank">Ghost Riders in the Sky</a>Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-36547327678531879542019-02-20T12:19:00.000-08:002019-02-20T12:19:46.824-08:00Western States Cycling Conditions Update<img alt="" height="426" src="https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/051617_bike_dildine-727x485.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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This image snagged from the Internet tubes illustrates how I felt sometimes on my recent tour. While never quite this bad in terms of raw numbers of vehicles, the traffic was rough at times, so I thought I do a little research to add numbers to my experience.<br />
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We like to think of the wide, vast, unpopulated stretches of the American West as lonely country, ideally suited for ambitious cyclo-tourists. That might have been true back in the 50's, maybe even through much of the 80's, depending on your route, but much of the West is way past its prime in terms of truly high quality paved surface cycle touring. The issue in the West, in contrast to much of the Midwest and East with which I'm familiar (I can't speak to the South), is that we have very few paved routes that cover any distance. That wide, unpopulated country led to only a few roads and highways to connect distant population centers. As those population centers have bulged and burgeoned, major new connectors have, for the most part, not been constructed. What we have are more and more cars, trucks, and RV's clogging the existing infrastructure. The cities themselves see upgrades--the beltway around Vegas is one big example--but we're never going to see dozens of different ways to cross Arizona or Colorado. The countryside in Illinois may not provide the scenic bliss of the Rockies, but the maze of virtually empty back country roads is cycling gold for those interested in riding on hard surfaces. I write about this with genuine sadness. For the foreseeable future, long distance road touring is going to get suckier and suckier.<br />
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Let's put some numbers to this as they relate to my recent experience touring from Bishop, California, to Prescott, Arizona. It turns out that Arizona is one of the fastest growing states in the union, and anyone who has witnessed the metastasis of Phoenix and Tucson can testify to what this looks like. Between my first ride to Prescott in 2004 to 2018, the resident population of Arizona went from 5.76 million to 7.17 million. Tourist traffic, however, has REALLY blown, from about 30 million in 2004 to almost 44 million in 2017, and I'm sure the numbers are even higher now. There was a dip for a couple of years after the great recession of 2008, but they're back, in great numbers, rocking the the rotting blacktop with thousands of massive RV's towing off-road vehicles. <br />
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To get a sense for the historical trends, Las Vegas is especially instructive. In 1960 the entire area contained just 127,016 souls. Today? 2.2 MILLION. That kind of growth and population creates a grotesque sucking and out-gassing of traffic so that even the once lonely back-of-nowhere East Mojave Preserve is starting to see "commuting" traffic for folks headed to the crap of the craps tables, businesses, families and friends, whatever. The saving grace of the East Mojave Preserve is that commercial trucking is not allowed. But be warned, it's now a shortcut to debauchery and regret in Sin City.<br />
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What can be done? Nothing, really. We can agitate for good shoulders, and while this makes riding safer and relatively more enjoyable, when every road becomes a highway, every ride becomes highway riding--noisy and sub-optimal to say the least. Research the hell out of any route. Just because it's a "designated bike route" does not mean the cycling is actually enjoyable or recommended. A big stretch of Hwy 89 in northern California, which is part of Adventure Cycling's Sierra Cascades bike route, is shoulderless, high traffic, gnarly riding--lots of logging trucks and weekend freaks gunning for the gambling dens of Reno. I know of at least one cyclist killed on this stretch of road. The glories of the Oregon coast entail thousands and thousands of cars passing you every day.<br />
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I think the future lies in bike packing and dirt road touring--or hybrid routes combining paved and unpaved surfaces. We have to learn to ride where drivers don't typically go. I'll probably do more road touring in the future as it's hard to give up the smooth speed of paved surfaces, but it's going to get tougher and tougher out there. <br />
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Ride safely, one and all.Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-37000917614834234192019-02-16T07:21:00.001-08:002019-02-16T07:21:07.314-08:00Bishop to Prescott Photo RoundupHere are the photos that didn't make it into the original posts. On the road, I tended to rely on phone shots for ease of posting. These are from the camera--better quality!<br />
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Day one: The Sierra crest <br />
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Day one: From the now closed Co-op in Independence. Too bad, it was a cool joint <br />
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Day Two: The High-Dollar Driving and Crashing Club <br />
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Camp in the Panamint Valley <br />
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Day three: Crazy damp from the fog--in one of the driest places in North America <br />
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Day three: The big climb up Towne Pass <br />
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Day four: View from camp at Stovepipe <br />
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Day six: Another shot of the Amargosa <br />
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Day seven: Leaving the Amargosa Valley <br />
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Super kitsch Alien Jerky store in Baker <br />
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Day eight: In the East Mojave <br />
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Day nine: Granite Pass <br />
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Day fourteen <br />
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Frog Rock--last day! <br />
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<br />Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7830621681166303650.post-40318082896907155992019-02-07T14:06:00.001-08:002019-07-18T10:25:12.137-07:002004 vs. 2019: Shoulder ConditionsBelow are two photos of the same section of Rt. 60 taken 15 years apart. In this year, 2019, I did my best to ride the driving lane and only use the shoulder as necessary to avoid traffic. In '04, even with the cracks, I mostly rode the shoulder. Times have changed. Shoulders, although crucial to cyclists, very rarely get any love or attention from departments of transportation.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOhcnRskPJuVqN6nkAaUTMjJEYVf1vceSY8v25xrGuLMz063kFldstbRQCWFTA39EfGT6eM-G3gvg_fNYVAqXLKfYuw_yr7YBWPLBW4CwMi8NDDQjSPGqrjhVco60h5qwTZEV5ymV52c/s1600/rt+60+2004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOhcnRskPJuVqN6nkAaUTMjJEYVf1vceSY8v25xrGuLMz063kFldstbRQCWFTA39EfGT6eM-G3gvg_fNYVAqXLKfYuw_yr7YBWPLBW4CwMi8NDDQjSPGqrjhVco60h5qwTZEV5ymV52c/s640/rt+60+2004.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Here's the same stretch of road fifteen years later. Note the widening cracks. What you can't see in this photo are the very long sections covered in gravel and grit and old road surface cast off from the driving lane. During my first '04 tour, the shoulder was somewhat cracked but otherwise clean. Now, bigger, deeper, rougher cracks and debris describes the surface, which was true especially of the Havasu south section on Rt. 95.<br />
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<img aria-label="Photo - Landscape - Feb 1, 2019, 8:58:53 AM" class="SzDcob" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQt__X1sn21Fw5amx7-DSr_wmYApDYZRTaHsQMBnq2cBTfCdhDcuTVjoom2nOp8K0d_eGLAjrr3C-oYuy4n9raxGCj7V58xn26udNx6rw-TAqnnSPjwBQyFU9Tx_PS0JZ1kiO4sfRIRrI/w1169-h877-no/" style="transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px) rotate(0deg);" width="640" /><br />
<br />Scott Waylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03006620046608654123noreply@blogger.com0