Monday 3/27

A bit overcast today. Decided to make the trip to Cortez Colorado to resupply. The road doesn’t even have a number. Instructions from lady at visitor center was “a left, a left and a left.” Around 40 miles of 30 mph road. Nice! Goes over a low pass and up the valley to Cortez.

Cortez is decent size. As much as I disliked Walmart when I was working, I’m finding that they are my choice for resupply on the road. Most times one stop. Not this time.

The rear tube on my bike has a slow leak. Of course, I can’t find the patch kit. Harper, everything has it’s place and that’s where you put it, right? Ya well, it’s true, the problem is remembering where that spot is. Walmart didn’t have a patch kit. They had a tube, but I wasn’t 100% sure it was a 26″. I gave myself the dad talk about double checking.

For christ sakes, after 2 years I’m figuring out my phone. Using the Hotspot, checking multiple city weather, searching using google maps, then letting it take me there. Now if we could only figure out a interface so that it actually took control of the rig. Drove straight to the bike shop (sort of) got self adhesive patches and a new 26″ tube.

Oh, my goodness gracious, what is that store? “The Medicine Man”? Hmmmm,HMMMMM, $125 later I’m on my way back to Hovenweep ( but a lot happier ).

Pull back in about 1:00pm to my site. Put everything away, read up on my medicine and just pump the rear tire up. Screw it. If it gets more serious I’ll deal with it. Get my bike garb on and headed out the paved road. Nice road, outbound slight uphill with the wind at my back, homeward downhill against the wind. Broke a sweat going, had to put my sweatshirt on going home. Nice! The bar ends are working peachy. They have allowed me to see so much more. Took a dirt side road and discovered a little pond. Followed that road and it seemed to be going back to Hovenweep but….. turned around and headed back to pavement.

Paid for another two nights. Been raining off and on all day but really clouding up in the evening. But I was still able to have a fire.
It’s really been too cold to sit outside in the evening, fire or no. But not tonight! It was the perfect fire, not to big not to small, the exact amount of heat to keep me at a comfortable distance, flames flickering in the shape of galloping horses, oh this medicine is good!!

Not many pictures today, just a great day!

P.S. Just went to load pictures and I see I had a bunch more. That bloody raven! If there were other people at a ruin, he would just circle till they left, then land. Followed me down one whole side of the canyon and multiple ruins. OF COURSE, I asked if he knew Sonny Hunter but all I got has a head cock. At least he was thinking about it Dennis.

P.P.S Isn’t just amazing that the rock path markers are still there after 800 years!

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