Time in Arizona is running short, so it’s fallen to me to prioritize the infinite list of future trips, and knock off the most desirable. This weekend I hope to do two, plus bonuses: Bill Williams Mountain singletrack, the old Flag-Grandview stage route, and point in between.

The first option is 140-50 miles. ~60 miles to Williams from home, 25ish to meet up with the Flag route, then another 60 to the Big Ditch.

Option two is more civilized, and longer, probably around 200 miles. Easy miles between Williams and Flag, tons of fun options around Elden, then the stage route. Longer, more fun, but also missing out on that stretch through the west San Fran Peaks, which always looks cool from a distance.

Basic idea is to leave here early Saturday, bust up to north of Flag by dark, with at least one resupply, then hit up the haul across the sage fields early, and explore the Tusayan Bike path traversing west from the Grandview Lookout to Tusayan, then ride into the park and meet M at the El Tovar Cocktail lounge. A strong day-and-a-half.

So today I’m resting, eating ice cream, roasting a red pepper in the oven, and hoping to put the sluggish KTR legs left over this weekend behind me for good. A nice punch two weeks out, all the better to rock the KMC.

On that note, the Forest Circus continues to frustrate me. Two emails, the first almost two weeks ago, have gone unanswered by the gent with whom I spoke last year. I sent another, general, email this morning. The main question is whether we’ll be permitted to ride the East Side Game road all the way north to FS road 224, or be using the circuitous 284 detour from last year. I like scooting off the plateau on both sides, adding challenge and a bit of distance, as well as a more complete exploration of the region. That section of the AZT is less than ideal, being so close to the highway for most of it, and will take quite a while to recover a good riding surface after the Warm Fire of 2006. It’s also closed for the undetermined future. The 284 detour seems to me a bit pointless, and I’d prefer to keep the route more elegant. If I don’t hear anything soon, I’ll presume that bikes can handle the washed out sections on the ESGR, and put it in.

The pat 24 hours have also provided some amusing highs and lows, enough that I was simply too overwhelmed and tired to record them yesterday.

First, I sold my old Nikon FM2 on ebay. Fun to use and a gorgeous piece of gear, but too big and non-digital to really get that much use these days. It did the magic ebay move, jumping $100 in the last 30 seconds to far exceed my expectations. I literally did jump for joy, then skittered off to spend the income. Talon 22 and a 3.8 oz. Adventure Medical emergency bivvy. Packs have been one of my gear weak spots for two decades, and I’ve coveted and admired the Talon for a year now. I like to be responsible, something due almost entirely to the munificent influence of M, but I also like to buy fun stuff. Packs are FUN.

Second, I made the worst meal last night I’ve made in a very long time, possibly ever. M bought some economy ground pork at Wal-Mart, in the form of two funny little paddies. As I mixed them up with spices, diced veggies, and beer, I noticed they had a tough, stringy backbone. They didn’t seperate enough to make meatballs, so I added a bit more salt and beer to tenderize maximally, and baked it as a loaf. It was awful. Well enough flavored, but tough, fatty, and with a generally hideous texture. I choked it down with some BBQ sauce, and felt ill and disgruntled after. Food pushes my happy button directly, and the opposite happens just as easily. So, it was no fun at all.

Third, still waiting for ebay payment from the HUGE retailer that bought the camera. WTF? I should wait to use the pack until the cash clear, but I want to load the thing this evening in prep for the weekend. Sure it’ll generate plenty relisted, but why do people annoy me? [Edit: yes the crazy lady in question sent a respond as I was typing this. Of course.]

Fourth, spent the day at work talking about energy economics and petroleum, getting the kiddies rolling on an open project. Do it by yourself, it has to fit in your (standard filing sized) file, due Monday! sez I. Should be interesting, on both ends. Some kids had some just awesome questions, some even seemed to understand how you can use Btu’s per real dollar of GDP as a fantastically multifaceted economic indicator. Some, obviously, did not. It went over better than me trying to explain future’s markets last week. So, after talking about all that all day, I was damn tired.

Fifith, I bought ice cream and ate a lot this afternoon. I love ice cream.

Sixth, Brian sent some new Dry X’s out, for spares and to replace my almost dead Ignitor. Out UPS dude comes mad last some days, so I’m rubber-necking every squeaky brake this evening. Normally, patience I’d have. After the aforementioned, somewhat less so.

Oh; the humanity.

And seventh, I have two days and two weeks, and then have two weeks off! Then I have another month, and we move! The year has flown along oh so wonderfully thus far. I don’t think it’s going to stop. Not at all.

Dude.