Daily Double - Mountain Bike Ride and Kayaking

What better way to follow a most excellent kayaking trip on Canyon Lake yesterday, but with a most excellent ride on South Mountain's National couple with a http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifselhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giff supported (bike shuttle) float down the Lower Salt River.

Knocking out two schweet adventures in a day is something you can do in Phoenix.

I split from Pima Canyon about 7:00 as the sun was just coming up, and the temps were primo for pedaling.

I actually had a pretty good climbing day up National, except I for being held back by a worn out cassette.

The ride back down I was just "feeling it" and the flow was good. It was so good, that hesitated to leave good flow to go find good flow, but I wanted to get some more water time in.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

So wrapped up my ride, headed home, unloaded the mountain bike, loaded up my wife's cruiser bike, loaded up the WW kayak, change my cloths and headed out to the Lohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifwer Salt River. I dropped off my kayak at the Lot #1 at the top, then shuttle my car back down to Granite Reef Dam, then shuttled the bike back to the top.

I was on the water about 12:00, and the flow was of the river was good.

The temps were plenty warm.

On my way down I came across several raptors, and even an owl hanging out on the banks at Coon Bluffs. That was pretty kewl. I also saw the smartest heron I have ever seen. What makes this heron so smart? Well instead of getting spooked and flying down river about 50 yards like most stupid pterodactyls do, only to get spooked again, and again. This one actually double back and flew back up river. Never to be hassled by me again.

I saw a few horses, and the loads of big fish.
It took me about 3 hours to get down to Granite Reef, but I did spend some time getting vid footage.. I was pretty fatigued after 20 miles of flat water paddling yesterday, about 20 miles of biking today and 12 miles on the river today.

Here is a vid of the day:




And here are a few pics:

Kayaking on Canyon Lake

I had they day off and wanted to get some flat water paddling in, so I headed out to Canyon Lake. I've paddled this lake several times now, and it never gets old. While I was out there, I did a little scouting on a future adventure, which I kinda comes to fruition soon.

When I got to the lake, there was just a hint of daylight, and I dig this in time of the day.

My plan was to paddle up to the top of the lake; all the way up to Horse Mesa Dam (well to the barrier at least). I also hit the all the usual coves on the way.

The paddling temps were the most comfy I've had in half a year. I did have to battle a little bit of a head wind all the way up, but the nice part of this lake, is that all twists and bends give me occasional protection. Then again, the twist and bends also funnel the wind at you too. I did have a tail wind for a good portion of my return trip, so my wager was a push.

When I paddled off the main portion of the lake into the canyon, I had my eyes fixated on the cliffs; scanning for bighorn sheep. When I rounded the bend to Beer Can Point, I saw some heads with horns peering down on me. The problem with these dang old sheep, is that they like to sit way high on the bluffs, so you can't see them when you are directly under them. The best view I had is when I was about 1/4 mile away, as the sat perched on a sheer 400' cliff. Cross that off the list of things to see for the day. I was denied on seeing any bald eagles, drat.

Today's paddle was a solid 20 miles, with lots of close quarters maneuvering in my touring kayak. This left me pretty tired when it was all said and done at 2:30 in the afternoon.

Here is a video of the day:



And a few pics:

Kayaking down the Verde River

If been paddling a bunch lately, but I just haven't taken the time to document to post up my excursions.I did nice little self supported trip (bike shuttle) down the might Verde River on Sunday.This is pretty much the same trip I did here, so I won't cover the logistic details, utter than the river was flowing about 140 CFS.Here is a video of the day (please excuse all the vanity shots):
I also snapped a few pics with my phone, that was running a cheezy little camera app that simulates HDR.Here are some faux HDR pics:

Horses of the Lower Salt

Here are a few pics from this mornings paddle down the Lower Salt.

I think every time I been down the Lower Salt, I've seen the free roaming horses.

Today, I lost count on how many I saw, but there most have been about 30 soaking up the goodness of the river.

Here a few pics:

A day at Sunrise Lift Area for some DH

I was feeling more inspired to ride than shoot video, but I did get a few clips. Nothing special.

Man, did it rain. I've been sweating the heat and wishing for rain all summer, and I got more than I wanted in relief. A 12:00 thunderstorm rolled through Sunrise, and we got completely soaked. The put a lightening hold on the lift for about 45 minutes.

Once they started the lift back up, cold and wet, we froze at the top. Then about an hour later, we go another storm. At that point I was super muddy on top of being cold and wet, so I called it a day at about 2:45. 6 runs in, but I certainly didn't ride very aggresively. Good bye Sunrise DH riding for another season. Booo!

Thanks to Gnar Gnar Tours for organizing the trip up and back.

Here's a littl vid of the day:

Verde River Kayaking

I wanted to get some float time in, but I didn't have anybody to paddle with, so I did a little self supported shuttling up and down the Verde River (near Camp Verde). Mind you, river paddling alone is not recommended, but I felt pretty secure in doing http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifthis river solo.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

I left my place in Phoenix a little after 5:00 am, and made it to The White Bridge in Camp Verde at 6:45. I quickly dropped off my kayak, paddle, PFD and Skirt down at the river, and secured it to a tree with a my bike lock.

Then I shuttle down to Beasley Flats via Salt Mine Road, 10 miles down river. I pulled out my wife's super awesome bicycle, and pedaled it the 11.4 miles back up to the top. I definitely set no land speed records on the way up. It took me an hour, but that included me taking the time do some staged video shots (all for my vanity). The difference in elevation from the top of the river where I put in and where I pulled out, is literally only about 100 vf, but the road http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifrohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifute had me doing about 1,000 climbing. This was due to two kinda big hills I had to go up and over. Oh yeah, and the temps were starting climb...

I got back to my kayak, and everything was still there. I locked up my bike, near the parking lot (up above). Then I set out down the river about 9:15. This were going pretty smoothly, and as planned.

I was hoping for more water in the river, but it was flowing below 70 CFS . The was even less water than the last time I came down the Verde a few months ago. I knew it was low, but I still had my fingers cross that a storm would pass over before I got up there. No such luck.

The river was really slow and the pretty boney in some place, but I only had to get outta my kayak once. And running aground there was just a mistake in not seeing the were all the water was flowing too.

The 10 mile paddle down the river took me 4 hours, and I had to do a great deal of paddling to do it in that time. I suppose that much paddling would've turned some people off, but I still had a pretty freaking good time. I was off the river by 1:15. It was crazy hot at that time, and there definitely thunderstorms crashing on the ridges on both sides of the river.

Oh yeah, the wildlife. I saw no alligators or lions or wildebeest, but I had a pair of osprey squawking at me, and I followed bald eagle down the river a couple of times. Actually that same eagle took flight just as I saw a doe and two fawn came into view. The deer were just chilling down by the river, and felt very secure in me floating by.

Good time, and I look forward to repeating this adventure, but I can only hope I do it with a little more water.




Here is a dorking vid of the day:

Baking Cookies in the Car

Just when you thought I could be much more of a dork, I got and pull a stunt like this.

Temps were posta get up around 113-114 today so, I thought I give something I've been wanting to do for a long time, and that is back cookies in my hot car.

I grabbed a bag package of Toll House Brownie Bites, cut then I wouldn't haveta worry about them browning up.

I forgot to grab my tommeter to get a temp reading, but lets just say it was hot, and the freaking cookie sheet was hot.

I put 'em in at 12:30 and it was 107 outside, and when I pulled them out at 5:00 it was 113.

How'd the turn out. Well not exactly appetizing looking, but hell I didn't put much prep time in. They were surprisingly crisp.

I don't know how safe it is eat something like this, but I did chow down on a couple, and they were DONE!