Pre-ride of Coconino Forest Explorer 238km brevet, with time limit of 15:50 hours. Nice ride out to Walnut Canyon, gravel, rock, washboards for 3 miles. Seeing a couple West Valley Cycles folk coming back from Mormon Lake. Climb up to NPOI and not being able descend quickly due to depth and width of road cracks. Parade where water guns are the star, great day to ride, a little heat in middle, cramps in strange place (behind left knee), stops for water at Happy Jack both ways, front derailleur not shifting well, and looking forward to Freddy's. This made a very unique and challenging day of cycling. Got a little later start than wanted, due to thinking I left my phone behind, but it turns out it fell down the crack between the seats. Finally getting started in Flag it was cool, 55F. The ride out to Walnut Canyon was wonderful. No traffic, once past the mall a couple miles, the road surface was nice. So peaceful. Then the gravel/dirt/rock ride back to town on the old Walnut Canyon Road. There were at least 3 patches in those 3miles that I did the single foot in pedal and 1 on ground. At start there were washboards that are hard to see in sun dappled road, as were the various ruts. MOst ruts contained an accumulation of cindery/sand, and could suck the speed out of the bike. There there were 3-4 sections of flat rock, nothing seemed real sharp, it was jut a matter of picking the route through. Lucky there were only 2 cars on those 3 miles. Then back to paved roads. How nice and a new way for me to get to Flag. Pretty area. Then the usual route out to Mormon Lodge, punctured by a climb up/down to NPOI. Dang road cracks kept the speed low on the descent. Then at Mormon Lake Lodge an official stopped me by the stables saying the sherriff was up the road and would cite me if I contained riding. There was a parade getting ready to start, so walked with bike over to store and got my food. Stood outside and watched as parade folks shot water guns at each other! They were having a blast. Then after about 25 minutes I got started riding behind the floats returning back to the firestation. Riding along of course some people had to throw water balloons and spray me with water, which after the initial shock, was very refreshing as it was starting to get warm. Reaching Happy Jack I took advantage of the water spigot on west side of buiding even as they were painting the building. This was the first time I ever did that. Then I did it again on the return as I was starting to feel some cramps behind my left knee. Luckily I was able to get some electrolytes down and the cramping possibility decreased. Oh at Clint's Well, I tried one of the pre-made tuna sandwiches. It was pretty good. I washed it down with 2 chocolate milks and some chili Fritos. Probably should have had more water. Anyway the ride back to Flag from Mormon Lake was nice. The sun angle was getting low, some headwind some not, so it was a nice pace of about 15.5mph back to town. Then the traditional Freddy's burger, fries, root-beer drink, vanilla shake. Then the 2 hr drive home. Great day of cycling. for 12 hours 26 minutes.