Bent Creek

It was almost dark when I got to Bent Creek last night. I pulled into the parking lot, only a couple of people were there getting ready to ride, a couple more were packing up to head home. I parked, got my gear together and hit the trail. It was dark enough to hide some of the contours and roots in the trail, but not so dark that I could not see the trail. I rode without my lights for the first 20 minutes.

Up Wolf Branch, then over to Ingles Field, making my way up to Five Points. As I'm feeling somewhat sluggish, I keep a steady pace. I don't see anyone. It is dark but not too cold as I am riding uphill and staying warm. I arrive at Five Points and decide to work on some downhill skills. Taking Little Hickory Top, I climb for another mile then coast down most of the way. After getting to the bottom of the trail, I get on the dirt road.

Now it is cold. And with the cold comes the loneliness. Its funny, I can ride all day by myself, but at night, it is lonely out there. I decide to head back to the parking lot, to go home and get some dinner. As I pull into the parking lot, I see about 15 people milling around. The Bio-Wheels group is getting ready to head out. Oooooh, I say to myself. I fill up my water bottles and add a layer, just in time to join them for to make my ride longer.

Bio-Wheels has some very strong riders. They typically place well in local and national races. The thing about the Thursday night Bio-Wheels Ride is that, you would not know the skill that you are riding with. This is the " Dog Ride". They bring their dogs. There is one dog to two people. And we stop at all the creeks so the dogs can drink. The ride also stops at all intersections to regroup. Not only do we regroup, but we sit around and chat, about whatever, until someone starts riding again. About 15 people, 8 dogs, and 10 miles later, we get back to the parking lot.

I get 20 miles for the night. Good ride, good spaghetti for dinner.

And this morning? Good coffee.

The Birthday

Today marks my 35th year, for me, of being on this earth. I rode my bike more miles today, that the sum of years I have been on this earth. Hmmm.

We woke up this morning, and I got the Starbucks Christmas blend going. Rhonda got up and made blueberry pancakes and bacon. Yummy. We picked the blueberries back in August up at a spot off of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Yummy. After breakfast, I took Jubal to the park to ride his bike. He rode 1.25 miles, and would have kept going. It was time to go home to get ready for church. After church we came home. I ate a PB&J sandwich, drank some sort of energy shake. And headed off to Bent Creek.

Bent Creek is an experimental forest about 10 miles from our house. I like to ride my bike to Bent Creek, ride around on the trails and then ride back home. I save gas, I get more time and miles on the bike, and save the trouble of having to load up the gear and find a parking spot once I arrive.

I met up with Jeremy Arnold of Mtn Goat Epics http://mtngoatepics.com/ , . He is a super nice guy with some fine mtn bike skills. We met back in May at the Burn 24, and finally got together to ride. As we were riding up one long climb, someone caught up to us. It turned out to be Otto. A guy I met in birthing class 3.5 years ago. We consistently run into each other on rides. We decided that if we ever tried to plan a ride together, it would not happen.

So, the 3 of us tooled around Bent Creek for 1.5 hours. I decided I needed to head back home. So, we parted ways. I headed back through the woods. I was riding up Hardtimes Road, a dirt road that would connect me to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Some one's dog ran up to me, looked at me, then started chasing me. The he started lunging at my foot as it was spinning. Then it tried to bite my foot. At this point I started yelling at it, but it would not stop. It only got more aggressive. I decided I should get off the bike and use the bike as a shield. Finally a lady ran up and informed me that the dog was just playing. Huh, could have fooled me.

I got home. My cyclo computer showed 12 mph average, 3 hrs 35 minutes, and 40 miles. Sweet.

I got a shower, we loaded up and went to Wild Wing Cafe. This place is great because you can choose any of their wing marinades to go on a hamburger. I got the Redskin, covered in spicy mayo, fried jalapenos, and nacho cheese. WOW!! That made me sweat.

Great way to celebrate #35!!!