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Savage CX, 2014

I finally did it.  I rode and finished my first endruance CX race.  And I enjoyed it.

I lined up with over 100 other racers in Nebo NC on Saturday morning for Savage CX.  A 50 mile mostly gravel route from Nebo, circumnavigating the Linville Gorge.  If  I didn't know the area, I would not have know that we were circling both some world class climbing routes and world class kayaking.   Why not add a world class cycling route to the mix?

The temp at the start was just under 80.  It was already warm and I knew this would play a factor in my race, but I did not know how much of a factor. 

Cam, the director said go and we were off.  I watched my heartrate and found my pace.  I never really fell in with a group because I didn't know what to expect and didn't want to overdo it, burn my matches too early. 

On the first climb I got passed by quite a few people.  It was blazing hot and I didn't want to overheat.  So, I took my time.  As we got higher, the temps started to cool.  After about an hour,  I checked the thermometer and it said 73 degrees.  I picked up the pace and started reeling people in. 

photo: Blue Ridge Mtn Revival

I hit rest stop 1 in good spirits, reloaded and headed out.   Onto some pavement then up Gingercake acres.  Some jerk had moved an arrow sign in here and I caught up to a group of fast people who had taken the wrong turn and detoured. 

Unfortunately,  I had too much air in my tires and could not keep up on Table Rock Rd.   Everyone had told me about the horrible climb in the first 1/3 of the course.  No one had mentioned the fun downhill gravel road in the second 1/3.  So much fun, swooping down, in and out of the contours of the mountain!   

photo: Blue Ridge Mountain Revival

I stopped at aid station 2 briefly to refill, take some Coke shots and move on.  The route took us down some steep sandy, gravely soft forsaken FS roads for about another hour before spitting us out onto pavement. 

Being back down in the heat of the piedmont, I could not push the pace.   My legs felt great but my head and body were roasting.  I spun along the last 10 miles of the course, on pavement, holding a survival pace.  I could see lake James and wanted to swim.  When I crossed the Linville River with 5 miles to go, I could not resist.  I stopped and got in.  I watched as people rode by.  I did not care about losing spots,  only about living to finish. 

Eventually,  Jason Morgan came along and we rode together to the finish.  I was thankful that he came along, as chatting with him lifted my spirit and helped me to enjoy the ride to the end. 

Great course and great race.  I placed 24th in my cat and finished in 4hrs and 30mins!! 

The Last First Day....

.... of elementary school. 

I started this blog as a way to sift through my thoughts and let people know that they were not alone with their thoughts.  Others have and are experiencing similar situations and getting through things are easier if we know others have succeeded. 

I'm proud to say that I have a solid, mature, confident 5th grader.   Today is his last time for a first day of elementary school.  And, he is excited about it.  He is looking forward to getting started, meeting the challenge.  I'm pretty sure its not just to get out of the house and away from me either. 

When I was in 5th grade, I had a different experience.  And as an adult, I tend to expect my kid to have similar experience to what I had.  But, I also give him room to have his own experience.  Fortunately, he appears to be having a great experience, and has expressed the excitement and goals for this year. 


I'm proud of my kid! 

Epic Ride and Beach Time

 Strava Link: HERE

We saved our money for a while and finally had enough to make the trek down to the beach.  We loaded up and headed to Charleston and then north to Buck Hall Rec Area.  I had actually planned ahead and made reservations at the campground there.  We pulled up to our campsite and started to unload when things went downhill.  The kid started running to the van screaming that something was biting him.  I looked down and saw no less than 10 mosquitoes had landed on my skin.  The wife was slapping the ones that were attacking her.  We retreated to the bathhouse then reconvened back at the van.  We decided to donate the cost of our reserved campsite and hunt   down an affordable hotel. 

Through the course of eating dinner, we found Comfort Suites in Mt Pleasant.  While the rate was not what I would call affordable,  we decided to go for it and stay at least one night.  Our budget would be blown but we were at the beach and we were determined to enjoy it. 

After moving into the room we headed out to the beach to watch the sunset. After we got back to the hotel.  We were so pleased with how we were being treated, and how clean and comfortable our room was, that we ended up committing to stay 3 nights. 

 The next morning, I met Low Country Joe for a tour of The Francis Marion National Forest.  This is his description of the 3 hr ride that turned into a 6 hr epic: "Asheville Jane"s was in town and had a little free time to go on a ride into the Francis Marion with me....what was supposed to be a 3 hour ride turned into a 6+ hour adventure....complete with me locking up, near bonk, and exhausting my water supply 1 hour from the end.... crazy day....did I mention I was rolling the Krampus? yeah...it was a tough day but it was fun!"

As the temps climbed towards the mid 90's Joel was having a rough time.  But what he did not mention in his post was that he had been out past midnite the night before, riding 50 + miles and working on his set up for the upcoming Trans North Ga Race!   

 I on the other hand had a great ride and was able to manage the  heat well.  The stop at the gas station for some Coke and ham and cheese sammy, with ice cream sandwiches was a nice touch.  If you head to Charleston, I recommend getting in touch with Joel for a guided trip!

 The rest of the days went well.  Typical beach stuff.  Waves, sand, sunburn, fun family time.

 We headed to the beach after dinner every night.  Dinner one of those nights was hot dogs and baked bean on the Coleman stove in the hotel parking lot.  You do what you gotta do! 

 On the way home, we took the scenic route so we could see a couple bits of the Palmetto Trail.  We rode the dike around Lake Marion.  The temps were around 95 so we lasted about 4 miles,  did not see any alligators.  We hit the ice cream stand in Eutawville and the closed bridge in Santee. 

Can't wait to get back down there!

Gravel Ride

A couple of weeks ago, I drove up to meet  Mike K in Little Switzerland.  He had a gravel road loop mapped out and I was looking forward to giving it a shot.  I got there in time for breakfast.  Rhonda, his wife cooked up some pancakes and eggs.  I couldn't eat everything on my plate and felt bad for not doing so.

We dropped down 226 into the valley and after that I lost track of where I was.  Basically, we rode up the valley, then up to the Blue Ridge, down the other side, , through that valley, then back up to the Parkway and home.

Close to 3 hrs on the road at a leisurely pace.  Perfect day and great conversation. 

Railroad tracks in the middle of seemingly nowhere!

We saw this interesting barn quilt.  I have never seen one like this,  usually they are symetrical designs.  This one was really cool though!  

Once again, Mike pulls off a great loop and we avoid anything epic! 

A Friend Needs Your Help

 Click here to donate:
http://www.gofundme.com/JaimeeJohnson


2 yrs ago, Jaimee Johnsen moved to Asheville, NC looking for a change of scenery and a new start. Most of you reading this have been in that situation.

Jaimee jumped in feet first, volunteering for Trips For Kids WNC, and helping out at local races such as ORAMM and PMBAR. She got hooked on bikes and became so passionate about sharing her new love, that she recently landed a job working at Sycamore Cycles in Hendersonville.

She started training and racing and was becoming quite a fierce competitor.

On Wednesday, August 6th, Jaimee was wrapping up a training ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway, when a vehicle made a left turn in front of her. With nowhere to go, she hit the car with the collision causing her to flip over the bars and land in the hospital. Concussion, fractured skull, fractured femur, damage to ACL and PCL are some of the injuries.

We have all been in a position where we coule use a little help from our friends. Some of us have been in a position where we could use a lot of help from our friends. Jaimee is in the latter position.

5 days in the hospital, combined with recovery and rehab treatments in the future will leave her with a lot of medical bills. In addition, it will be a while before she can return to work and earn some income. Rent, food, and other bills will add up quickly.

The good news is that Western North Carolina has a tight cycling community. A community that supports each other in victory and defeat. And this is our time to come together and help one of our own. Knowing that it could be any one of us at anytime who needs a helping hand, this is our time to help Jaimee.

Thanks in advance,
Stephen Janes

Thursday Night Liberty Ride

I want to take a moment to try to define the undefinable. 

 People ask me periodically about this ride: is it fast? Do we regroup? Are there sprints?  etc.   I try to talk about pace,  what the avg is etc,  but there are so many answers that should start with, "It depends".

It depends on who shows up, the weather, how many show up, if there was  a Ring Of Fire the night before, if there is a race coming up.  So many possibilities.

The ride has been compared to Tuesday Night Worlds,  both on the river and in Etowah.  While those are great rides, and have purpose,  this ride is different.  This is a fast paced spirited ride, and one will have a difficult time trying to control it.

Here are some general guidelines on what to expect, join us only if you intend to have fun while being challenged.

The Group:
Lots of really strong folks, guys and girls show up for this ride.  I have made a lot of good friends, people who really care about others, and who want to see cycling progress as a sport.  It is a mix of pro level racers, to amateur racers, to some who don't race road at all.    The one commonality that I have seen from the group, is that we are not there to intentionally drop anyone and there is a thread of caring, where we watch out for others on the ride.  To the point of occasionally easing the pace, if someone is lagging.  Especially if that person is someone who regularly contributes to the group.  We want to go fast, to get stronger, to learn how to handle the bike better.

General Guidelines:
No Drop Ride:
This ride has been billed as a "No Drop Ride".  Sometimes people do get dropped.  Sometimes people sign on to the fast group, when they don't have the fitness to be in that group.  Its a bit of a common sense thing.  I feel like anyone has the right to ride, but if you don't have the fitness, then don't expect the entire group to wait on you.  The A group will wait,  just not for long,  which is fine with me.  If I get dropped and they don't wait, well I'll try again next week.  The B group will wait longer.  So if you get there and the A group is gone,  wait for the B group!

Sprints:
Believe it or not,  there are no "Sprint Zones".  Yes, there are several places where the pace typically, but not always, picks up.  There are also  places where people give it a go and try to go off the front, or sprint.  Most of the time, but not all of the time,  the rest of the group follows.  But,  every once in a while,  no one sprints, the pace stays steady and everyone chats away,  quietly wondering if someone is going to go, but hoping they won't.   And then there are the random place where someone will go for the surprise attack,   just some random place on the route.  Just to keep it interesting. This is a much more organic, grassroots feel than a lot of rides.  ( not better, just different).

Don't Be A Jerk:
This one is self explanatory.  Respect the other rides, take a turn or two at the front.  Don't suck wheels and then try to take the sprint.  These methods won't garner any respect.  Point out potholes or obstacles.  Obey traffic laws, ( we can all improve here).  Take a turn or two at the front,  unless you don't have what it takes, but then don't try to take the sprint..... 

What To Expect (ie. look forward to) or not expect:

Expect to get worked.  Expect to fell like you are going to explode, to hang on for dear life.  Expect to take a pull at the front now and then.  Expect the unexpected.  Expect friendly people, quiet people, people who care.  Expect to go fast and be ok with getting dropped.  Don't expect to be coddled.  Don't expect for the group to wait if you don't have the overall fitness to keep up. (in that case,  expect the B group to scoop you up).

And this just scratches the surface of what really happens on the ride.   The thing is,  last year,   I struggled with the group.  I wanted to see an organized, rotating paceline type of group that catered to the fast and the less fast.  I wanted to see everyone working together, as  a well oiled machine,  everyone taking equal pulls.  Going fast enough that the slowest could keep up, but slow enough that the fastest still got a workout.  And I got burned out.

This year, I stopped trying to control, trying to put what I wanted on the group.  What I realized is that what we have is a well oiled machine,  out there being what it is, and doing what it does.  Week after week, we go out,  get faster,  challenge each other.  Once I let go of my ideals,  I started having a lot of fun...... undefinable fun.

See you on Thursday!

ORAMM: The Beast is Conquered

 The 15th annual ORAMM is in the books and I'm an official finisher.  It was a tough day in and out of the saddle, but with the help and encouragement from my family team and friends,  I was able to pull through and finish!

The day started out with the high forecast to be around 95 in Old Fort.  I had managed a rest stop the previous day at the Jerdon Mtn Challenge, and was organizing rest stop 2 today.  I had recruited an awesome group of folks to cover for me and I was excited to line up with 499 other racers.

After dropping the trailer with the 150 gallon water bladder off at rest stop 2, I rode the 3.5 miles back to the start line and waited for the start.  After Todd finished with the "race talk" and rules, the gun went off, and we rolled out.

I was in the front and thanks to a couple of pushes from Jason Luque, I was able to hang in until the first climb.   My goal today was to finish,  if I could finish fast, that would be icing on the cake.  The group rolled the pavement and headed up the Point Lookout Trail.  I got into my rhythm,  chatting with old friends about our personal goals.

Surprisingly,  when I got to Kitsuma the trail was not clogged, and most people were riding.  Those who bobbled and dabbed were kind enough to jump out of the way of people still riding.  I was able to ride the entire way.

Thanks to the Luque Crew from FLA USA for the heckle section about halfway up.  They were making a ruckus in the woods that I have not heard since several years ago at the stage race.  If you don't race, you should heckle....period.

I ate some chews and made sure I was drinking enough.  I had started a little on the hungry side, but knew that once my nerves calmed, I would be able to eat a sandwich and get the system on track.

Snaking up and down on Kitsuma, some loud dude got behind me, yelling for people to get out of the way.  Thinking he was joking, I joined in for a few minutes.  When I realized he was serious, I told him he should chill out and enjoy the ride.  He squeezed by me and the guy in front of me, only to get stuck behind the line of 20 in front of us.  If you know Kitsuma, you know towards the end there is an alternate little trail that drops on the right and then shoots back up into the trail.  I hit that right and dropped in,  I let go of the brakes and shot back up the other side giving me the speed to pass the 2 people in front of me, including loud dude.  But, I didn't.  I checked up and resumed my place in line.  It was a fun move though. 

I had been watching my pace and while a hair higher than desired, I wasn't red lining, and there had been plenty of places to let my heartrate drop.  It was a little disconcerting to have the old nauseous feeling returning.  It wasn't that hot out yet, and I was sweating still.  Weird. 

I stopped at Rest Stop 1 to refill my bottles and headed out again.  Climbing Star Gap, I did a lot of walking.  I was feeling worse as time went by and I couldn't figure out what was wrong.  I figured I would keep pedaling, drinking and eating, hoping that my body would calm down.  Maybe it was nerves, or stress, or lack of sleep from stress.   Or maybe my body was worn out from a busy summer.
I rolled into rest stop 2 and ate a sammy and some chips,  and sipped some Coke.  Felt worse.  I went and sat in the creek,  no different.  If it were heat related,  the creek would have made some sort of difference.  I visited the porta jon and felt slightly better.  I laid in the truck bed.  I got up and walked around, frustrated and still nauseous.  Walking around made me feel slightly better.   I laid down again.  I finally went and sat in the mini van with the air conditioner on high.  It made me shiver, but still didn't feel great.

Finally, after about 20 minutes of air conditioning, I felt a twinge of hunger pain.  It felt good,  after about 5 more minutes, the nauseousness subsided.  Then it dawned on me.  I had switched to a different gel and energy chew brand for this race.  It was a brand I had used in the past, I thought it had worked then,  but I also got sick a lot in the past.  Dang it.  That's what it was.  Something in the nutrient was making me sick.  I got out of the van and got suited up.  Ate a little bit and felt decent.

After a 2 hr layover, I was rolling again.  Still not sure if I could finish this beast and 2 hrs behind on calories, I was determined to keep trying.   I thanked my team and bid them farewell.  Rolling up Curtis Creek, I was greeted by the USFS Ranger,   he asked what I was doing so far back.  I told him what was up, and he told me all he was hearing was excuses.  Haha,  funny. 

The climb up Curtis Creek was a slog.   It was around 85 degrees, with barely a whisper of a breeze every now and then.  Not enough to serve any cooling purpose.  I ground onward.  I walked,  barely speaking to people I passed.  I was in conserve energy mode.  The nauseousness/hunger came and went.  I drank,  forced myself to drink.  I was tired of drinking, but knew that I had to drink.  I passed some guys who were walking.  One commented that "we have to be close to the top".  I said nothing.  I knew that those words are something you never tell yourself,  until you are at the top. 

I can't remember how long it took,  but I made it to the top.  I text Rhonda to let her know that I was going to keep going.  I filled my bottles, and headed out.  I had managed to scrounge enough hammer and gu gels at rest stop 2 to help me get to rest stop 4.  I had been using these during training and they had work fine. 

The Parkway was sunny and stuffy.  To the west, there was high misty cloud cover, to the east, blue sky and sun.  It was pretty warm.  Up the major climb, a quick pit stop in the woods.  My body was still flushing the culprit.  Back on the bike, barely looking around, wondering if I should turn around.  Drinking, eating a gel.  Onward. 

Before bombing down the hill at close to 40 mph,  I doused myself with water to cool down.  Halfway down, I was shivering.  It felt great, then I started the last paved climb and warmed up quickly.  3 ish miles and I was glad to see Heartbreak Ridge.  Slow climb up the hike a bike section.  The enduro people were there along with group from the Mc Dowell County EMS.  As a side note, they were all over the race course,  doing their job,  it was great to see them out, supporting this race. 

I was not worried about the Enduro, so I hiked down the first techy bit before riding.  I got on the bike and cruised.  It felt faster than I normally ride it, so I just relaxed and rolled.  I started feeling better.  I did not take the time to enjoy the views.  I just focused on forward movement, efficient pedal stroke and relaxing. 

Oddly enough,  as I made my way down the windy trail, I started feeling better.  I continued drinking Nuun and sports drink.  I let go of the brakes a little and enjoyed the decent.  I could hear a train down in the valley below, I hoped that I wouldn't get caught. 

Sure enough, as I neared the end of the Enduro section, the train roared past.  2 minute delay and a quick chat with the Hoyts, and I was off again. 

A brief stop at rest stop 4, refilled the bottles, grabbed a handful of chips, bummed a hammer gel and I was off again. 

The climb up Mill Creek Rd was a bit easier than I expected,  I put my body on auto pilot and allowed my thoughts to drift towards how it would feel to finish this beast.  I could hardly believe that I was still moving forward,  that I felt decent considering the circumstances.  Up the gravel road and onto the pavement, one last gel before the climb up Kitsuma.   Anything that threatened to raise my heart rate and core temp, I walked.  I was not worried about finishing fast, just focused on finishing. 

I was able to let off the brakes a little on the downhills and have some fun enjoying the trail.  It would probably be a while before I got back out this way, so I wanted to enjoy it,  and I did.  The last little bit of singletrack opened up into the Old Fort Picnic Area.  I pedaled past the Mobile Command Post,  waved and said "Thanks". 

3 miles of pavement to go, I started picking people off.  1 by 1,  I was able to reel in and pass about 4 or  5 people.  That felt good.  

Then the finish and the hands in the air,  victory was mine: I conquered the beast.  

Here Goes....

Well,  its Friday and I toe the line in 2 days.  It is going to be a huge weekend and I'm looking forward to the challenge.   Trips For Kids WNC is sponsoring a Rest Stop #2 in both the JMC and ORAMM.  In addition, I am racing ORAMM. 

I must say,  I am blessed to have a crew of volunteers running the stops each day.  Especially on Sunday,  having friends that will be working for the cause and rooting me on at the same time.  That's special and I don't take that for granted!  I have cool friends and I'm thankful that they call me a friend.

I'm getting to the end of the 2014 summer ride program.  It has been a great summer and I am worn out.  I haven't had time to train consistently, and it is getting hotter by the day.   Lot's of challenges in trying to prep for a 63 mile mountain bike race.

But,  nothing compared to the challenges that the kids in the program face everyday and will continue to face in their futures,  if you are paying attention, you understand.  If you don't know what I am talking about,  go volunteer for a local youth agency that serves the underprivileged. 

And so, I dedicate this ride to the kids.  That's right,  this one is for the kids.  I hope I can inspire!

ORAMM is Coming

Days left until I toe the line at my nemesis race: Off Road Assault on Mt Mitchell.   I'm nervous to say the least.  And excited.  The last time I attempted this race was in 2010 and I DNF'ed.  I also DNF'ed in '09 with an ambulance ride and visit to the ER.  The last time I completed the entire route was 3 weeks after the race in 2010.  I went solo,   had to get that monkey off my back. 

Fast forward 4 yrs, and here I am.  4 yrs of rides, pain, suffering, success.  WN Precision fit, Siren's John Henry set up Single Speed, nutrition and training advice from a lot of people, including Namrita and Eddie O'dea! 

To say I'm ready would be overconfident.  I didn't follow a training plan this year.  My DNF at the P111K definitely encouraged me to "train" but I decided not to follow rigid structure this year.  My 250 mile ride from VA to Asheville brought my legs back to life and taught me a little more about nutrition.   I'm having fun on the bike and not stressing about how many hours I'm getting.  I'm still following my HR and know approximately how hard I can go for how long.  My friends tell me I am riding strong and looking ready. 

I have my doubts,  its natural, but overall, I am ready. 

I just hope I can get some sleep between now and race day!

TNR

 Its been a while since I have posted.  It is summer time and summer time is slammed time.  I have trips going out almost everyday and on a rare day with no trips..... I take advantage and get office type stuff done.   Fun times!

The ride last night started well enough.  Hot and humid and not too fast.  The skies were clear after a huge storm had passed earlier.  I was glad to get out.  I'm averaging 2 training rides per week this time of year, and with ORAMM coming up,  I don't take this time for granted.   I'm bound to be losing fitness though, so my nemesis race will be more like a big ride.  That's fine with me.  I want to finish and sit in that creek without feeling like I'm going to die!

 So, we were cruising along Butler Bridge Rd last night, a group of 4 off the front when a vehicle turned left in front of them.  Bob and Jamie hit some brakes and went down hard.  Officer McMurray was helpful and informed the guys that they were better off not filing a report because their insurance premiums would go up.  That's what I gathered second hand anyway.  Jamie asked the guy for a card, he said he didn't have business cards,  that the state does not pay for them.  I though police were required to have some sort of ID that they could leave with a person.   Maybe I'll order some from Vistaprint and send them to him.

Bob's wife came and picked the two up and hauled them to the hospital.  The rest of us continued the ride, a bit deflated and discouraged for our friends.

Its good to live in a cycling community that sticks together in crisis.  Its good to live amongst people who care on many different levels.

Prayers for Bob and Jamie for a speedy recovery.
Have a great day!

Thankful

This morning, I'm thankful.  For a lot.  So much to appreciate, so much that I sometimes take for granted.

The wife, working all night to help people.  The kid,  being a kid and challenging me to be a better dad, without even knowing it.  My house,  it is solid, warm and dry.  And now thanks to a lot of blood, sweat, tears (and a couple of f-bombs),  it looks good and is more functional. 

My friends,  for the smiles, encouraging words, keeping me on my toes, helping me laugh.

Yes, I know this is vague, but my bike rides and anyone who has helped me achieve in that area.  From sponsors to race volunteers to race promoters to competitors.

And then I become overwhelmed with so much to write and so little time.

Thankful for my job,  I get take kids on bike rides....  awesome.

Make a point today to be thankful!

Thursday Night Liberty Ride

Traffic Jams everywhere

Now we know the truth (Kevin Hessler)

Another day in paradise!

Hot but hydrated

Fun times (Chris Brown)

Fun ride,  started mellow,  then ran into a ton of traffic.  Traffic was backed up on Hendersonville Rd, I-26 and Hwy 191.  Is Obama in town? 

The pace picked up mid ride with the typical antics.  Fun times, good training. 

A few of us rode up and over Reynolds Mountain to finish out the ride.  A nice change to fighting traffic on Hendersonville rd.

My fitness is good,  I hope it stays around for ORAMM!

Pulaski VA to Asheville NC: Day 3

 After about 3 hours of sleep, I was awake and rolled out of bed around 6am.  I walked across the street to the gas station and got a 16oz cup of coffee.  I was so tired I didn't even think to complain about the quality.  I was beat.  I had around 90 miles to get home, and an extra day.  I really wanted to extend my trip, but realizing that this week is the beginning of a very busy summer season,  I wanted to be properly rested going into it.  I had a couple of ideas, places that I wanted to detour to, but decided against it. 

So, I headed south and stopped at Christa's or some food.  Her homemade yeast rolls weren't ready yet, and there was a pile of smoked butts on the counter waiting to be prepped for sandwiches.  I opted for one bacon, egg and cheese for now, and one bacon and cheese for later.  And more coffee.

I took my time.  I had been doing that on this trip.  Slowing down and stopping at some overlooks.  It is a good thing to do.  Enjoy the view, stop and smell the roses.  I need to do more of that everyday.

After a few miles, the mountains kicked up and the real climbing started.  VA has climbs but NC's are longer and steeper.  The miles tick by slower. 
 My muscles warmed up after a while and I was enjoying the ride.  My thoughts turned to my night's lodging.  Why do I bother bringing camping gear, if I'm not going to use it?  I considered my reasoning,  and realized that comfort is a big deal.  Feeling some sort of comfort,protection and security from the weather is an important mental element.  Endurance athletes talk a lot about muscle recovery, but not quite as much about mental recovery.

I remembered how I used to love pitching a tent, regardless of the weather and feeling warm, dry and secure.  Sometimes in wind,  other times in a downpour.  It was then that I realized that maybe the tarp set up is not for me.  It does protect from rain and can be set up in several different configurations to protect from wind.  But,  when it storms and the wind and rain pound and swirl,  I definitely get splashed.

There is also the issue of wind chill.  Anyway.  I'm going to do some research on my shelter options.

 I worked my way up and over the numerous climbs.  Each one different,  each one taking effort and energy.  Stopping periodically at overlooks to refill my water bottle and soak in the fresh air. 

 I definitely lingered,  not wanting the trip to be over yet.  This is such a beautiful place we live in and I don't get to take these trips very often.   I don't take the time for granted, and no matter how tired I felt,  I knew I had to make the most of it.  As far as I knew, it would be a while before I would have the chance to get out again.  (but as you know, if that window opportunity opens, I take it!)

Spinning along

Big Views

One mile to go.

 And then I was home.  I rolled up to my front door and stood there for a moment,  looking at myself in the reflection.  I was glad to be home.  This had been a good trip.  I was tired and content....

... I'm looking forward to next time!

Pulaski Va to Asheville NC: Day 2

 Morning finally rolled around. I had planned on sleeping in, but woke up at 6:30am.  I was a bit sore but got up and got on the road.  A quick stop at Hardees for a couple of biscuits and then heading over to the parkway.  There was not a lot of climbing to get up to the two lane ribbon of pavement, so I made good time.  The skies were clear and it was already warm.  Summertime.  As I pedaled my thoughts turned again to why I was doing this.  I was tired, and hot, and my saddle was not adjusted just right because I had failed to take a measurement correctly.  I wasn't having fun at the moment but knew that things would eventually change.  Maybe I should have had another cup of joe!

 My plan today was to make it the roughly 90 miles to Moses H Cone Memorial Park and camp.  I was concerned that there would be no spots left, so I had several other campgrounds in mind if that one were full.  That would entail another 10 - 20 miles of pedaling though. 

 Most of the day was uneventful,  just pedaling,  enjoying the scenery and planning my next ride.... 

 I stopped for lunch at the Northwest Trading post.  A ham and cheese sub, coke, and I saved the chips and pecan tart for later. I enjoyed not moving for a few minutes but didn't want to linger too long.  Time was ticking and campsites were filling up. 

 About 15 miles I crossed the VA/NC state line, the topography starts to change with longer and slightly steeper grades.  I'm pretty familiar with some of these and they seem to never end, especially the ones on either side of Deep Gap.  My other nemesis is the stretch between Hwy 181 and Hwy 80.  

 I arrived at the campground earlier than expected, around 3:30pm.  I was please to find that there were plenty of spaces left.  But it was early, so I took a look around trying to decide what to do.  I was pretty disappointed in the condition of the campground.  It was pretty run down, and that diminished my desire to stay.  The campground host called ahead to Linville and told me that they only had 9 spots left and they were filling up fast.  I filled up my water and decided to keep riding.

 It was getting hot, and I had gotten a little behind on staying hydrated.  It was my own fault so I tried to drink a little extra and keep going.  As I pedaled around Grandfather Mountain,  I watched the storms passing by in front of and behind me, knowing that at any moment, I could be ducking for shelter, hiding from lightning.  As I neared Hwy 221 where I could drop down into Linville, and then head to Pineola,  I decided to head to Down By The River Campground and camp for the night.

As I cruised the 2 miles down the mountain,  the skies grew dark and I got worried about what was coming and what the night would hold.  I saw The Pixie Inn in Linville and like a Siren I was lured into false security.

Dinner was crap food from the gas station: Sprite, Pimento Cheese Sammy etc; because after 107 miles and dehydration, I didn't have the motivation to cook my mac n cheese. 

 For $50 I got a room, hot shower and a mouse that woke me up in the middle of the night trying to steal my nacho cheese flavored Bugles.  I had to stick a spoon in the window latch because the lock was gone.  I only got about 3 hrs of intermittent sleep and laying there, I wondered if I had it in me to pack up and pedal on.  But it was 3am and I decided to wait a little longer. 

Pulaski Va to Asheville NC Day 1

 It dawned on my about 30 minutes before I got dropped off, that I would be riding the trail upriver.

I have wanted to ride The New River Trail State Park for a long time.  I first heard about it about 16 yrs ago, when the wife and I stopped at the Shot Tower.  I have followed the trail's progress ever since.  I finally had the opportunity to ride it, then get on the parkway and head home.

After driving through thunderstorms, my awesome  family dropped me off under mostly sunny skies.  It was 5:15pm by the time I go rolling.  With roughly 3.5 hrs of daylight left I was itching to get rolling. 

The New River Trail is a rail to trail conversion.   It goes from Pulaski VA to Galax VA with short side spur to Fries VA.  I saddled up and got into a rythym, anxious to see how far I could make it tonight.  I did not think that Galax was within reach but I was pleasantly surprised at my pace and became hopeful as the miles ticked by.

A gentle grade, barely discernible took me mostly along the New River.  The forest walls were dense on both sides and limited view, but the trail was clear and smooth.  Horses are allowed to use the trail and I passed a couple of rodeo arenas.  I imagine that at times the area could get pretty crowded with horses.  Somewhere in the middle of the distance, I came upon a group of about 8 horseback riders were had ridden out and back.  The trail was now pockmarked with hoofprints,  not deep, just enough to rattle me to the bone.  I was really wising I had a carbon bar instead of the aluminum one, but such is life. 

 I maintained a steady pace but stopped to take pictures fairly often.  I was not worried about the impending dark.  I was prepared with lights, one on the handle bar and one on my helmet.  And a blinky light on the rear.  Actually,  I was hoping that I would get caught out in the dark so that I could practice that. 

 I rode past numerous old train depots.  There is a campground at Foster Falls that I did not stop to check out.  I was aiming for the campground at Cliffview, about 5 miles outside of Galax. 

 The trail crosses the river several times with these wooden trestles. 

 As I climbed gently, the river became narrower and more scenic.  There were multiple places that I wanted to stop, but being unsure of the night's "lodgings", I decided to keep rolling.

I arrived at Cliffview Campground with about 15 minutes of light left.  I looked around.  The campsites were nice and clean, but empty.  There were several families in the area picnicking.  Hmm.  I really wanted to camp in this pristine spot by the river, but prefer not to camp alone.  I've seen some crazy things and feel safer with other people around.

After talking to a local who was very helpful,  I decided to try my luck in Galax,  upgrading from campground to motel. 

I got into Galax around 9:30pm, after dark and began the search for somewhere to sleep.  I considered my free options: church, city park etc.  But, then I found the Rhodeway Inn and for $50 had a chance at sleeping well,  so I took it.   After checking in,  I headed 3 blocks down to Macado's for some grub and was in bed by 10:30pm.