Appomattox

I don’t always spend the night where I have internet access and don’t make time during the day when i have coverage. Life of mine on the road.

So, Monday i took a rest day outside Douthat SP up in the George WA Nat Forest. On the left side of the road was a recent prescribed burn, the other was undisturbed. Quiet night. Whippor wills and lightning bugs.

Tues I bit off the big ride in the park. This time I rode more of the real race course as previous I push my bike up the steepest trail in the park: Buck creek. None the less today’s ride was a humper: 17.95 miles climbing 3720′ in ride time of 2 hrs 51 mins. Ride time is moving time. The park spans 2 mtns and a valley in between. The first climb topped out @ 3,000’m elev for about 1800 climb on good single track, old hand built trails that are sustainable and of a riding gradient. descent was great dropping back to valley bottom then climbed up Brushy mtn. I lacked the snap of the first climb. This trail was right on top of mountain and exposed to cooling winds. I stopped @ an overlook to check internet access on my Android. I caught up on news, weather and sports. The descent down was zippity do dah, again a rideable grade but going down was rewarding. I used my Reverb seat dropper to really enjoy the ride. At one point I came around a snout of a ridge to face a small fawn looking at me. It didn’t stay still as it scampered full on as fast as it could figure where to go. Unfortunately for it it split several switchbacks and I caught it again until it headed straight down hill and disappeared.

Back in the shade at the van. I pedaled into the camp ground nearby to gab up the host to poach a shower. Success.

I drove back to previous camp spot.

Wed. I drove into Lynchburg. Plan was to ride Candlers Mtn. I googled bike shops in town and found Blackwater bikes, same name as one in Davis, WVA. Not same owners. Davey gave me a ride suggestion. I headed out to trailhead. Getting into mid 80s, humidity is not as high as Pisgah, must receive less rain. TH was @ SnowFlex which is a crazy sliding slope that per Davey is like a big toilet brush. The “snow” is white bristle that is lubricated by frequent h2o jets. 85 degrees and a guy is putting on bib snowboard pants. The “snow” is abrasive requiring skin protection.

I found Lake Trail right in front of parked van. Davey gave me a copy of the trail map and later I scored an actual copy from the resort. Buggers used a satellite image and reversed N and S which confused me. I dropped down Lake and tried to navigate from screen print. I resisted the urge to wander around, chosing to remain “found” and climbed back out same way.

Plenty warm out of the trees.

Back on the streets again I drove thru Appomattox Nat Historic site to Lake Holiday SP for the night. Paid $27 for legal site w/ electric and shower.

This AM I took advantage of AC to defrost my fridge as it cools faster than the propane fired gas absorption. Not much frost build up.

Then I drove back thru park to town to do laundry. Soon I will head back into park and visit the court house where our nation was rejoined.

I plan on driving part way to Harrisonburg today camping above the Shenandoah. Fri I plan on visiting Shenandoah Bike CO and Tim. Ride opportunities and stay are open. Further up the road is Gettysburg and to the west, Micheaux SF rides. Gettysburg battle was July 1 to 3 about when I will be passing thru.

Forests are drier and less mountainous as I work my way N and E.

27.3mpg on last fill up. 108,000 miles on van, I have driven about 88,000 miles so far.