Warm night. Turned down heater but turned it off. A bit chilly. Waiting for alarm to go off & excited to be group ride.

Restrooms @ Sycamore Flat pinic area are closed due to vandalism. Use them @ RS that is usually locked when office is closed.

Overcast, windy, but warmer than yesterday should melt the ice.

Made TH, first 1 there, took a while longer for David, the organizer, Steven from Raleigh, & Jerud. David lead the ride doing what I hoped I would learn from a local. We rode up Cedar Rock like I rode down. Ice melted, ride much better this way. But Big tree downhill was super riding over great sections of slick rock. Some of it reminded me of WVA 24 hrs of Canaan. Rode Burnt Mtn also. Then the test: we rode to river crossing and deliberated crossing. David said he could ride across it. He made a few strokes and his wheels slipped out from under him but he made other side. Pictures of crossing are posted yesterday. Jerud threw his first shoe short of the other bank and started floating away. Luckily it ran aground and was put on the correct foot. I took off my socks and slip walked across. Mid shin deep, rock slippery w/ plant growth.

Rode Fawn Lake side backwards to my previous ride. Rode well both ways but today the ups seemed steeper & longer than when I rode it down.

Rained several times, otherwise overcast drizzle, high winds, but in 40s.

16.24 miles 2559′ vert.

Drove back into town, washed bike, took shower @ XG, back to hanging @ Dollies for internet.

Ride lined up for Paris Mtn on Friday. Be leaving Brevard.

Knee rode well, bit of pain during recovery.

Sitting on balance ball. Need training time for comfort.

Zags were upset by unranked team. Rankings will plummet.

Chilly night. PT eliminated all pain from my knee for sleeping. I eagerly await the true test of treatment with a ride later today.

Drove into Pisgah Forest which is where i have been hanging. Stopped @ Backcountry Outdoors to check on exercise ball shipment. Not in yet.

Drove to bldg supply business to fill propane tank. They were only able to force 1 gallon in which seems way too low. Called propane supply place N of town where I filled last 2 times to learn if a driver was there to fill my tank. Struck out.

Mid morning drive to DuPont ride @ Corn Mill Shoals TH. Saw a few cars w/ bike racks at other TH on my way, nobody where I parked.

Cold & clear. previous free running h2o was now solid. Mud was frozen earth. Climbed Burnt Mtn & dropped down back side. In shade ice had formed over the bare rock. I kept to the ice free gravel or leaves. I managed to ride mostly and push a bit over the ice to summit of Cedar Rock. On N face aspects the rock was sheeted in ice. I failed to read the angle and length of ice on a rock piece. Slight downward angle. Both wheels abruptly left vertical slamming me to the rock on my left side. Sore hip, forearm, & shoulder. The PT work success will sort itself out or I just undid it.

Again attempted to find the way under Bridal Veil Falls to X the river. Too many No trespasing signs and lack of courage to poach turned me back. Maybe tomorrow’s ride will guide me across.

I rode to the river crossing. Check pictures out. Maybe mid thigh deep and ice on rocks:

This awaits a misplaced step:

Ice crystals:

View from on top cedar rock looking NE:

Knee pain during riding is almost all gone. Kim performed Craniosacral therapy; find the tight spots and release the pent up energy. A few more sessions and maybe even the knee pain I have had since age 11 might be cured. Look out Telemarking next winter.

Seemed to have hooked up with a ride @Paris Mtn in Greenville, SC on Friday thur MTBR.com forums. moving on. Have leads for a bunch of SE rides staying in the mountains. Just sort them out & drive to them.

Riding DuPont tomorrow w/ a group with somebody from SORBA.

Did wash & took shower.

Picked up exercise ball & pumped it up. Will keep it away from heated heater grate which did in its predecessor. Displaces a bit of inside room.

Les, finally finished Blue Highways. Thank you. What a thoughtful inspiring book.

Off to woods for cold night