Yesterday I boasted of sleeping spots I have found and not being bothered. About 1:30 AM today that string was broken. My bladder woke me up for mid evening pee. I looked out front window and saw headlights w/ a searchlight. Oh, this could be interesting. Lights left the van and circled the building parking lot and finally came to rest on me. I crawled back under the covers to play I’m asleep but the raps on the door were incessant. A flashlight shone in my eyes. I was greeted by a sheriff’s officer. A brief conversation about what i was up to and the request for the driver’s license. Several minutes he came back and said I was cool. We talked a bit and he left me to go back to sleep.
Started raining during the night. Plan is to go to Sunshine cycle in Watkinsville just down the road and maybe I wouldn’t piss anyone off. As I was waiting for the light to turn green @ the shop I saw a pickup leave bike parking lot. I pulled in. Shop person was tardy in showing. He said that the bleed kit was picked up by somebody from the Athens store. Great, return of the crossed wrench. I still shared w/ him a pasrty for just being there.
I drove back into Athens to downtown store bearing my pastry i walked into shop. Josh, the wrench was in good spirits. He had a bike in 1 stand but jumped up and took mine & put it in a stand and started working on it. He worked for hours trying to bleed the brake. He discovered a missing oring so he went to the well to find one, not exactly the same size but close and the brake in the stand worked. I paid $25. for his hours of work.
Drove S of town to do interent work. verizon booted me off & I was unable to get back on.
Heritage Park is outside Oconee NF. My sleeping plan was to drive a logging road back into forest for sleeping spot. Scored. Rain quit but was foggy.
Slept w/ no heat but used doubled down blanket for warmth. Slept in.
Today is short drive to Heritage Park TH. I get there and check out trails from TH. They seem dry. Beautiful day. I decide that I will do my laundry first to allow more drying time. Drove into Watkinsville. I check out Chamber of Commerce: No laundromat in entire county. The receptionist is very helpful and draws me a map of a location up almost on UG campus. I find it. No college kids or anybody. DO wash.
On way to TH I check out an advertised campground to see about a shower. Lady said $5.00 and I am clean. Will wait until after ride.
Drive back to heritage TH and gear up. Tight trails thru trees w/ ups & downs. Maybe 1 lap netted 8.57 miles & 1260′. Concern that my derailleur hanger is bend causing some drivetrain issues. Call Sunshine in Watkinsville and wrench has derailleur hanger straightening tool.
Stop @ XG for shower.
Drive to shop. Hanger is slightly bent and wrench works it as far back as he fells comfortable straightening out the hanger for fear of breaking it. I have an extra one. Said hanger bend could cause my shift issues.
I ordered parts for brake from Formula to be shipped to Ellijay,GA up in N GA mountains.
Beautiful day: blue skies, high cirus clouds for sky filler. Drove back to last night’s spot.
Tomorrow I head back towards SC. Bill is hosting me @ FATS this weekend.
Mail forwarded to Thomson, GA for tomorrow pick up, or Monday on swing back.
Debating about driving all the way back to Brevard, NC and then head W to catch N GA mountains. Such decisions: it’s a financial issue to spend $30.00 to back track for some expected fun w/ guys in Asheville and Brevard.
Last night I looked @ pictures from out west. Nobody has asked to see pictures or really asking about riding anywhere else. In the East riders get off on seeing vistas. I noticed in the west pictures that there is an awful lot of sky. I do not have the eastern vista jag.
Craig, seems like you are having lots of mechanical issues. What do you attribute this to?
Hi, Mark,
Answers to your question:
I have ridden 2000 miles so far on this odyssey and have a bunch more miles on my gear in addition,and repairs made by various wrenches. The bent derailleur hanger probably came from a fall in WVA rocks which is the only fall damage. My wheels are still true, the Turner is not asking for its bushings to be replaced yet. The drive train is just use. The van was warranty. My knees are just use.
I am riding an endless season that I only experienced the winter I was laid off but then I missed 2 weeks because of weather. Mostly what I ride is first & only time which means the first time I see that rock is the last time I ever will. How was my line over or around it? What did I do to the bike? If I rode it again would I pick the less damaging line?
All in all my gear is holding up well. I might have had some of the same issues if I were living in Spokane but I never published my bike log w/ everything that was repaired @ what mile and how many miles were on each component
You going to get your full suspension bike this summer?
Craig