Quiet night at Ol’ campsite. Another no heat night.

Forecast was for rain & high winds later in the day. I took a shot @ a weather window and drove to DuPont for a ride. If I had left about 30 mins earlier I might have been on the trails and would have gotten wet during the ride which is a lot better than leaving a dry van in the rain to do a wet ride. Drizzle was splatting on my windshield as I got closer to DuPont. I parked, the rain abated, I changed into riding gear, took down the bike, and it started raining a bit harder. I Hunkered in the van for a few minutes and it rained harder. I put the bike back on rack & covered it up w/ cover and sat in van. It rained harder and it seemed like it would be that way for longer than I wanted to wait out the weather change. I changed clothes again & returned to Brevard.

I started shopping for a new rear wheel based on conversation w/ Scott. I parked @ Dolly’s & web searched choices. Then I ran errands in Brevard. I stopped @ library to read Rolling DStone article on Springsteen. Not much there but gave me insight to fame. Just a skosh of propane taken. Shower @ laundromat.

Back @ N end of town where the bike shops are. Bought a package of Tootsise Roll Midges to put in the candy dish @ the Hub because everybody eats them. It was for a bribe to Sam for wheel consulting info. I ended up giving him the business of building a Chris King hub, DT rim & spokes for a rear wheel for $450 which is 1/2 the price of a bike that Mono is looking at. Someday I will be much more finacially strapped and I will appreciate my wheel better than eating peanut butter sandwiches for dinner. The wheel will be ready mid next week, another reason to stay longer in Brevard.

Scott sent to me pictures he took of me that last weekend. The Pisgah jersey is not very flatering making me look like I have a big gut. For the record, the six pack is almost visible.

Forecast tonight is for high winds. My camp spot is sheltered down in creek bottom.

Temps have been in 50 & 60s w/ night in lower 40s.

Got hooked on video rentals. have another one for tonight’s viewing.

Still reading Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Slavery.

Off to woods & wind.

Drove out to “my” campsite and it is occupied by 2 cars enjoying a camp fire. Drove up the road a little bit & found an open site with XM radio reception.

Watched Bucket List on laptop. Great entertainment for $1.00, so much I went back for another one tonight. battery is issue as i drain the juice. the worst part is the frige shuts down. Engaged in conversation w/ Sportsmobile about installing a second battery.

Stopped @ The Hub to check my seat adjustment & tire pressure. My knee is still behind the pedal axle even w/ seat all way forward & pedal cleats all way back. This position typically favors a rider pushing a big gear and not the spinner I am trying to become. Tire pressure per pump agrees w/ store’s pump. So i ride w/ hard tires.

Drive out to fish hatchery for ride start. Warm AM: shorts w/ knee warmers, short sleeve jersey, & gloves. Uphill on roads for almost 2200′ in 5 miles. Roads are freeze thaw soft and suck the energy out of each pedal stroke. The roads were also rutted up from cars.

Finally made Farlow Gap trail start:

The trail dropped almost straight down:

Trail is way back in there. Some small streams to cross, all hike a bike:

Trail after for me some serious walking my bike down sections joins daniel’s ridge that I have been riding from fish hatchery. Even lower there were tricky spots. This pic shows a narrow trail bench cut into hill side but it doesn’t capture the 75′ drop to the creek below:

A few more rock gardens and then it was back down to road back to hatchery.

Saw 60 degrees on van thermometer that I discovered in the owners manual.

Gave trail feedback to Sam @ The Hub who said he is able to ride all but 1 climb out of a creek crossing. Bravo for him!

Finish this up & back to woods for dinner & another video. Mono, tell your son i have found other entertainment.

Sunday the temp in town reached 70 degs. Where I rode was just a few degrees colder. Getting spring hot. Trails were freeze thaw mud which is slimy and erodes away quickly. Bill V., I should have not been riding those trails.

Warm night & nobody to share the road w/ me.

Another PT session working on my left knee.

Shower & wash & laundromat.

Socialized @ Sycamore Bikes. Parked @ Dolly’s & Sam from The Hub stopped by and I beered him. 2 bike shops in town kitty corner to each other across no pedestrian crossing intersection.

Dad, the video rental machine you told me about is now in a chain grocery store. I am sampling The Bucket List later tonight.

Why am I hanging so long in Brevard? It is the first mountainous riding coming North and it is the first mountainous riding out of the snow. And the riding is challenging w/ some big rides. I have met several friendly people and the camping is free in the FS land. Next states of AL & MS aren’t get off your couch stimulators. I have a PT apointment on Friday and i might do the picture show this week. There are mountains here.