Rained mostly all night long. No riding today. Slow moving.

Drove to dawsonville about 10 miles over searching for like an Ingles chain grocery store. Found one. Learned that the store is pretty close to Dahlonega via a 4 lane and then 4 miles of highway. Found diesel there for $2.09.

Back into D. to Wheelworks. Smiles on Zak’s face that the shipment made it and that the part sent is the correct replacement part. Zak redid the brake assy to restore the brake lever return snap, replaced the broken part, & rebled the brake. Took it for a spin and applied the brakes and did it squeal. Next project:

1) filed the pads & abraded the rotor = squeal

2)replaced slightly worn brake pads = squeal

3) reset caliper= squeal

4) tried a wheel w/ a new rotor = silence

5) bought a new rotor removed from a for sale bike = brake that works silently and lighter in the pocket.

Took shower @ health club & drove back to Post Office above shop to do internet stuff. The PO did scan the package.

Just raining all day. 3rd day in row w/ no ride.

Drove back out to Jack Mtn XG which is on way to Ellijay for tomorrow. Forecast is calling for snow maybe tonight and into tomorrow. I took the forecast into xonsideration by not parking at the end of the XG road making a shorter distance to hard road however there are 2 short steep hills on gravel. If it snows and I get stuck back here I have what I need to stay until Monday when the sun comes out & temp climbs back into 50s.

“it is as it is” is an apt description of whatever. Applies to trails. 3 things make up a trail: The land it is on, the land manager, and the local volunteers. These things come together as it is for a trail. You dance w/ who brung ya. The mountains here are small but for a rider from Atlanta they are big. The soil is mostly the mucky red clay that turns greasey w/ addition of h2o. No local bike club to work trail access issues or improvements. Jon said the horse people organize the work parties.

Foggy night @ XG. After dinner in dark I put my led headlamp on my brimmed hat & went for a walk. Way foggy. Turned around to van & turned on light inside to guide me back in case. Walked to end of road to turn around for horse trailers. Big open area w/ no land marks. I decided not to tempt fate of getting lost in featureless open space. Light in van shown thru fog better than led.

Jon gave me his gift bottle of Scotch because he is not a Scotch drinker & I told him I was. He was purging his stuff and if I keep my consumption in check I won’t be doing the same. Bruichladdich pronounced Bruce Laddy, good stuf, passed on the shine.

Skies cleared by AM, weather forecast is calling for below freeze temps, high winds, & snow, how much & where was to be determined, stay tuned to your weather source. Have supplies and desire to ride overwhelmed prudence.

Followed written directions to Bear Creek TH. Rig w/ 4 guys changing out of riding clothes. Travis, he said his name was, remembered seeing me @ Chicopee last weekend. Temp dropping, darkening skies, & winds. They said the trails were not muddy and their bikes showed that to be true. One rider described the route to me but like most things for me, it went right thru me but didn’t lodge in short term memory. Said ride clockwise. First intersection was for Bear Creek to right or Pinhoti to the left clockwise. I turned left soon to pass any fresh tracks on trail. Where were their tracks? Nice single track, up down, & around finally to an in service FS logging road. I was lost. Safest choice was to out & back what I just rode. Snow flakes fell during my ride, nothing made the ground as it was wet & warm. If it were rain it would have been a weak sprinkle. Good  riding ST as it is a hiking trail.

Back @ intersection I reinterpretted the direction arrows and said, “opps”. Or something like that.

2 mile gravel road back to TH. Getting colder. Loaded up & headed West to Mulberry Gap Inn that Bruce spoke highly of.  They are 1.5 miles further down the road after the pavement stopped. Piece of road it was.

Both gates were shut & appeared to be chained shut. Sign said open year round. Got out & checked gate to see that it was unlocked but the wind had blown the gate halves closed. Opened the main gate open & as I drove thru the wind banged it against the side of my van in spite of my evasive moves. Steep uphill on pavement to registration. Guy comes out weearing shorts & I am shivering from my ride. Gave me the scoop. Parked @ primitive spot right along side small stream. Backed in I did. Wind was howling & snow flurries were being blown around. Concern about getting snowed in. Just an inch would have given me fits to drive out.

Diane drove down to say hello & collect $10 fee. I didn’t do a good job networking how I found her place.

Hooked up electric cord to 120 V circuit in van and ran the fridge & lap top. Watched last disc of Ken Burn’s Civil War.

Crawled under covers & hoped for clear roads & skies for tomorrow.

Daylight: just cold clear blue skies. Ground was same as when the sun went down.

Bfast & drive out back to Bear Creek to ride it. 25 degrees in the sun when I headed out. Ride can start from the pavement & ride 2 miles mostly up to TH. Ice on puddles & some frozen mud on road. Made the TH and rode up the trail which is on an old logging road right along Bear Creek. Made intersection and made Bear Creek turn. ST coursed along creek and then switchbacked out of drainage to become more old logging road to newer closed logging road to finally a steep  descent down a closed off skidder road to creek. Short ST lead to challenging creek crossing. Too wide to step across on rocks, mid calf high w/ force. Bottom bracket soaking deep. I slithered along vertical creek bank a few feet to position my bike next to a boulder and angled across stream. Trick will be to push off boulder, catch a pedal stroke & clip in the other foot and pedal 8 feet before toppling over in the h2o. Dry feet but wet BB which aren’t sealed and immersing them is bad for their health.

Back @ van, temp is 40 in sun.

Drove West on 52 to Chatsworth. Stopped @ Ace Hardware to ask for directions to laundromat. Found it & washed clothes.

Found Chatahoochee NF ranger station outside of dalton. Guy answered my questions, he even copied the map portion I needed to save me $4.00. Recommeded a primitive campsite right near Snake Gap for tomorrow’s ride.

Hit Kroger’s for groceries. Drove interstate S to route 136. Followed map to FS road. First possible spot had 3 unburied dead dogs. Drove further back to find a spot. Nearby there are 3 old computer monitors.

Cold tonight. Clear skies, faint internet connection