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