Dateline: Mt Ida, AR
A bit from Sunday and some from today.
Drove from Texas to Mena to ride Foran Gap trail. Found TH but appeared to be a hiking trail. I checked my NAt Geo topo maps on line and the trail system wasn’t on map. Bailed.
Drove to Oden where the start & finish of the Womble challenge a 60 to 80 mile mtn bike race. Racers were on the road as I drove in. Way too late to offer to sweep. Cold & strong wind. Got internet access @ Oden. researched Womble. Race course is silk screened onto a red bandanna handkerchief that I was given. Figured mid point of Womble & drove out into woods searching a TH and place to camp. Short story, drove back spur road and found Womble mid point. perfect. Ride from here both days.
Walked 1 mile of trail checking what i could find. It is a hiking trail 35 miles long, an IMBA epic. My plan is to find mid point and ride out & back, first to North which has more climbing.
Sun night temp dropped to 34 degs. Had the heater going for part of night. Blowing & cold temp. Might have finally patched the hole in my balance ball. Sitting on it typing.
Started @ 10:00 AM waiting for bfast to settle & temps to climb. Former worked but later stayed down. Tights, wool long underwear top, long fingered gloves & heavy socks. Trail is a hiking trail. Some parts were very narrow cut into hillside. Nothing technical. A bit of muddy spots & numerous small creek crossings. Spring is not yet here. Poison ivy sure is sprouting however. Wonder how Indians dealt w/ it? Out & back. Rode almost all of it. 28.39 miles, 3912′ vert climbing, 4 hour ride time, 4 hours 47 mins total time. Race course shanghied the Womble @ Round top junction and made a hellish rock infested steep climb up to Ouachita national Scenic Trail, the 2nd trail for the Challenge race. Discovered this on way back down.
Back @ van pleased with my decison and execution of successful out & back. There were several road return routes available but I spun on ST. Solar panel charged batterie from last night. Great. No internet out in boonies.
Drove to camping resort on hwy 27 hoping for a shower. Propritor said he didn’t have 1 for xg. Suggested Denby Point, Army Corps of Eng. Drove a ways there. Host said the shower was free, no negotation.
Back into MT Ida to grocery store to learn of laundromat. Nix on that. Learned that this is a dry county.
Out to Southern terminus of Womble for tomorrow’s ride and then off to Little Rock. And dinner. I’m hungry. yesterday I decided that starting today I am cutting the sugar treats from my diet.