As in Deliverance. I think people are people and those kind of people are able to be anywhere. My expereince so far has been , what, OK? The guys I have ridden w/ are enjoyable as I shared time w/. Service people can be pretty slow. The gas stations had some real cake takers.
Free association recall of last 3 days in the hinterland of Arkansas out of internet & phone coverage.
Today I spent driving from Albert Pike rec area, location of Eagle Rock loop trail I rode part of yesterday, to north central AR up by Mtn View to the Syllamo bike trail to ride tomorrow early because it is in the mid 80s w/ about 40% humidity but hey, I’m getting too warm. 2 days ago I rode from somewheres South of mid point to S end point & back. Camped at start point out in toolies again.
Whipperwills have been calling at sundown.
Mon left XG and drove into MT Ida for supplies & propane. Guy who worked @ propane retailer was a former paper server back in his day. Gave me a bit of an education and told tales to make his point. Using propane for cooking & refrig which use very little.
Found planned ride starting point maybe 6 miles from where I started yesterday. I had an idea of riding both out & backs. I was hammered from yesterday. I rode S to end point. At the lake I engaged a USFS fish magmt person in what, fishing? He has 28 lakes to monitor manage. Today he was sampling fish count. He had some colleg kids help. He has 2 poles that are wired to a strong electrical source which shocks the fish causing them usually to float to surface where they are netted and checked out. Turned around for return trip. Parts of the trail have been prescribed burn. As I was pedaling I just decided to clip out of my right pedal. I twisted my ankle, heel outward, to end of range of motion and I was still clipped in. I stalled and sat on a few poison ivy plants. I freed myself from my bike. I discovered that 1 of the cleat screws is somewheres else than the bottom of my shoe. I had previously exchanged hydration packs and touched a spare cleat screw. Yes, score. Screwed it in & tightened the other one. Hard to work up hard effort. Made van which was still in direct sunlight, 114 degrees inside. Repositioned solar shower into sunshine & waited. Warm solar shower.
Spent night same place listening to Whipperwills.
Yesterday i drove to Albert Pike rec area for eagle rock loop trail. Today I am really flat. Found trail out of well developed FS XG w/ showers for free. This trail is a hiking trail but rides well. It crosses many trickles to knee dee swirlers. Tepid temperature. The dreaded stall and topple over landing in the water caught me, almost a full immersion. I had no energy. I am so dehydrated and the heat is getting to me. Eagle rock is a 29 mile loop, I made 14 miles and bailed @ a rode and rode 5 miles back to van. Took a shower & drove back out to a TH I passed to sleep in the parking lot. CXT from Spokane provides comfort in their faux old wood built tougher than a brick shit house.
Then today i rested & drove. My clothes drawer started popping open. Something was up that it wouldn’t stay closed. I stopped and turned too w/ a screw driver. i discovered that one of the slides was missing a roller. decision: find a cabinet shop and ask for advice. Found one just down the road. Bought a pair of slides, repalced broken one but drawer bound. I asked for help. Guy checked screws, Don used half round head screws that were interferring w/ smooth rolling. Guy replaced screws and I was off w/ a working drawer. Bought Scotch in same store as last spring in Hot Springs. No, I did not take in Bill’s library.
Tomorrow the Syllamo. From the parking lot the trail shows almost no use. Pretty heavy poison ivy ground cover.