Yesterday I awoke early @ Clinton airport. Saw a sign that dealt w/ salvage of airplanes to explain the carcasses on the non flying side of the road. Peaceful night.
Drove back to Mountain View, AR to ride more of Syllamo trail. I sent myself up for Blanchard Springs XG were I could access Jack’s Branch trail and onto to Bad Branch Loop, rejoin Jack’s & down to XG for shower in enclosed building. Temp is in 60s making that $3.00 shower @ outside temp. Chilly. Plus, the road to Blanchard is paved saving the gravel road up & back to TH where I stayed before. But then i drove up there for Sat night as it is free; XG cost $.
Parked in day use area, paid $3.00 parking fee although TH fees for the trail are waived. Overpaid? Paid for shower later.
Headed up shared biking hiking trail to full on Jack’s. Some technical stuff, broken sandstone & limestone. Trail made an overlook over Sylamore creek and valley. Pretty much @ high spot. Trees are almost all completely leafed out. There several tree species that are later leafers anyway. The oak etc is big leafed. Area is 2nd or 3rd regrowth. W/ these broad leafed trees their trunks are not very tall, they just get bigger around and maybe a fuller canopy. Can still see in forest even w/ the overcast day I had.
At TH w/ red & yellow trails 2 riders were engaged in a navigation discussion. I carried the day w/ my official map. An outhouse sits @ the TH. I say to the riders that anytime you see one of these outhouses they are made in Spokane. The more serious rider spoke up and said that that was in his neighborhood. I asked where, and he said Missoula. I asked what he is up to and he said that he is on a 6 month road trip mtn biking and taking pictures. Cool. Kindred spirit. We chatted briefly me voluntering ride info and him seeking it. We set out on Bad Branch which is the easiest of the trails. I lead for short while and then pulled ove. i was holding him up. We introduced ourselves, his is Garret, and agreed to meet upon ride completion. And I watched his legs churning him away. I rode Jack’s (yellow blazed) and Bad Branch (red) for 27 miles I saw only Garret and an attractive athletic young woman trail running up towards me. And she is Garret’s GF. They met in Missoula but she is from Mountain Home.
Red trail was too much Pablum. Recently a wheeled trail vehicle went down the trail some places repairing the ST creating unconsolidated surface that moved unpredictably. And then the trail was made machine width of vegetation leaving a wheel track on either side. No bar checkers here. On the yellow and Blue I stopped to carefully snake my bar ends between trees.
Back @ XG I find Garret @ his camp site. I ride to van where I find a note from Santacruzer inviting me to his campsite and that he has been reading my blog. I don’t know him. At Garret’s I pump him full of rides ideas for east US. Both of us were short of time making for me just sharing ride info and not learning about him & his GF who was by now @ camp. Boy shorts. Nice.
I got a shower and then walked to Santacruzer’s camp site. Everybody was gone. Chris, I wanted to talk w/ you and learn your story.
I wanted to get to sleep spot and chill. I drove back to Green mtn road to where I stayed previously. Just after arriving 2 riders few into parking lot. Both were wearing Competitive Cyclist jerseys. I recognize one (blanked on his name) and he is riding a Turner Flux raw color which is most popular this year which I think speaks to lead time of getting a painted bike. He is hot on it and also w/ Turner customer service. He said if all retailers were like Turner his life would be so much better. Another testimonial.
Brief sprinkle last night brought out rain cover. Short lived. Didn’t turn off music or go outside to listen for Whippoorwills.
Today got up and made french toast w/ whipping cream. Plan is to drive back to Mtn home & do wash as 5 days of riding gear is dirty. 5 out of 7 days riding is OK. I spent my REI dividend & member 20% discount on a bike jersey so I can ride 6 days between washes.
Did wash. The wet bike clothes are pinned to the clothes line @ the back of van line drying. Traveled back roads to Bald Knob and got on US 64 that runs thru Brevard, NC. A GPS route dealt w/ Memphis, TN and I rejoined US 64 which is mostly 4 lane controlled access, a step below an interstate. Drove east. Plan was to make Huntsville tonight but fell short hence the airport parking lot. Developed airport w/ a small terminal with a parking lot out front. I might be under the watchful eye of a security camera. Plan is to sleep here then be gone b4 they open @ 8.
Tomorrow is Muscle Shoals then Huntsville. Call Grace from her same area code.
Once I reached rt 64 the land was just flat that showed signs of past flooding. Must raise rice