This AM bid fond so long to Herm of Purple Lizard maps. He manages his self employment time, I seemed to get a big chunk of it as he guided me for 5 days of riding in Rothrock SP. Thanks Herm. Amd also to the local trail care people.
Rothrock is challenging rock garden riding w/ roots mingled in. Rhody thickets. There are gravel roads of great condition thru forest making for easier uphills or getting around. Elevation change is just over 500′. This is more technical than Pisgah but it lacks the big climbs of Pisgah.
Yesterday Herm put a route together. Worl cup soccer was on so we were only joined by Rachael & Cathy. Hot & humid, overcast w/ slight breeze. Stopped @ a gas line crossing where 2 other riders were resting. One came up to me and asked if I was the guy traveling around mtn biking. I said yes, he said I rode w/ him back in Maine @ Baxter SP. He drove 9 hours to race today in the Stupid 50 mile race in the SP. My rib is slightly less painful allowing more comfortable upper body gyrations such that I was able to ride more tech stuff. perhaps I am also getting more experience. Herm rides a 29er squishy and is very skilled. We were finishing up a rocky, rooty, rhody, slight climbing trail w/ him ahead. I came upon him laying amidst the rocks w/ his bike upside down facing the other way. He over extended himself on the 29″ wheels and did an over the bar fall. He smacked a rock or 2, fortunately he was only “grazed” Heat & humidity took it out of us.
Rocks:
Herm hosted a pot luck @ his house later. His parents showed. For the most part they marvelled at the mtn biker stories we told. His dad said Herm took him on a rough ride that he had problems w/, he said herm did it for the life insurance.
Today is the Stupid 50 race over many of the trails I rode. Stupid because the locals say that is a stupid way to ride a loop. Forecast is for T-storms. Decided that I needed to move on, maybe get out of rain pattern. Plan today is to ride Raystown trails that are machine cut. Some describe it as FATS on steroids. A rider approached me in the parking lot in town who had just ridden there and said the trails are not very muddy and the rain missed. I am sweating wet sitting here typing this. fresh h2o will wash off the sweat. My skin is definitely kept moist here in the East.
Past ride update:
April 14 I rode Eagle Rock trail that is out of Albert Pike camp area in Arkansas. Last weekend a flash flood occurred killing 19 people. I crossed the Little Misouri river wading. Saddened for peoples’ losses. I was there b4 the flood.