Poison ivy, tortoises, deep shade, prescribed burns, and narrow single track. Finally shared the trail w/ a couple today. No vistas. Tortoises in park on the trail blending in w/ leaf litter. High humidity and temps in the 80s. Gotta love living and riding here. You know about it if you have been here, if you never have, come east. I like the change. Yesterday I camped and rode a section going north. This time I limited myself to an hour out to prevent my previous burn out experience when i tried to make up for all the missed spinning while i was in Sedona. I camped @ same spot out of internet range. Today I moved to another trailhead and rode 1 hr 20 mins out. I have left bits of entire trail unridden this time which is OK as I am working on reconditioning myself. Nicely cut bench trail that is not flat but lacks strenuous climbs. Today i rode 19.43 miles and climbed 2405′ all at under 1000′ elevation. Poison ivy is the main cash crop. Oak trees w/ some loblolly pines mixed in. Even Bob’s Foodland in MT Ida has been renovated. I am the non local oddity. County is dry. Horses are banned from the Womble. Moisture is way behind with just a few small streams trickling. This is the 3rd time I have ridden here. Ozarks.
Warm enough for solar showers. Today I camped @ a main trailhead but back in the weeds. I deployed my awning for shade. Yesterday i sat in the sun for 2 hours reading and paid the sun burn price that is still exacting a pain.
Tomorow I will drive over to Albert Pike rec area to ride what i rode last time 2 years ago near Mena, AR. Just after I left a flash flood washed thru the camp ground killing 18 people. Steep hill sides that shed the runoff downstream hitting about 2:00AM. Trail crosses the Little Missouri several times, this year low water level crossings are anticipated.
June bugs find openings in my netting joining many moths over the previous days.
Today I discovered some like prickly pear cactus in the deep woods intermingled w/ poison ivy. And the sweet smell of honey suckle and wild privet.
