so what have I done since last Tues?

Wed after sleeping in parking lot behind Phat Tire and bfast out the way on the gravel parking lot, i visited Crystal Bridges museum which is on the way to Slaughter Pen. Free admission to view paintings organized by centuries. Modern art leaves me wondering not in a good way. The Building itself is remarkable which actually consists of several buildings tied together.

6:00PM was a weed clearing session on trails leading to Slaughter Pen. The plants grow up alongside the trail are access points for ticks. Members of FAST have adopted sections of trail. Carlie, Justin, Gary, and Mark wielded the cutting tools. Mark has been converting a former USPS mail truck that he has named Better Than A Tent in letters on the sides of the truck. We finished the cutting well b4 dark. Riding or drinking beer just didn’t generate legs to undertake. Justin drove off only to return quickly w/ word from his wife inviting me to their house for a shower and a place to stay. I needed dinner in town causing me to cancel. Another interesting dinner @ Table Mesa. I slept in the parking lot again in the quiet.

Thurs Justin and Gary put together part of their epic ride together and invited FAST Members. Meeting @ Blowing Springs @ 6:00PM leaving me the day to fill. I dropped my bike off @ Phat Tire for a fork oil change. I drove out to strawberry farm in Pea Ridge. I bought 2 qts of ripe berries that delighted my lust for fresh berries. The bike shop is downtown downtown just off the square which makes for a great people watching scene. I did my weekly wash and hung the air dry clothes inside my van; high humidity and no sun makes for long drying time.

I drove to Missouri to buy beer.

At Blowing Springs @ 6:00 meeting time Justin, Gary, and Carlie were ready to go. We shuttled in Gary’s truck back up in the hills. Bella Vista is built up on ridges above drainages. On the GS map it is a spider web of roads. This route is part of the locals poaching route down drainages, climb out, then drop into the next one. The trail was down creek beds and side hills covered w/ last years fallen oak leaves. Light is grabbed by the deciduous leaves making the forest floor appear to be in the dark. Crazy, we detoured around a large ground hog that stood its ground:

We had 2 killer steep road climbs, one was 25%. We finished riding Blowing Springs trail in the dark w/o lights. What a treat.

Dinner was @ local Mexican place scooting in just before closing @ 9:00.

I followed Justin to his house way back in the toolies. The roads became narrower and in worsening condition the further we drove. I wondered what and where he was taking me. Finally we arrived at his house all by itself. He introduced me to his wife, Melissa. We stayed up till 11:30 talking. I got a shower then went to my van.

Friday AM Justin and I visited b4 he left for work.

So long Carlie and Justin, nice people.

Friday I left Bentonville and new acquaintances I made, leaving is always hard. My plan is to ride Hobbs then move east.

I made Hobbs and took off on my ride. part way thru my phone rang; the call went to voice mail. I pedaled  to the top of a climb and took a breather and answered the voice mail. Misty from Fayettesville paper called and wanted to interview me for a story. We made a 2:00 meeting time. I humped the ride on the smooth trails. The faster you ride the more challenging the trails become. Trail tread is crushed limestone. Misty interviewed me, the article is in Sunday’s paper that I won’t get. She just started mtn biking.

Weather forecast is for showers and T storms. I headed east towards Mtn Home. I made it to Yellville where I switched directions back to Syllamo. I made it to a NP campground, Rush, down on the Buffalo River and out of cell phone coverage. Sprinkles were falling growing to a gentle rain during the night.

Today I woke up early to no rain. today is pushing to Syllamo. I decided to reride my last ride here. I wondered if the rocks would be slippery and if so, just how. Forecast was still for rain. Sprinkles were falling. My ride would be in deep tree cover which would protect me from full on rain. I found out early how slippery the rocks were on my my shoes. My tires held OK. I humped the ride. I got to over come past challenges and repeat past successes. There were still several spots that I still would not attempt. I dropped down the old logging road to the back side tech stuff when i noticed that my right grip was spinning free which meant that I had lesser control. I used the grip shift part of the grip as a control point and managed to make it out w/o falling.

Back @ the TH I gathered stuff up. I needed to drive back into Mountain View to buy wire and just in case hair spray. I scored both. Plan is to sleep @ same TH were I have stayed. My solar shower missed enough sunlight for hot h2o so I dug out my Coleman hot water on demand machine out of the storage box. I drained the solar shower h2o into a bucket then  pumped it thru the heater back to the solar shower for tepid temp. I took a shower. temps are now in the low 70s.

Quiet night except for Whipper wills talking.

Forecast is back to nice weather.

Tomorrow is Jack’s Branch loop that I missed last time then north to Mountain Home.