Last bunch of nights I camped out of internet coverage. Tonight I am in Huntsville, AL, camped in the side lot of Trailhead which fronts on Andrew Jackson Way. Tommy Reagh is the owner, one of the enjoyable past history.
Friday I drove into AL to Lake Lurleen SP near tuscallosa. Upper 8os, 80 something humidity and 12:30 ride time. Gotta love it. Deep forest cover. I like the trails here for a change for more spinning and less tech challenge. 19.25 miles climbing 1971′. Purpose built trails. Spent the night in the camp ground. B4 dinner I went for a dip in the lake. Not even Memorial day and the water was just right.
Sat. I drove to Oak Mtn SP only to learn that an Extera event had the park tied up all weekend. Bummer.
research of Alabama’s trails discovered a brand new trail on Coldwater mtn outside of Anniston. I found Wigs shop and sought out info. Trail not officially opened but if you found it you are on your own and you didn’t hear anything from me. OK. I learned what I needed. A locked gate on the newly paved access road made for a road ride approach then a 400′ elevation climb to the TH. Trail just finished. Machine cut. Well sculpted but raw sterile machine cut. What is lost in the sanitizing the tread is made up by creating mounds of dirt features as in pump track. Not my kind of riding. Time will age the tread lessening the machine cuts. Claim is 3.5 miles downhill didn’t mention that there are slight elevation gains. Bermed turns, double tap humps. Amusement park riding.
I needed to find a ride for Sunday. Nearby was Cheaha SP with a small amount of techy trails. I made the campground late afternoon. Shower and dinner. no internet in spite of being almost dead on the highest point in the entire state? Paid campground camping. I was willing to sleep w/ the side door secured only by mosquito netting. And a shower.
Sun early I rode the park’s trails. Nice old maybe CCC trails on the Appalachian Mtns. Mild tech features, challenging not threatening, a great change from yesterday. I rode kind of 2 laps. Rocks and roots. reward for riding a squishy bike. I dashed back into the park XG before 11:00AM check out for a shower b4 leaving.
Plan was to find Talladega NF free camping for Sun night. Hardly a side road off into the forest. I left the main road at the first gravel road looking for a camp spot. I parked on a recently bulldozed flat right off the road. A game warden and sheriffs deputy went by w/ not a brake light. Lightening bugs & whippor wills.
Today I drove thru Talladega home of a big stock car race track, on my way to Oak Mtn. I drove west into rain threatening clouds. Forecast called for 60% t-storms mainly after 1:00. Plan was to beat the forecast.
I parked @ the S TH. I heaed out but became lost or at least not on the trail I wanted. A BUMP volunteer took me under his wing and guided me thru the bermuda triangle to rattlesnake ridge trail. And I was on. Nicely built trails that are mostly smooth broken by manageable roots. Big ride 2 hrs 38 mins climbing 2014′. Rode Blood Rock mostly. Great ride. Under tree cover blocked the sky. Back @ the van the sky wanted to dump. Just as I backed up sprinkles splattered on the windshield. I stopped and got outside to put the cover over the bikes. Rain started falling heavily w/in seconds. I covered the bikes.
I drove to Huntsville to Tommy’s shop. Rain is needed.
What great trails I have ridden lately.
Tomorrow is a rest day and allow the dry weather to dry off the wet slippery limestone. Wed is shop ride not to be missed.
I called Grace. She said when the hard drive on her computer allows her to access her training schedule she will call me w/ an open date. Last weekend she raced on the Syllamo trails.
Tommy lubed my front hub. He showed me where he hung the centerfold picture of me from Bike mag article. Respectfully.