I made Tues a rest day and hung around Tommy’s shop, Trailhead. Last night I slept behind the shop on grass screened from Andrew Jackson Way by a building. Much nicer. Temps @ night a sleepable even w/ the door and windows secured.

Yesterday was the shop ride late afternoon. I looked forward to it. Monte Santo SP trails are great for quantity and variation. Just 4 of us, Tommy and I on squishy bikes, Chad on full rigid, and Reggie on a fork, locals ride 29ers. We rode from the shop up to the park, the climb was 800′ on pavement. Ride time was after work hour which increased the number of riders we saw. Great to see many riders. The most challenging part of our ride was the old railroad grade that was just sharp edged babyheads. Deep tree coverage.

Back @ the shop a gathering was happening. Other riders showed up for beer and grilled wings. Party went on until I went to bed @ 12:45AM. Enjoyable part is that this is my 3rd visit here and I know a little about the guys and they about me, history.

Today so far bfast then wash @ a beat up laundromat in 5 points. I punched cold wash. I opened the door after completion to feel warm clothes. My bike clothes are synthetic and require cold water. I will find out the hot water effect as I wear the garments. Shit.

Soon I will be driving to Chattanooga to ride Raccoon mtn. I have learned that new trails are @ 5 points @ Cloudland SP in GA right nearby.

Temps are rising into the 90s w/ high humidity. At least the chigger bites are healing.

Casual plan is Chattanooga then down to N GA for Snake Creek gap part of the Pinhoti. Might have to share trail w/ rattlesnakes.

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.

Another quiet night in XG. I left after bfast for Mtn Home stopping to do wash b4 heading east to Mississippi. drove out of Ozark hills to flats of eastern AR rice fields. Lots of chemical dispersion equipment visible to douse our food. Drove by Syllamo where I resisted the temptation to return for another ride.

I crossed the Mississippi river @ Helena. Barge traffic. Passed Parchman Farm in MS, I had no papers to enter.

I made Clarksdale and found the Delta Blues Museum. Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker were born nearby. Charlie Musslewaite has ties here also. Exhibits were mostly glassed guitars, pictures, some paintings, clothing, and a part of Muddy’s family 1 room cabin. I been there, I bought the stickie.

Flat land, lots of fields and wood lots. Cypress groves. Muddy water, really.

Hot and humid. I am back a gravel road parked in front of a locked gate to a cultivated field. I was seeking a wildlife management unit which is public land. No traffic on the road. I am in Eastern time zone.

Tomorrow I finish my drive across MS then into AL and hills.

Bought qt of AR strawberries before leaving the state. I was told that the season is about done. I spent 3 weeks in AR.

The chigger bites still itch.

MS drivers drive faster than the speed limit.

Horse flies inside the van b4 i deployed the screens.