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.

Yesterday I hung around town waiting for 6:00PM Phat Tire shop ride.

Last night I slept in a parking lot behind the buildings that are on Central ST which is the main east west street thru old town. Very quiet until 6AM when the dumpster truck made its rounds. I got up then drove out of town looking for a gravel lot to park and make bfast. I prefer gravel as it allows my sink water to perc into the dirt instead of running out on pavement.

I passed a  store selling knives along side the freeway that I drive to to check out as I want to replace my lost clip knife. I shopped and bought a suitable replacement. So many choices.

I stopped @ Atlanta Bread company for a baked treat. I saw a converted Sprinter in the parking lot. I didn’t check it out. I was sitting inside the store when a guy walked up to me and reintroduced himself. Pat was his name and I rode w/ him and his friend Riley who also owns a Sprinter conversion @ Lake Leatherwood when I visited here back in 2010.

Next was to find bulk filtered water that lead me to one of the big local Walmart stores. The customers here appeared normal, the parking lot was filled w/  good condition vehicles. I was sitting @ a picnic table under oak trees when I watched a guy park behind my van then take pics of it. We said hello. Later after he returned from the store he stopped to chat. Justin is in corporate Walmart management and a member of bike club FAST which takes care of Slaughter Pen trails. He told me of an epic ride they do then worked himself into inviting me to do it Thurs night after work. Cool. I showed him my owies that he diagnosed as chiggers. He said treatment was coating the site w/ clear nail polish. He said clear was for aesthetics, any color would do. The polish suffocates the bugger that is living under the skin. I had heard of this b4 and I had read somewhere that it is old wives’ tales. I decided that a bit of polish would be worth it for itch relief. I went back into WalMart shopping for polish. I picked a clear coat w/ pinkish glitter. I now have splotches of hardened glitter on my body. Later I researched chiggers and learned that indeed polish is old wives’ as the larva form of the mite bites to feed then drops off. Treatment is itch management.

I joined the shop ride lead by Josh out to Slaughter Pen. Progressive Designs built new trails extending the Pen towards the downtown. Machine built w/ tech challenge lines. The park was being well used. FAST has a young kids skills camp going on. Great to see adults developing skills in kids who were gleefully participating in. Fun ride. One of the riders I met @ Lake Leatherwood previously who remembered me.

Back in town about 10 of us sweated riders filled the bar @ Pressroom for beer and food. Wettest driest county in the state.

Josh told me he told his building’s management that I would be camping overnight in their parking lot which I did not know about previously. The shop shares a wall w/ Pressroom and city hall. last night I slept w/ impunity not fearing rousting. But the dumpster truck of another company got me.

Two nights ago the heat and humidity broke which allowed me to sleep w/ a blanket. Last night was even chillier.

Today the skies have cleared making for a darn right nice day.

Going to visit Crystal Bridges then do a trail work project this evening followed by my first night ride using my light. Whoohoo.

Leaving here is hard as I keep meeting new people who pass me to new adventures. I need to be in Huntsville, AL by next Wed, however, to pick up INR test strips. Mtn Bike subculture.

So I dilly dallied leaving Fayetteville this AM after being serenaded by frogs all night. At first the heat and humidity were all but unbearable. A storm came thru dropping a little rain but mostly temp and humidity such that I pulled a light blanket cover over.

I drove up to Bentonville. I checked out Phat Tire shop that I visited previously only its prior location was being gutted. Shop was gone. I walked back to my van and called the number on their card. They had moved 1/2 block away. I walked back to the shop. My purpose was to learn about Blowing Springs trail. Josh laid it out for me.

I walked back to my van and saw another Sprinter parked next to me and a woman checking it out. Her name is Carlie and she is converting her own Sprinter. We chatted for quite awhile, me showing what i had done and learned and what she was doing. I opened my storage box for some things then forgot to close it up when i Drove away. I drove by the bike shop. Just after I passed my phone rang, it was Josh from the bike shop telling me my box door was open and stuff was falling out. Shit. I pulled over. The big stuff was still there. Josh pedaled after me and reclaimed a collapsible water jug.

I drove up to Blowing Springs park and headed out. Trails were well laid out, almost all machine cut. I got a good spin  dodging squirrels.

 

I researched health clubs in the locale and found one in Rogers, just down the road. I walked in and showed my membership card to the woman at the desk. She had not been trained in acceptance. She said “No” come back tomorrow and talk to the owners. No matter how I tried she still balked. I called the customer service and ratted her out. Unfortunately nothing could be resolved for a shower. While I was on the phone a UPS truck backed into a residential driveway across the street. The driver got out, went into the house, and appeared riding a mtn bike. He came over to me. He said he had seen the van in a mag article and needed to check me out. He learned of my shower dilemma. He offered his shower and to just pull the door to when i left. Phenomenal. A stranger offers me access to his house in his absence. I am clean and thankful for his trust. He is a XC racer.

Drove back to Bentonville. Dry county but establishments are licensed to sell alcohol. A beer @ Pressroom next door to bike shop then dinner @ a place next block over. Watched a baseball game enjoying conversation w/ the staff and the air conditioning.

I am camped behind city hall.

Tomorrow is a shop ride @ Slaughter Pen. Wed is a trail work session followed by a night ride; i will use my light for the first time.

Crystal Bridges Museum is closed tomorrow.

I do have poison ivy itches.