And opened the refrigerator. Rubbish to the statement that you can never go home. Actually, Ohio is not where I really want to spend quality time. OK, my family is here. Bright spot. leave ’em wanting more.
So, I am parked on the grass at my dad’s where I spent my formative years from 4th to 12 grade. We live in the country, farm land, bedroom blue collar borough to a rust belt city. At least no new houses have been built w/in sight of his house for a coon’s age. And their lives might not have been too long. They hang seed bird feeders on low branches of a mountain ash outside a family room window. recently they looked out to see a gaggle(?) of raccoons learning how to burp the feeder for food. They called an exterminator and the rest is known to him….. .
So… I have my new replacement frame received Tues @ Gung Ho @ York, PA. I was there b4 the UPS driver unloaded my incorrect street address. Jay, the shop owner, did the heavy lifting installing the bottom bracket and adjusting the shifting cables. The shop told me about Rocky ridge, a local riding area. I was in, I needed a ride and a shake down would be grand. The trail was per its name sake: Rocky Ridge. Bike and build performed, no skretches, all quiet on the Turner 5-Spot.
Time was scruntched. I improved my balance on rock gardens. Dashed back to Gettysburg Y for a shower then drove up to0 Teaberry TH where I have been staying and it is the starting point for tomorrow’s ride.
I was up early thurs Am for my ride. Even b4 my 6:30 bfast a gaggle of riders arrived for their early AM ride. One guy recognized me from the Tour De Burg 2 weeks prior.
I geared up for my later ride. I dismissed any rain falling as I hung my towel out to dry and opened the roof vent wide. More later.
Great thing this GPS device as I loaded the ride into my Edge 305 aqnd followed the icon on the small screen. And I needed it. Again,riding Michaux is CHALLENGING. There is no way the course could be conventionally mapped. I followed the track. Kent who gps’d the route showed 28 miles and 4/3/4 ride. Kent is a young buck and is a local rock rider. I neglected to turn on my computer so I have no factual data. I will say I was out about 6 hours of solid ride time. I never sat down and caught my breath. F…ing rock gardens. My left leg started cramping; I walked a bit to shake the cramp out. Not much success. I squirted the one packet of mustard I had and ate 2 more electrolyte pills. Finally I raised my saddle a bit that put my muscles in a good place. Then I was running out of steam, not bonking, just worn out. The route dropped me onto rattlesnake rd to High rock. I rememered the finish to be on logging roads making me weakly smile. Maybe 5 miles of road. The skies continued to darken and peals of thunder were added to clue the clueless. I was on the gravel road when the skies dumped. Just b4 the deluge I stopped under and oak tree and put on my rain jacket. I finished the last maybe 25 mins pedaling a wet gravel road.
The rain all but quit just b4 the van. Remember the towel and open vent? The towel was holding 115% relative humidity and a large wet spot was on the carpet under the open vent. And I was wet, sopping wet. And excess moisture was outside. What will really dry out?
The ride beat me. You want tough, ride Michaux.
I packed up and headed to Rayestown, PA to ride Allegrippis that friend Todd built.
Time out….
Family events are on tap. Maybe more later.
Allegrippis was fun. The machine cut trails are weathering in.