Sat back @ Phil’s in time for our 5:00PM post heat of the day ride on Nebo Ridge in the Hoosier NF behind his house. Maybe it was cooler. Rode in Phil’s air conditioned 65 degrees Subaru to the TH. Open the door to the riding world. Our ride took us on deteriorating dirt road to where we jumped onto the trail out to the end. Old style trail taken over from perhaps hikers, the trail ran the top of the ridge up and down, the downs were great for speed, the ups were short and gruntable. Nice time of day to be riding. 14.47 miles.
back in the air conditioned car back to Phil’s house. His wife, Allison, is working late. I offered to bachelor cook my black bean burritos and he accepted cooked and eaten at my house tempered by outside temp.
Fri night I pulled my blanket over me, felt good to sleep in 63 degrees.
Sun Phil drove us down to French Lick for our ride. Big resort & golf course. We were there for the freebies of the trail. Our 2 wheels shared the trail start w/ 4 wheel golf carts. Who had less body fat?
Another machine cut trail system consisting of 2 loops, all in leafed out broad leafed trees w/ no vistas. Short mileage but more tech than Brown County. Designer played w/ the land creatively. The trail climbed up, down, and around in a small drainage.
Our route took us by fields of corn and beans and lots of woodlands. Somewhere along the way we saw corn fields stunted by lack of rain and baked by the sun. Interesting that it wasn’t wide spread.
About 15 mins into our ride I looked down to my computer for data. Data was null as the computer was not there. Shit, fell off. I turned around and rerode out route. I found it laying face up in the middle of the trail. Karma to find it. I neglected to firmly attach it to its mount. Like I did last year on the Alpine trail in OR.
Phil and Allison continued to offer me comfort of an air conditioned bed room that I continued to decline to sleep in my outside air temp condition.
Today I bid adieu to Phil and Allison. Phil’s mom gave me a goat’s sac tomato. See the name, see the tomato.
I drove state roads to the west entrance of Brown County State Park in the Hossier national forest. I am riding by myself. My plan is to ride the same route Phil lead. trails are well signed. Choices are various loops or a big out and back that I choose that included some loops. Deserted trail except for 4 riders going the other way. Dry as seen by ridden dirt dust.
I crossed a creek back on Green Valley. I smelled dead odor. I caught motion as 2 vultures launched into the air. One returned to the creek bank. I studied what was up to discover a dead raccoon in the creek bed that the vultures were feeding on. Deep tree cover, how they spotted the carcass w/ their eyes is beyond my human sense.
Towards the end I turned the wrong way that took me back out instead of back in. I added more miles. I bailed on a fire break. Hot day, 94 degrees.
I sat parked in the shade in the park. I decided to spend the night in the XG. The registration person sent me to the furthest camp ground where the sites were in tree shade. Shade helps. 98 degrees down in Nashville 400′ below.
Tomorrow I will drive to Indy to visit Scott then prolly continue to Kettle Moraine rides. Heat is forecast to drop. I checked Spokane’s weather: day time temp was 61 degrees.
Cane Creek head set still creaks. I am seeking a King headset.
It is definitely cooler here. Are you headed this direction?
Passed you on I-465 yesterday right outside of Indy – I was in the passenger seat of a black Nissan pickup and gave you the thumbs up. I’d read an article or two on your travels a while ago and wondered if you were still on the road.
I’m visiting friends in Indy and was on my way to check out a used bike and lo and behold a green Sprinter van covered in stickers/sponsors comes into site ahead of us. With some bikes on back… It looked familiar, I wondered where I’d seen it. Then I figured it out when I saw your photo on the side and you driving. Bam! Pretty darn cool. Wish my bike wasn’t currently in the shop for warranty repairs otherwise I would’ve bugged you to let me tag along on a ride. Good luck on your travels and perhaps our paths will cross again – hopefully when my bike isn’t snapped in half.