Tonight @ Black Rock State Park above Clayton, GA, camped @ 3245′. Temp here was 10 degrees cooler than down below. A series of T-storms have battered the camp ground environs, a middle 1 was so intense dropping hail and more than buckets, flash flooding. I stayed hunkered inside my van, only after the 3rd storm passed did I venture outside learning a sweater was needed did I see the flash flood clearing of leaves in the side ditches. What a doozy. I have electric at the site.
Yesterday I did business in Dawsonville. The PI store called and said that they would replace the shoes, I needed to return to the store. There the associate told me that the erosion of the rubber was wear (my cost) but that they would replace them as warranty. She said she was told to recommend the PI X -Alp Launch, Lopes’ designed shoe which have a better full on bottom tread. The forefoot is less stiff than the Project, my concern will be that hard riding will push the pedal cleat feeling onto my feet. She said the Project was designed for cyclecross however, PI let advertising make it a hike a bike shoe. Any way new different shoes.
I drove out to Bull Mtn TH which is near the southern terminus of the AT. Parking lot all to myself, no internet signal. I leave the XM on all day because when I turn it off I have to call XM for signal refresh. I have been camping w/ no cell coverage which means no Bob Edwards w/ breakfast. Waking me up was a heavy downpour that was coming inside the van via the open door and driver’s window. I shut myself in. Temps dropped such that I finished the night out under my light weight blanket.
Today I will ride from the van, my ride or lack of would be determined by trail condition after the hard rain and days prior. Conditions for the most part were stellar as the tread for most part is down to the hard clay underneath that sheds h20, the mud came from the low spots that the trail required to go over. Horses, softened road apples. Trails well marked and easy to follow. I loaded the mtbproject ride data, a download of the topo map, and a pic of the trail map taken @ the TH. I encountered 2 other riders startling them. I was climbing to a switchback, they coming down. They pulled over and I pedaled up. Exchanged greetings. My goal was the Jake and Bull mtns epic, 24 miles. I baled @ 14 leaving Bull alone again. Nicely made weathering in machine built trail, classic IMBA as seen by the grade reversals b4 & after switchbacks. I crossed a knee deep creek.
Pisgah ish w/ Rhododendron thickets:
Then i was back @ van, basking in results of georgia sunshine
I drove back to PI store to pick up the custom footbeds in the retuning shoes then to Dahlonega to pick up a prescription. My plan is to drive to Cleveland to shower @ an Anytime fitness then drive a bit further north towards NC and camp @ a GA state park. Picked this one, long steep climb up to a $35 camp spot. Up on the Blue Ridge. Northern GA is mountainous.
Tomorrow is Pisgah.