Yesterday was my ortho DR exam. Xrays were taken and knee wiggling followed. Determination is there is swelling in my knee which causes the pain. No structural repairable damage. I was given home treatment that I have been following. DR said reduce the stress level, like climbs. I am moving to PA where the riding is less hills but more rock gardens. DR said course of treatment will be to see if swelling and pain go away in a few weeks. If still present perhaps a cortisone shot. If pain still persists then an MRI. I’m down w/ that.
So I headed N out of Harrisonburg up rt 11. Forecast called for possible severe t-storms that I experienced driving North. Short lived. Tim suggested a camping spot. I found the road then took an early an early instead of shopping. Quiet night in the forest. This AM while doing dishes I looked out the windshield and saw a black bear about 50′ away. I grabbed the big camera to take pics but the camera didn’t turn on: dead battery. I know i watched it amble thru the forest not displaying interest in me. I continued on my way.
Sunday I rerode Lookout Mtn making all the correct turns. The rock gardens were where they grow. I did better at keeping my head up and pedaling over them. There are man made paved gardens which are easier to ride than the natural random distribution of nature’s rocks and are harder to ride. I still walked several spots.
Nature as appears:
Trail finishes by crossing the river on a suspension bridge that is a bike too wide
Back @ TH I visited w/ a man & woman ultra endurance trail runners, 100 miler kind. We encountered each other on the trail: I pedaling up and then running down. We all stopped and said for the other to continue. I deferred to the runners / hikers but they told me to continue uphill. I said I needed a breather. I learned from them that they were seeking a breather also. I told them about my smiley face number plate and offered one, he accepted readily.
I ran out of water in my sink tank. I planned to drive to Briery Branch store to fill up. I drove over to Stokesville to see if Chris was there. He wasn’t. I saw signs of a store in the community. I checked it out. It is a store and I was given permission to help myself to water. After filling I walked into the store to put some $ in his cash drawer. What a beer selection he has. He talked to me about his stock. Amazing to see so many craft beers way out here in the toolies. Shrimper made a name recognition for himself here as he spent days working on both Lookout and Narrowback mtn trails.
I decided to find a camp spot along Tillman road instead of back @ TH. I rode by the sites previously. I found 1 and pulled in not down by a river but a small stream. No internet service. I cleaned myself w/ a solar shower.
Monday I rerode Narrowback mtn trail. This is about the easiest trail in the Hburg locale in the forest. There are several pieces of machine built trail to solve sustainabilty issues which make the trail easier to ride. A new section is a series of machine built switchbacks.
Knapweed in Virginia!
I spent Monday night @ same spot.
Tuesday I headed back into Harrisonburg for the DR appointment. The results will determine my next plan. I visited a bakery for a treat. I sat outside near a young woman reading and writing. I commented on her effort which started a conversation. She a serious believer of Christianity and me the opposite.
Next stop is Winchester then on to Gettysburg and rocky Michaux.