Tuesday I received a special handshake as Loren opened his city plot for the night. Dave and Mikell joined. Late night stay up standing around a hard wood fire that for the most part did not smoke. I slept late Wed morn. I fixed bfast and cleaned up, Dave delivered a vegie omelet. Thanks Dave.
I bid adieu headed for the Upper Buffalo IMBA epic to the SE of Bentonville. I followed the MTBP TH location and ride from Knuckles Creek TH. I geared up and started out later than I would have liked as sundown is dark shortly after 5 and the ride was long and slow. New Ardent on the front and the Raceface Turbine dropper post under me. The post is still a nut slapper.
The route took me past the lookout tower where I stayed 2 years ago getting rained on. The fall colors are brown dead on almost all the trees. The streams are dry. This is a disastrous ecological crash as all the life in the streams is dead. When the water flows again what will repopulate? The tread is paved in leaves hiding the limestone loose rocks. Pretty fall woods riding.
I push myself way hard. Today I motored trying to stay ahead of the clock and setting sun. I ran short of time to complete the full epic. I hit the big trail heading up Buffalo creek to the road ride back beating darkness which would have caught me still in the woods. I carry a rescue headlamp in my hydration pack in case, just in case but I plan on not having to use it.
Spent the night at the TH. A hunters’ camp was a short distance away but not out of earshot as I listened to their generator.
I finished Grisham’s The Whistler last night.
Warm night last night.
This morning I drove from Red Star to near Mountain View camping at Syllamore XG, $5 for a camp spot in a deserted campground and no line for a hot shower. I saw 78 degrees on the van meter. I am still wearing these Bedrock sandals now for 2 months. This is November, a week away from T day.
What a up and down twisty drive it was today. The route dropped me down and back up crossing the Buffalo 2X. Very eroded creating steep hill sides, the roads stay on the ridge which create the driving challenges.
Obama Obama Word capitalizes the “o”. When I upgrade windows will the “t” be automatically capitalized?
Sitting in the dark empty campground with the door opened. Rustling leaves call out activity, thinking raccoon. I poured my dish water in the camp fire ring which erupted in a cloud of steam, a bed of coals. Last night’s campers left their fire still alive. I am surprised with such dryness no fires would be allowed.
Friday stuff:
Clouds moved in over night trapping the heat and boding for potential rain. I heard distant thunder. A camper returned to the XG so I asked her if she heard a forecast: yes, rain and T storms in the afternoon. My plan wast o get the dry trails,return fora shower and head out. I did change out my windbreaker for the rain coat. I pedaled from the XG and climbed up to Jacks branch loop. Trail receives hardly any travel as indicated by the leaf fall and the quantity of loose limestone rock that would have been rolled away. I connected to Jacks which is a main loop. Green thorn vines extended into the scant trail corridor. My arms are deeply incised by several vines, my forearms ran literally blood red. Rain started falling. I bailed heading back into the brambles again. This time my right arm caught the thorns making a bloody mess that the rain washed away.
Back at the van under the falling rain Is tripped off my wet clothes. I scored another hot shower in the XG before heading out still raining. A ford is made in the creek, the sign warns of flash floods which seeings how no rain has fallen in days and the stream beds are dry, little likelihood.
I drove about 15 miles backwards to Gravity Brew pub and opened the pub 10 mins after opening. I needed a place to hang out. I drank a beer. Rain quit for the drive into Mountain View and internet. Sun is now shining as the temp drops to freeze warnings tonight. This county is dry.
I called the ranger station to learn of trails that have been brushed, Scrappy was not one of them for tomorrow’s ride. I’ll ride here again tomorrow during rifle season. I need to buy some orange for the ride.
I stopped in Harrison, AR to do my wash. I have since lost a pair of under shorts and a sock. I did find my missing tooth crown but not where I would have suspected it to be.
Gotta go to find a camp spot before dark.
Drove up Green mtn road to this just off the road sleep spot. Have 2 bar 4G service. Freeze warning tonight and it is working towards it. Rain clouds moved on
I bought my own orange safety vest that I will keep for the rest of the hunting season.
The town of Calico Rock is the next town north from here. Grisham wrote Calico Joe, a superstar baseball player from namesake town.
Zags are playing and I just get home town announcers on XM. Go Matt.