After closing the previous post I drove over to the south side of Du Pont on Cornmill Shoals rd and namesake TH. This ride will take me across Little River. Clouds were giving way to smatterings of blue sky. Followed an MTBProject loop to solve route picking. Rode Burnt mtn, I am still unwilling to roll the drop or roll steep piece. A misread of the digital data caused me to reride a piece to get back on route. Came to Little River crossing. Friend Tom who is a trout fisherman told me to wear wool socks when crossing underwater slippery rocks. I carried a pair. At the crossing I removed my bike shoes and socks then slipped on the wool socks. Worked like a charm, no slithers. I watched several riders cross anticipating a slippery out but they all crossed upright.
As i neared an intersection a large group of guys were completing a downhill and they were celebrating their great time. One guy exclaimed he had lost his phone. Several riders pedaled back up followed by me. My speed was faster as his phone was his problem. I found his phone which was on vibrate only. I called back down my finding. Phone back in the guy’s hands.
Route picked up trail from other ride. MTBP on a small screen provides info but is hard to see big scale. Also the direction arrow requires me putting on glasses. I misread the direction it points. I bought a new holder which snugly holds my phone on my right side handlebar. I also carried the map. I finally gave up trying to read the small screen and switched to the map and replanned my route. I would have been directed up Cedar Rock anyway. Climb had patches of bare rock
Then the descent. Sure enjoy my suspension as the tread has many roots and drops. Back at the van for a 15.5 mile rdie climbing 2238′ in 2hr 24mins.
Note on my door from Gary who used to be a wrench at Dirty Finger at Hood River. Ran into him as he was leaving at the Hub.
Stayed for a beer then drove into Brevard to Irish Pub again hoping that the Coug game would be shown. No luck. I watched first half of the OSU game and part of the baseball game while watching my phone coverage of the Coug game. Quite diverted. Spent night in parking lot.
days prior Shrimper and I connected. Lingered at the Hub after hours. He said he would pull together a ride at PantherTown where he took me 4 years ago. Sunday meet at 9:30 out of town.2 other guys joined. Drove twisty narrow no shoulder roads up to TH at 4,000′. These trails are not your grandmother’s. Not as bad as my Pisgah ride. Deep tree cover mixed in with rhodie tunnels and water crossings.
Colors were more pronounced up high. We lingered at several vistas.
Map names this Blue Ridge mtns.
Leisurely pace pedaling 9.58 miles climbing 1706′. My shoes are wet.
This area is very pretty to me with the dense vegetation, water, rooty trails. You who have never been here for whatever reason is OK. Just saying riding here in the Brevard area is worth putting it on your bucket list then coming to ride here.
This Sat late afternoon parking lot
Anyway, it is Sunday Eve. Tomorrow AM I drove back towards Asheville to a service garage for an oil change. Wed eve I have been invited to join the Wednesday evening drinking club for a ride across the state line in SC. Figure on leaving here on Thurs heading west. Need to plan that route.
Frost warning tonight. Furnace is running.
On Thurs I ran into Logan and Virginia of Pedaling Nowhere. I spent the night at their house. We spent quite some time discussing shared views of the current state of affairs. Nicely decorated house.
Friday was the DR day. He approved a new med however insurance has it held up. Costs like $875 for a month without insurance.