Pisgah

Right now Sat AM after Wait Wait show siting in my van at the Hub parking lot with light drizzle wetting the windshield, however the forecast wants sunny afternoon. Yesterday was a sunny day. Hope for more of the same later today for a ride.

So from where have I been?

Doing my thumbnails while creating this.

Monday I drove away from the street side sleep spot in VA heading south thru TN. My attention to navigation was as poor as usual as my recollection of the map was head south on a controlled access highway to join an interstate. I started on the wrong interstate. After awhile the names of the distant cities on the road signs did not match where I intended to be. Pulled off and went to google maps to seek redirection. Sent me down a US highway twisting and winding thru hilly remote countryside, way more enjoyable than the preferred route would have been. twisty windy up and down and no espresso service.

My destination was Unicoi, TN to do a short up and down ride on Pinnacle peak. Finally arrived at TH. familiar location as  2 years ago I was in the area on the other side of the valley way back up in the forest for a sleep spot. That night I ran out of propane and resupply memory came back. I didn’t ride that time. This time I had propane and time of day for this 4.9 mile uphill pedal to the tower then zoom back down with gravity as my friend. I did use the 46T leg saver. Hardwood forest cover. At the top a tower has been erected which extends above tree top for vista.

view east from tower

58 mins to climb 1456′ in that 4.9 miles with smiling 24 mins to mostly coast down.

Rode in another state.

Next was letting google take over from the start and paying attention to Brevard, NC. All controlled access highway. Letting google direct me around Asheville eliminated stress of understanding the confusing highways. It was after dark by the time i made Brevard. Ate unhealthy dinner at an Irish pub then drove back to the Hub bike shop to sleep in their large gravel parking lot. I thought the lot size was overkill. However, by mid morning it was almost full. Amazing how many riders journey here.

Lots of rain falls here. I read on a weather web site that 77′ of rain has fallen here this year. I wanted an introduction ride here so I chose lower Black Mtn loop just out of town. geared up and headed up the trail dealing with just several small mud puddles. The trail was dry. Climbed up Thrift Cove traversing over to intersect with lower Black that was rehabbed several years ago by among others Shrimper. Trail used the old logging road but was reconfigured with curves and features. It’s a screamer as a rider overtaking me at warp speed.

upper meets lower black mtn

Wet, drainages make hospitable  environment for rhodie thickets. Trail is well ridden in.

typical

Short ride.

At the bottom I hung around. A car with 2 riders arrived which created a conversation moment. Guys from FL who are bike park riders, not this serious backwoods riding. They were planning on big Black Mtn loop with rain forecast. Simply put they had not paid dues to have learned anything. They took off and I headed back into town. later a real gulley washer fell and all I could think about was those 2 guys up in the thick of it w/o protective clothing. What kind of story would they tell should I run into them?

That night I chose to sleep at a FS XG right out of town. Scored the last open spot. Senior pass slashes fees by 50%, low enough to justify booking 2 nights. More rain during the night.

On Wed forecast called for clearing in the PM, encouragement to ride Du Pont State forest. Used MTB project to followed a loop ride. Out there mostly by myself. Mix of old legacy “trails” and new purpose built sustainable trails.

du pont, little color
what it mostly is

Wet. At every creek crossing rocks had been placed for dry feet crossing except the creeks ran fuller, my shoes did get wet. Fortunately this crossing was stepping stones.

F

Finale was purpose built Ridgeline descent. Put a smile on my face.

Drove back to The Hub, home of Pisgah tavern. Place gets packed. Arrived just before closing time of 6PM.

Okay, enough for now, nail polish is dried and the ride time is getting near as the forecast is for a sunny afternoon.

 

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