What’s up: I posted the below today, Tues. I will add more stuff today.

 

All alone and no internet. Will type this in Word then paste to the blog later.

Continuing to enjoy wonderful fall albeit very warm temps for the time. The days of heat don’t etch into my memory, it is what it is. But this morn when I checked the temp hit 31 degrees when I awoke to the dying throb of the furnace. The furnace has 2 distinct running sounds: when the control tells it to start the first sound is the blower which runs maybe 30 secs. Next is an ignite sound then the furnace starts and runs which is a different sound. Chilly last night, I covered the driver’s window and the windshield to create dead air. I was under tree cover. About 6:30 I heard the furnace blower turn on, I lay under the covers waiting for the ignite. Didn’t happen. Red light on the panel turned on indicating failure. Shit. Not good. I opened the stove cover and turned on a burner and stuck the lighter at the burner. Nothing. OK, problem is I just ran out of propane. I was still warm from last furnace burn. My camp spot was way up a mountain road above Unicoi, TN on a dead end logging road backed into a pull out. Lumpy bumpy getting into the spot. This morn I was faced w/ turning around in the dark. I waited till light was starting to show then 4 point turned around. The drive was downhill dropping about 1,500’. Going down does not generate engine heat to make hot air. Once down and on the pavement the engine warmed up and produced heat. Right in Unicoi there is a hardware store with propane refill service. I looked at the front of the store to learn of their Sunday hours. No sign. I googled then to learn they are closed on Sunday. OK. Next move is to drive back to Johnson City, TN. In town I drove past a Perkins pancake, a Uhaul store that posted a sign saying propane. Opens at 9:00. It is like 8:05. Tractor Supply further along also opened at 9. I was hungry. I drove back to Perkins for a big bfast and passed time till 9 then I drove to the nearby U-Haul and bought propane.

There, that’s how my day started. An issue arose and I dealt with it.

Sufficiently fueled up I drove up then down to Asheville, NC and on to Bent Creek ride location. I arrived about 10:30 to overflowing parking lots. Beautiful Sunday AM and the public was out enjoying what we pay for. I scored a parking space.

My first year here I tried Bent Creek but was confused by all the trails, maybe unsigned. Today I had MTBP and a sunny day. Chilly, I wore a long sleeve wool underwear top. I fired up the MTBP on my smartphone placed on the carrier on the handlebar. Loop ride was sort of a cherry stem. I had trouble comprehending the direction arrows. What I rode were mostly old logging roads. Beatup but single track. Beautiful day. Lots of riders. None of them really yielded to me pedaling uphill. Don’t ride a popular place on a beautiful sunny day.

From Bent Creek I drove down to Brevard. My plan was to pay for a spot at FS XG. I turned onto the Davidson River road that goes past the XG then up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Traffic was backed up maybe a half mile being held up by stoplight where I just turned. No way was I going to put up being stuck in that back up. I continued past the XG then turned up Avery Creek road which has several dispersed camp spots. My first year I stayed out this way. I found my past spot empty then dropped anchor. No alcohol is allowed on this road per FS. Closest to town fee camping must have contributed to past misbehavior.

Beautiful sunny afternoon. I walked up the creek road planning on checking out past beaver tree cutting. But then the trail junction to Daniel ridge appeared on my left. I hiked up the trail for a ways, I climbed almost 500’ when I turned around. On the way down I studied the lines ridden in. Almost at the bottom a couple rode by. I was able to get off the trail before the guy went by. We greeted each other. Short a woman went by. I made the road then turned back to my spot. The two riders were at the white Sprinter parked alongside the road. Shawn remembered meeting me in Sedona. The woman just started working at I9. We chatted about living on the road etc till I became too chilled then walked back to my van. They had I9 wheelsets.

I9, formally Industry 9, in Asheville, makes great hubs, the free wheel because of the 3 degrees of engagement make a loud distinct sound. You just know it is an I9 hub. Locally this is the most commonly heard freewheel. My wheels are at home. OK friends Steve in Sun Valley and Phil in Indiana ride I9 hubs.

Rain fell into the morning of the 23^rd when I was camped above Damascus, VA. My ride plan of Iron Mountain was rained out. Route 58 followed a drainage down hill, twisting and winding. Fallen leaves rain soaked paved the road. I was concerned for slipperiness in the corners, made for a slow drive. The AT uses a part of Main street. No hikers around today. I enjoyed a coffee and roll at a café.

I have been doing the research, drive, ride, attend to living matters, find a camp spot, and sleep. I need internet for some data. MTBP and a road Atlas provide data.

I considered a round about way to get to Kerr Scott near Boone,VA. I googled the trail and learned that everything was closed except for hunting. Scratch that location. Next I found a ride at Sugar Hollow SP right near Bristol, VA. I drove into the XG and paid $18 for an electric site and a hot shower. I geared up again using MTBP. Small area with lots of user created trails in addition to the ones on MTBP. Between MTBP and my phone the data gets screwy. The high density of trails caused confusion. I did get a ride in. And a hot shower. Rooty trails.

Yesterday I drove into TN to ride Warriors Path, another MTBP trail. This trail network is on 150 acres, lots of miles crammed in. However there were no user created trails and the intersections were marked.

First time I’ve seen this:

Here in the Pisgah the wooly adelgids(sp) have killed their host tree, hemlock, which prefers wet locations. The trees here have been dead long enough for fungus to grow on the tree trunks. Sometime in the future these trees will start falling which will be dangerous.

Heather has invited me to her wedding this Sat. I will stay here for that.

My mail in ballot has not hit my mail box yet. I will prolly stay here to receive it before heading out. I now have 17 days to make Bentonville with still other places to visit and ride.

New news:

My ballot hit my mailbox yesterday. Today I ordered my mail to be shipped 2 day to Brevard to arrive before i leave allowing me to vote.

Yesterday I made the rounds of Sycamore Cycle and The Hub bike shops in Brevard.

Beautiful too warm day I enjoyed during my ride out at DuPont SF following a MTBP track that turned out to use miles of abandoned double track w/ pieces of single track mixed in. The track solved my route finding.

Patches of rhododendrons. Deep tree cover blocks viewsheds, seeing tree trunks is the normal view.

Good grunt of a ride. Garmin gps tracking continues to under record the time and distance covered as compared to my wheel computer.

The bike shops are actually in Pisgah Forest not Brevard which is just down the road a piece.

I visited the Hub at their new owner built new store. I enjoyed 2 recovery drinks at the bar. I made arrangements to have the Raceface Turbine post to be installed today. I bought the Absolute Black 32T oval chain ring that friend Steve speaks well of.

Yesterday Cashion and Eva of the bike farm invited me out and gave me a place to sleep. Great people who have their gig on. Their business is selling camp spots, guiding, and skills training. The are on 400 acres contiguous with the Pisgah NF. We sat around last night visiting and learning. The Bike Farm started a weekly Farm ride to bring in riders from the bike shop posses, the idea worked for a while then riders went back to their posses. Their business is succeeding. They gave me the furthest out empty camp spot. What a gravel road climb it was for the van. Outdoor shower in the dark. I used my headlamp hung on a hook for light. Open roof. Hard to turn the hot water off to dry off.

Today I am at the Hub in town typing this. Side door is opened. A red pickup starts pulling in beside me: It’s Shrimper. So great to connect with him. He broke only 1 leg very badly 2 years ago and is now back on both legs.

Raceface Turbine saga continues: When the original post failed I cut the cable to remove thru the stealth hole in the frame. I put the cable with the dropper lever and the attachment hardware in the box and shipped the shooting match to the repair shop. The replacement post finally caught up to me. I made install appointment at the Hub. Today we opened the box to check the lever out. WTF: only the post is in the box. No hardware. WTF.

So that’s where I am. Beautiful day. Avoiding writing this as I visited w/ Shrimper.

This weekend is the Pisgah Mtn Bike festival co put on by the Bike Farm and Oscar Blues. Costs too much $ just to get into the venue,

Going for a ride.

 

 

 

Fall continues to put the color in the forests. Just magnificent beauty.

I drove down to Ohiopyle. The forecast called for rain after like 1PM which would have been tight to finish a ride. Rain started during bfast and kept at it. I still drove down to Ohiopyle on the banks of the Yough. I found the laundromat which was not the one I saw on line which must have shown on a YP search and I didn’t notice that it wasn’t the town wash tub. Top loading washers but I had the machines to myself. I did a walking tour of the town letting rain moisten my wool sweater. Not even a coffee shop.

Folded and put away dry clothes and the riding wet clothes hung on my indoor clothes line I climbed back out of the valley heading east and south to Maryland and Deep Creek SP. Rain all day. At the SP I paid $30 for an electric site that I didn’t need and the state does not give senior discount. The weather forecast called for clearing skies late afternoon. And the forecast was accurate as the clouds parted ceasing rainfall.

Friday morn the skies were blue. I rode from campsite using gps tracks for a loop ride.

The tread is over sandstone which drains well, little evidence of rain, here it was just rooty and rocky, not slimy. Some pieces were machine built. Short ride. I made it back to camp before checkout which allowed me a shower. Hot water and a heated shower room.

I was planning on driving to VA thru Maryland until I looked at the road map to learn Davis, WVA was just a short drive away. Such a pretty sunny day driving back road state highway to Davis. This would be my 3rd visit here. I checked in at Blackwater Bike to learn that it was now owned by a different guy, Rod, who is much nicer than the former owner. During the conversation i learned  about the Funduro sponsored by DirtRag mag back up near Morgantown, WVA. A weekend hanging with a bunch of mtn bikers. I changed my plans to leave on Sat for the Funduro.

At Davis I drove back to check on camp spots I remembered, they were all occupied. Back up plan was Blackwater SP outside of town. $18 senior discount for a non electric site. When I checked in I learned there were 27 open sites to choose from. I picked 63 and hung my registration card on the post and drove away. Benefit of paying for a site was I knew that I would have a place to camp for the night. Camp fee was peace of mind.

I drove back to town just sighing from the fall beauty.

Alternative energy powered by wind abound

I drove back to town.

A new brew pub opened, Stumptown, there logo is a sawn tree stump. Place was full of mostly visitors. I enjoyed their beer. I walked a half a block to Hellbender burrito restaurant. It was WVA cooking. Hellbender is a giant salamander, the wifi password is OtterSnot which is a nickname. Back again to beer pub for a night cap then drove back to XG which is now completely filled.

Sat AM I drove back into MD to go north then west back into WVA on county roads to Big Bear resort, 5000 acres of private land that one of the owners has built many miles of hand built and or leave blower made trails. The trails here were rooty, rocky, and slimy, nasty shit

The itinerary listed an intermediate group ride at 1 that I joined. I wanted to rub elbows with unknown riders and benefit from a local guide. Way too many riders and rider ability difference. I was there to enjoy which I did. I rode behind several groms who really put a  charge on. Several hundred people were in attendance. Thanks DirtRag for sponsoring a non competitive event.

Sue Haywood offered her teaching skills, I participated in the men’s log clinic to the log height that I was comfortable with as I have such a fear of hurting my shoulder. Credit to Sue that when a woman tried to join she xnayed her.

A band played for hours. 3 beer taps were set up that ran dry. I noticed that most people stayed at their campsites with their group instead of mingling like I do. I met the property owner and chatted about his place.

2 riders from previous location rides found me and I remembered them. One was from a Davis ride and the other from the Michaux. Chris whom I remet in Sedona this winter attended.

Sunday I set out to ride the race course marked by yellow blazes and also a gps track. Nasty sections for a single track race.

In time i lost the race course giving in to just riding. I arrived at a TH that was at the bottom of the property unsure of where I was and how to get back to the venue. I spied a rider at the TH who provided navigation assistance. He offered a map but I declined saying I had MTBP. I could have used the map for a more direct route.

Back at the venue I took and outdoor shower and washed mud off my bike. Mark, the owner, drove up and we chatted more about his trails and users. He said that cross country race events are drawing fewer and fewer racers every year. 2976′ elevation.

I broke free and drove back to Davis. Lots and lots of big ups and downs. The van’s transmission is having issues that concern me, I just say sweet things to reward its performance. I stopped for a late afternoon beer and visited w/ a local who was on the same Sat ride I was on. He said that in the early days he rode in the Davis trails on his dirt bike that are now closed to motorized travel.

For camping I drove out of the valley then back on a FS rd and found a wide spot to park. Towards sundown many rigs drove out of the forest by me.

Yesterday my plan was to drive to Harrisonburg. While eating a piece of toast at bfast I sensed something hard that didn’t belong. I spit out the soggy mess and discovered a piece of tooth. SHIT. I waited for the root pain to hit…… but nothing happened. I kept the piece of tooth. Now I have a more immediate issue. More hilly and twisty driving out of WVA then the climb up to the state line with VA then dropped down into the Shenandoah Valley. More spectacular scenery.

I made Shenandoah Bicycle Company, Tim’s shop. We chatted. I asked him about a dentist. Later one of his guys suggested one where one of the previous staff people worked. I called and scored an afternoon appointment. I showed the piece of tooth that was actually a crown which broke free. Unfortunately it could not be just recemented on. We kicked around alternatives. The long term fix is a post and new crown. Or just put a patch over the exposed root and have it attended to in Sedona where time would not be an issue. The front staff worked magic and freed up an 8AM appointment today. i asked if i could sleep in their lot, yes it was granted. No dental insurance, bill came to $1629 to save a tooth.

The parking lot has a slant to it such that I was not able to level the van out, I slept with my head uphill. Very warm night followed the 82 degree day. What’s with summer high temps on October 17?

I woke early this AM to have bfast and clean up before my appointment. About 7 rigs began pulling into the lot. Office has 11 staff. The tooth had a root canal so it was dead, still Novocaine was injected into my gums. The dentist is just out of school. He drilled a hole in the root and cemented a post that will hold the to be made in house crown. Going to be out of here this afternoon with a new tooth.

Driving Ohio roads many trump yard signs were planted. PA, MD, WVA, and VA lack the proliferation, maybe that says something about the people. This trump thing is scary and has the makings of continuing after his election loss. How to put the country back together remains to be figured out. He will not go away nor will his base.

So, plan this after is to drive to Stokesville out in the country for the night hen ride out there then head to Brevard, NC where I must use the restroom of the sex on my birth certificate. I have 22 days to get to Bentonville.

I speak highly of these Appalachian mtn trails. They are a handful to ride.

My KS LEV post was fixed using some lube to free up the mechanism. My Replacement Raceface Turbine arrive at SBC yesterday. My blood test strips didn’t make it as the rep chose to expedite delivery by UPS to the USPS which doesn’t work. They have a hard time understanding General Delivery to the city, state and zip code which is all that is required.

I’m still int he dentist parking lot waiting for the finished crown call.

Tuesday fog lay on the lake surface.

At first light the lake was obscured.

Drive today was into PA and Raccoon State Park. I found the TH. Chilly. I waited for more sun, finally I put on a long underwear top for warmth. I swung over the top tube and pedaled across the highway to the start of a trail. I read the part that said the name of the trail. Upon return I read the entire sign. I pedaled uphill on a slightly used trail which made a road crossing up the way. Another sign, this time I read the entire thing: Hikers only, all other users not permitted. WTF? TrailForks showed this as a ride. I jumped on the road which headed downhill for a monster coast. I dreaded pedaling back up the grade. I followed signs to the park office. I walked in and asked what’s up. I learned that just a few miles are open to bikes and are shared by horses. Enough. Cursed is the follower. I gave up on the ride.  I pedaled the mostly flat road back to the van. I loaded the bike back on and changed my clothes. My bike clothes weren’t sweated wet to be used the next ride.

I chose a route south of Pittsburgh to avoid the traffic and to find country rides. Next was Forbes SF above Uniontown, PA. I drove into said town and searched for a grocery store. As I was leaving the store w/ my goodies a store manager approached me and asked about my van. we chatted in the store as he shared some ride tales. I sat in the parking lot researching a ride and a place to stay. Camping permit is required to camp on state forest land. I called an office number at 4:30. It never stopped ringing. I went on line and filled out a permit for a camp spot near Quebec run for my next ride. Big road climb out of town then more climbing up on Skyline ridge. The road stayed on the ridge up and down. I followed directions to a permitted first come first camped spot. I fixed dinner and cleaned up. Mariners season is complete which eliminates a distraction. Closed door but no heater.

Sunrise is like 7:31 but I am under tree cover and below the east skyline. Makes for staying in bed longer. French toast for breakfast. I need to get coffee tomorrow.

I drove some more ridge line to the empty Tebolt TH. I’m at about 2,700′, the highest since Spearfish, SD like 3 weeks ago. Just saying. I found the ride on MTBP Clockwise Quebec which is to be a good introduction to this area’s riding. Ride data is 11.3 miles and 1667′ climbing. I could chose to link cross trails to add more miles. Option. Appalachian Mountain riding: narrow trail corridor hemmed in by rhodies and laurel with occasional rock gardens to get over.

Fallen leaves covered past bike tracks, I sought the corridor. I was stymied by several nasty rock gardens as were several scramble hills. So pretty under the canopy.

That’s pretty much what I saw. Many streams. Would have liked to backpack thru here.

On a short straight section I noticed an animal running away from me. It was a bobcat. Phil it was smaller that what I remember crossing the road in front of us.

I record my ride data using a garmin edge 25, a wheel computer, and backcountry navigator on my smart phone. The garmin recorded 7.86, the wheel was 11.9, and BCN was 11.4. Deep tree cover affects the garmin even though it appears that the entire ride was recorded meaning no straight lines for dropped signal. Chunky riding. Didn’t see another person.

Several big commercial windmills were located on the ridge, one withing earshot of the TH. The vanes make a sound as the wind pushes them around. Amazing speed for a light breeze.

I now have abdominal pain to go along with the loose stool, so bad today that I sought med help back down in Utown. Urgent care DR said Xrays indicated partial bowel obstruction and needed to be cleaned out. Laxative. I’ll give it a go.

I needed propane while in town. I googled propane and selected the yp lead. I called the listed stations. Several were non working numbers, several said they did not. I tried Uhaul which sometimes pumps propane. The woman said no. I asked for suggestion, she said Tractor Supply. Nuts, they are in the same parking lot I’m in while outside Anytime after a shower. Score.

Plan now was to drive to Ohiopyle on the Youghiogheny river for tomorrow’s ride. Twisty up and down narrow roads into Ohiopyle state park. I drove to the XG and picked a site. You register at the closed office picking an open site without seeing it. No camp map. I picked 9. I found the spot by wandering. Not level. I moved to number 8 and used leveling blocks to correct the slope. Water fountain nearby. Turned off and my tank is running dry.

My van is really struggling on the climbs. 5th gear lacks punch. I push the pedal down far enough and the trans drops to 4 and strains. The trans jump between 1st and second is getting harsher and the rattle persists. I should be showing the van some medical attention at some settle down place.

Forecast for tomorrow calls for showers. I will drive up then down to Ohiopyle to a favorably reviewed laundromat. If rain is not a factor I will ride here.

I need to be in Bentonville, AR on 11/10. Time is moving along a day at a time. I am abandoning my State College visit which is further east and north. My next big stop will be Harrisonburg, VA.

My Raceface dropper arrived at Gonzo’s shop I learned when I called. Tad will ship it when he makes a UPS drop off spot. I called Shenandoah Bike in Harrisonburg to ask permission to send stuff to. Greased. My HR chest transmitter failed. I ordered a new one to be shipped to SBC.

I like to drive the back state highways. Here in PA the roads are prolly min width w/ no shoulders. The houses are built right to the road. Houses were not located to distance themselves from the  unexpected traffic.