Still in dalton, ga No internet access out in forest, stayed @ same point. Nights getting warmer, no heater.

Bfast. Plan is to drive to start of Snake Gap, ride it, get a shower, & join festivities @ Trade center at race start.

Found TH, parked @ the old 4 car TH lot. Couldn’t believe how all the racers could possibly start from here. Short way in a fallen tree blocked the trail. Whow, need to be cleared b4 race. Short ways on @ intersection the real trail picked up. Lots of climbing and some seep creek crossings, not much technical but enjoyable. 2 riders approached, 1 was celebrating his 40th bday. Route was marked for the race as I hoped so I just followed arrows instead of trying to understand a small b & w photo copy. About 14 miles of ST.

Dropped onto rt `136 & pedaled 10 miles on secondary roads, got to see rural life as they practice it. Lots of old w/ some garish big mc mansions.

Found van. Getting ready to leave and 3 riders were gearing up. They were connected to club, several were fulfilling a race role tomorrow.

The new chain & cluster didn’t play well w/ my chain rings that are worn, needing replacing. Didn’t pay attention. Drive to Bear Creek but no rings. Shane ordered them for maybe Tues. People hanging out in store, lively people. Shane has a 3 person couch, 2 stuffed chairs, & coffee table w/ mags. Place to hang comfortably. Tracy & Jeff are to be sweepers for the first section. I asked in general about shine and I was told that new shipment just arrived and maybe it would be @ race.

Putzed around in shop. Worked on bike. Shane knows the owner of a nearby health club where I was hoping to score a shower. Drove out, owner was not present to leverage Shanes school buddy relationship. Woman sstaff person couldn’t get her mind around my wanting to buy a shower. She said showers are only for members. I asked how much a day membership was, she said $8.00. I gave her $10. She started doing something on her computer and she said, go ahead and take one for free. I did tell her about my odessey. Another staff person was at the counter listening which was propitious but I did not know it.

Stopped @ Krogers for 1 person salad & drove up to Trade Center for pre race party. Short story, met and conversed w/ maybe 20 people, introductions all round, sharing of info. I told my story to the campfire amid some prolific imbibing. Parked right @ edge of mix. Hit bed @ 11:00 w/ music played loudly. @ 12:00 it turned off. (Big right leg hamstring cramp). decided before falling to sleep that i will sweep the entire course instead of the second part, Snake gap to Dug Gap, the real technical section. realized that a potential calling is riding sweep @ races.

Up @ 7:00 & already people were getting race ready. Last night I met Bruce who calls mtn bike races. He knows Bruce from Pisgah Works. He used the PA to tell about me.

All bikes were loaded into trailers grouped by 34 or 17 mile race. The Turner was nestled among all the bikes w/ numbers on them.

Tracy, Jeff, Jubal, & myself were the sweepers for the first section where they would bail, leaving me to continue. Just after the start a racer tore a sidewall so we watched & waited for a good sportsman racer was helping stuff in a boot in the tire. racer was overweight and riding the long course which meant that I could keep up w/ him and the other sweepers would not have to sweep me but he dropped out @ Snake Gap @ start of 2nd section, start of the shorter 17 mile course. Our only problem was with Jubal’s hod podge drive train. His derailleur hanger separated rendering his shifting a single speed just to get out. Tracy was the wrench behind the fix. I saved the day when in my micro tool bag I had a Shimano chain pin. He was going to be pushing the hills. Shortly after he bent his chain ring rendering his bike unpedalable, he hiked it to road crossing about 1.4 miles away.

Jubal’s gone and Tracy gets into it. Jeff is just behind him & I puffed behind. Jeff & Tracy are maybe in their e 40s. We stop several times to blow. Up down, flat, finally the big swooping drop to road.

Jeff & Tracy leave me w/ Carl, 25 yo riding a big hit bike as my sweeper companion. Last rider went by about 20 minutes we were told. No starts the more technical section. I was hoping I could ride stuff a second time and make the places I walked previously. Not so. Early on my quads were starting to tell me I should have rested yesterday. My legs are getting edgey early on, Snake gap is not where I wanted to cramp up. Carl could ride faster downhill and I climbed a bit stronger until my legs started sending cramp warnings and I backed off. My stomach was queasy also. I carried 100 ozs in big camelback & h2o bottle w/ electrolytes, plus pill form electrolytes and cold scratch made pancakes. Didn’t run out of h2o or food but shallowest hill and some of the tricky rock gardens I walked that I rode previously. I was cooked but kept spinning the pedals & walking. We were on the course all by ourselves. We hit the road downhill and just let gravity pull us downward w/ braking moderation for sanity. Hit pavement steep downhill to trade center and really flew tucked & drifting lines. We were the last to cross and by now awards etc have been handed out.

I park my bike and gear @ van, see Beth, who won her class, and asked about beer. She said that the Pisgah crew had some @ the car @ far end of parking lot. I start walking w/ her and I say something about looking for moonshine. A guy hears me and tells me that he has some branch water. Oh, another word for ‘shine. He poured several good glugs in a used cup. he poured from a plastic h2o jug that I was told was no good as the shine leaches chemicals from plastic. He said it was OK and the shine was first rate. So I have my lips ove a paper cup sipping shine rehabilitating myself post race. The Pisgah crew, Bruce, Justin, & Beth are heading up to Chattanooga for Cougar activity. Bid them adieu.

Walked back across parking lot and was greeted w/ a mason jar of shine w/ a peach slice in it. Wow, was it smooth & tasty; peach flavored. I was given the bottom of the bottle. Serve it cold & it is divine. Tomorrow’s treat.

I am just beat, ride was 31.57 miles, 5526’ vert in riding time of 4 hours 35 mins w/ average heart rate of 132, burned 3350 cals.

Back out to health club hoping for a shower. Young woman from last night was on duty and she said go ahead for shower w/ no charge. Great. I am having problems standing straight up from fatigue. Shower helped straighten me up.

Drove back to Bear Creek Bicycles to sleep @ the store. Temp is 76 degrees & no shade. Shane’s truck is out back after closing hours. I’m fixing dinner and he exits back door & visits for awhile. I really wasn’t hungry and burritos a la Craig were the most tasty thing on menu.

Last night I was introduced to Gracie who lives near Monte Santo, my stop in AL. She said lets ride. Interesting story, hers. She has MS but w/ diet, exercise ( sponsored bike racer by drug company), medicine she has it @ bay. And she turned 48 today. Met other people for Monte Santo also.

Connected w/ some other people I met in past days.

SORBA people know about me.

I’m tired. I have ride offers back @ Bear Creek and how I feel in AM will be key.

daylight savings starts tonight.

Need to get 2nd battery installed, computer just sucks juice.

dateline: Dalton, GA

Slept behind Bear Creek shop, warm & quiet. Nice having permission to stay.

Bought propane & drove up I-75 to Chattanooga to ride raccoon mtn again. First car in parking lot. Nice day but hazy. trail mostly dry. Great riding w/ new bottom bracket & chain & cluster. front brake appears to work OK, rear w/ new rotor is awesome. Megawatt trail @ visitors’ center was closed. Rode across dam & spotted rock work section below me that I couldn’t get to (more later). This piece shortened the ride by almost 5 miles.

I saw several riders ahead of me but I lost them @ visitors center. I made the TH b4 them. When they showed the van sparked a conversation. Andy, manager of Trek store in town, chatted. He invited me down for keg beer that they have in the shop. Sort of appealing. i asked for shower choices and he said the shop had 1 that i could use. Cool now. Beer from brewry in Asheville and a shower. I’m in.

On Andy’s ride was a new rider riding clipless for first time. He made the ride w/o falling. In the parking lot at the information bulletin board a pile of football size rocks protected the board. The guy was reading the notices while clipped in. He lost his balance and fell onto the rock pile. When he picked himself up we all noticed the chain ring gouge on his calf. I don’t have , he got his way early in his riding career. We told him to not wash it. He was also at the store during my stay spoting the unwashed wound. Cool.

Oh, Andy is familiar w/ trail and knew where the trail was so muddy to be closed and he was able to bypass it on the road and drop down to it. I didn’t know that, hence my road ride until I picked up where I knew it would.

Andy & his wife Heather are from Illinois just recently. He says that Chattanooga is a current hot spot for outdoor activity. I didn’t ask him about the Cougars.

Back @Dalton and will drive back to FS site from several days ago for night.

Pleasant AM wake up, slept late in quiet woods.

Plan is to round trip Snake Gap to Dug Gap & back via road. Short drive to TH. Bit below freezing. In parking lot but what do my homesick eyes behold but a CXT outhouse.  (Actually I’m not homesick but the phrase was appealing). This ride is the shorter of the 2 time trials of just 17 miles. It is rated as the most technical of the Pinhoti trail. Headed out insulated for cold weather. Good ST like a hiking trail w/ roots & rocks. Made turn onto ridge & it got really rocky, like PA rocks w/ some WVA thrown in. Better at riding them but still walked some questionable moves. Noticed a tree across trail @ 1.9 miles. Front brake worked @ first & then failed and squealed. I moved the pad adjustment lever in and brake reappeared. Don’t know if it is really repaired. Changed out of heavy gloves & hat to sweat cap & regular long fingered gloves. Did sweat up. Higher heart rate than usual. Trail crossed a creek several times going downhill and wetted bottom bracket. Not sure if bracket is among the still functioning gear list. Will check later.

Trail dumps out on dead end road @ telecommunication towers, thought ST should continue. Bit perplexed, didn’t want to ride down hill to learn that i missed the trail. Found a sketchy ST dropping off road, walked down it a ways checking for traffic signs. Hardly used so it was back on the road. Big down hill on pavement, kept using front brake as test & appeared to stop the front wheel. Found trail marker & Pinhoti trail sign right @ gated road @ bottom of hill. Turned left per map and dropped into steep pavement downhill, assumed aerodynamic shape and drifted the corners on knobby tires. The road flattened out and then it was just a pleasant grunt back to TH.

I was inside van w/ door closed. I looked outside and there was a car w/ a bike on top. Guy was getting ready to ride. Struck up conversation and learned his name, Rick, and his role, VP of NWGA SORBA and an official for this weekend’s last Time trial and he was going to ride this section of trail & clear whatever. I shared the tree and that it needed a chain saw not the small hand saw he was going to carry. Rick said that he needed to drive back to his house & pick up his chain saw. We chatted for a while, I asked him if he knew of a place to get a shower. He said I could shower @ his house as he didn’t live too far away. I volunteered to walk in and help him cut the tree in return for enjoying the club’s work on the trail and the shower. Upon Rick’s return he told me he made some phone calls and learned about me from other SORBA contacts. getting around.

We hiked the 2 miles in & cut the tree and hiked out just before dark. I learned that the sketchy trail I checked out ended up in his back yard and he had several other secret stashes.

I followed him to his house retracing my road ride and then into Dalton crossing I-75. I wondered how those trails could be @ his house. Answer: his house butts up against Dug Gap, he rides up a gated gravel road to ride down hills.

I met his wife Cindy who was recovering from a injured ankle incurred in her exuberance to obtain Atlanta Braves baseball players autographs. After my shower I met Gennie & Gay from the local chapter & participated in an impromptu club meeting. Rick grilled a deer steak that I enjoyed.

I camped in the cul de sac in front of their house.

Today they left for work and I left for more riding. Planning on returning to Chattanooga to ride Raccoon mtn.

Rick offered me the sweep rider function for the time trial. I could ride the trail and not have to ride the road back saving 8 miles after hard 17 miles. Big production this time trial. The club has done well with enlisting various community groups to support. Just might hang for participation and another go @ trail. Good trail.

Rick is on board of Pinhoti trail assoc representing mtn bikers. Trail is well constructed and challenging. Worth the hard effort to ride again.

N. GA is down out of mountains. Snake Gap is on West edge of Appalachian Valley. The Pinhoti, whose logo is a turkey foot, connects with another trail and then joins the AT @ southern terminus. AT design was to continue in AL but the valley lacked public land. The Pinhoti and the other trail named after the spark plug of the AT solved that but is not considered part of AT.

Finding creative beer here is a challenge, usually unsuccessful.

Off to ride.

7:45PM update

Ran numbers on chain to learn I had 397 miles, 100 more than I like, to only replace chain & not cluster. Called Bear Creek Bicycles asking about chain & possible cluster. GPS would not recognize Park Drive but person on phone gave me directions.

Made shop location. Person on phone was Shane, the owner. And the cash register started ringing. New chain for sure and the cluster is shot. I bought top of line SRAM because. The bottom bracket was also toast. Ka-ching: sprung for Chris King BB hopefully be the last 1 in long time as his components are. Shane called attention to my almost wafer thin rear brake rotor. Ka- ching. He then wrestled w/ a shifting problem. I am good to go until I replace the chain rings or possible front brake. Shane helped me out, I called back to tell him he didn’t charge me w/ everything. He forgot the rotor. I will pay him before I move on.

I spent all afternoon in shop. Got to play w/ his Lab and loosened up a few handfuls of hair from her. Let me pet someones dog and loose hair follows. When my dog, Chase was with me my house had a patinia white Lab hair but his coat was so silky.

A shop groupie visited. He said he is country southern. He said the difference between a red neck & a good ol boy is the good ol boy throws his beer cans in the back of the pick up, the red neck throws them out the window.

Enjoyed some intellectual exchange w/ Shane.

No ride today which is my definition of OK after yesterday’s ride. I will sweep after the race on Sat to get a shuttle to start of Snake Gap to ride it again. There is a 34 and 17 mile time trial. i rode the 17 miler. Rick offered to let me ride the 34. The longer course starts upstream of Snake Gap and is much less technical than the last 8 rocky miles on Snake but if you ride too fast on first part you will deplete energy for toughest miles to come. I’d like to ride a few more of the rocks on the Snake and have energy for the post race party and zanny activity to follow. Bruce says that it is international Cougar day celebrated to Chattanooga.

So Shane offered me a sleep spot behind the shop. Right now I am downtown in old Dalton parked next to the tracks. Downtown Main Street: no parking meters. New town is out by I-5 & usual big box stores.

My comment: America is filled w/ wonderful people shaped by local lifestyle and they are all good. The country side is worthy of enjoying. I have been east of the Rockies since Labor Day. N Georgia is pleasant, a back woods cabin on a mountain side w/ a flowing pure year round creek for drinking & electric & call me off the grid. Shane’s family is from here. They have a cabin on road to Mulberry Gap Inn. A road in the area is named “Shake Rag” because an old woman sat on her porch and when shine was available and the coast was clear she would wave a rag. If bad times she would just wave. He said that the hills were prime location for stills.

Just slowing down and enjoying company of people I meet. And that’s my story.