Another night interrupted by pounding of rain on the roof. Again, i put the rain cover on before locking myself in. Slept in hoping rain would go away. Nice thing about not having to go anywhere: I could hang in bed all day.

About 7:45 I threw off the covers and looked at rain puddles in parking lot to see if rain drops were landing in them. By now it is a fine drizzle mist.

Fixed scrambled eggs & toast & cup of cold brewed coffee. Still drizzling. Changed into riding clothes.

Truck pulls up w/ 2 bikes on back. Make contact with driver, Bruce. Looks like my kind of rider: Gray hair, wrinkles around the eyes, bifocals, & a Georgia accent. He tells me he is waiting for his buddy. Buddy shows up, John, a VP w/ Turner Broadcast. They know the trails well. I ask to glob on and they say sure.

Rode Tanasi, IMBA epic trails. Bit wet w/ mud. Most trails are machine cut and lack tread challenges. We did ride a short section of old trail that was hand made, closest I have felt to N. Idaho in a long time. Several times we stopped & solved our national problems. In all my rides I have never encountered a Republican. We rode almost the entire system on the mountain. Enjoyable & challenging ride, worth doing again.

4 guys had set up camp @ TH XG. Good to see other riders out. Washed bike off using river h2o.

As I was inside van getting ready to leave 2 more rigs pulled in. AN older guy took pictures of the back of the van. I rolled down window & engaged in conversation. They were both Olympic kayak medalists. The younger guy medaled at this course. They said that this course on the Ocoee was the most natural of all the Olympic course they have paddled. Cool.

Drove down to Cleveland to Scott’s. Purpose was to buy backup brake pads, ask for another shower, and to do laundry. At shop I met Doug, the other brother. Dave was there also. Nice guys, nice shop. No brake pads but a replacement chain & a shower is good.

Did laundry. Clean clothes & body.

Hung at a small business park X street from shop, another special kids program school.

I have a guide for Raccoon Mtn tomorrow. The ride is outside Chattanooga, TN. Forecast is for rain after 1:00. Get ride in & head N to KY border for Big South Fork Rec area.

I am meeting interesting people. The van is a great introduction to me. The number of people who have expressed their wish to do like I am doing is almost as great as the ones asking about the van and what i am doing. But they are talk. I am the one pushing the pedals. Again, I think the key is being by myself. Purely selfish but I believe that’s what makes it easy to meet new people. And people to interact w/ me. I like it.

Chilly night, cloudless, all stars.

Arrived down river @ TH for ride. A bunch of riders met like me @ the river and would be riding the trail up the mtn to join the other group that started from TH up mtn. Cold AM. Sunny day but temp @ ice degree. Hump up. Feet were not warm in neoprene socks, need to wear worn overbooties. Trails ridden were old roads but made up for in grunt & sharing w/ others. 15 miles & 1560′ vert.

I was introduced to Dave, one  of Scott’s owners. He invited me to shower @ the shop & have free lunch for a story for his web site. I took him up on his offer. What he tells will be learned later.

Drove back up river to Thunder rock XG. Again, I am by myself. Tomorrow is Tansi unless it rains too hard.

Walked up river to white water center for the kayak course. Trail along river from XG to center. Kayak course all man made and man (TVA) regulated h2o flow.

I am upriver quite aways from nearest town but still get slow internet access, I understand thanks TVA.

I learned that Spokane received a record of 61″ snow in December. Go shovel.

Campsites on Avery creek were occupied, parked the furthest up creek yet. Cold & clear night.

Plan is to drive back into TN to Ocoee & Talasi trails. Ocoee was the kayak venue of the 96 Olympics.

Route 64 is another twister. These western NC roads are very mountainous: narrow, no shoulder, twisty, snakey. Lots of upper body work out.

River @ kayak course has been robbed for hydro electric & maybe no runoff. River flow was an issue I’m sure like Spokane River for the Falls is becoming.

Drove to Ocoee RS seeking info. Volunteer filled me up. Said Hanging Rock XG at the Tanasi TH has 4 tent sites and is free. Concern that only 4 sites available with the beautiful weather and reputation of trail system would mean full up. I argued w/ him asking for other sites in case. Drove back up river to XG. Empty.

Walked up the downhill trail aways. Going to be a fun ride. Trail tread appears to be smooth but lines will be high speed fun. Machine cut trail but played with slope: nice control point ups b4 a corner. Not outsloped. I cut thorn vines away from edge of trail.

XG is across river from highway. Traffic noise ove rthe roar of the river h2o dropped back into river downstream of  generator. if you can steal the h20…. .

Only  rig around. Drank a bit of moonshine listening to Springsteen on XM radio. Old concerts from ’70s.

Won’t make the dropping of the ball.

Forecast for tomorrow is another good day.

Enjoy the snow you folks in Spokane.