Chilly night. PT eliminated all pain from my knee for sleeping. I eagerly await the true test of treatment with a ride later today.

Drove into Pisgah Forest which is where i have been hanging. Stopped @ Backcountry Outdoors to check on exercise ball shipment. Not in yet.

Drove to bldg supply business to fill propane tank. They were only able to force 1 gallon in which seems way too low. Called propane supply place N of town where I filled last 2 times to learn if a driver was there to fill my tank. Struck out.

Mid morning drive to DuPont ride @ Corn Mill Shoals TH. Saw a few cars w/ bike racks at other TH on my way, nobody where I parked.

Cold & clear. previous free running h2o was now solid. Mud was frozen earth. Climbed Burnt Mtn & dropped down back side. In shade ice had formed over the bare rock. I kept to the ice free gravel or leaves. I managed to ride mostly and push a bit over the ice to summit of Cedar Rock. On N face aspects the rock was sheeted in ice. I failed to read the angle and length of ice on a rock piece. Slight downward angle. Both wheels abruptly left vertical slamming me to the rock on my left side. Sore hip, forearm, & shoulder. The PT work success will sort itself out or I just undid it.

Again attempted to find the way under Bridal Veil Falls to X the river. Too many No trespasing signs and lack of courage to poach turned me back. Maybe tomorrow’s ride will guide me across.

I rode to the river crossing. Check pictures out. Maybe mid thigh deep and ice on rocks:

This awaits a misplaced step:

Ice crystals:

View from on top cedar rock looking NE:

Knee pain during riding is almost all gone. Kim performed Craniosacral therapy; find the tight spots and release the pent up energy. A few more sessions and maybe even the knee pain I have had since age 11 might be cured. Look out Telemarking next winter.

Seemed to have hooked up with a ride @Paris Mtn in Greenville, SC on Friday thur MTBR.com forums. moving on. Have leads for a bunch of SE rides staying in the mountains. Just sort them out & drive to them.

Riding DuPont tomorrow w/ a group with somebody from SORBA.

Did wash & took shower.

Picked up exercise ball & pumped it up. Will keep it away from heated heater grate which did in its predecessor. Displaces a bit of inside room.

Les, finally finished Blue Highways. Thank you. What a thoughtful inspiring book.

Off to woods for cold night

Another heaterless night. It is still dark @ 7:00AM get up time for 9:00AM meeting @ fish hatchery for ride w/ Scott, Chris, & Paul.

Skies cleared to beautiful blue, no clouds with a crisp temp.

Rode up daniel ridge loop and road climbed up to Butter gap & down. Today was way less exerting and technical than yesterday’s ride. Short day.

Bid boys goodbye. While Scott was getting rig ready to leave parking lot I was already engaged in another group of riders and almost another ride.

Hung in parking lot soaking up sun’s warmth. Drove to Davidson River XG for a paid shower. Drove down river and walked on exercise trail along river enjoying the being outside. Thing about skiing is I get to stay outside the entire day. Biking, when it is cold is a matter of doing the ride & beating it back into comfort inside. But biking takes more out of me than a whole day of skiing does.

Tired.

Tomorrow another PT session. Knee bothers me.

SORBA ride @ DuPont on Wed.

Starting to make plans to move on. Rode the big trails here and no point continuing to reride and attempt to ride the parts I walked because I probably walked for a good reason that would not change with another reride.

Off to woods again.