April 29, 2012

On the top step, I won my age group in the Southern Classic's Race to the River in Columbia. I had a great start and everything was dialed in... just a good day. On a side note: Yesterday after I pre-rode the course, another racer parked next to me asked me "why do you race?" He was over 50 and doing his first race, his friends had talked him into it since these were his home trails... My answers: 1. I need the carrot and stick. I love riding my bike, but without racing, I don't ride enough to really get into shape, or at least slow down the effects of my bad diet (love of food) 2. I like the travel, riding new places, seeing new things, an excuse to explore. 3. I really like the nervousness I feel on the start line, the "butterflies" waiting for the gun. I felt it in triathlon, every softball season in my first at bat and at every bike race. As we talked, about my answers, it came up he has motorcycles and I explained I have wanted a dual sport, I admire how motorcyclists still just go for a ride, they have no agenda, place to be, just drive small roads for the fun of it. I do this in my truck, but I would really enjoy 60 mpg over my 17mpg. The dual sport is needed so I can still explore dirt roads, etc... he said he has been wanting another bike but has a spreadsheet for his retirement (he is an engineer) and knows how much he can spend so his kids don't inherit too much and how much to save so he doesn't run out of money. All I could add was my feeling, "no one lies on their deathbed and says I wish I had saved more...." I don't think I helped him.

April 28, 2012

Mom for the save. I hadn't shot anything when my mom noticed her first Magnolia bloom...

April 27, 2012

How to make a 10 year old's day/week/month? Get her a cell phone.....

April 26, 2012

Why I can't leave home....

April 25, 2012

Today was riding in Pisgah NF. I choose one the "classic loops" and headed up Clawhammer Road (closed, old logging road) and across Clawhammer Mountain and Black Mountain and down Black Mountain trail. I had forgotten I rode in the Wilson Creek area of Pisgah in the late 1990s and didn't care for the trails, in fact, as I recalled, I gave up, looked at the topo map and bush whacked my way down the mountain to a paved road. Turns out I still don't care to ride these trails.... this loop was recommended by the local bike shop and another group of riders. It is such a classic it is listed on the map I bought. The climb is a hour long up (which I enjoyed) but then you have to hike a bike to the summits of the two mountains, this overlook, between the summits was awesome and worth the trip, good thing since I am not going back. The loop's big moment is the descent, but it was so rough, large drops and eroded, I could only ride half it, and that was with a lot of braking! After the ride I took a nap and realized I was really sore, I knew I could not ride again, the wind was too much for kayaking and the waterfalls are shorter hikes, so I want to save them for family outings, so I showered and headed for home.

April 24, 2012 Part 2

The reason I choose these trails today was the Cedar Rock Trail (or slick rock of the east) The exposed granite is a lot of fun to ride! The airstrip trail starts across an old.... airstrip, it is cool to ride down hundreds of yards of mountain top before descending down the fast single track on this trail. The waterfall is Bridal Veil Falls, you may recognize it if you have seen "The Hunger Games" it was filmed here.

April 24, 2012 Part 1

Today was riding in DuPont State Forest. This was a last minute add, I had planned to ride in Pisgah NF and Bent Creek trails, but at the last minute saw these trails. I really enjoyed myself here. A local warned me about this trail, the only way across is through the Little River. The advise is throw your shoes across and walk over the very slippery moss in your socks. I choose not to throw my shoes since I have learned, I can not replace my buckles... but man is it slick!

April 23, 2012 Part 5

As I said, I almost skipped this hike since it was getting close to dusk, but it was my favorite hike of the day.

April 23, 2012 Part 4

I am not the greatest landscape photographer, and these three picture show how much difference slight changes in position make. All three are of the Twin Falls. I almost skipped these falls because the DNR map showed a trail head with a fairly long hike, 5 miles or so round trip. But the ATVers said there was a shorter way in, I followed their directions which started with turn at the biker bar... I later found the directions they gave in the "Waterfalls of the South Carolina Upcountry" pamphlet.

April 23, 2012 Part 3

A couple of stops today. The first two are the waterfalls at Longshoals Park, right off Hwy 11. This looks like a great swimming hole in the summer. The next is Laurel Fork Falls. I saw the name on the map while driving and couldn't remember why I didn't have info on the falls, once I hiked the 1/2 mile or so in, I remembered, no access to the bottom of the falls, only this overlook, although I did walk across the top looking for another trail down. The final picture is Virginia Hawkins Falls. This is a ~2.5 mile round trip hike, 1.2 downhill and 1.2 up. The sky clouded up and made for some pretty pictures.

April 23, 2012 Part 2

The first goal of driving was Jumping Off Rock. This would be a major hike, but instead was a great drive and wonderful view. After that I started exploring each open road, one ended at a giant old boat ramp.... best I can guess, it must have been used by loggers to float logs out of the gorge or pull the logs out of what is now a lake. I was surprised to find a couple of ATVers, they were the first people I had seen all day!

April 23, 2012 Part 1

Today was a planned day off of riding. I planned to kayak the coves around Lake Jocassee, but 40 mph wind gusts kept the kayak on the roof. So instead I drove the rarely open logging roads inside Jocassee Gorges. The roads are only open for a couple of weeks in the spring and fall. Another change for this trip was the drawers I posted earlier about used as food and cooking, this also worked great, once I set up the slip platform, I never had to unmake the bed.

April 22, 2012 Part 3

As part of this extended solo trip, I wanted to test some ideas for my planned west coast trip... one was the overland washing machine. The idea is bucket of water, dirty cloths and a little soap on the roof rack and drive, the bumps wash your cloths and that night all you have to do is rinse and dry. It works great, I washed the last two days of riding cloths (including the muddy race stuff) and when I got to camp, they were clean and the dirt had settled on the bottom of the bucket. The bucket even fits cleanly into the cockpit of the kayak.

April 22, 2012 Part 2

Camp #2, Keowee-Toxaway State Natural Area near Sunset, SC, I was the only one in the camp ground and at $10 a night, worth the stay for hot showers rather than free primitive camping in Jocassee Gorges. The set-up started with a hail storm. After dinner I wondered around the shores of Jocassee Lake looking for sunset pictures, but didn't have much luck.

April 22, 2012

Stump Jump 2012. I had a great race, started about fourth and worked my way to leading before the first mile was over... I led the rest of the first lap but faded to 3rd. After my race I played with the pictures of later race starts.

April 21, 2012

Stump Jump pre-ride complete. I love these trails, I might have over done the recon ride with 2.5 hours in the saddle, but the last 45 minutes were the best as I rode the coarse backwards to find a lost 9 year old who was supposed to be on a different course... There were some happy parents (they had already called 911) Campsite 1 was primitive camping on the backside of Croft State Park (next to the capped landfill)

April 20, 2012

Packed and ready for 9 days on the road. I should have enough food for 5 days or so. Mountain biking, hiking, kayaking and fishing are planned.

April 19, 2012

Roadside flowers. I went by the field the next day and it was mowed.