I did a "route" that I've been wanting to do for a long time - just to see if it was possible to connect some of my favorite local trails without hitting any pavement. Well...it is
possible, but i can say that that's the last time I'll be doing that route. I'm really glad I made the venture, but i should've brought a rope!
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On the way there, I met this poor stressed out red-tailed hawk on the side road. He was flying fine, but low the ground and not straying from the road. I hope he's ok!
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Fall colors are starting up big-time this week. Four days ago there was no yellow, each day you can see the changes and it's happening fast.
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This was the crux of the ride, so to speak. I went under that 'arch' and out the other side, all the while carrying my bike and sliding it down the rocks when I couldn't keep hold of it. This is one of those times I should've just turned around and hiked back out but I knew (or i thought i did) that if i kept going it'd be pretty sweet. There was a trail down almost to this point so i figured that if there was just ONE hike-a-bike, i'd try this route again. But no. The second half of the drainage was all hiking and i felt like there were lion eyes on my back the whole time.
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Finally at the bottom the views were incredible. No roads nearby and a major creek that i forded to get to the trail on the other side. I think this would only be doable in fall when the water isn't rushing too fast and the water's not too cold.
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A lil cabin in the woods. The caretaker wasn't there thankfully. I was just surprised that it looks like it's used. It's a pretty big hike from any road on part trail, part water. Must be a fishing cabin of a sort.
All in all, 4 hours when it should've taken me 2...but a great adventure. I gotta do all these things around these parts that I've been wanting to do before next summer's departure to the lonesome crowded West coast!
1 comment:
Sounds like an awful lot of my "exploring" rides. I become convinced that the ride is about to make all the hiking worthwhile - sometimes it does.
BTW, my ergon pack blew up. I tried my old camelback, and my neck absolutely wouldn't tolerate it. So, I ordered a new Ergon. It looks much beefier but seems lighter. Fewer outside pockets, which is a minus in my book. I'll let you know how I like it.
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