SSSssSSSuNnnnDay

We got up, feeling a little fatigued still from the previous days deprivation.
We got going quick, hit a place for breakfast and Latte's and as usual I was late. Man this has not been the weekend to be on time, O well.
Rob and Dawn were amicable as always and so nice and polite. We got suited up, I got my cross bike ready, and we rolled out.
Clermont is a different world, and if I were ever to buy another house it would probably be there. Lots of hills, lots of climbing, lots of fun. The route was hilly till we hit a dirt road, that was unrideable with my skinny cross tires. I had to walk some, and when I did ride, it was taking every bit of my effort to keep the bike moving. Eventually we hopped a fence and hiked up to the roadway and started the long road to dirt section. It actually was not a bad ride and not long before I spotted a church and went for a refuel on water.
The entire weekend I never really got "HOT". The sun was bright and it was shining, but I didnt think it was HOT anytime this weekend, at times I thought the weather was absolutely perfect. We refueled, kept riding, nice backroads, barely a car passing us by and we came up on a Moto Rider Broke down on the side of the road.
I stopped and asked him if he needed help. He explained his kick stand came off and the bike just shut down and he could not get it to go in gear. Rob, being the mechanical genius he is, noticed a magnetic switch. We asked him to zip tie the kick stand on to see if it would fix it, no dice. Then the man pulls out his Iphone, only to find out, it didnt have bars in that place. I pulled out my IPHONE KILLER and let him use it to make a call. He got help, told us the Van Fleet trail crossin was right there an we were on our way. We checked the Van Fleet map, then started hitting the dirt. Again, for like 2 or 3 miles the dirt was fine for fatties, but not so good for my cross tires, I shifted into my 28 ring up front and did my best to pace and keep Rob in sight. We eventually hit some old limestone road and that was the condition of the road for miles. Eventually, a man drove up and asked us if we had seen a broke down vehicle, we said no. Rode up about two more miles and found a flipped over SUV being recovered via tow ropes and pick up trucks from a drainage creek on the forest road side.

At this point we were traversing what is know as the Ritch Loam Tract(sp), we came out to pavement and then saw a ranger station with a tall look out tower. We stopped, looked at the maps, got some of the hiking trail maps and as we did this we were surrounded by stray dogs. Hungry looking stray dogs, One of which followed us till the end of the road were we came out on SR 50. The only problem was, we feared he would get hit.

I saw a sign that said Little River Recreation area, we had 1.5 miles to go to be done, but It was along 50 and we didnt want the dog to get killed. So I suggested we ride to the park and have the girls pick us up there, well after a couple of miles turned arouond and went back to 50 and Rob figured out away to get him back across the road and back towards his buddies.

Eventually the girls came. I had sun burn on my farmers tan areas, cramps were setting in, my left pinky was numb, I had all kinds of issues. I didnt feel so good, ate food, felt a little better, but the Bird had to drive us home after dinner, Drank 3 32 0z glasses of water, and I was still not where I needed to be with my hydration. In fact I was so bad off, that Monday I stayed home from work. My legs are a little sore, But I feel fine today, Monday, I ended up needing the day to recover and rehydrate. The penalties of poor planning.

The Moustache bars may go, I may give them another chance and see if I like em or if it was just a fluke of the ride. As well, my current tire set up on the cross is fine for hardpack, but not for exploratory rides, exploratory rides require 42c or bigger. Good to know for the future, cause that means for the Big O and the CFiTT I will be gearing up the Black Beauty to 27 gears to help put down a good time.

Unfortunately, it looks like the 20th I will not be able to do my CFiTT attempt and may have to push it to July as that is opening day for Little Naked Indians' Baskteball season and I think there are times, that you need to prioritize. I think instead, maybe me and my 9 year old will go bikepacking the Naked Indian trail instead.

Laters,

LOS