Knoxville Botanical Gardens

the family, Sunday evening.

double down

Summer weekend all-time low: temps in the 70's, low 60's at the top.
I managed to pop-off back to back days at Windrock, running shuttles from the tippy-top. We had a great crowd both days, only the locals. Sunday was the big turn-out with about 10-12.

My Old Kentucky Stomping Ground

Erin and I moved to Knoxville from Louisville almost 4 years ago, and we have not been back to visit much since. Regretfully, because we love the town. I'll put it this way, it won't be so long for our next visit.
I spent seven years in the Derby City and loved the park like nature of the city, and the trails that conected my neighborhood to the shops and breweries and beyond. Everywhere that I ever lived in Louisville; from the Highlands to St. Mathews, my house bordered the great Cherokee Park and its killer bike trails. It was the place I honed my skills and I rode there almost every day. So much so, that I had every trail, root and rock memorized. It got to where I could almost ride with my eye's closed.
The purpose of our trip was the Forecastle music festival, three days of music. We stayed with friends in St. Mathews, just about 6 miles from downtown. So Erin, Macie and I would head out on the town for some live tunes and when Macie got worn down or the crowd got too crazy for a baby, Erin and the girl would head back to the house and I would ride my bike home after the shows.
The first night I saw Zappa Plays Zappa, Jason Isbell, Pretty Lights and The Black Keys. Saturday I saw The Black Crows and Widespread Panic. Sunday was Yonder Mountain String Band, The Avett Brothers and Widepread Panic again. I was blown away by the shows, Pretty Lights is the modern day Pink Floyd. The Black Keys were awesome, The Avett Brothers rocked and of course Panic, what else can I say.
Saturday morning we got breakfast and I came a across a poster for a mountain bike race in Cherokee Park, I had 45 minutes from the time I saw it, to the start, so I grabbed my bike and raced. It was a twenty mile singlepeed romp. I still have the trails memorized, and I rode fast, had a good time.










On the way to Louisville we stopped at Cumberland Falls for a picnic by the water.

new urban assault vehicle

the Cove

Today was Macie's birthday and we headed to Cades Cove early for a bike ride. We were on the road as the sun was coming up and started the loop in great weather. A few minutes into the ride, the rain moved in and we sought shelter in an on old cabin while lightning crashed in. We stayed for well over an hour waiting on the storm to pass. Nothing like a mountain storm.

Monday run to Dopont with Mexican food

how all good rides end; before the Mexican food:

fun level is pegged.... red line

DH runs on Tuesday, all day.
Brought some new faces out to the 'rock. Had fun showing Jut and Jason around the DH trails at Windrock with Jeff and Matt.

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Macie's Day Parade

here's your sign

Wednesday is for Windrock

Sent it on Wednesday evening; Windrock. 7 runs = 10,000 ft. of descending, left with smiles plastered having ridden some new trails. Drop out; and some connectors on Windmill.



Hank was cornfused after picking him up from the vet, thought he rode in the baby seat. Apparently his hair cut went to his head.