I may be going to hell in a bucket; but at least I am harvesting the ride.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
It was beautiful in Pisgah the day my camera died
I gave that camera hell, and I knew this day would come. The Olympus Stylus camera was billed as shock-proof and water-proof, but I bought the extended warranty anyways. I am hoping that decision will pay off, if not I guess I still got my moneys worth.
I wouldn't say that the Olympus Stylus takes great pictures, because its obvious the lens quality doesn't compare to my other Cannon G9. What made that a great camera was that it rode in my jersey pocket no matter the conditions. I didn't have to get off the bike to snap a picture, which allows a unique perspective. No need to set-up a shot, just point-shoot-and pedal.
As you would expect, the light was perfect even in Saturday's rain. I drove to western North Carolina in a rain storm, and met few friends from Louisville, KY for a ride at Dupont. The rain broke for a couple hours so we started from Cedar Rock and did a small tour including sessioning Burnt Mountain.
Afterward, we set up camp near White Pines in Pisgah National Forest. It was pouring rain again at this point, so I set-up an easy-up over the tailgate and turned the Element into my tent; and waited on dryer days to come.
As reported by the weather stations, Sunday was spectacular. Abundant sunshine, zero humidity and a cool breeze in the mountains. We parked a car at the Hatchery, and another at the top of Farlow Gap, where we started our ride. This one had all of the elements of a perfect day in the mountains. Rushing waterfalls were all around, we took our time and took it all in. The dog was happy as a pig in zen, and my new bike was riding like a downhill bike with climbing legs.
Time flies away in the mountains.
my brave little friend looks out over the valley below
I wouldn't say that the Olympus Stylus takes great pictures, because its obvious the lens quality doesn't compare to my other Cannon G9. What made that a great camera was that it rode in my jersey pocket no matter the conditions. I didn't have to get off the bike to snap a picture, which allows a unique perspective. No need to set-up a shot, just point-shoot-and pedal.
As you would expect, the light was perfect even in Saturday's rain. I drove to western North Carolina in a rain storm, and met few friends from Louisville, KY for a ride at Dupont. The rain broke for a couple hours so we started from Cedar Rock and did a small tour including sessioning Burnt Mountain.
Afterward, we set up camp near White Pines in Pisgah National Forest. It was pouring rain again at this point, so I set-up an easy-up over the tailgate and turned the Element into my tent; and waited on dryer days to come.
As reported by the weather stations, Sunday was spectacular. Abundant sunshine, zero humidity and a cool breeze in the mountains. We parked a car at the Hatchery, and another at the top of Farlow Gap, where we started our ride. This one had all of the elements of a perfect day in the mountains. Rushing waterfalls were all around, we took our time and took it all in. The dog was happy as a pig in zen, and my new bike was riding like a downhill bike with climbing legs.
Time flies away in the mountains.
my brave little friend looks out over the valley below
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Walden Ridge trail cleaning
It rained like hell, no chance of riding the new bike. Eric and I took the dogs up to Walden Ridge and worked on the trail.
Walden Ridge trail marked blue.
We filled in dirt behind this fallen tree.
This berm is in a corner with a 90-degree turn. It needs a little work stil, but we got as far as we could today. The mud got too thick.
Walden Ridge trail marked blue.
We filled in dirt behind this fallen tree.
This berm is in a corner with a 90-degree turn. It needs a little work stil, but we got as far as we could today. The mud got too thick.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Southern Exposure
This years Neighborhood ride featured: south Knoxville; and hundreds showed up for a great Saturday morning ride.
South Knox Ride 09
North Knox Ride 08
South Knox Ride 09
North Knox Ride 08
Friday, September 18, 2009
see you Saturday night
The .357 String Band is playing at 4620 in Bearden (by Blue Ridge Mtn Sports) Saturday night.
see you there.
see you there.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
SOLD//////////////////////For Sale: Nite Rider HID Lights
For Sale: Nite Rider HID lights.
-Handlebar or Helmet mounts
-4 hour burn time
-watter bottle battery
-ride at night like you have stadium lighting on your head.
-13.2 Quick charger (9 hour charge time)
-Handlebar or Helmet mounts
-4 hour burn time
-watter bottle battery
-ride at night like you have stadium lighting on your head.
-13.2 Quick charger (9 hour charge time)
Sunday, September 13, 2009
North-side heinous loop (not so heinous)
3:30 approximate loop: / 34 miles
From Kinzell Springs-> North Hwy 321-> over the swinging bridge-> Old Walland Highway (River Road)-> Wesley Woods-> Gravel Road->Doubletrack-> Singletrack up to-> closed portion of Foothills Parkway-> Hike-a-bike singletrack to Wears Valley side of closed Foothills Parkway-> Wears Valley Rd.-> Lyons Springs->Wear Gap-> Little Greenbriar-> Little River Road-> 73-> Townsend greenway-> car-> dip in the river.
I can't help but feel a sense of regret that one day the parkway will be completed. Not only for the reason that its nice to ride this beautiful road without the presence of anything, much less cars. But also, one day there will be a straight shot from Pigeon Forge to Townsend, and pretty soon the folks of Townsend will feel like they have to entertain their new influx of visitors with Ferris wheels and go-kart tracks, mini-golf and cotton candy, among other ridiculous distractions from the heritage and awesome nature of these smoky mountains. Economically speaking, this area needs jobs; and this construction provides them, both in the short run and the long run. Its just not the kind of growth I would prefer, its more like a deal with the devil, if the devil owned an outlet mall.
From Kinzell Springs-> North Hwy 321-> over the swinging bridge-> Old Walland Highway (River Road)-> Wesley Woods-> Gravel Road->Doubletrack-> Singletrack up to-> closed portion of Foothills Parkway-> Hike-a-bike singletrack to Wears Valley side of closed Foothills Parkway-> Wears Valley Rd.-> Lyons Springs->Wear Gap-> Little Greenbriar-> Little River Road-> 73-> Townsend greenway-> car-> dip in the river.
I can't help but feel a sense of regret that one day the parkway will be completed. Not only for the reason that its nice to ride this beautiful road without the presence of anything, much less cars. But also, one day there will be a straight shot from Pigeon Forge to Townsend, and pretty soon the folks of Townsend will feel like they have to entertain their new influx of visitors with Ferris wheels and go-kart tracks, mini-golf and cotton candy, among other ridiculous distractions from the heritage and awesome nature of these smoky mountains. Economically speaking, this area needs jobs; and this construction provides them, both in the short run and the long run. Its just not the kind of growth I would prefer, its more like a deal with the devil, if the devil owned an outlet mall.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
66%
I knew that the Virginia Creeper trail would be crowded over labor day weekend. Last year there were more bikes than cars in Damascus. So it was no surprise that inexperienced riders would be running into each other and posing for pictures in the middle of the trail.
These things are a given on a holiday weekend. Which, it is great that cycling is such a big thing in those mountains.
But it took every bit of restraint I could muster to keep from passing every gaping fool on clapped out rent-a-bike. I was towing a trailer with the sweetest cargo I have ever been responsible for, and there were moments that I was overcome with an uncontrollable need to pass everyone in sight. I might of even caught air a few times with the trailer riding shotgun, Erin gave looks that could kill. Macie was enjoying it all, and sleeping the most. The trail is beautiful and I want to go back on a less crowded weekend.
We made a run for some Ridgewood BBQ on the way home, but it was closed. Some say Pardners is just as good (so we gave it a try,) but those fools are wrong. Parders was good by many standards, but Ridgewood is beyond compare. They both smoke a ham, and legend has it, that the people of Pardners stole the recipe from their competition; but they are obviously missing something that Ridgewood does. I'm not sure what, but Ridgewood's BBQ reigns supreme in this showdown.
I have another recommendation for fellow BBQ connoisseurs, Chattanooga Smoke House. Its a no frills authentic experience on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Downtown Chattanooga. Charred smoked ribs and pulled pork that will set you free. I thought I had died and gone to heaven with a to-go box of ribs, which is how they serve it in their dining room. The atmosphere in this shotgun building is bare bones and the focus is on the smoked meat; the sides were acceptable but not notable. The owners are obviously passionate about what they do. After talking to them, and comprehending a small portion of what he said, partially due to a slight language barrier, its obvious they use techniques in smoking that were beyond my scope BBQ knowledge. One look at their product and its obvious that the have the real deal.
On the back porch on my own pad, the smoker is filling up the air with the captivating aroma of fired hickory. Its full-on football season, which means hanging on the porch with a cooler and a smoker just makes good sense. So I'll grab a beer while I send smoke signals to the homies, telling them 12 hours from now, I'll be pulling smoked pork buts off the grill. If you get this signal in time, about 4:00pm tomorrow we'll be hanging like Boss Hog at the Gaines house. You may be aware of the 4:00 kickoff here in Knoxville as well.
I enjoy a reason to party, any reason. And I have had a self-inflicted ban on mountain biking for the last couple weeks, due to a broken hand. But, Doc says I am 2/3 healed and in two weeks I'll be 100% ready to roll. See you at thee bike party on the trail. Around the corner is the Windrock Fall festival and the Hill of Truth Race. And I am planning a pilgrimage to Pisgah soon.............
These things are a given on a holiday weekend. Which, it is great that cycling is such a big thing in those mountains.
But it took every bit of restraint I could muster to keep from passing every gaping fool on clapped out rent-a-bike. I was towing a trailer with the sweetest cargo I have ever been responsible for, and there were moments that I was overcome with an uncontrollable need to pass everyone in sight. I might of even caught air a few times with the trailer riding shotgun, Erin gave looks that could kill. Macie was enjoying it all, and sleeping the most. The trail is beautiful and I want to go back on a less crowded weekend.
We made a run for some Ridgewood BBQ on the way home, but it was closed. Some say Pardners is just as good (so we gave it a try,) but those fools are wrong. Parders was good by many standards, but Ridgewood is beyond compare. They both smoke a ham, and legend has it, that the people of Pardners stole the recipe from their competition; but they are obviously missing something that Ridgewood does. I'm not sure what, but Ridgewood's BBQ reigns supreme in this showdown.
I have another recommendation for fellow BBQ connoisseurs, Chattanooga Smoke House. Its a no frills authentic experience on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Downtown Chattanooga. Charred smoked ribs and pulled pork that will set you free. I thought I had died and gone to heaven with a to-go box of ribs, which is how they serve it in their dining room. The atmosphere in this shotgun building is bare bones and the focus is on the smoked meat; the sides were acceptable but not notable. The owners are obviously passionate about what they do. After talking to them, and comprehending a small portion of what he said, partially due to a slight language barrier, its obvious they use techniques in smoking that were beyond my scope BBQ knowledge. One look at their product and its obvious that the have the real deal.
On the back porch on my own pad, the smoker is filling up the air with the captivating aroma of fired hickory. Its full-on football season, which means hanging on the porch with a cooler and a smoker just makes good sense. So I'll grab a beer while I send smoke signals to the homies, telling them 12 hours from now, I'll be pulling smoked pork buts off the grill. If you get this signal in time, about 4:00pm tomorrow we'll be hanging like Boss Hog at the Gaines house. You may be aware of the 4:00 kickoff here in Knoxville as well.
I enjoy a reason to party, any reason. And I have had a self-inflicted ban on mountain biking for the last couple weeks, due to a broken hand. But, Doc says I am 2/3 healed and in two weeks I'll be 100% ready to roll. See you at thee bike party on the trail. Around the corner is the Windrock Fall festival and the Hill of Truth Race. And I am planning a pilgrimage to Pisgah soon.............
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Monday, September 07, 2009
The Creeper
We took Macie back to the Virgina Creeper Trail, for what has become a Labor Day tradition. She has now been every year(two.) She earned a new nicname "The Little Virginia Sleeper." She slept nearly the whole way, waking up in Damascus long enough to get some lunch, then go back to sleep on her way to Abingdon.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Friday, September 04, 2009
Thursday, September 03, 2009
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