Saturday morning, Curtis was good enough to make a run up to Hardee's and grab us some breakfast sandwiches to get us going. After a chilly night a warm sandwich sounded perfect. Thanks, Curtis.
He sure tolerates a lot. Skip and I snore up a storm all night long and he still goes and gets breakfast for us -- what a guy!
After a LOT of deliberation and looking at a map, we finally got underway. It was pretty much decided we would do the Gravelhola (gravel route that parallels the Cherahola) and avoid trail riding since it would likely be too muddy. I was bummed, but it made sense.
We got on our first road, but upon coming to a fork, Curtis led us up Belcher Loop, because he saw that on the map and Mike and Tina had recommended it. Okay. On our way up here come Mike and Tina from the other direction. A quarter mile or so later we saw why they turned around.
There were two large trees lying across the road. The first one was passable, but the second one was nearly 3' in diameter. Upon seeing it, Curtis was ready to as well, but Skip and I convinced him we could manage this. The idea was to pick up the front wheel over the tree, then the rear. There were three of us, this shouldn't be too bad.
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| Success! |
There was this trail off to the left that looked dry and intrigued me. I stopped and looked at it. Skip was behind me and had the same idea.
Then VROOOOMMM -- there he went. Curtis was ahead of us but saw me stop and did the same. As soon as Skip took off, I could imagine him screaming obscenities in his helmet. ; )
I don't recall how but at some point, I was now leading on this trail. It is a great mix of mudholes, rock outcrop, etc. I had found a rhythm by now and am scooting along at a good pace just letting the bike bounce all over.
There was a mudhole up ahead and I picked my line, kept my throttle and momentum up because I wasn't sure how deep it was. It was about 5' long or so. There was a log laying just in front of the puddle.
Again, I had my speed set and my line chose. I hit that log and when the wheel came back down it must've been slightly crooked and I got pitched off the left side of the bike. Somehow earlier on that trail, my right side mirror had come loose, so I took the opportunity while stopped to try to fix that.
I was having a problem removing the rubber boot on the stalk and just decided to remove the mirror altogether. So we took another break.
Mirror now removed, time to get the wheels rolling! There wasn't much more to it and the trail exited onto some road. The rest of the day we would have no idea where we were. We even somehow or another managed to find ourselves right back on this trail a half hour later.
More fumbling around on roads ensued. We would come to an intersection, all look at one another, and shrug. Eventually, one of us would just pick a direction and hit the throttle.
Skip and I so enjoy the single track stuff that our heads are always on a swivel looking for something to explore. We don't go around gates or on POSTED private property, but if there is a trail that doesn't look forbidden we have no problems taking it.
Skip was leading and he hops off the road we were on, up this trail. Curtis promptly follows, as do I. This one was a bit more technical. There were some steep grades to climb and some of it is slick.
One such hill (which was the worst we were on) was about 45* or more. It was real steep and sort of slickery in spots. I damn near made it up it. However, about 5' from the crest my front wheel washed on me. I panicked and grabbed the brake.
I'm screwed now! I have NO momentum and the bike starts sliding backwards. I made it about 3' before drop #2.
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| Ms.Chif takin' a nap |
The picture does NOT do the angle justice. It looks like a level pathway -- FAR FROM IT! it was nuts!
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| Skip is taking this from the top. I am pointing to where I made it to. |
There was no way I could pick up the bike by myself on this grade, so I just waited for them to come back. Skip's suggestion was to take it back down and get another run at it, because there was NO way I was going to be able to get enough traction to get to the top.
I am NOT on board with this idea and suggest to see if the three of us can muscle it the last 10' or so while working the throttle. We have nothing to lose, so we try it.
This worked. I was damn glad because I didn't want to try that hill again! LOL However, we were all a bit winded after that and took another break.
That was the worst of it and really the toughest section of the day. We found ourselves back on gravel again -- just long enough for Curtis, this time, to spy a trail. We came to a stop sign and the plan was to turn around and take that one.
This one is no longer a trail. It USED to be at one point, but it has become rather overgrown. Many low lying tree branches and trees within the trail itself. This was great stuff! I enjoyed this one immensely.
We were rolling along ducking and dodging trees and tree branches. THWACK! THWACK! THWACK! THWACK! was all you could hear and feel as branches are bouncing off the helmet. It was great.
There was one part where a tree had fallen over and you had to kind of lean over to get the bike under it. Skip was in the lead with me second and Curtis bringing up the rear. Skip got through fine. For me, it was a little more labored, but I got through.
Curtis had something go amiss and the bike fell on him pinning his ankle. I got the bike off him and he was okay.
Then the trail branched off and Skip chose the left fork that went, of course, uphill. He has a penchant for going up hills. ; )
The trail quickly degraded and when we got to the top, we stopped and discussed a plan of action. While we were sitting there figuring it out, I lost footing on my right foot and drop #3. Curtis decides he is going to help me and just before parking his bike, he drops his. (sigh)
We go back down the hill and find some logging roads. The order was the same and Curtis had fallen back so Skip pulls over and we both wait and wait ... and wait. I ask Skip to cut his engine and you can hear Curtis winding out his throttle. He had got stuck. Then you hear him moving, so he was able to free himself up.
A little further up this logging road, it came to an end. I took the wrong approach to doing a U-turn and it got interesting for a moment but I was able to avoid drop #4.
Curtis was less fortunate. While turning he lost footing and drop #2 for him. He got it righted, and I'll be damned if he didn't drop it again -- drop #3.
However, there was no way I could get my kickstand down because of the grade we were on. I laid up next to the bank, and Skip did the same with his so at one point all three bikes were "taking a nap"
Once we got out of there, we wound our way over to TN-360 and decided to find a gas station to lay out the map and determine a plan. The hunger bug was starting to nip at me and Skip was also ready to eat. We just went to Tellico Beach for some sustenance.
From there we took the road directly across from it that dumps you out on TN-68, then back to camp for some drinks and lies.
Curtis wanted a picture of the three KLX250s lined up and Tom Blum was willing to cooperate so here for your viewing pleasure ...
Lori had dinner catered in and it was great! What was better is how much easier this SME must've been for her and her crew. She didn't have to try and feed a gaggle of 30+ maggots, much less, clean up afterwards. Beer, food, and lies were the order for the rest of the night.
Oh, and an explosion.
Curtis wasn't content with just 3 falls for the day and had to top it off by adding another at the bonfire.
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| photo courtesy of Chris Pope |
I am not sure what I found more amusing. The fact he had fell or how hysterically he was laughing after he had. Give him credit though, observe the position of his beer bottle. ; )
Apparently, four falls wasn't enough, either as he managed to low side that same chair again a few minutes later. It was again followed by him laughing hysterically.
Sunday
Skip didn't have to be back to work until Tuesday, so we planned on riding a little Sunday before loading up and heading back. We went ahead and grabbed breakfast at the square.
When we got back, we conned Jack Smith into joining us. Skip wanted to take Trail 82. It is right off of TN-68 about 15 or so miles south of the campground.
Trail 82 is a single track through the woods. There were some spots that were still a bit slick from Friday's rain, but nothing unnavigable. There were some rain breaks that beat me up. I am *SORE* from yesterday's 90 some mile thrashing through the trails and repeated lifting of bikes.
The track was even a little tight in spots. There was little room for much more than your wheel between the cliff and the mountain. There is one place along the trail where there is a big chunk of rock that furhter minimizes the space you have.
I decided to ride over the rock rather than chance getting too close to that edge. The rock had enough drop that the KLR got stuck momentarily. It kind of bottomed out. I was able to push it forward enough to get the wheels to get me moving, but it was interesting for a moment.
The rest of it was pretty easy, but I was poking along. I was really hurting and those bumps were kicking my ass.
When we got to the end Skip said he was going back and doing it again. Jack was headed back to camp. I bailed on Skip because I was hurting. Whatta wuss, eh?
Skip recorded his run and you can watch it here if interested ... http://youtu.be/73REN0gqy4E
Jack and I swapped bikes for a bit. I *like* that DR350. I had it as what I want in my stable next for riding trails as that would be much more capable than my overweight, underpowered KLR is. After riding Jack's, that want was validated.
We pulled into the campground driveway and he told me of a housing development that has only been sectioned off but no real construction had started yet. He said he was going to check it out and asked me if I wanted to. I did and off we go.
It wasn't anything that held our interest so we go back. Instead of going in the driveway, Jack goes up the hill next to the campground. I followed. I had never taken that "entrance" before. I've seen Skip and others take it, so it was my turn.
The hill wasn't difficult. At the top there were two wheel tracks that were nothing but mudholes. Jack went for the center but had street tires and he was a bit heavy on the throttle. A big crash ensued sending him over into the mudhole slinging mud EVERYwhere! He was okay though.
When it came to my turn, I was going a bit slower and figured I would take the center too. Bad idea! it was slick as snot.
My rear wheel got a little squirrely and it got into the rut on the left side. I am not exactly sure how it progressed from there. I didn't dump the bike, but it was now 90* to the route of travel.
It wasn't coming out on its own power. I tried to push it but that berm I am standing on, was too slippery for me to do any good.I tried pulling from the forks and wound up with the same result
I basically just stood there until Jack came back. Jack Hunt was with him and immediately pulls out his phone so that he can Facebook me.
The three of us were able to push it backward and then I was able to maneuver it out. *THIS* time I took the rut the front wheel is in.
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