Full Moon Chicky Ride

Before you go getting any crazy ideas about Chickys riding with full moons, look outside. There's a full moon or nearly a full moon (officially that is Thursday night). Let me also say, that I absolutely love Carvins Cove. I am so grateful that the City has allowed the development of the trail system there. I need to remind myself of this and carry my tail out there for trail work in fall and winter. Tonight, Paula and I decided that we've had enough of the lower trails. They are just too muddy lately and with the downpour that hit out there prior to my arrival; we figured it would be another slopfest. I was itching to go to the upper trails anyway, so it was cool when P said she was thinking along those same lines!

I've wanted to climb Buck for a while now. It's been a really long time since I've climbed it. Been down it several times, but up it only once before. We took the road to the trail, so we could avoid the muddy mess that is Hotel. Buck definitely gets you going - some tough little sections, lots of roots and several rocks. I did alright for a while. I did have to walk a few times. There's this one turn that I probably could have ridden, but the price for screwing it up looked painful, so I elected to walk. This trail probably has some pretty views in the fall once the leaves fall. I will go back and photograph it for you. =)

After Buck, we took a short ride up the fire road, to Trough. Haven't been down this trail in a long time either, we usually climb it. This trail is home to the local downhillers. They were definitely out in force tonight. I actually lost count of how many riders were on Trough. There had to be a dozen or more. I'd like to just sit and watch them one day. They are crazy, but talented. We avoided their jump section, but did get to enjoy a speedy downhill ride. Horse Pen is what they call the bottom trail at the end of Timberview Road. We took it to Gauntlet.

Gauntlet sounds intimidating because it is. This would be my second trip ever up it, and my only trip up it since the reroute. OOF. I did great at first. I found a gear I could manage and a pace that I could handle. Rode a good ways (or at least it felt like it) before having to stop. I did ok after this. I had to walk quite a bit, but it appeared as though the others with me did as well. The rerouted top section is absolutely hike-a-bike. Every time, I'd think "you can ride a bit" there would be another frickin pitched up hill. Whose bright idea was this? The trail is absolutely a scream to ride down, but sheer torture to try to get back up. Oh well, I can walk, and walk I did. At one point, I think I was actually pedaling near the top I looked down and to the left. I saw a bear's foot print in the mud. It was probably as big as my fist. This was the first time it occurred to me that the bears could be out and about tonight. DUUUUUHHHHHHH!!! I just kept going as quickly as I could – all the while keeping an eye out of Yogi and Boo-Boo. Fortunately, there were no bear sightings. Would have snapped a picture of the footprint with my cell phone, but I didn't want to be anyone's dinner tonight.

After waiting a brief bit, Paula and new friend Ed (yea we had a dude on the Chicky Ride, we are nice people really, although I think he was ready to kill us both) we elected to return to the parking lot via Hi-Dee-Ho. I should mention that on the fireroad, there was a nice wind, almost fall-like and definitely chilly on my sweaty self. Hi-dee-Ho is fun. I have yet to ride the top three switchbacks. I guess I'm just too afraid of getting hurt. I did ride the lower left hand one (the telephone one.) It was actually fairly easy then I did ride the up-around-the tree turn that follows. Afterwards, the trail is easy and fast. ZOOOOOOM. Could have gone faster had the little voice in my head not been reminding me of how important it is not to kill or maim oneself while riding a bike.

Anyway, I totally enjoyed my ride tonight. It is absolutely one of the best routes we've done. I look forward to repeating it some more. Maybe we should plan to ride it on the Tuesdays nearest every full moon. We could start a new tradition – the Full Moon Chicky Ride. HA HA!! Going to sleepy happily tonight! WOOO!

This post was written and published using Microsoft Word.