Dragon's Tale Scenic Route with a detour, oops.

I thought I'd give Dragon's Tale a try.  I decided that I was no match for the full 37-mile race, so I opted for the 20-mile Scenic trip.  For $20 donation to the local club (I suppose RIMBA), I was to get

"20 Miles - offers 5 miles of fun and challenging trail at a relaxing pace
20 Mile Scenic Tour $20 donation to benefit the local club
Ride guide with a cue sheet and on course support"

Well, if I was paying a $1/mile, I owe SMT $9.30.  You see I was to left to think they would have the course marked, well they did (I'll get to another thought on that later), but in my enjoyment of fording streams (ahem rivers), I found myself able to keep up with other females who were racing and even some guys, so when they turned right for the two, different colored arrows pointing right and up a road, I went right along with them.  I'd never been there, and little did I know that this would result in a 10.8 mile detour for me.  Ah well, at least I got to see my newly made friends at Aid Station 1 and discovered that I can ride up hill for a sustained effort.  According to Strava, my 5.4 mile side trip up hill only gained me 300ft elevation at 1% grade, and I rode it at an average speed of 9.6 mph.

So much to my dismay when I arrived at the Aid Station and was informed that I should have went straight at the bottom of the hill.  Well thanks a bunch  (actually I think I muttered unlady like things).  I swear both of those arrows pointed up hill and who the hell is going to pull out a cue sheet?  Well ok, now what.  I elected to go back down to where my mistake was made and ride out the rest of the "scenic" route.  So 5.4 miles of downhill there I was back at the T intersection where I had been informed to turn right.  I looked and yes both of those damned arrows were pointing to the right.  Was one supposed to be directing the "scenic" route to stay straight???  Who knows and really, I don't care I was only there to explore trails/roads I had never been on before.

I continued on quite the beautiful and peaceful fire road for I think about 5 more miles.  I had a lot of time to think about stuff - I concluded that the fireroads were going to be worth exploring again and this was likely going to help me be prepared for my upcoming 75-mile road ride.  Or at least that's what I kept telling myself.  I finally arrived at Aid Station 3 where two young gentlemen from East Coasters (Blacksburg?) added some air to my back tire, offered up food, HEED, water and other assorted goodies.  They were very nice, I finished off a quick snack then headed up what would turn out to be trail that was way out of my league. I eventually survived to see civilization, but not without more adventure...

Let me backtrack and hit a few highlights:

Stream Crossings - sure, if we hadn't had snow and a lot of rain, I'm sure they would be slow, meandering mountain streams; however we've had a ton of rain and even snow this winter and spring resulting in flowing, one-foot deep crossings.  In the first bit, I walked several with my bike over my shoulder, there was one or two shallow ones that I rode rather easily (made me proud).  Then there was the monster stream crossing, fuck that let's call a spade a spade - RIVER.  This damn thing was up to the bottom of my bike shorts and if you know me, I have long legs so that made that water about 3 feet deep and did I mention that water was cold - like really cold, water out of your refrigerator cold!!!  I'm glad I had the sense to wear wool socks - they worked perfectly for this.  Anyway yes so the water was flowing enough to make getting across a good resistance exercise.  Especially the 3 foot one.  I actually slipped in this one and had to put my hand down to keep from soaking my entire butt.  I kept the bike out except for a little front wheel dip on that one.  OH MY GOD it was cold and of course my left hand got soaked.  My glove eventually dried, but I think my socks are still wet now nearly 24 hours later.  They were fun though and I think I've conquered water crossings now.

Ferrier Trail - what the hell?  Am I a mountain goat?  At first I thought, oh ok I can try to ride some of this.  Even though I was about 23 miles into this ride I could try.  Well I think I made it a 1/4 mile before my legs said eff you, so I walked and walked, tried to ride intermittently, gave up walked some more.  Then I got to the rocks.  HUH?  Holy hell who rides that shit?  I'd like to stand by and watch the ridgetop be ridden.  There were places where your next step was 12 inches over the previous one.  Quite beautiful ridge though.  I tried riding some, but was honestly overwhelmed and intimidated by most of it.  I did ride as much of the downhill and what flat there was.  Still there were steps and switchbacks that I just didn't feel safe trying.  I knew no one was near me, and if I got hurt I was going to lay there a while.  So I went up and up and up and down then up and up and up some more.  Occassionally I wondered if I was on the right path, but I find it hard to judge distances on trails.  I eventually found a sign that said "Lick Branch Trail, 1.? miles" - there was a very messed up stream crossing here with cut-up logs in it.  I managed to climb over that and hiked up some more, still wondering where the hell I was.  I stopped and texted my Mom (emergency contact) that I was fine and that this was a very hard trail.  I didn't want her to worry since I had planned to be done by now (remember my 10-mile, unplanned side trip had cost me an hour).

I continued on, wondering what the trail ahead would be like.  I rode for what seemed like forever before I stopped and pondered if I had missed something at that "Lick Branch" sign.  I really didn't want to climb back up or backtrack; so I whipped out my iPhone again and pulled up the map.  It looked like I was headed straight for Craigs Creek Road. I knew that was an inhabited area, so if I was truly lost someone would give me directions back to town or use that routing tool on the map app (am I the only one who thinks like a geek in the woods?).  I was scared that I was lost as I hadn't seen any trail markings for the race in a long time.  I even wondered what it would be like to be on the news, "Stupid, solo mountainbiker lost in Craig Co forest."  I texted again to wonder if I was lost and decided to go with my instinct of the stream is flowing downhill and road being in front of me somewhere.  I know enough about search and rescue to save myself and get out of a tight spots!  I bet I didn't ride another 1/4 mile before finally seeing arrows marking the course, the terrain leveled out and became more rideable - soon I found the road and was headed towards the finish line.  YAY.

My route should have been the loop only - my detour is bottom, left.

The shaded green to the left is my detour.

29.3 miles; 3 hours 43 miles, avg speed 8.4 mph

Would I go back?  To the fireroads, yes.  To Ferrier Trail, no.  To the area solo, no.

 Would I go help with this event, sure would - Chris with SMT took the time to apologize for my extra adventure and that wasn't necessary - my own fault for getting caught up in a good ride.  Anyway as I told him, I was there to explore anyway.  Good times.