tsnook44

F150 DRIFTING: MC took us on a stomp to a rocky overlook above the Blue Ridge Parkway. We watched the clouds roll in as a peregrine falcon baby cried out for supper. I didn’t quite appreciate the beauty and perspective until a couple of days later. Now, back home, I’m blown away.

FULL COLORS: MC knows the good shit!!

PROBABLY GEORGIA: Views of three states from Devil’s Courthouse. Did you know that Peregrine falcons were completely eradicated from the eastern United States by the 1970s? I hope the tide doesn’t start turning backward. Our morning Mockingbird told us that we’re already taking for granted the Red-Winged Hawk and the Bald Eagle.

GLAD I DID IT: Because we’re basically harmless and generally leave no trace except for an occasional tire tread, accessing the Big Creek descent from the BRP was both butt-puckering and the last of its kind for awhile. Word on the Parkway was that the Rangers are now handing out tickets for bike possession. 2000 feet of descent over about three miles. And then there was that push back up….

TROUT LILY AND SOMETHING

THAT’S AN EFFING…Spring springs only slightly earlier than the Great Lakes region thanks to the Pisgah elevation.

YOU KNOW YOU’RE IN IT: There’s just no substitute for mountain streams and rhododendron. This was the bottom of our Big Creek descent.

LAST DAY AT THE BEACH

EGG FINALLY PUSHED ME: But I was A-ok, buddy! Good thing I wuz wearin my crash helmet. Pissed my pants and forgot my name for awhile, but woowee, that Daniel Ridge descent were a hootenanny!! Transformed me into a cross between James Hetfield and a sloth. Who can say they ever done that?

DON’T KNOW, DON’T REALLY CARE: On the lookout for a Lady Slipper orchid for my love, I spied these wildflowers. Quietly. With no one to bother.

WE WEREN’T JUST PLAYING INDIAN: First Blood Root of the year.

LEVITATING GEORGE: A stop at the falls on thew way up to Daniel Ridge. After that, we climbed gravel up to the Wormhole, then rode Butter and Cat Gap, with a tour of the hatchery at the end to see the adult rainbow trout stockers.

PILOT COVE CABINS: Perfect location, right behind the Hub. I’d really like to stay in one these. I’d also really like to build one these at our place in Northern Michigan.

PLAY A TRAIN SONG: We all ended up at the Mexican joint, after splitting up in two groups for the day, one riding the full Black Mountain, the other group Squirrel Gap. We came together in the afternoon to ride Ridgeline, which was a very cool, very fun. It was also cool to see Gus and Cassie!

I DON’T THINK I CAN WRITE A CAPTION THAT COULD CAPTURE THE ESSENCE OF THESE LEGENDARY GARMENTS

BIG OL’ RIDE: Whew doggies! Devin, Dave R, George, Greg and I pedaled up Clawhammer to the top of Black Mountain and did the killer descent. And I mean killer.

AND I PAID THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR A BIKE…TO PUSH IT: And it was worth it.

AND DAVEY JR. MISSED OUT!!: But he ripped everything else up!! And that was a consensus opinion from some damn good riders.

SPEAKING OF THE KID: First day ride was led by the legendary MC Flow (#2TONFOREVER). He took us to a part of Dupont behind the Cedar Mountain parking lot I hadn’t ridden, which featured a kickass rocky descent that was a nice warm-up for The Pisgah.

10TON30INCH: Still amazed 10 people coordinated their lives to ride together for a few days.

HE LOVES TO CLIMB: He really does.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO RUIN EVERY PHOTO: Personally, I always like to smile my prettiest. This was the top of Burnt Mountain, before the rowdy descent. Somebody just had to whip it out.