TOP: Dump truck backing up over a narrow, high viaduct
2nd: Mark and Lumpy at the Eastern Continental Divide. FINALLY, a downhill!
3rd: The "earthen dam" that we mistakenly climbed
4th: Fresh trail, AKA sand, that we rode through for about 10 miles, uphill, into the wind. Note the tire tracks from sinking in
x
After a less than restful (but well fed at least) sleep at the Paddlers B&B, we awoke to a colder morning (up in the mountains now), and headed out on our trusty steeds. After a quick 2 mile uphill dash through town, we came to a trail junction; and, like day 1, we immediately choose the wrong trail. We biked to a "earthen dam", (above), which is basically how they encapsulate "goddamn, there's a huge piece of earth that we have to climb up". So, up we went (note that the little thing in the top right corner is a house), climbing up a pretty steep, stone and dirt grade. When we got to the top, we had the rare pleasure of seeing a barbed wire fence with "no tresspassing". Clearly, something had gone amiss here...
x
Anyhow, we coasted back down off the dam and got onto the correct trail. I was really looking forward to today, as we started with a 45 mile uphill. And, of course, the wind was in our faces. And the trail was soft from all the rain the prior few nights. And they were putting down new trail. Yes, new trail. We came upon a big viaduct (a canyon flyover) and it had to wait while a huge dump truck full of sand backed up over the viaduct. This with about 1/4" to spare on either side of the truck. Then he backed up a mile or so up the hill, and dumped his load of fresh sand, where the workers were spreading it. We had the rare pleasure of riding through it for about 10 miles, sinking into the sand. Oh, and did I mention the wind in our faces? And the uphill?
x
Mark and John sprinted ahead, while I languished in my "winter fat" induced riding coma. Unfortunately for me, I actually had 3 seasons of "winter fat" accumulated, so it was a long slog up that hill. I was sweating and swearing the whole way. Well, except for the views. They just took your breath away sometimes. Rapids on the river, wind farms, terraced farms. Beautiful countryside.
x
About 100' before the top (old rail tunnel above photo) I flatted...just capping off what was a long day in the saddle...and it's only half over. I changed my tube, got some photos, and longed for the long downhill to come. The downhill was awesome, ~ 30 miles (bit steeper than the uphill), ending up in Cumberland MD. This is where we would transition over to the C&O canal trail, basically flat the rest of the way in.
x
"Gotta remember to only store one winter of fat at a time" Lumpy out
No comments:
Post a Comment