Deep Dark Hole

Halloween may be tomorrow night, but the spookiest bike ride went down last week. Taking advantage of the maintenance period for local infrastructure, we rode uncharted parts of the ditch.

The rowdiness of the evening built from our arrival when Fro deliberately bashed his truck into the Lot recycling dumpster. By the time XT led us out the gate we were raging. Route choice was, once again, rich with hike-a-bike, with the hardest stretch occurring far from any familiar trails. After a little re-orienting we whipped down some steep switchbacks straight into the dry ditch at the eastern extent of FT3 exploration. We immediately encountered a tunnel which, without hesitation, we entered.

The further we rolled, the pool of water got deeper and the ceiling got closer. Big fish flashed in the crystalline water, ours lights shimmered and reflected in all directions, and the echo of our voices ricocheted off the walls. Hub deep, the outlet became visible. A little jump and the buoyancy of the niner tires covered the last couple feet to get out of the pool. We kept rolling the ditch, throwing in wall rides and indifferently splashing puddles, through the slick wooden flume back to familiar territory.

Late, late, late we took the frigid descent on Sly Park pavement to the Knot. First in, I was greeted by an icy "Get the Fuck Out!" "Not even a quick rye shot?" "Get the Fuck Out, its almost 11!" That quickly thawed and we received taco service as per normal. 

Seven Reasons to Ride Tonight

1) Big moon

2) Return of XT

3) New t-shirts?

4) Route that has never been done

5) Heckling Cap'n

6) Shredding

7) Important Taco Table discussion

I'm riding tonight, are you?

After weeks of travel, I am returning to the dirt tonight.
Who will join me?

Just for fun I googled "Sly Park reservoir bike" and found a picture that I'm pretty sure is not copywrite protected from 2012.



Hope to see you there.

One!

Is Summer Finally Over?

The first showers of fall blessed the Pollywood dirt last week. Luckily, the rain didn't come until Wednesday, so last week's ride was as loose and dusty as possible. As I was Ride Leader I wouldn't have noticed except for the billowing cloud that enveloped me after an unplanned dismount. I enjoyed starting the ride, choosing the route, and going swimming without the burden of dissenting opinions. Temps were perfect and I never felt alone as owls repeatedly burst from the canopy, the brush flashed with eyeshine, and the forest floor scampered.

The owner [train wreck?] [hot mess?] was in typical form. The new Taco Bitty made it back and both of the Taco Service Staff proposed that their husbands start riding on Tuesdays. 

Summer may be over, but that doesn't mean we are shut out of the High Country. Another LRP coming soon.

Precipitate

Its been pretty bleak in Pollywood lately.

But Look!

Not the most promising forecast, but its the best we've had for months.

All will be relieved to know that the Taco Table is getting back to normal. We arrived casually late  last Tuesday and met the new Taco Bitty who seems competent and eager. The owner didn't bug us at all, and the rye pours barely fit in the tumblers. 

One