- Nov 25, 1999
- 7,926
- 43
A small group of spodes left for Banson Thursday afternoon to meet up at Jeff's. Jeff runs the golf course at Branson and he had invited us up for a trip to Chadwick. DWreck, Evenslower, CrashandBurn, OKKX'r, and myself made the trip. The weather was perfect. We made it to Jeff's around 10 pm, unloaded the bikes, enjoyed a few adult beverages, and got ready for some sleep.
As the morning came around, I found that I was the only one the got any sleep. Seems that I snore (I had no idea ;) ). A quick run to the QuickyMart for coffee and the trucks got loaded and we headed off for breakfast. After a good breakfast buffet, eggs, biskets and gravey, sausage, bacon, and more coffee, we headed out to the Mark Twain Forrest. We stopped for our permits and got to the parking area and unloaded.
I have to say again, the weather was perfect. We got geared up and passed some gas (well, I did anyway) and we headed down the trail. Jeff was in the lead position and he was setting a fairly brisk pace. The trail was a 2-track with mostly gravel size rock, fast, nice corners, whoops, and roots. At the 1.1 mile mark, Jeff decided to take some soil samples. Some bent bars and abrasions for proof, we are back on the trail, a bit slower but still a good pace.
The first trip out came to an end as we made our way back to the trucks. Another truck and trailer arrived and Jeff introduced us to Toby. Toby was a rider at the Last Man Standing this past December and an Iraq Vet.(Thanks Toby!) After he got ready, we were off. Now the pace is ratcheted up. Toby is on the pipe every gear, getting air off of twigs! You didn't want to stay too close, the roost was falling some 60 feet behind him.(did I mention the soil composition?) Toby led us to some single track that was superb. It was tight, technical, and down right sadistic! The seven spodes watched as Toby hit the hill, grabbing gears until he was pancaked flat about 3/4's up the hill. He's back up, down the hill, tosses the broken bark buster off and hits the hill for revenge! After he makes it to the top, he comes down, no handed, taunting us to give it a try. Being day 1, I passed as did everyone else.
Having Toby lead us around was cool. It was fun watching the lines he took and his ability to avoid obstacles without a second look. His shifter gave out and he headed back for a spare. The rest of us headed off to hide our spodelyness from the eyes of others.
The terrain is outstanding but will destroy your tires. I had been warned by many Chadwick veterans and now I understand. At the end of the day, we had made a 45 mile journey that had us tired and hungry. We loaded up and headed back to Branson for some BBQ. This nite, everyone slept. More later.
As the morning came around, I found that I was the only one the got any sleep. Seems that I snore (I had no idea ;) ). A quick run to the QuickyMart for coffee and the trucks got loaded and we headed off for breakfast. After a good breakfast buffet, eggs, biskets and gravey, sausage, bacon, and more coffee, we headed out to the Mark Twain Forrest. We stopped for our permits and got to the parking area and unloaded.
I have to say again, the weather was perfect. We got geared up and passed some gas (well, I did anyway) and we headed down the trail. Jeff was in the lead position and he was setting a fairly brisk pace. The trail was a 2-track with mostly gravel size rock, fast, nice corners, whoops, and roots. At the 1.1 mile mark, Jeff decided to take some soil samples. Some bent bars and abrasions for proof, we are back on the trail, a bit slower but still a good pace.
The first trip out came to an end as we made our way back to the trucks. Another truck and trailer arrived and Jeff introduced us to Toby. Toby was a rider at the Last Man Standing this past December and an Iraq Vet.(Thanks Toby!) After he got ready, we were off. Now the pace is ratcheted up. Toby is on the pipe every gear, getting air off of twigs! You didn't want to stay too close, the roost was falling some 60 feet behind him.(did I mention the soil composition?) Toby led us to some single track that was superb. It was tight, technical, and down right sadistic! The seven spodes watched as Toby hit the hill, grabbing gears until he was pancaked flat about 3/4's up the hill. He's back up, down the hill, tosses the broken bark buster off and hits the hill for revenge! After he makes it to the top, he comes down, no handed, taunting us to give it a try. Being day 1, I passed as did everyone else.
Having Toby lead us around was cool. It was fun watching the lines he took and his ability to avoid obstacles without a second look. His shifter gave out and he headed back for a spare. The rest of us headed off to hide our spodelyness from the eyes of others.
The terrain is outstanding but will destroy your tires. I had been warned by many Chadwick veterans and now I understand. At the end of the day, we had made a 45 mile journey that had us tired and hungry. We loaded up and headed back to Branson for some BBQ. This nite, everyone slept. More later.