Well, here it is, my ride out at LBL was fun aside from the rain, yes my friends it is again time for our biyearly monsoon season :( .
It had been raining since the early am on Sat. I had driven almost 4 hours to get to the bike, and having missed out on Fri. evening festivities buy draining fuel, cleaning carb etc. I was going to ride, rain or no rain.
Turkey Bay;
I was suprised on reaching the check in station that the parking area was reasonably full, light rain or not. Although, a little shiver ran down my spine when I saw a lot of the heavier trailers (Rail buggies/4X4 clappers).
Trails;
The trails where slicker than snail snot. Whit a good canopy over your head conditions where fine on the tight single track. But when I tried to access some of the other trails on the back side of the plateau' , the mud up there was slick/sticky enough thanks to the numerous quads, buggies and 4X4's to make the topsoil have the consistency of oatmeal. You guessed it, the knobbies where resembling slicks and I could only get enough speed for steerage, otherwise the rear was swimming one way and the front the other. Finally trough the slop I was able to open her up and clean the tires off. The big positive is that they have groomed the big hill on the back side, I lugged up the hill in 2 just to roll the step up's and and get a feal of the hill, now coming down was real interesting, in order to be relatively safe, I needed to do it coasting and rolling the step ups on the way down due to the slick conditions, boy I can't wait for it to dry out! :thumb: (I'll have the digi cam on the next ride and will post some picks of this hill)
Now for the Negative stuff;
The tight single track that I like to ride in the deep woods away from the "Loop" have been widened into 4 lane high ways. I almost ended up as a hood ornament twice and spent a lot of time waiting on either variety of 4 wheeled monstrosity to clear the way. Man it just plain stinks that more and more of the traditional good stuff for a woods rider is being opened up for anyone. Guy's and Gal's be careful when you hit LBL, There or four of the railbuggies/4X4's had drivers, passengers or both drinking adult beverages out there. :|
Not part of the ride;
Nashville ROCKS!!!!!!!! :p
If I could recommend just one place that has a great atmosphere and not the hectic, bombastic feel of a club but more of a Tavern that would be the "Tin Roof" on 2nd Ave? Great people, live music (country and rock, none of that hip hop stuff) and good prices. But a word of warning, stay away from the Red Bull and Vodka's!!! Those things need to come with an advisory or something! You get hammetread and hyperactive at the same time :)
Bottom Line is it's just a great place for couples and singles where you can at least talk and not have to yell.
Phillip
It had been raining since the early am on Sat. I had driven almost 4 hours to get to the bike, and having missed out on Fri. evening festivities buy draining fuel, cleaning carb etc. I was going to ride, rain or no rain.
Turkey Bay;
I was suprised on reaching the check in station that the parking area was reasonably full, light rain or not. Although, a little shiver ran down my spine when I saw a lot of the heavier trailers (Rail buggies/4X4 clappers).
Trails;
The trails where slicker than snail snot. Whit a good canopy over your head conditions where fine on the tight single track. But when I tried to access some of the other trails on the back side of the plateau' , the mud up there was slick/sticky enough thanks to the numerous quads, buggies and 4X4's to make the topsoil have the consistency of oatmeal. You guessed it, the knobbies where resembling slicks and I could only get enough speed for steerage, otherwise the rear was swimming one way and the front the other. Finally trough the slop I was able to open her up and clean the tires off. The big positive is that they have groomed the big hill on the back side, I lugged up the hill in 2 just to roll the step up's and and get a feal of the hill, now coming down was real interesting, in order to be relatively safe, I needed to do it coasting and rolling the step ups on the way down due to the slick conditions, boy I can't wait for it to dry out! :thumb: (I'll have the digi cam on the next ride and will post some picks of this hill)
Now for the Negative stuff;
The tight single track that I like to ride in the deep woods away from the "Loop" have been widened into 4 lane high ways. I almost ended up as a hood ornament twice and spent a lot of time waiting on either variety of 4 wheeled monstrosity to clear the way. Man it just plain stinks that more and more of the traditional good stuff for a woods rider is being opened up for anyone. Guy's and Gal's be careful when you hit LBL, There or four of the railbuggies/4X4's had drivers, passengers or both drinking adult beverages out there. :|
Not part of the ride;
Nashville ROCKS!!!!!!!! :p
If I could recommend just one place that has a great atmosphere and not the hectic, bombastic feel of a club but more of a Tavern that would be the "Tin Roof" on 2nd Ave? Great people, live music (country and rock, none of that hip hop stuff) and good prices. But a word of warning, stay away from the Red Bull and Vodka's!!! Those things need to come with an advisory or something! You get hammetread and hyperactive at the same time :)
Bottom Line is it's just a great place for couples and singles where you can at least talk and not have to yell.
Phillip
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