Brats, Beer and a Pinnacle View

This was the first hike of the 2014-2015 season and our first return to Draw Bar Cliffs for Brats and Beer. I have labled many treks in Garmin Connect as Drawbar with several variations depending on the route. Chip is the Expert in that arena so I'll let him dice the nuances but on this trip we began in Table Rock State Park parking lot and followed the Pinnacle Mountain Trail White/Yellow blazes until the White turns sharply Left leaving the park and flanking Drawbar Cliffs where we vear off to do our campfire and enjoy the view over the mountains and valleys towards Lake Jocassee.



This is the map from the last time we did Drawbar on Jan 25 2014. I wanted to compare the two routes to see if the Mills Pass cut through made a difference. After further study, they are the same because Ridge Trail goes on the meet Table Rock Trail where Mill Creek Pass cuts back down to Pinnacle.


It was a beautiful day in the high 60's at least and autumn leaves still turning. I suggested that we consider doing Rainbow Falls next week but in all honesty today's 11 miles really put the old legs to the test so as for next week... We'll See!

Seize the Day!

For some reason I thought we were going to ride to the Wild Flour Bakery in Saluda. You know, take a little ride, see the sights, grab a quick cup of coffee and some sweet buns...

What are you nuts??? This ain't no Novice Ride. You just signed up with the pros. 
So it was more like saddle up, hang on tight and maybe kiss your buns good bye!
Thank God I packed food and drink like I was going camping for a week because once you hit the road with Brian and Many and their Olympian friends Alan and Karen  you are in for the long haul. Not Wild Flour, but one hell of a Wild Ride. The dynamic duo and company pushed us to the limits and it was Fun Fun Fun til Daddy took the T-Bird Away!
The basic strategy once we hit Bob's Creek Church was Praise the Lord as we pass, then pray we reach the top of Cabin Creek before the Pearly Gates.

I lied to myself several times on the way, one more turn, you can see the horizon, you're almost there... you know the usual self deception that baits you into giving just enough effort to see one of those lies finally turn true. In this case the survival mantra is Don't let it get your goat until you see them.

See the goats, that is, which we did and then it was all downhill from there. And what a downhill it was. A sharp right off Pinnacle Mountain onto the private Bear Rock Road. There is actually a sign that says it's a crime to open the gate if not a resident. What they don't say is the punishment is having to ride down it with Knievel Karen and Moguls Mary leading the way! Lord have mercy what a Screamer! I know I wore down a new set of brake pads. My knuckles are still clenched and I'm typing this thing with my thumbs. Meanwhile Knievel and Mogul were tickled pink and tempted to ride back up and do it all again. 
Yeah right, I'll be right with you...
Next time, I'm going to the Bakery. (just kidding)

It was One Great Day!

Oklawaha Greenway - Clean Sweep!

Donnie "KWood" Kirkwood, Manager of Sycamore Bicycles and Joe Sanders, President of the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club rounded up the faithful to bust some moves on the Oklawaha Greenway Clean Sweep!

 Reaching for the sky

 to let the Sun Shine 

 from above.

 Clearing the way

For Hikers, Bikers

 

People and

Pups!

 Joe tangles

 with a

 testy Vine

 while Charley

 clears a Path

 for Pedestrians 

 to Find.

 Under Joes Supervison

 The Crew took a Break

KWood - Denise - Charley - Craig - Joe
Grab your Pick Axe and Shovel and don't forget the Rake!

Volunteers from the Blue Ridge Bike Club in cooperation with the Rotary Club of Hendersonville spent about two hours on Saturday morning to make a clean sweep of the the first half mile of the Oklawaha Greenway from Jackson Park to the Four Seasons overpass.

Oklawaha Greenway Trail travels through the Jackson Park Nature Trail, passes by King Memorial and Sullivan Park, through Mud Creek and ends in Patton Park.

The City of Hendersonville recently announced that it has been awarded a 1.2 million dollar Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Grant to extend the Oklawaha Greenway from Patton Park to Berkeley Mills Park on Balfour Road. The grant is administered by the North Carolina Department of Transportaion and utilizes federal and state funds to support bicycle and pedestrian improvement projects.

Tour d Apple 2014

 

It is the annual Labor Day Festival that puts the village of Henderson on the map

 The Apple Festival in Hendersonville North Carolina

 Welcomes One and All

 and so too

 on this misty summer morn

 the parking lots of Blue Ridge Community College filled

 with participants near and far

 for the annual

  Tour d Apple

 The Biking Event

 of the

Summer!

 Riders of all Skills

 and Ages

 Experienced

and New

 Trikes, Bikes

 Pedal Powered

and Electric

 the field is Diverse

 and Eclectic.

 We Stop for one Moment

 then off on our Quest

 This isn't a race

 with each other

but for Our

 

 Personal Best!

It was a Beautiful Day!