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Post by beckyl on Feb 16, 2014 19:06:08 GMT -5
Nevin, Ted Stoddard and I cleared Turkey and Wine today. They were in surprisingly good shape except for some long stretches that are holding water. In a few days they will be perfect. As usual, I encourage everyone to try out these trails. They need wheels and riding them will strengthen certain riding skills you don't get to work on at FATS or Bartram, plus, the trails are gorgeous. Here are some pics of a bridge we levered back into place (that's a special surprise for the Wine lovers out there). Nevin and Ted working hard for their post ride Guinness: Ted taking the maiden ride across the bridge:
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Post by beckyl on Feb 16, 2014 18:58:42 GMT -5
Nevin, Ted Stoddard and I cleared Turkey and Wine today. They were in surprisingly good shape except for some long stretches that are holding water. In a few days they will be perfect. As usual, I encourage everyone to try out these trails. They need wheels and riding them will strengthen certain riding skills you don't get to work on at FATS or Bartram, plus, the trails are gorgeous. Anyway, right after we got past the cul de sac, Nevin's starter cord broke so we spent about 30 minutes fixing it and we were lucky to get it done because we didn't exactly have the best tools. Luckily, Ted wasn't there yet so we called him and he brought the tool we needed along with a machete (so he could pretend to be Indiana Jones bushwhacking through the rainforest). Here are a few pics from TC and I'll post the same update on the Wine trail conditions along with some pics of a bridge we levered back into place (that's a special surprise for the Wine lovers out there). Nevin working on saw: Before/after shot of a log that's been there for a while:
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Post by beckyl on Feb 3, 2014 11:21:40 GMT -5
I'd like to do it this weekend...preferably on Saturday. But the weather forecast doesn't look good right now, so....we'll wait till later in the week to make the call. Is Saturday or Sunday better for most people? Either day is fine with us. After giving it some thought, I wouldn't mind doing the half with Catalyst et al. but I know Nevin will want to do the long ride.
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Post by beckyl on Feb 3, 2014 11:18:38 GMT -5
Round two went off this weekend and I think everyone had a really great time out there, I know I did. The CSRA had a great showing, everyone posted a new PR as far as I know. Mark broke the 4hr barrier on the 34, and Tom wasn't far behind even with a broken chain. Chad took some time off January, and Matt had a good ride for his first time back in a few years. Bryan had a great 1st Snake showing, finishing the 17 mile in under 2hrs! I had a wedding to go to that evening so I did the shorter 17 mile race too, and had the best ride I've ever had, finishing in just over 2hrs and fastest in my age group (all the fast guys were doing the 34 haha). Most fun I've ever had on the trail for sure. Can't wait to go back next month and do the longer course again. So proud of my CSRA peeps!!
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Post by beckyl on Jan 29, 2014 17:56:39 GMT -5
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Post by beckyl on Jan 19, 2014 18:19:47 GMT -5
After we realized that there were enough hands for the FATS workparty yesterday, Nevin and I cut the tree on Big Rock then headed to Bartram to finish cutting trees between Petersburg and Wildwood. We also cleared drains but after riding today, we realized some of the drains in the big dips are going to need more work. I hauled the camera around all day yesterday and forgot to take before/after shots so here are a few "after" shots from today: Nevin sponsored a rider: We want to thank SORBA CSRA leadership for allowing us to be included in the FATS workparty as well as Andy Jordan's for the $50 (!) gift certificate I won and the $25 gift certificate Nevin won. We are very fortunate to have awesome local bike shops here in the CSRA to keep us safe and happy on the trails and roads. Please give them your business every chance you get!
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Post by beckyl on Jan 16, 2014 10:05:43 GMT -5
So Strava is launching a new "Grand Fondo" series of challenges this year. Go here for details: www.strava.com/challenges/gran-fondo-01 I have zero interest in buying one of the jerseys, but the challenge is fun to take on. Yesterday some of us knocked out the 1st one, the challenge was for 130km (about 81 miles). The official ride started at the north end of the Greeneway, and we rode to Mistletoe State Park and back. Several of us rode to the ride as well, so 3 of us ended up with over 100 miles (my first century, woot!) and Mark was super to 100. The route was pretty hilly, and I think everyone was hurting except maybe Nevin and Mark who both crushed it all day. I was whooped by the time I got home! We had 9 folks, regrouped at the major turns, made several pit stops (I'd have been better off with fewer pit stops actually), and a great time was had. Weather was absolutely PERFECT. I'd like to do the rest of the challenges this year in a similar group ride fashion. This route was all paved, but I'd like to mix in some gravel on some of them, and do some on MTB's on the trails, so long as the distances don't get too crazy. I don't know if they'll keep increasing every month or what... This was a great ride with awesome folks. Thanks, Dustin! It is a nice alternative if the trails are too wet and the bonus is that long road miles make you a much stronger mtn biker. This ride made me miss the road and my old ABC buddies. If I do much more of it though, it will be at the Fort without the traffic.
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Post by beckyl on Jan 7, 2014 13:19:23 GMT -5
We're all signed up and the hotel is booked already. There are a number of CSRA peeps going and it should be a blast. I need to get training....the holidays and this weather are making me feel like a big blob of poo.
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Post by beckyl on Jan 5, 2014 20:56:08 GMT -5
Did you save the log that has "T+J" in it? Someone I know carved that many years ago. I need to go get it. As always, your hard work is greatly appreciated. I hope to enjoy the Modoc-Turkey connector ride very soon. Well Tom, you're probably in luck because Nevin hardly cut into the part of the trunk that had the writing on it. I hope you can find a way to retrieve that section and if not, I hope it is at least facing a direction where you can see the letters you put on there. Good luck!
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Post by beckyl on Jan 5, 2014 8:54:30 GMT -5
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Post by beckyl on Jan 4, 2014 10:47:06 GMT -5
We are hiking Modoc this afternoon and will be taking out any non-riders we see. I'll post tomorrow with a new trail report.
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Post by beckyl on Jan 3, 2014 9:42:31 GMT -5
Rode Turkey New Year's Eve morning and it was in great shape. At that time it didn't need a saw anywhere but that may have changed after the winds last night. There are a few seeps in expected spots but you can just ride right through them and the leaves tend to protect the already hard packed surface in those spots. Other than that, I highly recommend getting out on this trail.
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Post by beckyl on Jan 3, 2014 9:38:22 GMT -5
We rode Modoc on New Year's Day and there are a couple trees down that need a saw. One is actually more of a tree top so it’s a mess. I think they are around mile markers 1.5 and 3ish. Anyway, more than likely we’ll be getting out there with the saw soon and I'll post when we do. The water was also up and difficult to cross so I wouldn’t recommend riding Modoc at the moment. The winds last night may have brought more trees down, too.
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Post by beckyl on Dec 20, 2013 18:05:26 GMT -5
Two weeks people. Two weeeks. For a bit of fun, below you'll find dsquared's recap of his first Snake experience a few years ago. I enjoyed re-reading that post and my heart started racing (pun intended) again. Hopefully, this might inspire others to get out of their comfort zone. You know you want that belt buckle Koz. Just do it, man. Hey, if my chicken sh*! butt can do it, you can.
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Post by beckyl on Dec 18, 2013 18:24:33 GMT -5
The "Big One" on Turkey Creek has been cleared. That's awesome. It really needed to come out and we couldn't do it with our saw. Thanks for posting!
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Post by beckyl on Dec 8, 2013 7:55:28 GMT -5
No, it was tempting to try but we knew it would take forever (if possible at all) with a little saw. We did get another one that was causing a ride around but I forgot to take a pic.
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Post by beckyl on Dec 7, 2013 17:08:54 GMT -5
Spent some time doing trail work today due to the rain. Good thing we got to this mess when we did, a ride around was forming. This was very close to West Dam and easy to take care of on the way home from Turkey:
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Post by beckyl on Dec 7, 2013 17:04:37 GMT -5
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Post by beckyl on Nov 19, 2013 9:17:34 GMT -5
Banks, Chuck and I rode Wine on Saturday. Thanks Becky, Nevin, Joy and Tom for all of your hard work. The trail is in great shape, it just needs wheels on it and maybe a rake, lol. Lots of leaves down on parts of the trail, some times hard to follow. Thanks for the update! We were wondering if it survived the big winds that came through last week. Glad you enjoyed it. What a beautiful trail...hope it gets more wheels!
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Post by beckyl on Nov 10, 2013 16:57:49 GMT -5
Just wanted to let everyone know that Wine is the best I've ever seen it right now. We got out there today and cut over 15 trees with help from the Zeasers. Even if you're not a mtn biker, you need to get out and hike or run this trail. It is one of the most primitive and beautiful in the CSRA.
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