|
Post by breynolds on Feb 21, 2010 21:13:00 GMT -5
Rode today, I thought it was in great shape. About 5 trees down and a few mudholes, but overall was dry and awesome.
On a side note, Keg was the first true test of my ghetto tubeless job. Ran 21 up front and 25 in the back, no problems at all. The low pressures helped a bit soaking up some of those nasty roots.
|
|
|
Post by dparrott on Feb 27, 2010 19:44:13 GMT -5
got all the limb debris off the trail yesterday - still 3 trees that need my chainsaw. The drain cleaning that Mark Y. and I did is working well but there are a few spots where the water simply has no place to go. I lost a yellow bungie a week ago - on south side of the penisula.
Someone put some rocks over the "mudhole". makes it easy to walk across. We'll get a work party up to go in there to really shore it up into a first class rideable rock bridge.
|
|
|
Post by Mark Y on Feb 27, 2010 20:19:59 GMT -5
Holler when you want to go saw. I need to redeem myself
|
|
|
Post by dparrott on Mar 6, 2010 19:44:14 GMT -5
It's amazing what can happen in 3 weeks. Mark Y and I chainsawed the remaining non-riders out today and the trail looks really good. Trees are starting to suck up the moisture although there are a few soft spots. That's the good news. Bad news is that horses have been in again.
|
|
|
Post by brianW on Mar 20, 2010 17:58:10 GMT -5
Keg was in the best shape I have ever seen. big thanks to Mark and Dale for their hard work. First creek crossing (cw) has a tree down. Saw to equestrians out on "keg creek point" coming down the road. Spoke to them for a bit. Said they only ride the roads, did not see any horse prints or motorized wheel tracks on the trail itself. Last time there was ice out there, today high 70's.
Have to say "boulder creek" has to be the coolest, or at least in the top 5, section of trail in the CSRA. Would make some pretty mt bike action shots.
edited: from ccw to cw my mistake
|
|
|
Post by dparrott on Mar 21, 2010 20:48:13 GMT -5
Horses are legal on the roads, but not the trails - thanks, Brian for taking the time to talk to them. But I wonder how they manage the two washouts. Education is the best action for most folks but it won't help all.
Is the down tree at the first creek with a bridge close to the parking area ?
|
|
|
Post by brianW on Mar 22, 2010 7:24:24 GMT -5
No, I believe this is the creek crossing that it was mentioned may be re-worked. Noticed some flagging tape for a 20' section. Going cw it is about 2/3rds the way before you get to the "road" creek crossing. I am almost 100% sure it was after the excess trail.
edited: 3/25 from ccw to cw my mistake
|
|
|
Post by dgaddis1 on Mar 27, 2010 6:23:26 GMT -5
Keg is in great shape right now. It's getting a lot of use. A few mucky spots, but 98% dry. The woods are really pretty right now, it's nice to start seeing some green after so many months of brown. Go ride it!
I had a great time out there. At one point I looked at my mileage and realized I was already over half way done, and I was sad the ride would be over soon.
The downed tree is at the first real creek crossing going CW. The one with that funky root going across the creek. I'm going to try and get back out there again this weekend and cut it out, it wasn't that big, I should be able to get it with my handsaw.
|
|
|
Post by justjoe on Mar 27, 2010 16:34:02 GMT -5
Rode it this morning and had, as we used to say back in the 60's "a bitchin disco time". Few wet spots but in great shape. The tree at the creek is a in just the right place to make you get your get your feet wet. There's more water in the creek than I've seen in a long time. I did see some horse apples close to the access road that looked to be bout a week old so the horses are riding the trail some. Boulder creek is an awesome sight without the leaves on the trees, gotta take my camera next time.
|
|
|
Post by dgaddis1 on Mar 28, 2010 10:31:15 GMT -5
The tree at the first creek crossing isn't a problem anymore. Me and David Kee (not on the forum that I'm aware of) cut it back enough so it's out of the way.
|
|
|
Post by dparrott on May 14, 2010 21:39:34 GMT -5
tread in real good shape. We didn't do lopping this winter like normal and Keg could use a lopping trip now. Also look soon for a post to build a rock bridge across the "mud pit" - water is gone and about 1/3 to 1/2 of the rock needed is already there. Dickey Branch is real close for the source for additional rock.
|
|
|
Post by azdrawdy on May 16, 2010 21:07:02 GMT -5
Camped at Petersburg this weekend. Rode it, the New Bartram, Wildwood, Keg. Fun stuff all. Keg put the brakes on us. Awesome ride though. Just slowed us a tad. A couple of non-riders (trees) there. A rider or two also. Enjoyed the trail. A lot. Thanks for all the efforts of keeping it ridable, and for all the bridges. The sweat and tears are appreciated. I was toast by the time we got back to site 48. Toast is an understatement. I hurt. Carbo loading fixed the issue. That and a low country boil. MD
|
|
|
Post by Mark Y on May 17, 2010 20:15:33 GMT -5
Camped at Petersburg this weekend. Rode it, the New Bartram, Wildwood, Keg. Fun stuff all. Keg put the brakes on us. Awesome ride though. Just slowed us a tad. A couple of non-riders (trees) there. A rider or two also. Enjoyed the trail. A lot. Thanks for all the efforts of keeping it ridable, and for all the bridges. The sweat and tears are appreciated. I was toast by the time we got back to site 48. Toast is an understatement. I hurt. Carbo loading fixed the issue. That and a low country boil. MD Michael, where were the non-riders? I don't think I pointed them out very well in my post as DP only found one of the three I encountered.
|
|
|
Post by dgaddis1 on May 18, 2010 11:52:18 GMT -5
MD - so you got right at 50 miles on your ride? Did you ride Lake Springs Loop?
|
|
|
Post by seenvic on May 18, 2010 14:08:00 GMT -5
Camped at Petersburg this weekend. Rode it, the New Bartram, Wildwood, Keg. Fun stuff all. Keg put the brakes on us. Awesome ride though. Just slowed us a tad. A couple of non-riders (trees) there. A rider or two also. Enjoyed the trail. A lot. Thanks for all the efforts of keeping it ridable, and for all the bridges. The sweat and tears are appreciated. I was toast by the time we got back to site 48. Toast is an understatement. I hurt. Carbo loading fixed the issue. That and a low country boil. MD How did this ride compare to the Dark Star Loop in terms of time spent riding, difficulty, enjoyment? Or just the basics...how far was it and how long did it take?
|
|
|
Post by azdrawdy on May 18, 2010 16:07:25 GMT -5
The kicker was Keg, and we all know that. You can zip along on the Old Bartram and consistently see 12 - 14 mph, then hit the new stuff, and still keep a good pace, slow down for the hand raked (rake-n-ride) stuff, then slog through Keg. I don't even want to admit the speeds I saw at Keg on the 'puter.
SMC was a blast. For me it was six hours of fun. Then when Susan handed me a big, fat hamburger at the end, life was even better. I averaged what, 10mph?
The B-W-K-W-B ride was tough. The last five miles, even on Bartram, hurt. I honestly don't know how I could work in Mistletoe. Then again, I could look at it like a challenge. That's what the SMC was to me.
MD
|
|
|
Post by seenvic on May 18, 2010 16:41:09 GMT -5
I am not surprised by this report. It is what I figured. That is alot of trail, no matter how flat it may be.
I can feel the pain just thinking about riding the whole thing.
But since no one has ever done it, it would be a cool thing to be the first one to do it.
Having said that, I may have to settle for being the first person to hear about someone else being the first to do it.
I'd like to set a shuttle and do it one way, from West Dam to Mistletoe. For my current fitness level, I think I could do that without much problem and could prolly even ride fast and not have to pace it out to be sure to finish.
|
|
|
Post by dgaddis1 on May 18, 2010 17:50:33 GMT -5
But since no one has ever done it, it would be a cool thing to be the first one to do it. I was hoping to be in the first group to do it. That's a LONG ride to do solo! Not sure if it's going to happen....someone may beat me to it. We're about to start working 60's for a few weeks. The next few weekends will be spent working at the house. I know if I go out and do a big day on the bike, I'll be worthless the rest of the weekend.
|
|