August 31st (Afternoon)

A GREAT ride home! Not just physically, although I did feel good, but I made and cleared some sections and found new trails AGAIN! Yay!

First of all, as I was coming around the corner on Summit drive, I noticed another biker going down into the Peterson’s Creek trails ahead of me, although it seemed he was going faster than I normally do. I had to stop for a dog part of the way down, cleared the two sandy sections, and didn’t see the rider again for a while. I did, however, notice his tracks in the soft dirt (it had rained a while during the day today). If I was reading his tracks right, I would say he was either going faster than me, due to the way the tracks got deeper and then lighter on certain sections. Anyways, as I came down the final descent, I glanced down the bank and noticed him just clearing the creek at the bottom. By the time I came around the bend and through the creek, he was sitting at the top of the other side catching his breath. Of course, it was Phil after all.

So, now that I had an audience, I cleared the creek with great speed, bounced up and over the first root, then the second and made it just about to the top of the steep little climb to where Phil was waiting. We chatted quickly, and he said I might as well go in front as he didn’t feel like he had much in him this ride. So, I did, and as such (not knowing if he was right behind me or what), I powered up the climb faster than normal and made it right up to the washed out section where I have to carry the bike over. This was the furthest I’d made it yet! Of course, I glanced back and noticed he was still a ways behind me, so I didn’t have to push that hard…

The next part of the trail is cut across the hill, with a bit of climbing, and a couple of rocky sections that I have trouble with usually. But, of course, with the thought of Phil right behind me, I cleared both sections! After that, where I normally head left down to my usual single-track across Frolek’s land, Phil wanted to go right. I did and am I ever glad I did! We rode up a bit (nothing too hard) and he asked me if I ever took the trail down the gulley. I said no, that I was the kind of guy that found something that worked and didn’t change it! When I go to a restaurant,  I get a burger… That’s just who I am, I’m not into branching out too much! Anyways, he took me down this trail and it was so sweet. There were some pretty steep sections, and the trail just banked up and down both sides of the gulley, under some fallen trees and over some knarly rocky sections. At one point, Phil stopped and said for me to “just roll with this next section, both up and down” Ok, whatever that means! And then, as he started to pedal off, he says “It’s pretty scary at first, but just follow me and be careful!” GREAT! Thanks, Phil! Well, it was AWESOME! I came over this steep hill, dropped down and back up another one, and then was sitting over an even steeper section with rocks all over the place. As I started over the crest, I realized this is my usual trail, except I take a trail that forks off rather than trying to climb this (obviously)! So, knowing what was at the bottom and around the corner, I was much more confident to make the downhill. Wow, that was so much fun! As we then continued on my regular trail, Phil asked me at one point which way I went over the next little hill. “Ummm, straight… Is there another way?” I asked… Well, it turns out there is another trail, again going down through a gulley. This one is not nearly as well travelled, so the trailhead is hard to really see. There were some crazy rocky and steep sections, mixed in with a couple of rock garden portions even. It was every bit as sweet as the other trail, and as we came out onto Frolek’s lower road, I was pumped! Tomorrow, I will take the trail again and try to find some spots where I can stop and take some pictures. What a great trail! I really have nothing to help my steep and technical descending skills, so this will be great to gain control and confidence and skill.

After Frolek’s road, Phil again let me lead saying he was fading. I went through the Rose Hill pipeline section fast, but still didn’t make the last hill (just couldn’t hook up through the sandy portion again). After that hill, we took off and I noticed that by the time I crossed Rose Hill, Phil was already a ways behind me. I think it was a bit “jerkish” of me, but I kept going as I just love pushing the big gears on this final trail. I was hoping he’d keep up, but by the time I got through the Juniper trails, he was no where in sight… Oops, sorry Phil! We’re planning, however, to meet up on Friday and he’s going to show me some of the Upper PC and Sticks and Bones trails. That’s the plan anyways, so that would be a cool ride for sure!