'banjo's blogtastically stooopid day trippin' picture thread

[LadyDraco]

Looks like ya'll had a great time

[knybanjo]

There's lots and lots of downed trees on the trail...but most of them have had the 'trail' cut out of them...not this one.

advtenn takes another run at it.
















Well, that aint working!
















Then I spied a bypass.

[LadyDraco]

Gee I thought ya'll just pop over them logs

[knybanjo]

Originally Posted by LadyDraco

Looks like ya'll had a great time

That we did!



We even got a little wrenchin' time in....the KLR would be 1st and have to have it's headlight zip-tied into place.
















That was done where the IMT joins FR615 for a little bit.




Where the trail continues East from 615 was probably the roughest part...the 'steps' are getting to be a bit abrupt and all the loose rock being covered by leaves really bounces you around on big old tanks like we were riding. Good times!













Are you having fun yet?

[knybanjo]

Originally Posted by LadyDraco

Gee I thought ya'll just pop over them logs

When 650s 'Pop' it's usually a bad thing.

[knybanjo]

Stopped for a quick break at the shelter. IIRC this used to be part of the AT before it was re-routed.
















We met a hunter that was out scouting.
















Skulls Gap.... before 11AM

[knybanjo]

We rolled down 84, it's about ten miles of gravel that eventually connects to 16 and the VHHT. Still some snow on the shady side of the hill....
















The VHHT is dry for the most part...except for those inside corners where advtenn demonstrates how to let the rear wheel hang out.





















It's nice of him to do that every once in a while to allow me to catch up.

[LadyDraco]

At least ya didn't have to shoot it...

[knybanjo]

Originally Posted by LadyDraco

At least ya didn't have to shoot it...

Don't be so sure.






















The brush gets even narrower than this in places, in fact the branches would even touch from both sides.

[knybanjo]

Back out in the open!
















...but not for long!
















We saw no less than 5 riderless bikes parked along the VHHT in various places, more hunters? Couldn't resist stopping for a pic of this old Yamahopper though.

[knybanjo]

Big gap for pics in the timeline but to summarize we stopped in Speedwell for a couple of slaw-dogs with 61.4 miles showing on my trip meter. On the way back we skipped the Easternmost muddy section and rode up across Comer Rock and back down to where the VHHT crosses Hale Lake Rd and followed it all the way back to 16.


The clouds had cleared.
















It would be my turn to do a little trailside wrenching.



No harm, no foul and was soon back under way.













I accidentally got the camera leash tangled up in my pack's waist strap and have another big gap in the timeline. But Todd mentioned a run across Pond Mtn and I said lets go for it!

The NC side of the Creeper Trail....it's unmaintained and in rough shape.

[knybanjo]

We were on some atv looking trails that crossed and even used parts of the old grade. It was back in there where I had my only drop of the day got her crossed up in a rut.
















This is looking down the old grade where a rock cut has collapsed in blocking it completely.
















A scary looking old trestle that's full of gaps and soft ties.

[knybanjo]

At this point we were wishing that the day's weather had been reversed. I couldn't see anything.




It was overcast in the AM but now we were riding blind straight into the afternoon sun.

[Reddog*]

Originally Posted by knybanjo

That thing is pretty 'spotty' out in the woods, eh?

Makes it look like you where flying a plane not riding.

Really makes a person wonder how accurate it would be in the woods if you had to hit the "I've fallen and can't get up button"

Nice pictures, those leaves make for a rough ride with all they hide.

[knybanjo]

Still riding 'blinded by the light' and bouncing around at random.
















Beautiful day for a ride though!!