Just couldn’t stop today….

I wanted to complete a trail from beginning to end, and despite it being wet from raining all night, I figured why not?

So I left the house, got to the trail head and found it wetter than expected. I was ridding through 30ft stretches of 3-4 inch deep puddles. I was diving into puddles that were all but too deep for my feet to stay dry. I was spinning my rear tire fighting and hunting for grip in the mud. Sliding around bends. It was sketchy at times, but way too much fun to stop.

I plowed on, and following the creek until I couldn’t any longer. The trail was washed out and covered by the creek. A 20ft section of trail was 8 inches under water. Damn! Mission failed! Or was it?

I turned back to head home, slightly saddened that I didn’t complete the trail. And it occurred to me, I could at least extend the ride by taking another trail back home. Why not? I had time. So I’m riding the second trail when I come to a crossroad. Go straight and complete the second trail. Go right, and link up with the end of the first trail, ride it back to the point where I got stopped. I can still complete it!!!! Yeah boys!

Off I went, a renewed focus and mission. I found the end of the trail, dove in, expecting more of the same flooded chaos from the first half. And though i was right, I was also wrong. This end of the trail was certainly not a gravel ride, it was scarcely even suitable for mountain biking. It was hiking/scrambling territory. But dammit it I’ve come too far to turn back now! I was off and on the bike. Lifting it over fallen trees, down steep descents, up rocky and rooted steep inclines. Traversing drop offs. But I made it, eventually, to to other side of the flooded out section. I made it!

Though my plan was to turn back and retrace my steps, I had no will power or motivation to do it. It was all but impossible, and certainly stupid. But there was another linking trail just a bit back, and it exited to a road. Smooth tarmac! Nice. Thankful!

I exited, found myself in an industrial complex, but made my way back to the main roads. And back almost to the start of the second trail I took. Though I wanted to go home, I also felt annoyed that I hadn’t completed the second trail I started. The job wasn’t over, the mission was not complete. Off I went again. Further away from home, retracing my path from earlier, finding that same intersection, but this time going straight.

What a ride! 18 miles, just under 2 hours.