RR: Avalon on a Monday morning

"Martees" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

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What a day!!!!

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The trails were dry and fast and hardly any blow downs to slow me up.

That's really good to hear. I was there last weekend, and so many frat boys on Walgooses were
thrashing through the mud (when they weren't alking their bikes up the trails with cigarettes in
their mouths) that I was afraid some of the better spots would be soupy mud pies 'til June.

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I have absolutely no idea how many miles it was (it felt like 12 or so)

but

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I didn't see any other mtb'rs and only a few hikers.

Last Sunday the place did clear out by about 2:00...seems the best time to ride is after noon.

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Temps were in the mid-70's and sunny. I usually don't mind riding solo but it would have been nice
to share this one!

Marty

Thanks for the report...how are the water crossings at the bottom of Soapstone looking? Flying
down that trail is my favorite part of Patapsco, and I was digging the high water levels left over
from winter.

Chris

"Chris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the report...how are the water crossings at the bottom of Soapstone looking? Flying
down that trail is my favorite part of

Patapsco,

Quoted message said:

and I was digging the high water levels left over from winter.

Chris

They were still full. The water was cold and about 6 inches or so.

Marty

Martees said:

What a day!!!!

I arrived at the Landing Rd trailhead at about 11am and turned in and took the first right. I
picked up the Rdge trail until I came to the Valley View "loop" and got back on the Ridge trail.
I had to re-do some of the Ridge trail but it was worth it. I really like that Valley View (it
lives up to its name!). I took the Ridge trail and dropped back onto the asphalt and pedaled to
the visitor center at the swinging bridge. After crossing I turned right and picked up the
Vinyard Springs trail to the top of the ridge. I turned onto the Santee all the way to the
campground (I forget the name of this campground but it looks really nice) and took a little
breather. From there I came down the steep hill to the railroad tracks. My friends and I call
this "mt son-of-a-biatch". It was a muddy mess for half of it but it still beat the hell out of
climbing it! I crossed over the swinging bridge again and up the Cascade Falls trail which
eventually took me back to Landing Rd. I noticed that there was allot of work done since the last
time I was in the park The trails were dry and fast and hardly any blow downs to slow me up.

I have absolutely no idea how many miles it was (it felt like 12 or so) but I didn't see any other
mtb'rs and only a few hikers.

Temps were in the mid-70's and sunny. I usually don't mind riding solo but it would have been nice
to share this one!

Marty

Hell, yes Marty! I know that route and those trails you mentioned like the back of my hand!.

Sounded like a great ride!

Are you doing it on your SS yet?

I was thinking about a 6:00 am ride that morning but opted for a training run instead.

Peace, Bill The mind serves properly as a window glass rather than as a reflector, that is, the mind
should give an immediate view instead of an interpretation of the world.
:-]