Ok, as promised, a more reader friendly recap from this past weekend's riding. I really do like that I can take notes on the iPod because I spend a lot of time thinking when I'm riding so it allows me to capture these thoughts - or at least the ones I want to share.
All total, I spent just shy of 6 hours riding about 31 challenging, rocky miles. It was a great time but it was a real wake up call to be riding in PA again. At first there were lots of fits and starts, plenty of dabbing, and not always keeping rubber side down (not a good thing when the sides of the trail are covered with poison ivy). After a while, I remembered the need for lots of body english and that the correct amount of speed/momentum works in your favor.
Day one was short lived as I got a very late start and late afternoon t-storms rolled in. I stopped in Honesdale to check out the town and grab some supplies. I stopped at a Super Duper, a grocery store that I thought went out of business in the late 80s. I was glad to see this one alive and well. I spotted a sign for Ponderosa Pines Campground and decided this would probably be my best bet for affordable accommodations. It was affordable but the site was small and very wet. I found a spot somewhat suitable for the tent and set it up before heading back to Prompton Dam for a quick ride. It was overcast but I didn't think there was much danger of a storm as it wasn't too warm or humid. I headed out across the dam and up Hemlock Trail. About halfway through the Bone Ridge Trail, I heard thunder in the distance. Time to head back - fortunately it was mostly downhill. I got back to the car just as it really started to come down.
Returned to the campground to be greeted by dueling radios and loud folks. Fortunately a second and third set of storms came through to drown out the racket - am I getting old and intolerant already? I went to bed early, waking up to sunlight and crystal clear skies. After taking down the tent and repacking the car, I rolled out for what promised to be a great day of riding.
For Day 2, I headed north along the west side of Prompton Lake along the West Shore Trail. At the end, I came upon a model airplane landing are where there was a guy flying a model helicopter. Interesting but I hoped he knew what he was doing and didn't crash it into me.
Next I headed along the east side of the lake and up into the Cliff, Sidewinder, Blueberry, and Pine Creek trails. There I met Scott, a rider from the Scranton/Moscow area who offered to lead me through the maze of trails when he noticed me studying the map. No one has ever done this before (we solo mtb'ers tend to be just that - solo) but I thought it would be in my favor - ride more, look at paper less. I rode in tow for a while before we parted ways. I tried out the aptly Cliff Trail - one erroneous move could have been disastrous and, yes, there were points where I was a bit weak in the knees. Powered through though and kept it rubber side down in all the important sections of the trail.
Next I explored along the East Shore, Sugar Shack, and Eagle Pass trails. These were pretty straight forward, not too much rock but lots of poison ivy and briars. There I crossed paths with "Lefty", a rider from the Saratoga Springs area who was visiting family near Prompton Dam. He said I should check out the Stables behind Skidmore College - supposed to be a good trail network. I started to fade shortly thereafter but ravaged a blueberry bush the birds had somehow missed. This got me back to the car where, for some odd reason, my appetite had disappeared. I was hungry but putting food in my mouth was not a pleasant experience. Weird but I managed to eat enough to feel ready to ride again.
I headed back out across the dam to completed the trails I hadn't done earlier and ride around the lake in the opposite direction. I rode the Bone Ridge Trail again and schooled it for the most part - it was my second time through so I should hope so. The High Ledge Trail was fun and had some good flow. After a while, the angle of the sun indicated it was getting on in the day and I should be getting back to the car. I made it to the north end of the lake and headed back down the west side along the Orchard Trail. I really bought it on while trying to cross a fairly straight forward rock crossing. I guess I was starting to really fade as I crashed a couple of more times in places where the lines were pretty easy. Good thing I was almost done for the day. I did spot a family of raccoons coming out of the trees for a night of foraging.
I made it back to the car and packed up for the trip back. After a slight detour through Carbondale due to US 6 being closed, I was on my way. I was intrigued by the series of wind turbines along the Moosic Mountain ridge - PA is an energy rich state. First wood, then coal, oil, natural gas, and now wind. Seeing the waste coal mounds in Carbondale with turbines in the background was an interesting juxtaposition for me. BTW, Scott informed me there is great riding at Moosic so next time I head down that way, I'll have to check it out. As it was, this time I wanted to check out the riding at Merli Sarnowski but it was a bit ambitious for this trip.
This weekend, I'm off to Kingdom Trails with the bro, something I am really looking forward to - I hope these past two weekends will have built up my stamina enough to keep up with him for a little while.
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