DS Roads Less Traveled 4/23

[LeeDavis]

Tom, Broz and I took off for some dual sporting and to try out some unexplored by us roads. They didn't disappoint.

The forest service road between Table Rock Rd and 181 is similar quality to Table Rock Rd so that's a nice discovery. Next new road on the list was Old House Gap Rd - quite an adventure. It goes on for miles and a lot of it is single track rocks. See video and pics below. The last road to try was another forest service that would be a nice alternate to get over to Maple Sally but it was gated and closed. Crap! We took the regular way down to the little store on Edgemont, stopped for a drink, talked to The Guy In The Wheelchair, then up dusty ass 90 to Maple Sally. Broz had a hilarious tip over trying to outrun some dogs chasing him near Maple Grove Church. With Broz on the ground the dogs declared victory and left. I got home with the bike and me covered in grime and dried mud - redneck fun!

Here's video of Old House Gap Rd. The 1st 30 seconds is from where we started then it cuts to part of the mid-section up to where we took a break to gird our loins. https://vimeo.com/92831155

Getting fired up to to tackle Old House Gap

Here's what happens when I decide to go through a mud hole rather than around it like Broz and Tom. Oops! My cohorts found this very entertaining so it wasn't all wasted effort.

[Bob]

Wow--great ride! I wanna see the mud hole on video!

[LeeDavis]

Wow--great ride! I wanna see the mud hole on video!

I'm trying to recover the trashed video file that captured that. My camera and GPS both decided to crap out in the mud. Worthless slackers!

[Broz]

Nice road selections Lee! What a great day. Loved Maple Sally too, and lets not forget the Bob's Creek Crossing section. I enjoyed the video but for those that were not there the video does not begin to show the challenges that road had in store for us (except seeing Lee's windshield bouncing up and down). Next time I encounter dogs I will just let them try to get me as opposed trying to out run them on a unfamiliar road.
Broz

[Bob]

Anybody got a track of the whole day they can post?

[LeeDavis]

Anybody got a track of the whole day they can post?

Because the unmapped by Google forest service road I wanted to take over to Maple Sally was closed the Google Map of the route I posted in Upcoming Day Rides is exactly it. http://goo.gl/maps/KkdKT Well, everything except the little extra for lunch at Christa's.

[LeeDavis]

I enjoyed the video but for those that were not there the video does not begin to show the challenges that road had in store for us (except seeing Lee's windshield bouncing up and down).
Broz

Video tames all roads without exception which is why you see so many boring ass ride videos. If you see a road that looks interesting in the video you can be sure it's one heck of a road.

[Bob]

Yeah, that road that was gated, I call the Mortimer Bypass--scoots around the north side between Edgemont and 90. I have only ridden it once--that was the only time I ever passed it and it was open. A week later it was closed again. Dunno why the forest service is so damn picky about that road. Its a nice little stretch.

Strange, Old House Gap Rd is listed as Grassy Prong in Mapsource.

[Bob]

Video tames all roads without exception which is why you see so many boring ass ride videos. If you see a road that looks interesting in the video you can be sure it's one heck of a road.

Agreed. That road looked like a steep rutted rock garden to me. Was it uphill the whole length?

[LeeDavis]

Video tames all roads without exception which is why you see so many boring ass ride videos. If you see a road that looks interesting in the video you can be sure it's one heck of a road.

Agreed. That road looked like a steep rutted rock garden to me. Was it uphill the whole length?

It doesn't really show up that way on the video but it's more, up/down/up/down...endlessly in close succession. Too bad the 2nd video corrupted because we had to make a not long but very steep climb over large, loose rocks right after the break. If the bike speed wasn't just-so you crashed, either from bogging down or getting tossed off the trail.

[Brick]

Excellent! I think it might have been too tough for me on my big pig! I would love to do that on January Clapp's new (used) Yamaha XT250 dual sport!


Brick

[beachy]

looks like a lot of fun. nice video Lee

[LeeDavis]

Strange, Old House Gap Rd is listed as Grassy Prong in Mapsource.

Both Garmin Maps and OpenStreetMap I used to create the route call it Grassy Prong so that's more likely correct but I displayed the route for the forum with Google Maps which calls it Old House Gap so that's what I've been using. Road naming conventions on maps for that area are all over the place.

I'm going to explore some more from the north side which is a little bit easier ride and try the turn off to Yancey Ridge Trail then back down to Roseboro on Rockhouse Creek Rd. Should be fun! http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=15/36.0603/-81.8005&layers=N

[Bob]

It looks like the northern-most section of Rockhouse is also called Old House Gap...and it connects into the Old House that you road close to Edgemont. You're right, i think people up there have called these roads whatever they wanted to for centuries (2 or 3 anyway) confusing the mapmakers.

[Broz]

If you want the tracks go find me on Checkmytour and look for ride on 4/23. I started the tracks when we pulled off 181 to air down our tires and forgot to shut it off until I was on I-85 almost home.
FYI Bruce (the guy in electric wheel chair at the general store) also called it Old Gap House Rd. It sounds like it is the go to rd for most challenging roads because he said, "If you want a good road......."there was a gated rd about halfway on O ld G ap House that was closed.
Broz

[LeeDavis]

I discovered my dump into the mud broke my lower right fairing. It's made from polyethylene plastic so I'm going to have to get a special Loctite glue to mend it then fill and paint. It's always something!

[Bob]

I discovered my dump into the mud broke my lower right fairing. It's made from polyethylene plastic so I'm going to have to get a special Loctite glue to mend it then fill and paint. It's always something!

I had crash bars on my KLR. It fell over on 105 into a ditch and not a scratch. Course they add a few lbs.....