Epic DS July 16

[LeeDavis]

Epic fun! The cool temps and the lush forest were more like late May than middle of July and we explored many unnamed branch roads and trails. Only once did a side trip devolve to an impassable goat trail but even that was good...it gave us he-man adventure status. Time ran short before we ran out of explorations. Broz, The Hulk, moved a big ass log blocking a way around the gate to Yancey Ridge Trail but that ride will need a commitment to beat the way down to a possible exit on Roseboro Rd. We'll have to return for that one.

Bob took lots of pics so I hope he posts them up. I didn't take many but here're a couple.

Bob is way too big to be the troll on Hobbit Bridge.

Great views in the Jonas Ridge area from this little cemetery on a hill.

[Bob]

Lee, Broz, and I met around 10'ish at the Food Lion parking lot on 181 after trailering our DRZ's from Charlotte.

After gearing up, the first destination was to check out some side roads off of Craigs Creek Rd.
Say, WTF was that growling sound?

Maybe it came from this dark spooky grotto.....lets check it out.....

Damn its dark in here....

Holy superheroes, Batman---its LUMINESCENT MAN. Lets GTF outta here!

We then headed down an obscure road running south off of Pineola Rd. After a few miles, Broz frantically stopped and made a quick 180. What was happening?

Oh, now I see why. He didn't want to be a survivor.

There was a small family cemetary there also--Lee seemed oblivious to the foreboding message over his shoulder....(clik pic to see it)

Anyway, we all reversed course back up the way we came.

Lee wanted to try this "nice little grassy 2-track" he had seen on the way down. Somehow I just couldn't quite discern the 2nd track though. It looked more like a grassy hiking trail to me. Then the trees closed in.

It didn't last long before we (barely) got turned around and headed back to the relative safety of gravel.

We were getting hungry and headed up Pineola towards some chow at Christa's but stopped briefly to check out a grassy knoll off Old Jonas Ridge Rd. and the view it provided of Grandfather Mtn. There was a rather nice cemetary here also.

Obligatory food porn at Christa's.

After Christa's, we rode some twisties on 221 and then took Edgemont Rd. down to a side trip over to Yancey Ridge Rd. where Lee was reduced to tears when he realized the nasty forest service rangers had gated it. So Broz, being the nice guy, scofflaw, and burly hulk that he is, took it upon himself to move a few trees so he could at least ride around the gate and report back to Lee on the conditions of the road. Here is videographic testimony of what a selfless, prince of a guy he really is.

http://vid246.photobucket.com/albums/gg ... G_2312.mp4


I'll let Broz chime in on his findings......

[Broz]

Nice job w the pics and blow by blow so others could live vicariously thru us....for a change. Here is a pic of the rout on Checkmytour.

[LeeDavis]

Great pics Bob!

[Bob]

If you are viewing this thru Tapatalk, part of the ride report text does not appear for some reason, so thats why it may seem disjointed.