Sometimes you are faced with one of those questions that there is no correct answer yet there is also no wrong answer.
The subject question is one of those. At least it is for us lazy asses like myself.
Today was another early morning dog wake up, but at least I can go back to bed once they've been fed. Then up, we sit around and watch the tour all morning. (Tour De France on Versus that is). There's something about the coverage that I could just lay on the couch and do nothing. It's almost as if it saps my energy as if I've been riding. Who knows why?
So, about 1PM I've realized I need to ride, but the weather was cool, and well I just didn't want to. Especially I didn't want to do a road ride. The mountain biking around here is somewhat limited without having to travel some by car.
Well, I decided to ride off road. I figured well those trails out Sugar Camp Road, can use some more exploring, it takes about thirty minutes to get there, and maybe by then I'll feel like riding. If not, well I can turn around.
The last time I rode out here, I managed to find a route to Hurricane Creek Road. Prior to this road, looking at Google Earth, I thought I'd try another route to Hurricane Creek Road, then instead of coming back that way, I would head out to the new US 35 and go to Turkey Branch, then out at Crystal Springs and home.
Well on the trails, the first thing I noticed was that I didn't really program any way points into the GPS. These waypoints would have narrowed down what turns I was supposed to take, so I was simply going on memory. Naturally my memory is not so good. Hold on I have to get a beer, I have a few surviving brain cells yet.
Naturally I missed my intended turn. But that wasn't a problem, as the trail I was on was heavily traveled, and the GPS said I was heading in the same general the direction... So this was turning out to be a Louis & Clark ride.
The four wheeler path eventually came out onto the new section of US 35 just east of the Hurricane Creek Intersection. So I figured, I'll head east towards Turkey Branch.
On that note I was able to snap this picture right near where the trail came out on US 35. I encountered a gated trail, that headed in the general direction that I wanted to go, so I went exploring some more. However it was a dead end, as it went to a nice historic looking cabin.
Funny, I actually didn't notice the Posted Sign until reviewing the picture. These things happen like that when you're too busy fumbling with the auto picture on the camera and rushing back to get on the bike and beat the self timer.
US 35 to Turkey Branch, was four lanes of highway with roaring trucks going by, but during this meditative state I decided instead of coming out at Crystal Springs I would do the Sugar Camp road uphill and come out into Olympia Heights Subdivision.
This will add a decent offroad climb to do. Not single track but off road nonetheless. Well there was two steep sections that I guess I never noticed going down. They put a damper on my Mark Cavendish Climbing abilities as I swear I heard Phil Ligget telling me I cracked - and I did.
Twice
At the summit top, I take a short break before finishing the ride on pavement. Then the short section and onto pavement, finishing up along WV 34 and home.
All in all, it was a good ride, and enjoyable, and 2.5hrs long 22miles +/-. So if you find yourself asking if you should ride or not, go for it.
disclaimer, it wasn't five minutes once arriving home that the sky cracked and lighting flashed and thunder roared. If this had happened thirty or forty minutes earlier, well I would probably advise that if you are debating on riding or not, go with the "not".
