CT Connection

• Place: Big River
• Trailhead: Exit 7 PP
• Riders with OMMB: Jeremy, Dan
• Miles:12-ish
• Weather: to quote Alan W... "perfect riding weather"
• Temp: 50
• Trail Conditions: perfect
• GPS Track:
  

  

Notes: Met up with my favorite bootleggers from CT on a great day to ride.  It was Dan's return from his spectacular crash at Kingdom Trails last year.  He hasn't slowed a bit.  Jeremy was tearing it up as usual on the new Fat Boy 29er (whoops! I mean Tall Boy 29er).  The old "fat boy", aka OMMB, was lagging behind near the end of the ride, but all good considering what little riding was done this Winter.  A couple of memory lapses, but we basically followed our favorite loop on the Carr Pond side.  Seems to me...perfect riding weather is back from hiatus!! 

Tidbits: Dear Wanda has seen better days...

Happy Trails,

OMMB

A ride...

...with Bob and new guy Brandon for 5 or so at Village Park.  Had a good time...sort of a "break-in" ride for the Spring (and Brandon).

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Mucky Muck

Notes:  Jesse K9 and I went out for a little check up of conditions in Swansea.  After the quick melting snow we received overnight, if was far more wetter and muddier than usual.   Still got a decent ride in for 5.25 miles.  Jesse had a blast running through some pretty deep puddles on Bridges. Lot's of mud on J-Lo, Leap Three, and Graveyard.  In general, dog loved the conditions, old guy did not. 

Happy Spring Trails,

OMMB

Another ride...another gator

• Place: Marrington Trails, Goose Creek, SC
• Riders with OMMB: Teri, Sadie, Greg
• Miles: 12.5
• Weather: perfect, clear and dry
• Trail Conditions: perfect, clear and dry
• Wildlife: Gator Mom let Gator Baby lay on a log near the trail...a little camera shy, but I got one
• Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: Greg did his best impression of several "I can't clip out flops", entertaining
• GPS Track:

Notes: Another tour through the southern forest, looping the more technical side of the trail system.  Lots of fun with whoop-dees and variety of terrain.  The "Amazon" looked like the Amazon, not that I've been there, but it's what I would imagine the Amazon may look like....well, with smaller gators, no crocs, and a few bikers.

Look at the little mini-gator!

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Scoping Summerville

Cruised over to check out some wooded areas. Mostly flat dirt roads, good enough to ride. Hit some woods, hit some tar.  Should have stayed in the woods...got lost trying to loop back quicker by taking the road. Bad plan.
 

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Aaaaaaaa...alligator!!!!

• Place: Marrington Plantation Trails - Goose Creek, SC
• Trailhead: Naval Weapons Station
• Riders with OMMB: Teri and Sadie
• Miles: 9.5-ish
• Weather:  Overcast
• Temp: 70
• Trail Conditions: excellent
• Technical Level: easy
• Wildlife:  um yeah... see below
• Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets:  just one "whoops" by Sadie...forgot to put her foot down
• GPS Track: GPS didn't track the first couple of miles, but I'll fill it in later...  http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/2150543

Here's the map... https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5i71gqJB5xbTTBNUEZ4Tnl1ejg/edit?usp=sharing

Notes: Well if you look up smooth, flat, fast trails in the MTB dictionary, surely a picture of this place will come up!  Not to say that's a bad thing, especially when you're taking your daughter for her first MTB ride, and your wife hasn't ridden all New England Winter...this is a great place to keep the peace!  Fun, easy, winding trails with real nice southern forest and river scenery, very well marked.  The trail loops are long for a beginner since there are not many loop-back options, but the flowing trails make it easy to keep going, along with inspirational signage coaxing you on (the trail is also used for Navy Training).  We saw an egret at Mary's Landing, a dead mole (biggest I've seen), and at one point when I sped around a corner, from behind me I heard "aaaaaaaa an alligator" from Sadie.  I'm thinking, "she's kidding, right?".  Wrong.  An "Oh  my GOD, an alligator" from Teri confirmed it.   It was laying on the river shoreline, a few feet from the trail, I had cruised right by the thing.  So we stopped and gawked.  About 5 feet of unblinking lizard.  NOT what I would ask for on a trail, but cool to see in the wild.  Great time!!   (I believe Sadie did like her first ride!!)

Tidbits:  When there's too much snow to ride next Winter...drive South!   Oh and recommend padded bike pants to new riders! ;)

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Big River Big Mistake

Notes: K9 and OMMB ventured down to Burnt Sawmill Rd in hopes of finding ride-able conditions at Big River.  Wrong.  Well, mostly wrong.  The first few miles, which included Archie and that trail that follows Carr River, Out and Back I think it's called, were real good.  That was the last of clear trails we hit.  At the end of Out and Back, I took New London Turnpike towards the fork to Sweet Saw Mill Rd.  It sucked, pushed through snow and a giant tree or two down.  Tried to take the trail around Sweet Pond, spent more time cutting fallen trees and more pushing through snow.  Worst 7 miles I've ever ridden...no lie.

Good news, Jesse had a blast.  Bad news, another storm on the way....I'm not going back to this area for a good long time!

Tidbits:  Had the pleasure of helping out some of our National Guard who got their van stuck getting ready for a training exercise tomorrow.  They had unlocked the gate on Burnt Sawmill Rd so I was able to 4x4 down to them and help get them out.  They were very appreciative...wooraa.  

Archie survived the winter, even sporting a new sandal necklace.

Sweet Sawmill Rd

Trail around Sweet Pond...no fun.

Another biggin'

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Anyone got a lung brush...

...because I think a bird made a nest in my lungs over the extended snow break!!

Good news is... the Swansea Village Park trails are clear!  Aside from some typical Spring-ride type of mud and water, and some large trees down, all good.  There's even a new feature that the energetic Trail Elves put together using a downed tree.

It's skinny,
it's high,
it's NOT for this old guy!!!

Happy Trails,

OMMB and K9 (aka Jesse Dog)