The area is beautiful right now. The stream crossings are almost axle deep in some areas.
This was a big day for me as I have been out for 18 months. Wasn't even sure if I was going to ride again.
In the interim and for motivation I had Roosty do a de-comp and I picked up a new/used 400 XC-W.
Right now I want to give Algava a big thanks for showing up and pushing me.
Since I had been out for so long, I wasn't sure how hard I wanted push.
So it starts out as we are getting ready I putted the pumpkin over to get a map and met a guy named Dan. Very cool guy who really likes motorcycles. He has 32. From nowhere he starts talking about Team Trubble and his trick 500. (Remember I am on a pumpkin and Al hasn't come over yet with his AF)
We broke the news to him, and he wasn't surprised. He said he had an uncomfortable feeling. (Dan wasn't born yesterday.)
He asks where we are going and I mention Deep Creek and he says great. He wants to go up by the bridge, up the little rocky incline and back into the nasty stuff.
I say I am not interested after my 18 mo lay off and an unfamiliar bike.
But he's welcome to come along. After he's geared up, he looks like a martian. He's has a camera on top of his helmet and one on his chin bar.
I point to him to lead and he says no, no. He is going to film us. I look to Al to lead, he motions to me. Great, 18 mos. off, unfamiliar bike and I'm on point. Hope they they don't get bored.
As I said earlier the stream crossings where deep and they were drenching my boots and a couple of chest and face shots.
Naturally I get us lost, but Dan points us right and we arrive down at Devil's Hole. It is FULL.
We are resting and I comment to Dan about my age and he has a few on me.
He's 66, with at least one knee replacement, maybe two. (I dont' recall)
He is also an ex hillclimber. He know's Robbies Dad from way back.
Yep, he can ride.
We leave Devil's Hole and find some single track. Traction is great, dust minimal. We come across and Suzuki who points out the 3 stuck guys on the ridge. He talks about the mud bog, the trench and the boulder in the way after the mud.
We agree, we go anyway. I come around the corner, the guys are pulled over to the left, I stay right and get bogged.
Here comes Al around the corner, I point to the left, he winds up in the trench and just Ditch Witch's it up and over and around the boulder.
Well, sheeeet. If he can do it, I can do it. As I try to pull out I realize I am unearthing a boulder and not going to go anywhere.
I realize I have limited time as Dan will be coming around the corner any moment. I yanked it up and out and Ditch Witched it up and over. (Those pour guys on the side getting major mud roost)
I meet up with Al and we are waiting wondering about Dan. Pretty soon he shows laughing himself silly. Apparently he had an incident over the handlebars and he has it on film. (66 and mule tough)
Away we go to more single track. We hit a stream running in the single track. I hardly even slow down, figure it's good place to clean the mud out of the knobbbies when about 1/4 the way up it I remember there is a route around it. So what, I am in it and Al's on my hip. It gets about axle deep, we carry on. We get to the end and merge with the trail and here comes Dan around it, again laughing. He says, you know most guys get about half way and turn around, not you guys.
We carry on, more single track more fun and head back to the trucks.
I'm reminincing about the ride and thinking this 400 XC-W is one fabulous bike and convince Al he needs to ride it and I'll take my AF out for ride up and around the lake over to the damn. He's on.
Dan's coming too. He rode a KTM earlier, we thought he was going to bring his Husky. He's bring a CR125.
He is bigger than both Al and I, not as big as Jay or Bob, but a 125??We go. Just when I thought the KTM was so good, I experienced the power of the 500 again. Oh yeh.
We stop and look at a nice climb and Dan wants to know if we are going to it. I don't care. He wants to go first to see if the 125 will make it. He makes it. Al goes on the 400. He makes it. I'm slipping and sliden all over but I do make it.
We stop and admire the view of the lake and I ask Al what he thinks.
I know what's coming. The same feeling I always have coming right a 500 and getting on a four poke.
It's OK, he wants to try my AF. No problem. We go the damn.
Admire the view and on the way back
Dan wants to climb the face entrance to N17X on the 125. He clears.
(The man can ride)
We are back at the truck chatting about the day. We did 58 miles. Dan's talking about going out later. I am done as I can hardly stand up. Al decides to call it a day too.
After 18 mos. it feels great and I feel like I'm set free. It's great to be back in the saddle again and I'll see you guys around.
Again, thanks Al.
"the game of life of is not so much in holding a good hand as playing a poor hand well"
