Monday morning, I got an early start over to the cabin at the Syllamo Trails. It had rained a bunch, so I had no intention of riding the trails, though I did need some very focused climbing efforts. So, I set up the hardtail with tires I’m likely going to use for the Ogre 150 and DK200 gravel grinders and headed west.
After unpacking and eating lunch, I bundled up (it was cloudy, damp, and barely 50 degrees out) and went over to do a route that would hit 5 decent-sized climbs just off the main gravel road- Green Mountain. For whatever reason, I felt compelled to take a selfie at the bottom of each one with the exception of the “opener” up Green Mountain Road at the beginning of the ride.
First was Sandy Flat. My hopeful plan was to take Sandy Flat road across from Green Mountain to Bear Rd. However, I knew there was a very strong chance that the road would be flooded at the bottom- normally not an issue if it’s warm outside, but definitely an issue when it’s under 50. Of course, when I arrived at the bottom, it was about knee deep. I bushwhacked up and down stream a bit, but couldn’t find a good place to get across without soaking myself. So, it was time to snap a couple of photos and hammer back to the top the way I’d come in…
Next out & back was down to Gunner Pool Campground…
At that point, I was feeling almost like I was going too fast up the climbs. I kept the pace conservatively fast since I was only three climbs in to a 5 climb (and endless numbers of steep rollers) ride. At the top, I made the turn back on the Green Mountain and took it easy until I got to the Tie Ridge Rd split to go down to Barkshed Campground.
I continued to feel awesome going uphill, and, once I was at the top, ate a snack and headed back down Green Mountain road to hit the final out & back (Blanchard Road) before continuing on to the car. I realized pretty quickly that I should add some extra climbing inside the Blanchard Springs park in order for my ride to hit its 4 hour prescribed time. However, the temperature was dropping, and I was getting really cold…
I hammered my way back to the top of Blanchard. My quads finally started to protest, but, being the final climb of the day, I pushed through it all the way back to Green Mountain road. There, I donned my windbreaker and took off for the last push to the White River Bluff trailhead where I’d parked my car. It was only about 5 big rollers away from being all downhill…
Back at the cabin, I drained the hot water heater trying to warm myself up in the shower. Once I was cozy and settled back in, it was time for a killer dinner for one (ok, I may have “accidentally” dropped some for Indy)…
Indy and I rotted our brains with hours of TV in the recliner
The moon was pretty amazing on Indy’s pre-bedtime walk-
Tuesday morning, I was up early to pack the car and get moving so that I could get home and do some afternoon recovery stuff (blog update, chiropractor, and an easy spin) as well as do laundry and re-pack to head out again for another two-day dose of Arkansas mountains.
