Pisgah

The moms had to take a trip to Asheville and wanted to drive the Fini but wanted company for the long drive from Maryland. Being the good son I am and knowing that Pisgah National Forest was next door I was happy to oblige.

Killing time at Sky Harbor. A man has got to stay properly hydrated on vacation.














Screw pillow mints - this is how it's done.














Fini the rocket car waiting to go. I drove a thousand miles in this car
and I can't even describe how fun that was (especially since I didn't get any tickets).














Navigator not askeered when the pilot breaks 100mph.
































Our very odd hotel.














After some walking around and a surprisingly excellent dinner at the hotel it was time for a night cap. Or two.














In the morning it was off to Pro Bikes in West Asheville (good folks) to see if they would let me try to fit a Yeti 575 in the Fini.
It works as long as you don't have a passenger.














I hooked up with local bikepacking aficionado, Shaun who offered to guide the ride.














We rode Laural Mtn, Pilot Rock and Slate Rock trails in 100% humidity. 15 miles and close to 3K feet of climbing was enough to punch my ticket.
















































































































































Pilot rock had some nice technical bits that we took no photos of but I did clean the rock garden.










































Creek crossing on slippery logs was the most treacherous part of the ride.




























After post ride libations and recollections it was time to drop off a dirty bike and get ready for dinner at Reza.
Incredible food.














On Saturday it was off to find a little family history in the form of a park that my great-great-great-grandfather donated to the city.


























Sadly it was mostly under construction and being renamed to the highest bidder.




























Then it was time for a quick lunch (Reza again) before we raced back to Maryland.














One last good meal before it was time to get on a plane on Sunday.




























It was a good trip and a nice break. Thanks.

Monsoon commute

It's high time the Monsoons hit and hit they have. We've gotten hammered a few times.
I love this time of year so the chance of getting wet on my commute only made me more inclined to ride.

When I left the house it looked like I was going to be chasing the storm.














It was nice and cool out.














The sky started to look a tad different.














I hit some aftermath.














It started to sprinkle.














A curtain of rain blocking the view of South Mountain.






















Then it started to rain.


















It rained harder.














And even harder.














Then it got pre-apocalyptic.














I stopped taking photos and hauled the mail to the office.
My cube was pretty rank and a source of entertainment for the day.

how to ride a thnr in the heat

Do seek shade whenever you feel like it.


















Do freeze one Polar Bottle and fill the other with ice and water.














Do unzip that jersey.














Do sweat. Alot.














Do stop by friend's houses for cold beverages.














Do ride away from the sun.














Do explore.


















Do stop to admire the scenery.




































Do take tips (and stay off the dike).














Do fill your bottles whenever you can.














Do save the single track climbing until the sun gos down.














Don't get flats.

115

That was hot enough to chase us from the valley for a night in the pines.