Excellent ride report, as always Eric! I appreciate the little details you 
choose to include. As a fellow swoopy hillibike rider, I am curious a bit 
about your companion’s setup on his Susie and his experience. Maybe you can 
convince him to share his perspective too. It would be really cool to have 
two different perspectives and setups from the same ride!

I am right there with you on the aversion to drinking from plastic these 
days. Something has changed with me these past few years where I have 
started phasing out all my plastic drinking containers because when I use 
them, I seem to strongly taste the plastic and it really turns me off. I 
don’t think it is related to COVID or anything because to my knowledge I 
still have not been infected by it. But something has definitely changed, 
and as a result I’ve switched to all-stainless or titanium drinking 
vessels. The only pass I give is to my trusty Aeropress, because the coffee 
it makes is just too damn good!

On Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 10:52:52 PM UTC-5 J J wrote:

> Eric, thanks for the report. It was nicely structured and written with 
> such gentle thoughtfulness. Thanks also for sharing your packing list in so 
> much detail. I wonder if there have ever been recipe exchange threads on 
> this forum: what to prepare to eat when you’re taking a ride on your 
> Rivendell :) The scones and soup sounded delicious! Your report inspired a 
> strong urge to ride. 
>
> Jim
>
> On Nov 19, 2022, at 21:24, MoVelo <jlpo...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Excellent report. Thanks for sharing with us what sounds like an epic 
> adventure.
>
>
>
> On Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 3:15:59 PM UTC-6 alancrai...@gmail.com 
> wrote:
>
>> Great report. Sounds like a fantastic ride and near perfect 
>> accommodations for a rustic overnighter. Thanks for sharing! 
>>
>> On Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 6:44:49 AM UTC-8 eric...@gmail.com 
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks, brizbarn. Overpacking is my strong suit regardless of where I'm 
>>> going or for how long! 
>>>
>>> I haven't been tested in a laboratory setting but I think I'm sweat at 
>>> an unusually high rate. Has always been true of me. I was definitely quite 
>>> thirsty at the end of the day and would have preferred to drink even more 
>>> water as the cabin dried out from the woodstove. I have some sport tops but 
>>> another personal sensory thing for me is drinking over plastic, I don't 
>>> like it for hot or cold drinks and I prefer a metal edge. I didn't mind 
>>> stopping a few times to swig some water while riding. 
>>>
>>> I do wonder if maybe I was over dressed but I didn't feel like I was 
>>> burning up, just sweating like mad. I might have liked a lighter sweater, 
>>> something like the Wooly Warm jerseys but without the weird cut, fit and 
>>> pockets (they're great, they just don't fit me right). 
>>>
>>> The camp pillow is great. Could be a deal breaker for some due to weight 
>>> but it compresses pretty well and it's very comfy, doesn't flatten out like 
>>> some. 
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks for reading, Jake! And watching too!
>>>
>>>
>>> I appreciate it Roberta, that's quite kind of you to say!
>>>
>>> On Friday, November 18, 2022 at 1:31:50 PM UTC-5 brizbarn wrote:
>>>
>>>> It's always easy to overpack, or at least feel like you did when you're 
>>>> pedaling up a hill.  I wouldn't say your pack list is overly excessive 
>>>> tho, 
>>>> it looks like everything fit in your bags just fine, which is a plus.  I'm 
>>>> tend to overflow my bags which are slightly smaller than yours on 
>>>> overnighters, but I'm usually glad I have everything that I packed.  On a 
>>>> recent overnighter I took a thicker, better R-value sleeping pad and that 
>>>> helped me sleep much better.  I also tried not to over-hydrate, which in 
>>>> the past I think I did often, especially later in the day.  This time 
>>>> paying attention to when I was actually thirsty, not just drinking a lot 
>>>> to 
>>>> "stay hydrated".  This NPR Life Kit 
>>>> <https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1124371309>busts some water drinking 
>>>> myths and was helpful for me.   A "sport top" on your Kleen Kanteen may be 
>>>> helpful for sipping while riding, and maybe a bottom downtube bottle cage 
>>>> to get some water weight lower down.  I ride with a front rando bag on my 
>>>> bike most of the time, which maybe acclimates me to having some weight up 
>>>> front on trips.  Being soaked in sweat on a cold day is never fun either, 
>>>> maybe too much wool while climbing?  Glad you were able to get comfy with 
>>>> the fire tho.  I might need to check out that camp pillow before next 
>>>> season.  Makes me want to try a cold weather trip! 
>>>>
>>>> On Friday, November 18, 2022 at 9:57:09 AM UTC-8 eric...@gmail.com 
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Thank you Stephen, Ryan and Keith. 
>>>>>
>>>>> It's my first trip, lots to learn and even un-learn! I'm glad we stuck 
>>>>> it out for the weather. Will be all the better earlier in the season. But 
>>>>> here in Virginia we could get some 70 degree days in December... 
>>>>>
>>>>> On Friday, November 18, 2022 at 11:19:41 AM UTC-5 Stephen wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hey Eric,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Great ride report, really enjoyed reading it along with the previous 
>>>>>> day ride you posted! Love seeing reports of Appalachian overnighters. 
>>>>>> Having all that weight sure makes the ride harder, I got spanked last 
>>>>>> year 
>>>>>> taking my Joe on the Wilson's ramble in nc by naively planning my daily 
>>>>>> mileage based on how fast I ride unloaded.. ended up running low on food 
>>>>>> and shortening the route. Good for you getting out in the cold weather!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> cheers,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Stephen
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Friday, November 18, 2022 at 10:11:40 AM UTC-5 eric...@gmail.com 
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thank you all for the nice comments and for reading along. 
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Dave — That was the most weight I've had in the front bag for 
>>>>>>> anything more than a quick ride home from the co-op. It did effect the 
>>>>>>> handling but I got used to it pretty quickly. There were a few times 
>>>>>>> while 
>>>>>>> climbing when I was trying to maneuver around a rock in the road and 
>>>>>>> ended 
>>>>>>> up kinda tipping over, no big deal. 
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I'm eager to revise my packing to get the weight way down. I've 
>>>>>>> attached a packing list that's accurate to the best of my memory. It's 
>>>>>>> a 
>>>>>>> lot. I'd also love to go rackless. I tried to mount the Chest from my 
>>>>>>> saddle but couldn't get it all worked out. I've had parts laying around 
>>>>>>> for 
>>>>>>> a bootlegged Pec Deck for some time. 
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Randy — It was certainly different than my last trip out of town 
>>>>>>> with a fancy hotel stay for a wedding and paid for by my in-laws! 
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Friday, November 18, 2022 at 9:05:11 AM UTC-5 rmro...@gmail.com 
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Intoxicating read! Now I have the “itch” real bad.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Nov 17, 2022, at 8:22 PM, Eric Marth <eric...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Ride Report: Hawksbill Slope Cabin Overnighter
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> 14-15 November 2022
>>>>>>>> 64 miles, 7,250 ft elevation 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> [image: 05 Skyline 2 SM.jpg]
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> This summer and early fall passed without any camping or overnight 
>>>>>>>> trips by bicycle. So a series of rides and ideas came together and I 
>>>>>>>> booked 
>>>>>>>> a primitive cabin for Monday night, earlier this week. I decided to 
>>>>>>>> make a 
>>>>>>>> loop of some fire roads I checked out in September with a stop for the 
>>>>>>>> night in the middle. Once I made the reservation I reached out to Paul 
>>>>>>>> R. 
>>>>>>>> to see if he’d like to join. To my surprise he was game for a Monday 
>>>>>>>> night 
>>>>>>>> out. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Temperatures Monday were predicted to peak in the high 40s and dip 
>>>>>>>> down well below freezing up on the mountain where we’d be staying. 
>>>>>>>> Rain and 
>>>>>>>> snow were in the cards for our return on Tuesday and warming up to 
>>>>>>>> 38º. 
>>>>>>>> With bad weather and short days in mind we met at the cracking hour of 
>>>>>>>> 11:00 AM. We would have preferred to start earlier but obligations 
>>>>>>>> sometimes call for a late start or no start at all. I unloaded my 
>>>>>>>> Appaloosa 
>>>>>>>> and did a final check of my luggage and gear. Paul arrived with his XL 
>>>>>>>> Susie Longbolts shoved in the back seat of his Honda. Even with the 
>>>>>>>> front 
>>>>>>>> wheel removed the wheelbase barely allowed the back doors to close. By 
>>>>>>>> 11:50 we were on our way, with temperatures comfortably in the high 
>>>>>>>> 40s. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> [image: 02 Syria SM.jpg]
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The first eight miles took us through beautiful rolling countryside 
>>>>>>>> with cattle grazing, old brick houses on hills and the last rusty 
>>>>>>>> brown 
>>>>>>>> vestiges of crumbling foliage. We were on a mix of pavement and 
>>>>>>>> well-maintained gravel roads. The route took us through a neighborhood 
>>>>>>>> of 
>>>>>>>> small beautiful farms on a road that runs parallel to a stream. The 
>>>>>>>> road 
>>>>>>>> continued on in a way that felt like trespassing as we rode between 
>>>>>>>> barns, 
>>>>>>>> over corn and soy fields, past a tractor shed and through fields cut 
>>>>>>>> for 
>>>>>>>> hay. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Next we turned onto a painted highway with a posted speed of 45mph 
>>>>>>>> and rode along for about two miles. During our first day this was our 
>>>>>>>> only 
>>>>>>>> stretch of riding with paint on the road. We skirted around a mountain 
>>>>>>>> and 
>>>>>>>> had our first fun and short descent on a twisty paved road. We pulled 
>>>>>>>> into 
>>>>>>>> a neighborhood of old apple-packing warehouses and a convenience store 
>>>>>>>> with 
>>>>>>>> a deli, likely a good place to stop, according to Paul who ran inside. 
>>>>>>>> Bulk 
>>>>>>>> candy, camping goods, deli sandwiches and the rest. We surveyed a few 
>>>>>>>> bins 
>>>>>>>> full of local apples that were stationed out on the road. I found my 
>>>>>>>> local 
>>>>>>>> favorite, the Black Twig and we got four apples for $2. They were 
>>>>>>>> fantastically good. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> [image: 03 Road SM.jpg]
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> We enjoyed some more lovely country riding before starting on a 
>>>>>>>> long climb that took our elevation from 600 feet to 3,500 feet over 18 
>>>>>>>> miles without interruption. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The way up is via a wooded fire and maintenance road that is at 
>>>>>>>> times quite rocky but easily passible by bike… if your legs are up for 
>>>>>>>> it. 
>>>>>>>> You would need a serious 4x4 vehicle with clearance to make it up 
>>>>>>>> these 
>>>>>>>> roads and the few campers and people out fishing were in one-ton 
>>>>>>>> trucks. 
>>>>>>>> There are a few steep, rocky, loose descents on the way up, short 
>>>>>>>> reprieves 
>>>>>>>> from long and steady climbing. According to my GPS we climbed for 
>>>>>>>> three 
>>>>>>>> hours. We took one snack break early on and had a few quick stops but 
>>>>>>>> for 
>>>>>>>> the most part we were grinding away. Paul longed for a bag of potato 
>>>>>>>> chips, 
>>>>>>>> craving salt and tired of all the chewing required of his nutty trail 
>>>>>>>> mix. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I don’t have many pictures from this section as I was very focussed 
>>>>>>>> on trying to make it to the cabin before dark. The early sunset and 
>>>>>>>> our 
>>>>>>>> vital camp chores were top of mind. Once we arrived we needed to 
>>>>>>>> gather 
>>>>>>>> firewood and water. Without electricity or plumbing we were reliant on 
>>>>>>>> the 
>>>>>>>> woodstove for heat and the spring for hydration. Stumbling around in 
>>>>>>>> steep 
>>>>>>>> and unfamiliar terrain searching for wood and water was something I 
>>>>>>>> hoped 
>>>>>>>> to avoid. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> As we were passing a gate with signs that announced bicycles were 
>>>>>>>> prohibited we encountered a traveller on a flat bar mountain bike with 
>>>>>>>> disks. We had a short chat about where he was headed and I gave him 
>>>>>>>> the 
>>>>>>>> best directions I could. When I asked how much further we had to the 
>>>>>>>> top he 
>>>>>>>> said it was “a few miles.” Later on I realized he was tempering our 
>>>>>>>> distance and trying to be encouraging. The spinning continued. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Once we were within five miles of the top Paul said something like 
>>>>>>>> “It’s gotta end, soon! It’s can’t all be up!” We finally reached the 
>>>>>>>> top of 
>>>>>>>> our climb and made it out to the national parkway that cuts along the 
>>>>>>>> mountain. I had mentioned to Paul there was a combination 
>>>>>>>> restaurant/convenience store/gas station where he could grab a snack. 
>>>>>>>> Once 
>>>>>>>> we were within eye shot he sprinted to the building only to find it 
>>>>>>>> was 
>>>>>>>> closed for the season. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The golden last light fell on the road with my shadow attenuating 
>>>>>>>> to nearly twenty feet. With a swift and steep descent ahead I pulled 
>>>>>>>> my 
>>>>>>>> massive goose down jacket from my front bag and zipped it on. Paul 
>>>>>>>> donned a 
>>>>>>>> down vest and we both switched to warmer gloves. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> We were three miles from our cabin but I had improvised our way to 
>>>>>>>> get there attempting to take a short fire and maintenance road instead 
>>>>>>>> of 
>>>>>>>> part of the Appalachian Trail. I assumed it would be easier to get the 
>>>>>>>> bikes down a road than a trail. The sparsely-used trail was ungroomed, 
>>>>>>>> covered with sticks and bumpy but ride-able. We reached the AT and had 
>>>>>>>> a 
>>>>>>>> moment of map and GPS confusion trying to determine which way to go. I 
>>>>>>>> found a concrete trail marker that pointed us to the cabin. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> After a short and rocky descent on the trail (partly ride-able) we 
>>>>>>>> arrived at the cabin and to a spectacular, unexpected view of the 
>>>>>>>> Massanutten Range with beautiful bands of color across the ridge right 
>>>>>>>> at 
>>>>>>>> the edge of dark. It was a stunning view from the front of the cabin, 
>>>>>>>> with 
>>>>>>>> a clearing through the trees and into the valley town beyond. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> [image: 06 Cabin SM.jpg]
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> We had made it but it was getting dark. I rode up wearing one 
>>>>>>>> merino baselayer and a wool sweater (all of it 100% wool) with wool 
>>>>>>>> cycling 
>>>>>>>> shorts. I was quite wet with my own sweat. I was worried about getting 
>>>>>>>> enough wood gathered to get warm and stay warm. With our headlamps we 
>>>>>>>> started collecting branches, sticks and twigs. Paul dragged a few 
>>>>>>>> large 
>>>>>>>> fallen limbs up to the cabin and began sawing them into stove-sized 
>>>>>>>> chunks. 
>>>>>>>> A lot of the area had been picked through by previous visitors and, of 
>>>>>>>> course, all the best wood was down a very steep, very rocky ravine. 
>>>>>>>> But 
>>>>>>>> there was no shortage of the stuff, to my relief. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> [image: 07 Ridge SM.jpg]
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I found a swiftly running spring and filled an 8L sack. I couldn’t 
>>>>>>>> resist kneeling down and having a sip. It was delicious. I have no 
>>>>>>>> experience with drinking from springs and wild water but can’t 
>>>>>>>> recommend 
>>>>>>>> it, I don’t know how safe or unsafe it really is. I attached a water 
>>>>>>>> filter 
>>>>>>>> to the bag and we had delicious, cold, clean water for the night. I 
>>>>>>>> eagerly 
>>>>>>>> drank a lot of it. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> In my home we heat with wood but each stove has its own personality 
>>>>>>>> and the big rusted beauty in the cabin took a little getting used to. 
>>>>>>>> When 
>>>>>>>> we arrived the cabin was 40º inside and we raised the temperature up 
>>>>>>>> to 
>>>>>>>> 68º, quite cozy. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The cabin was a delight, made from square post timbers and stones. 
>>>>>>>> There’s a deep porch with a table and a fireplace. Inside are four 
>>>>>>>> large 
>>>>>>>> bunks, a little kitchen area and another table. Paul was delighted to 
>>>>>>>> find 
>>>>>>>> six large, heavy wool blankets and four mattresses. There was also 
>>>>>>>> salt, 
>>>>>>>> olive oil, mouse traps, Pepto Bismol, instant coffee, soap and 
>>>>>>>> seasonings. 
>>>>>>>> There was a coffee pot, cost iron skillet and a dutch over. Cutlery, 
>>>>>>>> too. 
>>>>>>>> Puzzles, cards and books. Tools for the stove, tools for cutting and 
>>>>>>>> splitting wood. We were really set. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I got changed into dry wool tights and baselayers and wrapped one 
>>>>>>>> of the big blankets around me like a shawl. I warmed up before long 
>>>>>>>> and 
>>>>>>>> started eating for really the first time all day. I’d had some peanut 
>>>>>>>> butter nuggets and trail mix on the way up, along with my two apples. 
>>>>>>>> I 
>>>>>>>> enjoyed a soft-boiled egg, an avocado and some dark chocolate. I had 
>>>>>>>> also 
>>>>>>>> brought along a Nalgene full of a butternut squash and kale minestrone 
>>>>>>>> I 
>>>>>>>> made for the trip. It’s a favorite and was a comfort to have up in the 
>>>>>>>> cabin. I used my Trangia stove to heat the soup (and make a few cups 
>>>>>>>> of 
>>>>>>>> chamomile tea) but in the process accidentally burned a rubber gasket 
>>>>>>>> that 
>>>>>>>> fell out of the lid of my alcohol burner. It left a blackened sooty 
>>>>>>>> mess I 
>>>>>>>> struggled to clean up. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> We were both tired but enjoyed the stove and marveled at just how 
>>>>>>>> great the cabin was. I really loved it. We chatted about bikes and 
>>>>>>>> rides 
>>>>>>>> and builds and thoughts about Rivendell and what might come next. I 
>>>>>>>> was 
>>>>>>>> delighted that my wool layers, sweater and cap all dried out by the 
>>>>>>>> woodstove. I’d have nice dry clothes for the ride in the morning. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I made up my bed with one of the mattresses over the wood slats, a 
>>>>>>>> wool blanket, then my Western Mountaineering quilt and another wool 
>>>>>>>> blanket. I had packed a small memory foam pillow (Amazon special, 
>>>>>>>> oddly 
>>>>>>>> made in USA) and I was (truly, dear reader) as comfy if not *more 
>>>>>>>> so* than in my bed at home. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> While I was warm, dry and comfy I’d wager I got about an hour of 
>>>>>>>> sleep. I believe I was really cranked on adrenaline and cortisol from 
>>>>>>>> the 
>>>>>>>> effort to get up the mountain and make it to camp to get everything 
>>>>>>>> done. 
>>>>>>>> Despite the pleasant thoughts in my head I just couldn’t calm down 
>>>>>>>> enough 
>>>>>>>> to get to sleep. I’d done the same ride in September (and an 
>>>>>>>> additional 44 
>>>>>>>> miles on top of what I rode to the cabin, all in one go) and while it 
>>>>>>>> was 
>>>>>>>> tough it didn’t completely slay me. I was bodied by the ride on 
>>>>>>>> Monday. 
>>>>>>>> This time I had the Appaloosa, small Nitto racks and 26 pounds of 
>>>>>>>> gear. 
>>>>>>>> Last time I was on the Hillborne with a very light front load and no 
>>>>>>>> racks. 
>>>>>>>> I really could have used the sleep. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I got up several times to stoke the fire and to pee. Standing 
>>>>>>>> outside in the cold wind with the bare trees silhouetted against the 
>>>>>>>> bright 
>>>>>>>> starlight was wonderful. The town in the valley below twinkled warmly. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> [image: 08 Cabin SM.jpg]
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The two of use were up and in a churn of packing, eating and 
>>>>>>>> cleaning up. We needed to get on the road as I saw rain starting 
>>>>>>>> around 
>>>>>>>> 10AM with a chance of snow. Temperatures weren’t going to get above 
>>>>>>>> freezing anytime soon. We made some coffee and I unpacked some cherry 
>>>>>>>> and 
>>>>>>>> almond scones I baked on Sunday. Paul unfolded our map and surveyed a 
>>>>>>>> route 
>>>>>>>> back. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> While I packed up my bags Paul addressed his rear brakes on the 
>>>>>>>> table out front. He’d noticed a pad on his MotoLites was rubbing the 
>>>>>>>> rim. 
>>>>>>>> After some trial and error he got them to quit rubbing but was left 
>>>>>>>> with 
>>>>>>>> more pad clearance than he wanted. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> [image: 11 Porch SM.jpg]
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> With the porches swept and the wood box stuffed for the next 
>>>>>>>> renters of record we departed, pushing our bikes up the steep trail 
>>>>>>>> and 
>>>>>>>> past a hut where a group of guys were staying. They’d spent the night 
>>>>>>>> mostly exposed, some of them in hammocks. One mentioned they were on a 
>>>>>>>> five-day trip. They were surprised we were on bicycles. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> We decided on a route back to our starting point. I'd initially 
>>>>>>>> planned a longer route but with the weather we decided it was best to 
>>>>>>>> cut 
>>>>>>>> it short. But we still wanted to avoid an out-and-back so Paul found a 
>>>>>>>> fire 
>>>>>>>> road and we decided that if cars can get down it, well, so can bikes. 
>>>>>>>> We 
>>>>>>>> took the parkway for about five miles, with some long, tough, twisty 
>>>>>>>> climbs 
>>>>>>>> before connecting to the mellow fire road. It was sweet all the way 
>>>>>>>> down 
>>>>>>>> with a few manageable, short and loose climbs on the way. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> At 10:20 it started raining and didn’t let up. I didn’t spot any 
>>>>>>>> snow, just a steady rain in the 32º air. Paul descended a lot faster 
>>>>>>>> than I 
>>>>>>>> did and we rode apart most of the way. I later learned that they 
>>>>>>>> closed the 
>>>>>>>> parkway around noon due to icy conditions and downed trees. We barely 
>>>>>>>> missed the worst of it. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The fire road passed through streams and lovely secluded woods. We 
>>>>>>>> saw one other person, a hiker, who admonished us for riding our bikes. 
>>>>>>>> “You 
>>>>>>>> should walk, at least. Bicycles aren’t allowed here.” Well, if a 
>>>>>>>> diesel 
>>>>>>>> truck can come through here several times a week surely a bicycle 
>>>>>>>> isn’t 
>>>>>>>> going to hurt anything. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> [image: 12 OR Fire road SM.jpg]
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Towards the end of the fire road there was a nice triple bridge 
>>>>>>>> crossing over a stream and we were back on country roads. Beautiful, 
>>>>>>>> even 
>>>>>>>> in the rain. I was wearing three wool base layers, a wool sweater and 
>>>>>>>> a big 
>>>>>>>> down jacket from Crescent Down Works. I had DeFeet wool gloves on 
>>>>>>>> under 
>>>>>>>> deerskin leather numbers from the hardware store. Below I had Adiamos 
>>>>>>>> briefs, wool underwear, merino tights and a pair of wool cycling 
>>>>>>>> shorts. I 
>>>>>>>> got pretty wet but I didn’t get cold and I didn’t overheat during our 
>>>>>>>> 26 
>>>>>>>> mile return in the cold with ice crystalizing on my tights. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> [image: 13 Fields SM.jpg]
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The last few climbs were mentally difficult, I knew the roads and 
>>>>>>>> what was ahead and being so tired and cold I made them much tougher 
>>>>>>>> than 
>>>>>>>> they were by anticipating them and climbing once with my mind and 
>>>>>>>> again 
>>>>>>>> with my legs. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> When we reached our cars I pumped my fist and Paul ran a few laps 
>>>>>>>> of victory. I was eager to eat some food, crank the heat in my truck 
>>>>>>>> and 
>>>>>>>> get home to my couch and my pipe. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> It was a tough couple days of riding and a nice stay at a perfect 
>>>>>>>> cabin. With the climbing, the scrambling in the dark, the wet weather 
>>>>>>>> and 
>>>>>>>> the cold it felt uncomfortable and adventurous. For my first overnight 
>>>>>>>> bicycle trip I couldn’t have asked for anything more. 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> -- 
>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, 
>>>>>>>> send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> To view this discussion on the web visit 
>>>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/a71f7efe-3080-4b77-8cad-1fa833072c49n%40googlegroups.com
>>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/a71f7efe-3080-4b77-8cad-1fa833072c49n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>
>>>>>>>> .
>>>>>>>> [image: 13 Fields SM.jpg][image: 12 OR Fire road SM.jpg][image: 02 
>>>>>>>> Syria SM.jpg][image: 05 Skyline 2 SM.jpg][image: 11 Porch 
>>>>>>>> SM.jpg][image: 
>>>>>>>> 08 Cabin SM.jpg][image: 06 Cabin SM.jpg][image: 07 Ridge 
>>>>>>>> SM.jpg][image: 
>>>>>>>> 03 Road SM.jpg]
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> -- 
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