We rode the Left Loop trail and were planning on linking it to the Right Loop to get in our total mileage. The Left Loop, however, proved more challenging than anticipated. It was definitely a more difficult ride than Yellow River in the metro Atlanta area. Narrow, winding single-track trails wound along the lake and into the surrounding forest and mountains. At one point, we distinctly felt like we'd been 'Unicoi-ed' because this climb was so stinking steep. There were lots of nice stream crossings, a little mud, loose rock, sheer cliffs, roots, and opportunities to bust our asses. (I did, of course, take a couple of spills. Luckily, I spilled no blood.)
One long climb led to a spectacular view over Lake Fontana and into the Smoky Mountains. It might have been the highlight of the trip. At this particular spot, James was tormented by a bee and we continued onward and upward. (Just for the record, when pitted against an aggressive bee, J3K, unlike our friend Joey P. maintains his composure.)
Photo of the Overlook from the Mountain Bike Western NC web site. Click it for more.Luckily, we missed a turn at around 10 or 11 miles and ended up barreling down a gravel road back to the trailhead/parking lot. We'd completed about 13 miles and decided to have lunch and reevaluate before heading back out. In the parking lot, while we were eating our tasty sandwiches, we bumped into a father/son adventure squad. The kid was about 18; dad looked about 40. We chatted a little:
"You guys from Atlanta?," the guy asked.
"Yeah. Just drove up this morning. How about you?"
"Just finishing a 1400-mile road trip. We've been hiking, riding, and paddling," the father told us. "Making a last hurrah before we ship the boy off to Georgia State," he adds while lighting a cigarette. (A cigarette!)
"Sounds like a good 'hurrah'," I said.
"Yeah. Yesterday, we climbed a 500 foot face," he boasts. After taking a drag on his smoke, he adds, "Today, we just decided to come out here to get a ride in before we go paddle the Nantahala."
"I don't think I want to go to the river," the son confesses to his dad.
"You pussy," the dad says to the boy. "If you don't go to the river, we're going for another loop on the bikes," he chastized.
Jim and I sat there and looked at each other a little puzzled by the exchange. I wondered who the trip was really for: was it a coming of age voyage for the boy who would soon leave for college? Was it for the dad who was leaving his own definition of youth? Regardless, I was a little put-off by the whole exchange.
Jim mentioned that we should tell him that we were completing a 1500-mile road trip and that, this very morning, we'd fought a wolverine and, afterwards, had decided to go mountain biking.
After Lunch
We decided not to do any more mileage. My legs were quivering when I got back on the bike and took a tour of the campground. No way I be able to safely do more riding. Time to head back. After I said this, Jim quickly agreed and we packed up and got on the road back to Atlanta. The only thing that would make us feel better was barbecue. We headed toward Elijay with hopes of stopping in at The Pink Pig or Poole's. I was utterly disappointed when both were closed. Why not be open on a weekday? Come on!
We headed back to ATL and directly went to Pig-n-Chic BBQ. After a hearty pork plate, I reached the proper QUE-librium. It was QUE-topia.
Today
I'm still tired and my legs hurt.
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