The Fodis

The fourth year. Everyone survived. The sordid details are below.

The Crew

Two Uhrigs, a Yribarren, and two Fodi's.

Day 1 - Little log splitting and a 21 miler at Bent Creek

Loading up the car:

Taking a break just below Ingles Field Gap

The big black racer on Green Slick

Chris and Pat bombing down Green Slick (Chris almost runs over the snake just to the right of his front tire)

See the snake just to the right of Chris... close up below.

Day 2 - Pisgah 34 miler

Here's the map (the same one I forgot at home on the Coffee table ;-).

We started at the base of the road leading up to Turkey Pen Trail Head. It was a one mile+ warm up climb, we headed down the to the swinging bridge. Smiles were broad and legs were fresh. A quick, semi technical descent to the the swinging bridge and off we went. We crossed the swinging bridge and headed up Mullinax. The climb was a bit of a bear, but at this point we were still fresh. Up Mullinax, and up Mullinax some more until we intersected Laurel Creek. From there we cruzed down some rather treachorous trails, with a few "graceful" endos. A few explitives were produced, but in general the mood was still jovial. Once at Laurel creek we plowed through the dog hobble and made our first (and it wouldn't be the last) wrong turn. The trail bore to the right, but we continued straight (in my defense, the trail wasn't blazed to indicate a turn, only a single red blaze marked the path). After a stubborn half mile and dwindling path... we decided to turn around and try the other route. We were rewarded with a steep climb and Patrick's first hard fall, on a gnarly drop into a stream crossing. Chuck followed suite and showed his falling prowess seconds after Patrick.

From there we climbed and dropped until we interested Bradley Creek where a short ride following the trail, and a couple stream crossings took us to Bradely Creek Road. From there we started climbing again. A mostly gradual, 5 mile climb, that took us straight up to Yellow Gap and right near the Laurel Mountain Trail Head. Water was starting to run low as well as enery stores. After chugging up the road for a lengthy bit of time, we snacked/lunched at the Yellow Gap Road/Yellow Gap and fixed Chuck's flat (he assumed when I pointed at the small Locoust tree with large thorns growing in the middle of the road, that he should ride over it). This put us at about 13 miles of rather difficult Pisgah single track and climbing.

From there we desended yellow gap road to the Slate Creek trail head, a fast, gravel road descent for about a mile. We hit Slate Creek Trail head and started climbing. It was mostly rideable, at least until we made the second wrong turn. We missed a hard left on the trail and ended up hike-a-biking up to Laurel Mountain at Johnson Gap. Grumblings became rather noticable as the pitch steepened. The bikes were in the way, no matter how they were carried. Concerns about making it back in time for dinner were sporatically mentioned. Finally, toward the gap, the trail leveled out and became rideable again. Patrick mounted and decided to peddel a bit. Mere seconds later (and much to my chagrin I missed it :-(, Patrick had another fall, right into a bramble patch. He may have been slightly delirious at that point (lack of water or some other lame excuse) or it may have just been normal behavior. Chris was also experiencing some difficultly at this point... a cramped hamstring and low water supply were impedding his progress. Also, that pervasive smile, so often captured in the early pictures seemed to have disappeared. Even Chuck was showing signs of having had enough, he looked at bit haggard as we took a breather at the gap.

I must admit that it was a good things everyone was dehydrated and near exhaustion, because any extra energy at this point may have been directed into malicous activity... mainly towards me.

Now, the nice thing at this point was, we had a long, major singletrack downhill in front of us. Laurel Mountain, from Johnson Gap had very few up hills and those were mostly rollers. Only a few minor falls and a couple of stops/walks to let Chris stretch out his hamstring and we hit the road. Once at Yellow Gap road, we flagged down a motorist to check out alternative routes and take a break. We hit Yellow Gap road at just over 21 miles. Luck would have it, the mini van we flagged down had a topo and we quickly charted the course back to the car.

Back over to Bradley Creek Road, with a roaring 5 mile downhill (do I need to mention that Patrick wiped again - something about a bump in the road?). You'll see the pics... I think that is the blood on his left knee (so many falls, so many contusions, I really get confused - my apologies Patrick). We bombed down to Bradley then traveled along the creek with 3 major Creek crossing. Chuck earned his "River Mac Daddy" badge by fording one of the creeks, even popping a wheelie on the far bank.

From there, up to Pea Gap (didn't expect to have to climb again... this one hurt)... down to 66 jumps and then up the road back to the parking lot. That was a beat lot, pushing their bikes up the last section of the climb to the parking lot, but they made it and that's what counts. Then we just cruzed back down to the car, loaded up and headed out. 10Am to 4:40 PM... quite the haul, with no significant stops, just some food breaks.

Fresh, happy and totally unaware of the trek ahead.

Chris... still smiling.

Just a little (too much) hike-a-bike.

Laurel Creek Photos

Lady Slippers on the trail.

Chuck... still feeling fresh.

Patrick, many miles later.... and not quite so fresh.

A break in the ride.

Patrick afer the long hike-a-bike up to Laurel Mountain Trail.
Everyone was a bit spent at this point.

Bombing down Bradley Creek.

Jeff trying to take some photos and getting his photo taken.

Just a few of Patrick's many injuries.

Bradley Creek Road.

Jeff at the bottom of Bradley Creek Road.

The end of the ride... walking back up to the Turkey Pen Trailhead.

Day 3 - Bent Creek 13 miler & a 5 mile Run

Getting ready: In attempting to move Chris' seat from his IBOC to the Iron Horse, the seat post size was incorrectly estimated. We spent 30 minutes (thoughest workout of the day) trying to pull the thing out. Even with the extended leverage, it was a bear. My back and shoulders hurt more from this activity than from the 65+ miles of riding. Argggg!!!

The ride was fun, though we were all a bit exhausted from the prior two days activity. Additionally, Chuck managed to get hurt on the last jump , on the last ride, of the last day... Chuck, just couldn't leave well enough alone, could you? Well, I guess that's just Chuck.

No pics from the run... but Patrick really showed his mettle. The "slow" group plodded along for an easy 5 (well, as easy as 500+ feet of elevation gain can be). Patrick, as soon as he assured we had reached the half way point (and would not take some alternative shortcut home)... took off and added a blistering 4 mile finish, and nearly caught us at the end, that's just scary! Obviouslly, I didn't drain enough of his water out of his already small hydration pack the day before ;-).

Going for a walk at Bent Creek.

Day 3 - The Bent Creek Ride.

Bent Creek ride up to Greens Lick. 13+ miles with the first being "The climb".

Bombing down Green Slick

More jumps.

After the Ride and Run... "the guys" hanging at the pad.

Day 4: FBC goes to Charlotte

Scott and Cheryl invited the gang up for the day. We headed out on the boat and Aeden got to try out riding a float for the first time (not too mention his first boat ride).