What an AMAZING three days.
The premise - sign up for a fundraiser ride in Morganton, an adorable little town in the foothills of these majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, but RIDE THERE over the course of a couple days on twisty lonely dirt roads, have enough juice left over to intimidate on the start line of the kids bike derby race, and get home in time to pour beer for the second NC Cyclocross Race in Boone on Sunday.
check
check
check
and CHECK!
Despite getting off to one of the SLOWEST starts to a bike tour ever, it was one of the most gorgeous and lonely rides I have ever been on, with probably less than 10 cars passing me in 2 days! This is mid-week North Carolina dirt roads! Loads of time in my own head, perfecting strange accents out loud, singing songs that pop into my Rattle-Can brain for no apparent reason and generally having a pretty swell time. Heres some of the better photos.
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| open to interpretation, wrong turns, and spur of the moment ice cream stops! |
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| Always a great support team! |
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| Coffee sponsors CAMP Coffee Roasters were kind enough to hook it up... |
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| ...go see them in Blowing Rock! |
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| Rhoddie Bikes is the friendliest damn shop EVER! |
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| so much washboard, so much breaking I had to let air out of my tires |
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| Looking back to the mountains I cam down... |
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| toughest dirt climb on a loaded touring bike ever! |
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| Legendary HC Dirt loop! |
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| Next time - I camp here! |
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| switchbacks for DAAAZEE! |
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| first cup in the DARK! |
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| second cup by the river! |
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| Apparently these are used to tag trees for destruction by a local logging company but those who know Le Tour de France know that this is the colour of the Hill Climb Champs jersey. Perfect motivation. |
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| TV PARTY TONIGHT!!!!! |
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| the most beautiful 10 mile wrong turn ever! |
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| ....buzzards! |
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| saw it on the map and was hoping to see a sign, there's gotta be a Tom Waits song in there somewhere. |
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| 24 hours after a slow start I was already back in civilization |
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| Morganton has a great greenway next to the Catawba river 8 miles out and back. |
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| back to the car to shuttle over to the following day's ride start |
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| with a quick stop at Fonta Flora for tasty beverages of a malted and fermented variety |
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| got to the ride site late and camped out, woke to some amazing views! |
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| whos ready for a 9am start time? |
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| kitty sleeps hard in the autumn sun! |
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| the ride went around Lake James in the foothills, beautiful views at every turn and some great legit rolling hills. |
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| "rolling hills" believe it or not I coasted more than half way up that. |
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| "Win the Party" |
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| 3 laps, 1 crash, and a lot of shit talkin" |
The drive back was loaded with traffic and cramping legs, but the views of the leaves changing colours in the mountains up here was UNBELIEVABLE! I really do get to live in an amazing seasonal spot. All cause I chose to stick out that first tough cold lonely winter, and rejoin the beer industry. I made it home in time for a Burger at my fav pub, and a hot soak! Up early the next day to pour beer with this maniac at the #2 NC Cyclocross race - of which I got ZERO photos cause we were busy silently judging everyone's visible bulge, and keeping wasps away.
Spent the wee hours of the night finishing the November Schedule for work and here we are...a caughts up now aint we.
Im going to leave the
FUNDRAISER site up a little while longer to make some more dough for the Non Profits so if you like this and want to see more - get over to
GoFundMe and donate! As much as I love the narcisitic selfishness of a good solo bike tour putting PURPOSE behind this one felt good, helped me stay motivated and allowed me to make some really good genuine connections with like minded people - hey wait - I think that's called COMMUNITY!
Perfect.
Get out there this fall
Scotito du Nord.
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