Mountain Biking - 8 days with friends in WV - Part 1

It was 12:45 PM on the 16th of June when my Son and I pulled into the
campground at Kanawha State Forest near Charleston WV. One of our
friends from Maryland was to met us there to ride till Monday.

We had just finished setting up camp when Brian rolled in and our week
of Mountain Biking in WV was just starting. Once camp was set up we
were ready to ride.

We rode from the campground down Davis Creek Trail and up Middle Ridge Rd.,
took Middle Ridge Trail till we arrived at Mossy Rock Trail and then back up
Davis Creek Trail to the camp.

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m219/djphotos1/100_2874bw.jpg


Next day we took Davis Creek Trail to Middle Ridge Rd., went down Teaberry, back
down Davis Creek, up Middle Ridge Rd., down Ballard, up Hoffman Hollow and then
down Black Bear. What a great ride.

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m219/djphotos1/100_2876w.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m219/djphotos1/100_2880w.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m219/djphotos1/100_2893w.jpg


What a great two days of riding in KSF. After a good nights rest it was pack up
and move to Sand Springs Campground over by the WVU Forest near Coopers Rock
State Park. We had camp set up by Noon and were off on our ride to the Virgin
Hemlock Trail. We had no more than left the campsite and met a large bear in
the middle of the gravel road that led us to the trailhead. By the time I got the
camera out he was already walking into the woods. He didn't even startle as we
rode toward him trying to get the camera going.

The Bear
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m219/djphotos1/100_2912w.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m219/djphotos1/100_2913w.jpg

Steep Downhills
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m219/djphotos1/100_2917w.jpg

On the Virgin Hemlock Trail
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m219/djphotos1/100_2916w.jpg


Some showers rolled through so we had to put up the cameras. However the ride
was great and we had a wonderful experience. Thanks to our friend Brian who
knew the trails at KSF and here in the WVU Forest. We enjoyed a good nights
rest and packed up the next morning.

Now it was off to our annual mountain bike gathering of friends from around the
country which we held this year just outside Davis WV. Our friend Dan and Jason
had arrived on Monday and had gathered a nice bunch of crawdad's for lunch.

yum yum
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m219/djphotos1/100_2927w.jpg

The next morning, Wednesday, it was off on our first group ride of the week. Along
with my Son and I were our friends Dave, Jason, Dan, Brian and Jonathan.

My Son making his was through the rocks on our way to HooDoo Rocks.
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m219/djphotos1/100_2929w.jpg

(To be continued in Part 2 and 3)

ODN

Awesome, I really want to do an epic MTB tour/road trip.

Man am I jealous. I was on my way to join you and brian on Saturday for a ride at Kanawha State Forest. On my way I decided to give him a call, come to find out you two weren't getting there until that evening. Sort of ruined that plan.

I really missed seeing everyone this year. Anyway, I'm glad to see everyone had such a great time.

good job riding towards a large bear. real smart idea! on a serious note, the riding looks damn good.

Wow that would have been so much fun!

Outdoornut - Just got a call from auditing. I'm now released to go. :D It only took two weeks but all of this inventory is completed. Am I too late?????? ;)

OK, so I'm dying to know - - do crawdads cook up tasting like lobster, or do they have a 'muddy' twang?

OK, so I'm dying to know - - do crawdads cook up tasting like lobster, or do they have a 'muddy' twang?

My Son said they are delicious ! I'm afraid to try them since I'm alergic to shell fish, however he said
they are great. They were steamed in Beer and Old Bay seasoning. Several of the guys feasted.
Takes a bunch to make a meal though. Completed product looked like this.

http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/500/medium/crawdads.jpg



ODN

Outdoornut - Just got a call from auditing. I'm now released to go. :D It only took two weeks but all of this inventory is completed. Am I too late?????? ;)

Too late for the Debachery in Davis, however the summer isn't over. Sorry we missed you that
Saturday. We were there and set up by 12:45 and Brian pulled in around 1:15. We were on the
trails by 2:30.

I'm off again the 25th through the 29th. Don't know for sure where I'm going to go yet. Am
open for suggestions. We are definately going somewhere to ride of course. You can always
give me a yell some weekend and we can get together for a ride.

ODN

You capitalize "son" as if he's Jesus... Y'know, just saying. Also, I want some "crawdads".

Come down to Louisiana... Ill give yall a real crawfish boil :)

You capitalize "son" as if he's Jesus... Y'know, just saying.....

Wow.....thats awesome.