Heinous Loop

Yesterday was an attack on the Heinous Loop. The heinous is a local loop of about 60% paved roads and 40% fire roads criss-crossing in, out, and around the Great Smoky Mountains national park. It’s about 64 miles and in the neighborhood of 11,000 feet of climbing. We had a very strong group of; John Magnusson, Shawn McCann, Thomas Gains, Steve Apking, Larry Creech, and Greg Casteel. I went to this ride thinking it was going to be a lax “fun ride” with a few ladies along. As soon as I pulled into the parking lot and saw the players I knew I hadn’t brought the game I needed for the day ahead. I had a company shrimp boil the night before and consumed 5 lbs. of shrimp corn and sausage not to mention all the beer, that’s not a good prep for a 90 degree hammer fest. The ride went off well, we stayed together fairly well, as usual I made it to the bottom of most the hills within the first couple of riders but with this strong a crew I was making it to the top of the climbs consistently in the rear of the pack. We finished the ride in five and a half hours which is a good time on this ride especially with a large crew.
Noah and Tara are doing great. We have Tara’s parents in town for a couple of days this week.
Next Saturday is the Cherohala Challenge, it’s one of my favorite events every year and usually kicks me in the rear pretty good.
Rid log:
Wednesday the 30th – Haw Ridge “Weenie Ride” I road pretty much solo – 2:20
Friday June 1st – commute to work – 1:30
Saturday June 2nd – Haw ridge with Levi – 2:00
Sunday June 3rd – Haw Ridge for an hour then a big thunderstorm chassed me out of the woods. I went home and it was totally dry at my house so I checked the radar all looked clear, I tried to salvage the day with a road ride of about 45 miles – 3:30 total for the day
Tuesday the 5th – Group road ride – 2:00
Wednesday the 6th - Haw Ridge “Weenie Ride” I road with Steve most the time but we floated in and out of other groups along the way – 2:20
Saturday the 9th – Haw Ridge with Levi (Levi has to get at least one ride a week in) – 2:00
Sunday the 10th – heinous loop – 5:30