Tsali

[emily_in_nc]

I would love to see your Tsali pictures, littlegrasshop! My (advanced) mountain bike buddy goes there a lot -- he went the weekend before you, in fact -- and he keeps telling me there are trails there even I could ride. Hard to imagine, but nice of him to say. Since my DH isn't much into mtb, it probably won't happen, but we might go hiking there someday anyway, since DH is really into hiking.

On a slightly different topic, I am finally going to brave Crabtree again tomorrow - first time since my fall. Wish me luck and strength. I would love not to fall this time, but if I do fall, maybe this time it will be at slow speed and I won't hit my head and have to buy a new helmet!

Emily

[Nanci]

Emily, is your husband into trout fishing or kayaking? They have that there. You could for sure ride the trails at Tsali. They are _very_ nice.

[Nanci]

Very typical Tsali:

[Nanci]

try again:

[littlegrasshopp]

I thought most of the trails were easy to ride. Mostly smooth rolling hills. The only problem in the fall is that they're wet a lot. Seems like they haven't been upkept very well. Some trails have a lot of mud puddles. In fact, we rode into one that felt like diving into a swimming pool! About half our group went that route....we were a soaked group, but cleaner than when we went INTO the puddle. I think you'd be able to ride it pretty easily. The only thing that really made me nervous, after the brake issue was fixed is the ledge. Sometimes there isn't a lot of brush between you and clean air...lots of clean air! I don't remember anything technical though. Hopefully you'll get to go someday though.

Good luck with Crabtree!! I'm going tonight - I'll be thinking about you!

[Nanci]

Probably the horse traffic is hard on the trails. I know horse people get defensive when you say that- but I've trail-ridden my whole life- I know what they do to wet trails.

[littlegrasshopp]

I'd have to agree with you but also, the trails are not built to drain well at all! They've not gone back in and built in any drainage either. We're hoping that they would be interested in setting up work days like we have in this area. (and I'm sure everyone else does too). Some of the trails are seriously muddy - days after a rain. But, even with the mud, it's a GREAT place to go!! I'd go back this weekend, if I could Still trying to get pictures to post...

[emily_in_nc]

Good luck with Crabtree!! I'm going tonight - I'll be thinking about you!

Neat! When were you there? We started around 5:10 and rode until about 6:20. We did all the trails at least once. At one point there were a bunch of riders crowded at the top of a pretty good hill where to the left is a multi-log jump, and to the right is a couple of rooty ledges. Two women got stopped going up and had to get going on the hill again. Were you one of them? If so, I was the woman up top with all the guys (waiting my turn to go down - my friend had already gone). I saw a couple of other gals riding with guys, but it was mostly guys out there, so I might have seen you!

Hope you had a good ride!

Emily

[littlegrasshopp]

we didn't get riding til after 6. Slow group to get moving It was 2 girls and her man. We saw the huge group, I think but we saw them on the wide jeep road parts. I probably did see you there Glad you had fun!! My little nephew finally learned how to ride a bike with out training wheels...he called to tell me and said "it's almost like playing now!" That's what I think about when a trail is kicking my butt! ha!!

[emily_in_nc]

Emily, is your husband into trout fishing or kayaking? They have that there. You could for sure ride the trails at Tsali. They are _very_ nice.

We both kayak and hike - but only I mountain bike. Well, he might if the trails were like your picture. That looks great! Much easier than root-filled Crabtree!

By the way, I managed to stay upright at Crabtree tonight!!! I walked a few short sections when there were switchbacks, roots, and hills simultaneously (I can do two of the three but not all three at once), but I never fell, and parts of the time, I was actually having fun! It's going to take a lot more practice, but I did better on the turns than last time and felt a lot more confident than my first time out.

Those roots really are nasty, though!!

Emily