first ride on a mountain bike trail

[uforgot]

I've ridden Castlewood by myself and had a blast! I understand about being alone on those trails, but really, Castlewood seemed just fine. Lions Club too. I did, however, attempt Mark Twain by Newburg and changed my mind. It seemed creepy to me. Give me a holler if you want to try them with me. I'm absolutely no good at them, so you'll be totally comfortable with my "expertise".lol

[fastdogs]

good to know about castlewood.
I'd love to have some company riding the lion's club trail, that's my plan next weekend when I make my weekly trip to rolla.
All I know about mountain bike riding is that I'm no good in the mud.
But the bike feels and handles really good!
I've instructed the golfer to come straight home after work tomorrow morning (he works at a golf course, so sunday work usually also involves playing golf afterwards) , so I can try al foster and stinging nettle again, if it's not raining. Hoping it dried out some today.
vickie

[uforgot]

Lion's Club next weekend sounds good! Let me know if you want to do it and when. I've wanted to try the Al Foster trail, but alas, not this weekend. I'm choreographing for fine arts camp in Jeff City. No time for bikes.

[fastdogs]

today I went to al foster trail again. It was hot, but still seemed to be lots of mud. But before I got to the part where al foster joins stinging nettle, I ran over some dog poop and splashed it all over my leg and my bike. I got the clumps off with a stick, and poured some water on my leg so I didn't have to smell it the whole ride.
I stayed on the upper part of stinging nettle- I had my hands full just with the mud there, didn't want to try the steep parts and dips combined with the mud again. I ended up over at castlewood, on river scene trail. I did walk the part along the river- with the steep dropoff on one side and I've discovered I have a tendency to fall over in mud, I didn't risk it. I rode around river scene trail, just to kinda get a alook at castlewood, then headed back. When the trail got real close to the river, I laid my bike down and waded out into the river to get my head wet, and wash off my leg better.
I rode the rest of way soaking wet, but it felt good. I got muddy after that anyway. My bike was covered with mud again, I think I'll let it dry and brush it off today. Lots of people on the trail today- more hikers than anything else.
saw a great place to take the dogs sometime where they can play in the water at castlewood. Next time I think I'll try parking at castlewood and checking out any easy trails there, hopefully with less mud. The castlewood trails seemed very sandy.
vickie