A most EXCELLENT LONG weekend!

This whole weekend has been great! It all pretty much started on Thursday. Smap took off work early and came home so we could go on a decently hilly 40 mile road ride. We got back right before dusk and my toes were feeling the lack of sunshine.

Friday was a rare occasion for me. I got to spend the whole day with Smap and Ippon. Smap took off work and we headed to one of our favorite places, Asheville. Our friend Skinny D (Dennis) met us at Bent Creek just down the road from Asheville, and the three of us had a great time riding a bunch of the trails there. Lots of climbing is involved and lots of fun downhill stuff.

I took the guys and Ippon to lunch in downtown Asheville. We had to walk a while before we could find a place where we could eat outside with Ippon. It was shocking for us to not be served at one place (Jack In The Woods). We are probably going to have to strike them off our list since they were pretty rude to us. Anyway, we ended up at Johnny's Uptown Grill (JUGS). We lucked out with a terrific server and delicious food. The owner/head chef even came out and said hello to us. He even gave us all three free cookies! We added a new place to our list for sure. And, there was a doggie bakery across the street so all the guys got treats (Smap and Skinny got lunch and beer).

Smap and I drove home while Skinny continued on to Raleigh to be with his family. Smap and I decided to do Monte Jones's planned "Heinous Loop" on Saturday morning. The "Heinous" has been around for a long time. I think I have done the ride once a year since I have been with Smap and his group of friends (at least 7-8 times). I missed last year's epic night time trip (they started at some stupid late hour 8-9pm) and Smap got home at like 4 in the morning. Not for me.

(Here is Smap, Wally, Jen and Kevin up on Look Rock.)

Anyway, there were 7 of us total. Three "Heinous Virgins" were with us....Jen Smelser, Kevin Trent, and Wally Judy. Smap, myself, Monte and Ben Smith were the veterans on the loop. The Heinous starts on 321 in Townsend across from the Back Porch Restaurant in the little parking lot by the Little River. We ride down Old Walland Hwy, up to the Foothills Pkwy, up and over to 129. We turn left onto 129 and proceed to ride the DRAGON. I LOVE riding the Dragon, but I would rather be on my road bike to fully enjoy the speed you can get there. Did I mention the Heinous loop is to be done on your mountain bike? Here is why......we get off 129 where Parson's Branch Road spills into the road. Parson's Branch is a steep gravel road that is one way and it leads out from Cade's Cove. So, yes we are going the wrong way up a super steep gravel road. We go up and over that and down an equally steep and long gravel road down into Cades Cove. If we ride the entire loop we can make the whole ride 63 miles, but yesterday we did the 58 version by taking Hyatt Lane through to Rich Mtn. Road (which is also a gravel road that leads out of Cades Cove). Rich Mtn. is luckily not so steep, but it is a 3.5 or so mile road up to the top, then down back towards 321.

The above shot is Monte pulling out the Jelly Belly's. He said water and Jelly Belly's were his "chemicals for the day". Monte kicked some serious ass on the ride! I got in on the jelly beans, but my lungs and legs just weren't with me yesterday. Three days of climbing is quite a bit.

The next shot is all of us riding down Hyatt Lane. Ben is in the tights, Kevin, then Jen, Wally, me, and Mr. Jones in the lead. He was up front all day long. He was also on a one-by-nine is memory serves.

WE had a good group yesterday that stayed together well. It was fun. Smap and I had THREE great days of climbing and riding.

Today, we decided to have a rest day for our legs. It has been windy and cold anyways. My two worst enemies when it comes to riding. We took Ippon out for a game of Frisbee golf at one of Smap's favorite places (Victor Ashe Park). Smap is a great Frisbee golf player. I play a lot more in the summer when all of our friends are out together. Today was my first day playing in a while. I have not played here before, so it was a lot of fun seeing the place Smap is always talking about. Ippon enjoyed just being outside sniffing.

It was a great weekend. I am looking forward to the cold to move out permanantly so I can ride consecutively! More fun times are definitely ahead! I can't wait!