I took Friday off. The parent company I work for has decided to close its Knoxville’s business address and has laid off 3 out of the 5 folks that worked ouyt of this office. Luckily I can do software from anywhere so for now I still have a job. Anyway, I decided to take Friday off after the announcement on Thursday. I did some yard work around the house with Meghann since W was on his first stay over with grandma and grandpa in Townsend. This was W’s first over night, so it was a big occasion for both Meghann and I, as well as W and the grandparents. Anyway, after a couple trips to the Greenwaste Recycling Center for mulch and spreading it in the yard, Meg and I loaded up our motor bikes and headed up to Lake City to do some riding in the late afternoon.

The sky was as blue as can be and the views where incredible. We also had the opportunity to see a small herd of elk numbering around 12 a couple of times. We kept circling them on this small piece of singletrack off the Caryville Flats. It was really cool to see what very few in Tennessee have.

Yesterday Ben, James, Kenan and myself had had enough of the rain and decided to just get out and make something happen. I had done the Devils Backbone trail once before and I was fairly certain it wouldn’t be too wet because of where it was and the local soil. I was right, the track was loamy and leafy, but really fun. Really glad we went. Not too much riding but lots of beer and fun.

There was MOREwood to say the least.

Here Ben contemplates and looks through the mist to find the TRUE meaning of riding

Kenan walks his flat rear tire through the creek

Kenan instructs Ben on how the local flora sustains the local fauna

And here is a shredtastic vid of the day.

Devils Backbone from Doug Ferguson on Vimeo.

The Devils Shlong from Ben Ramsbottom on Vimeo.

Geritt Beytagh Training from Doug Ferguson on Vimeo.

Did a tour of IC Queen yesterday afternoon. It was great in some places and pretty soupy in others. Riding in the cold makes air suspension feel really bad.

Interesting thing I noticed at the Mid South Hare Scramble Championships. So because I thrashed my bike and pushed myself to complete the two hour mudfest, I was bound and determined to pic up my plaque for 3rd place. As they started to call out the classes, names and placed I noticed there was no podium, no podium kits and no flashes. Just a simple roll call and a simple thanks for racing.

Makes me wonder why, as mountain bikers, we do this…