Loop 9

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It was cold, cold, cold when I arrived at the primitive campground entrance at 6:25 am. I got cold while dressing and I hadn't warmed up even with the heater at full blast because I was eating some breakfast and drinking a really cold Monster drink. That kept me cold. So when I arrived there before Richard I just sat there with the Jeep running and the heater cranked to the max.

Richard got there in just a few minutes and it was time to brave the outside air. I put on my running jacket, my gloves and my head band to cover my ears. I then stepped out of the Jeep and started wishing I had stayed in the bed snuggled up under the thick quilts that keep me warm during the night. DANG! It was freezing cold at a right lowly 24 degrees.

Richard was of the same mindset and quickly got out of his vehicle and said let's get this show on the road. He started walking down the primitive campground road while I jogged, hopped, jumped up and down next to him. I was internally cold and trying anything to get warmed up.

We hung a hard left on the Yellow Trail and hit our first hill of the morning. Thank goodness, I was ready for some warmth. Well buddy, I got what I asked for. About half way up the calves started screaming and saying they were warm enough that we could stop now. Well my face begged to differ with them and since it was closer to my brain and had more influence, we kept on climbing.

We came out on top and were able to see one of the Double Oak Mountains to our right with just the first rays of the sun coming over. I wished I could have sat down next to a tree right there and waited to watch the sun rise over that mountain. One of these mornings when it is warmer I am going to take the family up there and do just that.

Richard was having a tough go of it due to some over medication prescribed by his doctor so our leg to the Pavilion / Picnic area was a little on the slower than usual side. We took a water break there and I was feeling froggy what with now being warmed up and the cold air giving me energy so I asked if I could take the lead and set the pace. Richard gave me the reins and told me not to wait on him.

I took off at a steady jog and in a few minutes had to come out of my gloves and then a little later had to come out of my jacket. The continuous jogging was definitely warming me up. However as I came up to a small incline right before getting back to the main rode I ran out of steam and had to slow to a fast walk. Once I hit the top of the hill I had caught my breath and was ready to rock and roll.

It was a very nice jog from there on in back to the Jeep. The main road by the primitive campground is a very nice road to jog. The road is big and wide and the woods are open on each side. The squirrels were busy running all over the ground but I didn't see any deer. Later I found out that I had beaten Richard by 11 minutes.

It was a good jog and I am looking forward to the big daddy of all loops, number 10 coming up this Friday.

Loop 5

It was 28 degrees this morning when we parked at the entrance to the CCC road and started jogging up the highway to Peavine Falls. The wind was blowing a lot harder than the Weather channel said it would be last night also. I had insulated jogging pants, an insulated top, an insulated windbreaker jacket, gloves and a wrap around my ears. My eyes were watering like crazy and my nose was cold. Sixty-two minutes later as we got back to the car, I had removed my gloves and my wrap and unzipped my jacket. It had only warmed up to 29 degrees but those trails had warmed me up a lot more.

We made it down to Peavine Falls and started up the Blue trail. It had experienced some serious windage as there were a good many trees across the trail. There were already small trails around them as others had been there before us. It was definitely a different trip than what we had taken in the spring while winding back down to Loop 1. When we got to the white connector, a tree had fallen and knocked the sign over. The White trail was down in the valley and didn't have any trees across it. I guess the wind stayed up on the hill and did it's damage there.

The sun was up and shining as we made our way up from Peavine Falls to the parking area. It sure looked nice coming over the mountain and burning off the mist. The jog from the parking area back to the entrance to the CCC road was a nice finish to a nice run.

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Loop 4

Richard and I were both in talkative moods so this run seemed to go fairly fast. The jog from the picnic area to the start of Blood Rock trail went fast and warmed us up. The walk up Blood Rock trail got me out of my jcaket. We had a nice jog down the CCC road until we made it to the Green trail. The Green trail was very steep but most of the leaves had been worn off by the Thanksgiving crowd so it wasn't very slippery. The leaves can sometimes make it dangerous. I enjoy the part that goes through the pines though. That is always pretty and seems like it would be the perfect place to camp.

We cut over to the Yellow trail and the calves began to burn as the hills came on us. The Yellow trail is a pretty rough trail the entire length. Luckily we were only hitting piece of it and then we were back at our vehicles. It was a nice trail run and we had fun talking. It was nice after the last ones were so awful.

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Loop 3

It was awful. I was sick and tired when I got there. My legs started giving out about half way through. I think Richard was tired also because it took us 95 minutes to complete the 5.6 miles. We walked a lot and talked a lot. Talking tends to slow us down also.

I made it back and almost died. Every joint in my body ached. I ached all over and felt like I had the flu. Maybe I did.

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Loop 2

We ran loop 2 today. When we got there both gates were locked on the way to Peavine Falls. Richard unlocked them with a magic touch. This put us 10 minutes late starting though. Walked uphill all the way to the Peavine Falls parking lot. It was interesting to actually be able to look out over the valley on the side of the road. Most of the time I am busy watching the road. When we started down the CCC road the wind was cutting us in two. It was unbelievably cold. I didn't have anything for my ears and they were hurting.

I started down the BUMP trail and tripped before Blood Rock. After Blood Rock I heard something behind me and looked over my shoulder as I was jogging. I must have stepped odd because a pain shot through the back of my left knee and I hopped on my right leg for the next couple of steps. It eased off and I was able to keep jogging and stay up with Richard. I almost fell flat on my face as I tripped over a root down toward the bottom of the trail. Behind my left knee was hurting like the dickens. Fortunately we made it back in 1 hour and 8 minutes. I was glad that was over with.

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Loop 1

It turned out hotter than expected. Long sleeve shirt and long pants was too much. We had a good warm-up run through Mr. Toad's trail. We then had a good walk up the mountain. I heard something in the woods but wasn't able to figure out what it was. Thought it might be some turkeys scratching or an armadillo. We started down the other side of the mountain and I found the base of an antler. Richard almost ate a spider and did the spider dance right there in the woods. If I had a video camera I would be richer now.

Behind my left knee started hurting real bad on the way down. It isn't well yet, apparently. We made the loop and came back through Toad's Wild Ride with my left knee killing me. Luckily I made it back to the Jeep before calling it quits and crawling in.

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CRWMA Bike Riding

I was feeling kinda puny and didn't do so well the last time I went riding with Richard and we are supposed to ride this Tuesday so I decided to take a little trip myself and see how I would fair. I took off from the house and headed toward the Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area (CRWMA). I had marked it off with the Jeep so I knew it was two miles to the creek at the bottom of the big hill right before the CRWMA started.

Once on the dirt road of the CRWMA I took the dirt road to the right. Slid my bike under the gate and took off. That is a well graded road that brings you behind the gate at the shooting range. I hung a right and went wheeling on down the road. Of course I very quickly came to a slick hill that 4-wheel drive vehicles spin up. Needless to say I had to walk my bike up it. Once up it I kept turning to the left and stayed on the road that will bring you out on the first road past the shooting range road.

Of course this road is washed out, has overhanging limbs, two streams cross it and it was wrapped up in spider webs. It made for a very eventful ride. Only once did I have to stop to remove a spider that looked like it could take down a rhino. I had to stop twice to cross the streams and once when I encountered a rock covered hill. I finally made it out to the first road past the shooting range road mentioned above. This road is much better.

So I hung a left there and headed back to the main CRWMA road. This was a nice ride. However I happened to go by a grown up side road that I had seen scrapes on last year. I thought, hey, I can ride down this road and very quickly see if there are scrapes this year. Now that was an exciting ride. I was dodging small trees, bouncing over small dead trees in the road, riding through small limbs blown off by the last hurricane and riding through a thick mat of leaves.

Unfortunately I only found one small rub at the beginning of the road and nothing else. So the ride out wasn't as exciting as the ride in since I had nothing to look forward to except surviving and getting out.

So I made it out and headed on to the main road. Of course it was at about this point that I ran out of water. I rode on by the shooting range with people blasting away below but I didn't hear any bullets whining overhead so that was good. For some reason I was able to make some really good time by the shooting rangle. :-)

I hit the main road and hung a left to go back home. I hadn't realized how rough the road was coming in but going out I was bouncing all over the place. It was nice to get back to the highway. However now I had the hill from down under to contend with. The last time I had attempted it I had to stop and walk part of the way. But slow and steady wins the race and this time I paced myself and made it all the way to the to top without stopping.

The hard part was over and I was ready to get home and get some water so I brought it on in. I was pleased with how well I did and how nice the ride was. I look forward to the next time I can challenge a portion of the CRWMA.