Patience is a Virtue

The Lazer Cat lacks it...



Just waiting for clearance from the ortho. Hopefully at the next visit in March.

I gave the Lazer Cat some TLC today with a total break-down, clean, lube, and rebuild. She was also treated to a shorter stem, and carbon 3/4 risers. Once I'm able to start mountain biking again, it'll be on the Lazer Cat. One reason being that I'll be less tempted to hit stuff I probably shouldn't yet. Secondly, this bike was the one I was on when I really started riding here, so it should be the one I'm on when I start back. Cruised it around the neighborhood a bit today, and it felt oh so sweet.

Just need to keep plugging away on strength-building for a couple more months.

Raven Cliff Falls Hike

We made it out for another short hike today. Last night while hanging out at the Oskar Blues Brewery, we decided that today's hike would be to the Raven Cliff Falls overlook, up in Caesar's Head. We woke up and got our day started, and then headed up the mountain towards an ominous sky. We knew there was a chance of rain, and packed accordingly. The parking lot was pretty full, as usual, but we found a spot in the main lot, and headed out. We saw several people out on the trail, but it wasn't too crowded, and the trail itself was nice.

This is me with my sweet knee brace, and my trusty hiking staff, "Woody." Heather got "Woody" for me as a Christmas present before we moved down here. She ordered it from a shop in Brevard, and it has a woodland spirit carved into the top of it. It has come in very handy on our recent hikes.

Yeah, it was shorts and t-shirt weather.




We made it to the overlook in no time. It was 2.2 miles to this point.





From there, we decided to start down Dismal Trail, which links up with the Naturaland Trust Trail, and goes to the base of the falls. Looking down from the overlook, I figured my knee might not be able to handle it, but we decided to at least check it out. Well, my hunch was correct. It got pretty steep, and was just a little too much for my knee for now. We did find a fun little rock outcropping to play on, though.





We headed back the way we came, and on the way back, the mist and fog rolled in. It was beautiful and surreal.



 

 

Back in the Forest

Man, the second half of 2012 was tough for us. We both underwent pretty serious surgeries, and are both finally recovering to the point where we can be pretty active again. If you've followed this blog, you know that I put in a lot of volunteer hours in the Bracken Mountain Trail project, which is pretty much right in our back yard. The trail officially opened in July, but I had just had my ACL replaced in June, and I was able to barely hobble my way up to the grand opening.

Well a couple of weekends ago, we finally were able to witness the final product, on a nice hike from our back door.

 



 

We were pretty impressed with the trail system and our 5 mile hike. I can't wait until I can start riding it. The next weekend (last weekend), we went for a little gravel road ride at Dupont. My knee didn't feel great this day, but we still got a nice ride in.



The next day, we planned a hike to the top of Mt. Pisgah, but when we got to the BRP, they were closing the gates in anticipation of winter weather we were supposed to get that evening, so we turned around and drove up 477 to Bennett Gap trailhead for a short hike to the overlooks and back.





Today, I went for another gravel road ride at Dupont, since the high temp was ~70*. I sold my road bike, which was a Bianchi Vigorelli, and bought two cheaper cross bikes for Heather and I. I found her a nice steel Jamis Nova, and bought myself a Voodoo Wazoo. We've really enjoyed the cross bikes and prefer gravel roads over real roads by far.

 





My knee felt really good on today's ride, and I made some climbs that I never thought I'd be able to top at this point. I was very pleased. We should be hiking again tomorrow, so hopefully, I'll have some more photos to post.