Blackwater Birthday Bash (Davis, WV)

For several years, I've celebrated my birthday with a ride along a rail-to-trail segment. Rebecca and I invited my Mom and her husband for the first year, then extended the invite to my brother and his wife. In 2023, though, my stepfather suffered a fall during the ride. He was lucky to have survived, it turned out, when his over-the-bar trip landed him directly on his face and almost caused what's known as an "internal decapitation" when his uppermost vertebrae nearly separated where it meets the skull. Luckily, though, his tough-as-nails attitude guided his recovery and soon enough he was back to normal.

Needless to say, the accident put a hold on our trips for a few years.

This year marked my 45th birthday, so I figured it was time to get the tradition going again!

For this outing I chose a segment along the Allegheny Highlands Trail known as the Blackwater Canyon Trail. It's a 10.7 mile ride from Thomas, WV into Hendricks with a stop by Douglas Falls just about a mile or so into the ride.

Since the forecast was calling for scattered rain storms starting on Friday, Rebecca and I arrived early on Thursday to get in a mountain bike ride at Moon Hoodoo Rocks (probably our favorite trail in the area).

We left Ruprecht in the car and let our energetic Boxer, Bianca, come along for the ride!



After our ride, Rebecca and I headed to Davis to rendezvous with my Mom & John. After grabbing lunch at The Big Belly Deli we drove to Blackwater Falls before eventually retreating to the AirBnb she'd booked near Canaan Heights. The house was excellent, stocked with a huge dog bed that our two could share, hot tub on the rear patio, and fireplaces inside and out.



Later that night my brother and his wife arrived and we met at Moguls for dinner.

The next morning we woke to rain, so there was no rush to get organized for the ride. Luckily, our patience paid off and we departed the house just as the clouds began to dissipate.

We began our ride as Bianca led our group of six down the trail toward the first attractions: the Douglas Highwall, followed by Albert Falls & Douglas Falls.



Eventually Bianca began to tire, so I wrapped her in our Little Chonk Brodie One backpack.



A couple miles later she was eager to run again, so I let her out when we stopped to explore another waterfall with an impressive culvert beneath the trail.



Rain did eventually return, but the dense tree cover worked well to shade us from the downpour that we could see in the canyon beside the trail. Eventually we reached Hendricks where we loaded Dave's Tacoma with six bikes and bodies before returning to the cabin to dry off and regroup.

Once back in dry clothes, Rebecca mixed Cucumber Jalepeno Margaritas for us all before we grilled beef & tuna steaks for a feast that outdid the previous night's dinner by far.

The next morning saw the return of rain, so our guests departed soon after breakfast. Rebecca and I are troopers, though, so we chose to ride at Blackwater Falls State Park despite the conditions. Likewise, Bianca didn't hesitate to join us for the Dobbins Figure-Eight ride.





The Dobbins House trails are rooty and off-camber, a characteristic which is enhanced when wet. The climbs aren't especially steep, but they are extremely difficult in the conditions we were under.

Eventually we completed the circuit and headed back to the cabin to light another fire before kicking up our feet and enjoying our last afternoon of the trip.



On Sunday, we packed up and headed to Tip Top for two cups of coffee & pastries to enjoy during the drive home.

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Asheville (North Carolina)

Three years ago, my friend Puck decided to plan a trip to Asheville to bring together friends from Virginia & Georgia. We convened at an AirBnb and commenced to "shred the gnar" for several days.

With the bus project in full swing, I sat out the next two trips. Now that the bus is nearly complete, I decided that I could spare the time and join the guys again for another trip down to western NC.

This year I decided to drive myself since I'd need to bring along my dog Ruprecht. This did, however, allow me the freedom to break up the drive down with a stop at Elevated Wake Park.



With nearly SIX YEARS between my last ride at a cable park and this visit, I coached myself to take it easy this go-round. Even if I merely rode around in circles, that would be enough for this time out.

My first time out was just that - a relaxed few laps to get acquainted with the pull of the rope and the jerk of the cable at each corner.

Surprisingly, though, my next lap was action-packed! I jumped onto a slider with success and began attempting several of the features before eventually going down. I spent a moment watching some of the experienced locals shred and was soon back out hitting nearly every slider and both launch ramps!

Before I knew it, my 2-hour session was over and I again loaded the Crosstrek to complete the drive.

Once on the road, I called the guys to see their progress and figure out where and when to meet in Asheville for a ride before checking into the AirBnb. We decided to meet at The Hub before heading to Avery Creek for our ride.

The first ride was a rude awakening for some of our group. Gone were the quick, punchy climbs of the JRPS. Instead, the climbs were sustained - usually rocky & rooty as well. Eventually, though, we all met at the top of the ascent - ready to bomb back down to the parking lot with smiles from ear-to-ear.



That night we dined at El Chapala before heading back to the cabin to catch-up with a few brews.

The next day we planned on riding a mix of regular and E-bikes at Ride Kanuga Park. I decided to touch base with a friend that lives in the area to give him a rundown of our schedule and invite him to ride with us on Saturday, when we planned to return to pedal-powered means at Dupont State Forest. He replied that he'd be busy that day, but that he was actually on the way to meet another mutual friend for a ride there that very moment. I immediately asked him if a few of us [non-e-bikers] could join them, to which he gladly obliged. Brian, Scott, and myself grabbed our gear and headed to out meet him (Matt) and surprise our mutual friend (Park) at the trailhead.

The surprise worked perfectly, as we arrived just minutes before Park. It was a great reunion to see them both!

After some much-needed embraces, we were on bikes and heading into the woods. Park led us for a great tour of Dupont, highlighting some of the best trails in the forest. All the while, Matt was providing the banter to keep our minds off the burning in our legs!



After our ride, we swung by the house for a quick change of gear, then to Kanuga to rendezvous with our group. We took turns swapping between pedal-powered & e-powered bikes for a few hours before throwing in the towel.



The next day was another bike park - this time the shuttle-accessed Ride Rock Creek. Determined to get in at least 10 runs, we headed to the park just before opening time. After securing a shady spot in the lot, our group of nine took to the gravel road to catch the first shuttle of the day.

A full night's rain had perfectly conditioned the trails. Any wet spots found on the first couple runs gave way to grippy clay as the day progressed. We alternated between laps at the park and beers & food in the lot until the very last shuttle, opening AND closing the park!





On Saturday, our group was split in three. Puck left in the morning to guide a rafting trip. Brian, Joe, Rob, Matt & Scott all hit the road to get home before Father's Day. That left Tobje, Marshal, and myself to explore some more trails!





First we completed a ~10 mile loop at Dupont. After the ride, we grabbed lunch at The Hub with Matt just before he headed south. After the meal, Marshal was still itching for more, so he and I rode another ~9 mile circuit in Pisgah, featuring the Black Mountain Trail.

By the end of that ride, we were toast! The entire trip featured sore muscles (especially beginning with the cable park), but by the end of the fourth day I was confident I'd "left it all out there."

Although I'd planned on leaving Sunday, I knew another ride was not in the cards for me so I decided to leave that night in order to be back in town to celebrate Father's Day with my dad. We reconvened with Puck at El Paso for one more meal before I hopped on the highway to arrive home just before 1am.

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Big Blue's First Trip! (Snowshoe, Slatyfork, Marlinton)

With only a few days left before my first planned trip with the bus and a $14,000 work estimate from RUSH Trucks, I expected my hopes would be dashed.

I picked up the bus from their shop, paying nearly $3,000 just for their diagnostic work, and began digging into the ABS braking module they identified as the main issue. At first, I attempted to replace only the worn electric motor & pump within the assembly, but quickly found that Wabco did not offer many replacement parts. Instead, I had to purchase a new module for almost $5,000.

I received the assembly two days before my trip, installed it that day, and had the bus inspected the following afternoon. To my amazement, I pulled it off and would get to take the bus on its first trip since purchasing over three years ago!

On Thursday morning I loaded up the bus with gear for mountain biking & motorcycling and headed west. My wife Rebecca followed soon after and we rendezvoused at Snowshoe Mountain where our friend Jake had rented a cabin for Memorial Day weekend.



It turned out to be quite a blessing that we had lodging to rely on beside the bus, since Snowshoe had apparently enacted a "No RV's" policy in every parking lot within the resort. I was lucky enough to speak to two sheriff's deputies who told me I was allowed to park in the Silver Creek lot as long as I wasn't sleeping in the bus overnight.

I'm unsure why they enacted this ban, since the summer season at the resort rarely experiences crowded parking and in the past their open attitude has drawn bus and van lifer's to the resort.

On Friday I rode with Jake, his girlfriend Dung, his brother Zach, and friend Dillon. We made a few laps in the rainy conditions, but were soon too cold and miserable to stay out any longer. Back at the cabin, we spent some time hosing down our bikes & gear before being treated to a feast that Jake prepared.



The next day, most of the group rode Snowshoe again while Rebecca and I headed to Silver Creek to ride the Enchanted Forest cross-country trail. It was beautiful as always, resembling a rainforest once in the dense woods.







To be honest, I think I've reached the point where bike-park runs pale in comparison to the enjoyment of pedaling through the woods at a pace which allows you to appreciate the natural beauty around you.



On Sunday Rebecca headed home with our two dogs and I joined the rest of our group for another ride in the park. Although the rain had subsided, the trails were still covered in thick mud. We made several runs, but were quickly tired of sliding around the tracks just barely able to keep our bikes beneath us.

On Monday, our group packed up from the cabin and I bid them farewell before getting in the bus and heading to Slatyfork. Once at my favorite campsite, I setup a canopy outside the bus and removed the KTM from the rear deck. Next, I quickly organized my gear inside and rolled out the new memory-foam mattress in the bedroom of the bus. That night I listened to the rain outside while cozily secure inside.



The next morning I lit the bus stove and heated water for coffee & oatmeal. After a quick breakfast, I pedaled Tea Creek Trail to Boundary Trail.







The next day I chose a slight variation and pedaled Gauley Mountain Trail to Bear Pen Ridge Trail to Boundary Trail.













Back at the bus, I discovered my RV windows had a fatal flaw which allowed water to seep under their faulty rubber seals. In the torrential downpour I quickly caulked them shut before retreating back inside to dry off.

Each day of riding in Slatyfork was capped with a motorcycle ride up to the Snowshoe Village to grab a bite to eat and some cell reception to check-in with the outside world.



On Thursday, I packed up the bus and headed down Mine Road. Before heading to my next destination, I rode Roaring Run Trail to Powerline Trail to Black Cherry Trail. After the ride, I took a quick bath in the Old Field Fork before hopping back in the bus and heading to Marlinton for the final leg of my adventure.







For the final leg, I attended the Bikepacking Roots' Mon Forest Bikpacking Summit.

I arrived a day early to the event and was able to get a feel for the venue, Stillwell Park. After being treated like an outcast at Snowshoe, I was hesitant about sleeping in the park overnight. Luckily, I had nothing to worry about as the vibe in Marlinton was far more welcoming than at Snowshoe.



The town has recently built several mountain bike trails accessed by an easy-to-pedal gravel road. It's a great system that allows riders to pedal or shuttle just a minute from the downtown area. I chose the Stillhouse Trail and was not disappointed! After the ride I once again straddled the KTM for a spirited ride along the Highland Scenic Highway.



Attendees to the event began rolling in later that day and the event officially kicked off that night with an event at Marlinton's Discovery Junction.

Although the summit would endure until Monday, I was feeling a bit homesick after a week in the woods by myself. I decided to take part in one group ride that Saturday before heading home so that I'd net a rest-day back at home before returning to work.

Although most of the summit's group rides were on gravel & rail-trails, there was one meant to introduce riders to the MonForest trails which I'd previewed the day before. This time I decided to explore Messir Trail to Lens Ridge Trail. Roughly half of our group riders decided to join me on the route, since the rest of our group would actually be riding a gravel road for a majority of their descent.



After the ride, I packed up the bus and drove into town where they'd setup a vendor expo. I snagged a couple souvenirs before hopping on route 39 to head home. By 8pm that night I was back in Richmond, ready to see Rebecca & the dogs!



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Moonshiner's Enduro 2026 (Blue Ridge School, VA)

The last time I raced the Moonshiner's Enduro was in 2018. When registration came around this time, I jumped at it in order to give myself a goal to work toward. With the introduction of a few motorsports hobbies, my fitness has taken a hit, not to mention the effects of the onward march of time!



Given the lack of confidence in my stamina, the race format of an enduro seemed like a good place to start. It's far less competitive than a regular cross-country race, and I'm fairly familiar with the trails at Blue Ridge School.



My strategy to avoid fatigue was to limit time standing between stages. I usually feel sluggish if my legs get too long a rest between efforts, not to mention the buildup of lactic acid that usually occurs during these breaks.

The strategy worked and I felt only a slight onset of cramping in my left leg in the pedal before the final stage. I was able to ease my way up the trail using the right leg to compensate while eating a bit more food before feeling the left leg relax again.

At the end of the day, I actually did pretty well - a third-place finish in my Masters 40+ field of eight riders.

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VCHSS April Fools at Oak Ridge (Arrington, VA)

After sitting out the first two rounds, I was eager to get back on the YZ for the Stan Hardy Memorial Race at Oak Ridge Estate.

Lining up with the rest of my heat, a quick head-count revealed a field of about twenty riders in my 40+C category.



When the start flag dropped, I began kickstarting the bike while most of the field took off. I was able to quickly catch the field and the massive dust cloud they'd kicked up before settling into the group.



The course was fun & fast, with a fair amount of options for passing. The laps were long - over 10 miles - so our entire race would only consist of three times around the track. By the end of the first lap, I was in 12th place. With no falls, but two stalls, I was reeling in riders ahead of me then watching them pass again while I kick-started. I did net five more spots in the end, finishing the race in 7th place out of 22 riders.



Most importantly, though, was the fact that I had zero wrecks and will be able to simply throw a leg over the bike next weekend for the WATR Trail Ride Day!



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Stokesville, VA

Nearly every time I walk into the shop at work, I glance up at my rooftop tent perched high atop an industrial shelf - just begging to be taken down and mounted on top of the car. This weekend, I did just that!

With my wife traveling to Tennessee to visit her brother, I had four days to spend however I chose. The destination for a single-overnight trip would be Stokesville Campground on the edge of the George Washington National Forest.

My dog Ruprecht and I headed west on a beautiful Thursday morning, catching the first blooms of the trees lining 64 West.



By midday, we had reached our campsite and I began setting up the tent and awning.



Around 2pm I chose my route, a modified circuit pulled from the Stokesville 60k route on mtbProject.





The ride was phenomenal, with long climbs on gravel roads followed by blistering descents on singletrack. After roughly 25 miles on the saddle, I was reunited with the old boy.



That night, I made a fire and heated a smoked sausage to share with my grateful companion!

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