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.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

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!



Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

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.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

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!



Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

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!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow

VA Highlands Horse Trail (Damascus, VA)

When my buddy Whit mentioned a trail he knew of in Southwest Virginia that was open to motorcycles from October through April 1st, we quickly began looking at our calendars for a possible weekend trip to the area before it was off-limits.



Although the trails are open to our motorized vehicles before April 1st, most campsites are closed at that time of year. Luckily, though, I found that the New River Trail State Park opened a few days earlier than most.



The site was beautiful, with easy access to the river for help in cleaning cookware and an occasional dip in the chilly water after a day out exploring.

Whit and I arrived on Thursday to setup camp and gather firewood, and were met by Art & Nick later that night.

On Friday we chose to hike The Channels since waiting until Saturday to explore the popular route would likely result in overcrowding.



Whit and I dropped off the other two members of our group at the main parking lot, which was full, then headed to an alternate pull-off which required 4WD to access. Once out of the vehicle, Whit and I trudged up a fairly overgrown route to meet the other two at the summit. We then explored one of the two "channels" between rocks before heading back to the truck.



Saturday was the main event - a roughly 100-mile loop on the VA Highlands Horse Trail and Iron Mountain Trail!



A 45-minute section of twisty roads led us to the entrance of the trail. It was a relatively calm double-track trail with stream crossings every once-in-a-while. Nick, our least experienced rider, had never experienced such challenges. He was also a bit handicapped by his motorcycle, a Triumph Scrambler with smaller wheels, less supple suspension, and shorter ground clearance. He was a good sport, though, and gave the trail his best shot.



Eventually, the slippery rocks got the best of him and toppled rider and bike in one of the water crossings. Our group jumped into action to lift his moto and get him out of the water - once again in motion after a minute or so.



At some point we decided that our pace was not quick enough, so we split into two groups - one on gravel roads and another on the double-track trail for a section of the loop. We reconnected at Hurricane Campground and high-tailed it to Damascus for a late lunch.



After lunch, Art & I decided to tackle the Iron Mountain Trail while Whit & Nick rode gravel and asphalt back to our campsite.



I was nursing a slow leak in my front tire, adding air every few minutes or so. Eventually Art and I decided to get off the trail since this method of adding air was eventually going to bite us in the asses.

Back on the road, I made a few turns on the twisty asphalt before again feeling the tire sink. We pulled over and installed a new tube. Although the swap went relatively quickly, I didn't feel like a return to the trail was a wise decision, since even asphalt roads all the way back wouldn't get us back to camp before 8pm or so.

Art and I straightened the curves and tore ass back toward the New River Trail State Park, only to catch Whit & Nick at a T-intersection. Reunited, we decided to grab dinner on the road before finishing the ride back as a group.



Just before we pulled into the campsite, the sun was creating an orange-glow beneath a beautiful crescent moon (not pictured, unfortunately).

Once back at camp, we lit one last fire to warm us as we downed a couple beers and reminisced about the day's adventure.

On Sunday, Whit and I trailered back three of the motos, Nick decided to ride home via the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Art visited his folks in Harrisonburg. We were all back in Richmond by nightfall and eager to try to "conquer" the route next year with a bit more planning and experience under our belts.



Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow