HoCo Gravel & Hills

Sunglasses were needed as we drove south to Big Prairie.  It was a sunny Sunday afternoon and a little warmer than I expected.  We parked and rolled out on a gravel ride.

Here are some colorful bikes!

There was no easy start as we were standing on the pedals a few moments after leaving the parking lot.  I appreciated the opportunity to get up to temperature right away and was unzipping my wind jacket ten minutes into the ride.

In short time the road turned to gravel and it was on.  The cross bikes and wider tires would be put to good use today.  So would our climbing legs.  The countryside was a rollin'.

I'd like this in my backyard.

There were some memorable, as in long and painful, climbs on our route.  Mountain bike gearing would have been helpful a couple times as would some added traction on the wet, dirt roads.

Heading up.

We made it as far south as Glenmont and had the choice to continue into Glenmont or ride further south.  It's all good, let's go further south.  We looped around and came into Glenmont.  During a food stop we suddenly realized the sun was getting low.  It was 4 o'clock!  It had taken us two hours to get this far and the route was half through.

TR212: not a real road.

It was time for plan B.  We abandoned the dirt roads and chose CR52 to travel north.  No more dirt but uphill all the way to Nashville.  The sun had lost its punch and we were chilly even while climbing, unusual.  It was a push through some final gravel sections back to the car.  We were drained.  Good timing, it was 5pm and sunset near.  Great ride!