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[QUOTE="KTM Mike, post: 1106046, member: 22658"] [b]Next installment....[/b] The trail ride group I was with consisted of myself, my sons Mark and Mitch, Fred T, Erin, Smit Dog, Zach, Asrith, Kurt H, Dandy Andy, Comrade Mikhail, Jay, Tyler, (I think that was it?). We headed north up the MCCT to get to the south edge of the Atlanta B loop. As we arrive there, I notice it appears my son Mark had done some soil or bark sampling – and discover he had a throttle stick issue. So Kurt H and I stay to help sort out what was up with Marks bike. We tore apart the throttle, cleaned things up and buttoned it back up. Never really did discover the smoking gun, but made sure all was OK. About the time we finish that BJ rolls up to tell us that Mikhail’s bike broke down a few miles up the trails. We hot foot it up the ORV route to take a short cut to where Mikhail and Mitch were waiting. After quite a bit of messing around with the bike, we conclude it wont be starting. We send BJ and Kurt H off to chase down the rest of the crew and tell them what is going on, and Mark and I head south back to home to get the truck. Mikhail and Mitch wait it out on the trail side. As our ride had been progressing to this point, the weather was steadily improving to a beauty of a fall day – warmer than what we expected, decent amount of sunshine and zero rain! As Mark and I head south, we come across Young Ted heading north along the MCCT west of M-33. He tells us that the VOR Larry was riding died – so he and Woodsy were back to camp. He was heading north to find the rest of us for some more fun. We relate the tale of Mikhail’s bike and off we go. I end up getting the truck up to Mikhail and haul him and Mitch home. As we head south on the ORV Route (I sure am glad no one came hauling a$$ around a corner as we drove along in the truck!), we come across Ted again, at an intersection of the B loop and the Route. To that point he had not came across the rest of the group and was trying to figure out where in the world they had all gone! By this time, they easily should have made it well past that intersection – yet there was only one set of tracks on that trail. Hmmm – what is it with people getting lost on the Atlanta trails? Ted decides he will head north on the B loop in the opposite direction we are expecting the other group – and would turn around if he did not find them before to long. The boys and I head the truck back to home. We arrive home to a fairly serene scene – the ladies and some of the kids playing outside, Mike K enjoying all the beautiful company ;) . The little ones had all gotten out for a ride, and one unexpected bit of swimming in the creek by one. Evidently some confusion in directions to the easy two track back in the woods resulted in Smit Dog’s wife and daughter attempting to follow the arrows laid out for the hare scrambles course. They did an amazing job getting as far as they did – the trail they ended up on was by no means a beginners trail! Evidently the smaller narrow bridge on the south east end of the woods loop got the best of poor little Mckenzie resulting in a brief dunk. No injuries, but certainly a rude awakening! She was a real trooper with a smile already back on her face by the time we returned (so sorry about that Mckenzie – next time we will make sure you find the right trail!) After grabbing a quick bite to eat, we soon see Ted, BJ and Kurt H come rolling down the driveway…but initially the rest of the crew was not in sight! Oh oh…clearly another episode of “ Lost in Atlanta” had played out. But, within seconds here comes the rest of the crew – right on time with the planned on 2:30 PM return to prepare for the hare scrambles! Smit Dog and Fred must have been running some time keeping equipment! The story as I understood it from the “Lost in Atlanta” crew, was a warped tale of missed turns, and being abducted by some genetically manipulated Elk that were planning an assault on the Elk Fest festivities going on in Atlanta that weekend. With the cunning of Fred T and Smit Dog as trail leaders (after I had bailed to address the throttle issue), they somehow escaped the Elk commandoes all resulting in a 45 mile ride becoming nearly 60 miles! Seeing they still got back exactly on time they evidently made some good time. They will spin their version later I am sure! We gathered up the group, did some housekeeping/organizing for the “harescrambles” and sent everyone off to get themselves and their bikes ready for the Camp Chaos 2nd Annual Fall Challenge! I put “harescrambles” in quotes, as we got kind of creative with how we did it. Riders were split into two groups – A and B. A for experienced riders, B for Beginners. The course had two spots where the A and B riders would split up, then later re-join, challenging the A riders with a bit longer loop and some more technical trail than the B riders would see. I never did get a solid mileage reading of either loop, but I think the A loop was around 3.7 miles, the B loop something shorter than that…3 miles or less. The loops both had about 1.25 miles on the grass track, with the remainder in the woods including some hills, some swampy areas, off camber stuff, some rather tight sections, and some more open woods trail, two small bridges over the creek, and an area of decking over some deep muck. In addition to the A and B class, the riders would also be able to choose to ride as a team of 2, alternating laps – teams could be mixed A or B riders, with each riding their respective loops. All but 3 or 4 riders teamed up, with those 3 or 4 riding solo. The event would go on for 1 ½ hours. So far nothing to creative here…BUT..how we would score would be! We wanted to make sure the younger, less experienced riders, or simply those with a slower pace would see this as it is intended – strictly for fun. With that in mind we devised a point earning scheme (thanks to Creeper9’s suggestion), where each lap a rider would draw a card. A point value was assigned to each card. At the end of the event, the rider or team with the most points wins! So, if you are fast, you get more laps in – more cards, more points…but then again, you might only get small value cards. Team riders would change riders at the point where the team mate on the trail touched the cards as they drew at the end of their lap. The riders grouped up under the large Penton banner provided by Ted, along side the KTM Banner provided by Kurt H. (it almost felt like a "for real" race.) A riders in front, B riders behind them. Team mates not yet riding gathered up to the side as their team members did their first lap. At the sound of the dinner bell, (thanks Larry for being our Bell Ringer!), the riders took off. I am not exactly sure who got the holeshot – it was Aaron or Smit Dog I think. Fred T was not far behind, followed by Kurt A, then myself. My most memorable lap was the first lap. Early on, Kurt bobbled, I got past him and tucked in behind Fred. I was kinda proud of myself as I pretty much stayed on Fred’s tail for the entire lap – until I realized that Fred was riding solo, was seeing the trail for the first time, and was most certainly pacing himself! (Fred is a dramatically faster rider than I am – plus I guess I do have a home turf advantage!) Near the end of the first lap, I came across Smit Dog trying to help out BJ who was tangled up in a tree (BJ rode B loop solo, and had gotten ahead of us). I paused there for a second, realizing Smit Dog had it covered, as I think Kurt A got past me, perhaps a couple of other riders. I ripped on through the grass track, rolled into grab my first card – a 7. As I did this my son Mark headed out for his first lap. I sat there waiting for Mark to complete his first lap, and I would see others coming out of the woods. B riders mixed right in with the A riders. It seemed the B loop was doing exactly what I had hoped it would – keeping the B riders in the mix having fun. Mark rolled in at the end of his first lap looking good and a smile on his face. On my subsequent laps, on a couple of occasions I got hung up behind some other riders, would get clear of them to get dumped into some brutal tight slow trail (who was the idiot that laid this course out anyhow?), to come out of that section with the same rider waaaay ahead of me! I came across Woodsy out there with his camera playing Mr. ESPN announcer dude. A smile would come to my face as I saw the various signs Ted made like “Camp Chaos Interstate” – on a 1st gear, walking speed section of trail, or Sampson’s Swamp, Metlzer’s Marsh, Elk Crossing and others. Each lap I would realize I was still ready to keep riding when Mark would head out for his turn. I think I was pacing myself way more than I needed to! But actually, that was fine – I was there for the fun! It did start a light rain or drizzle at some point – never enough to be a problem really, but certainly enough to make a mess out of your goggles! At the end of one of my laps, as I approached the “card table”, I guess I was just so focused on riding, I did not really see it until the last second – skidded the bike to a stop sideways stopping inches from Smit Dogs wife! Sorry Mrs. Smit Dog! Did not mean to scare you so bad! I had no crashes during my ride. Mark lost the front end once out on the grass track, but otherwise remained upright. I did see him get in at least one nice pass on the grass track to – stuffing a corner rather well! Mark and I did a combined 7 laps. I think the most laps was 8. It was interesting to see how the lap totals were pretty consistent even on teams with mixed A and B riders – really showing how well the B loop cut offs equalized the lap times with the A riders. [/QUOTE]
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