INCA is still tied down in the van,
Probably thinking, maybe I can.
The door has a lock,
And I’ll ignore the knock.
His effort to come near,
For a repeat of last year,
Will definitely not be,
As this time it is me.
The White Rock Enduro, in northwest Arkansas, gets off to an early start with an 8 AM key Time. It is the first event of the year on the Black Jack Enduro Circuit and to accommodate all their classes with about 280 entries, it is best to start early. The youth and women run the super short course that splits off at 11 miles and winds it’s way back to the start. The rest return after 58.6 miles on the short course and then the top guns go out again for another 20 mile loop – the long course.
At rise and shine time there is frost on the pumpkin at 32 degrees while the sun is coming up over the mountain. It doesn’t take long to warm up for jersey time. The sky is clear, the sun is out and since it has been dry, there is some dust also. Another day for a good ride. Being on row 67, puts me near the end, as usual. The first picture is at the start with Connie recording our row. The second one is with my riding partner for the first 11 miles, after I got back, somewhat later.
The trail makes a R & L jog across the gravel road and heads up into the hills. After the grass on that first upgrade, we see very little dirt. It is essentially rocks, roots and logs most of the time. I haven’t been to Drummond since ’93, but I believe there are more rocks on these trails. The rocks are also sharp edged, rather than rounded. Oversized shale might come close to a description. The first section is on the easier side for the women and youth and at 18 MPH schedule. Still, some have trouble here and there but my partner gets through OK – most of the time. On the two tracks climbing up the ‘mountain’ there is some dust but dropping back a little puts you in clean air. The ride is enjoyable as I can keep up with my partner and make sure things are all right. We reach check 1 at 10.8 miles and down 19 minutes. Nothing to be concerned about as it is only a Sunday ride in the woods. Across the road and through the creek it is mile 11 where I turn right and am now on my own after having taken care of my ‘charge’ for the day. A 3 mile reset helps out but I still manage to lose another 3 minutes by the next check. The trail is now definitely harder. If the trees aren’t close enough to require tight turning, there are enough rocks to slow me down. I make mistakes and go down a couple times with the only damage being loss of time. The arms and shoulders take a good pounding from the sharp edged rocks. Whoops are not a concern – there aren’t any. Only the verbal kind when you make a mistake. Route sheets aren’t used and turns are not marked either. However, at every mile there is a sign with the mileage and time on it so it is easy to know how you are doing. For me it isn’t good as I’m starting to tire and look forward to check 3 before a five mile reset. A downhill wash about 100 yards long is steep enough that I manage to stall the engine trying to keep under control without over use of the front brake. If you have shoe brakes, they or your skill had better be super. I survive and arrive 42 minutes late. There must have been 10 people at that check and I wound up being there a couple minutes due to some bantering about age, liars, and eating green bananas. One of the workers announced my age, there where cheers, I waved thanks and was on my way. Gas available was at the reset and I heard later that many quit at that point asking how to get back to the start area. About the next 6 miles it was two tracks and wide trails. A welcome relief even though the speed is now up to 24 MPH. With the next reset at 44.4 miles I know there has to be another tough section ahead. By the start of that section I’ve gained 13 minutes. Doing fine this far into the run. So it’s back to the pounding, dodging, climbing, jumping logs and what have you. Check 5 costs me 47 points and some more bantering – lost tools, tires and how long I’ve been riding that enduro this time. Down a gravel road, a 3 mile reset, across the creek on a wet bridge and up a two track to the pipeline. Now things look familiar, as I know we’ll run this ridge for a while before dropping down to the valley and the finish. The downhill trail is well established and rather good until just before the creek crossing. For about 100 yards you could probably walk faster for all the rocks and saplings. When I reach the creek it is downstream from the bridge and I see arms waving me towards the check at the end of the bridge. So it’s through the water and up the bank to the finish. The mileage is 58.6 and I’m 40 minutes late. As my scorecard is marked and taken off the fender, there is a cheer from some 30 people. I raise both arms in acknowledgement and go through the sound test lane. I have made it in one piece without houring out. Later I hear that as I was coming across the creek, someone called out – “here comes Ted”. When results were posted, I was 6th out of 8 in the super senior 55 class. Although tired, the contentment makes up for it.
Young Ted
Fred - Later today INCA gets the reddish clay washed off.
Probably thinking, maybe I can.
The door has a lock,
And I’ll ignore the knock.
His effort to come near,
For a repeat of last year,
Will definitely not be,
As this time it is me.
The White Rock Enduro, in northwest Arkansas, gets off to an early start with an 8 AM key Time. It is the first event of the year on the Black Jack Enduro Circuit and to accommodate all their classes with about 280 entries, it is best to start early. The youth and women run the super short course that splits off at 11 miles and winds it’s way back to the start. The rest return after 58.6 miles on the short course and then the top guns go out again for another 20 mile loop – the long course.
At rise and shine time there is frost on the pumpkin at 32 degrees while the sun is coming up over the mountain. It doesn’t take long to warm up for jersey time. The sky is clear, the sun is out and since it has been dry, there is some dust also. Another day for a good ride. Being on row 67, puts me near the end, as usual. The first picture is at the start with Connie recording our row. The second one is with my riding partner for the first 11 miles, after I got back, somewhat later.
The trail makes a R & L jog across the gravel road and heads up into the hills. After the grass on that first upgrade, we see very little dirt. It is essentially rocks, roots and logs most of the time. I haven’t been to Drummond since ’93, but I believe there are more rocks on these trails. The rocks are also sharp edged, rather than rounded. Oversized shale might come close to a description. The first section is on the easier side for the women and youth and at 18 MPH schedule. Still, some have trouble here and there but my partner gets through OK – most of the time. On the two tracks climbing up the ‘mountain’ there is some dust but dropping back a little puts you in clean air. The ride is enjoyable as I can keep up with my partner and make sure things are all right. We reach check 1 at 10.8 miles and down 19 minutes. Nothing to be concerned about as it is only a Sunday ride in the woods. Across the road and through the creek it is mile 11 where I turn right and am now on my own after having taken care of my ‘charge’ for the day. A 3 mile reset helps out but I still manage to lose another 3 minutes by the next check. The trail is now definitely harder. If the trees aren’t close enough to require tight turning, there are enough rocks to slow me down. I make mistakes and go down a couple times with the only damage being loss of time. The arms and shoulders take a good pounding from the sharp edged rocks. Whoops are not a concern – there aren’t any. Only the verbal kind when you make a mistake. Route sheets aren’t used and turns are not marked either. However, at every mile there is a sign with the mileage and time on it so it is easy to know how you are doing. For me it isn’t good as I’m starting to tire and look forward to check 3 before a five mile reset. A downhill wash about 100 yards long is steep enough that I manage to stall the engine trying to keep under control without over use of the front brake. If you have shoe brakes, they or your skill had better be super. I survive and arrive 42 minutes late. There must have been 10 people at that check and I wound up being there a couple minutes due to some bantering about age, liars, and eating green bananas. One of the workers announced my age, there where cheers, I waved thanks and was on my way. Gas available was at the reset and I heard later that many quit at that point asking how to get back to the start area. About the next 6 miles it was two tracks and wide trails. A welcome relief even though the speed is now up to 24 MPH. With the next reset at 44.4 miles I know there has to be another tough section ahead. By the start of that section I’ve gained 13 minutes. Doing fine this far into the run. So it’s back to the pounding, dodging, climbing, jumping logs and what have you. Check 5 costs me 47 points and some more bantering – lost tools, tires and how long I’ve been riding that enduro this time. Down a gravel road, a 3 mile reset, across the creek on a wet bridge and up a two track to the pipeline. Now things look familiar, as I know we’ll run this ridge for a while before dropping down to the valley and the finish. The downhill trail is well established and rather good until just before the creek crossing. For about 100 yards you could probably walk faster for all the rocks and saplings. When I reach the creek it is downstream from the bridge and I see arms waving me towards the check at the end of the bridge. So it’s through the water and up the bank to the finish. The mileage is 58.6 and I’m 40 minutes late. As my scorecard is marked and taken off the fender, there is a cheer from some 30 people. I raise both arms in acknowledgement and go through the sound test lane. I have made it in one piece without houring out. Later I hear that as I was coming across the creek, someone called out – “here comes Ted”. When results were posted, I was 6th out of 8 in the super senior 55 class. Although tired, the contentment makes up for it.
Young Ted
Fred - Later today INCA gets the reddish clay washed off.
