May 26, 2015

Memorial Day Monday I decided to go for a short ride at Slate Lick.  the next two weeks are going to be extremely busy so I thought I should get in a ride while I still had time.  I was feeling very laid back, and so was Simon, so we walked a good portion of the ride.  It was perfect weather and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I plan to give his loop a go in the somewhat near future, and strap the tracker to Daisy, so I can compare my mileage to hers.  It should be pretty interesting.

For this ride I parked in the usual field that horse trailers parked.  There were two already parked there when I arrived.  I headed down the fire road, and took the right hand split to Slate Lick Run, past the closed gate, and the lake and into the woods.

I saw these puddles full of tad poles.

 
I let the dogs go for a quick swim at the end of the lake.  There were a lot of butterflies out and about too.

Into the woods and following the well worn and marked path, I crossed the creek beds and saw a snake.

Eventually I came to the turn up hill to the right to take the short loop.  I took it.  Simon climbed the hill, Daisy bounced ahead.  At the top we came to one of the peanut butter jar message bottles.  I love these things.  There were only a few messages, and I noticed that the dates were sort of spread out.  This trail gets a lot of traffic and I figured the book would be full. nope.  I added an entry.

This is also the point where the long loop meets up.  On we went through the woods, enjoying the breeze.

Nothing special but a very pleasant ride.

May 11, 2015

**The power line black line I drew onto the map is not exact, and the trail crosses the line much more frequently than I make it appear. But it gives you an idea.

Sundays are for the woods.

Yesterday I went back to Old Man Run 1117 off of Little Dry River Rd. Last time I went to this trail head I explored the right branch. This time I explored the left.

I parked near the main road, and headed up the road fire road. It’s a little shy of two miles to the split in the road, this includes passing two turns to the right. I think next time I venture into this area Ill drive up and park at this split so I can go a little farther out.I took the left split and checked out some debris on the side of the trail right at the turn.  It appears that someone either dumped some housing supplies or a little tiny shack collapsed. Next to the pile I found a dead bird. I did not touch it but snapped off this photo from Simon’s back. I think it might be a pheasant. But I really have no idea.

I continued up the road, which was a rather well-manicured. At the top there was sort of a wide turn around area that has signs of recently being used for camping. There is a nice wide green turn off to the left, over a berm, which goes out to the power lines. Of course this is a spot for amazing views. I took a few minutes to enjoy looking around at the mountains and tree tops and then proceeded along a small unmarked trail straight ahead. I went a short ways and eventually turned back around. I saw a lot of beer signs including some scat and lots of clawed up trees. The trail was rather simple and nice but did not appear to be headed anywhere.

 
Back on the fire road I continued along and shortly came to a closed gate. I can’t remember if it’s at the turn I drew it in on the map, or more likely on the turn before that one. The fire road was still pleasant after the gate, although it shortly came to a wide turn around area, again with camping evidence. Coming out of the back of the area, where the original fire road is still in place, although over grown, a nice trail was still usable. I continued along this portion, which crossed back and forth across the power lines several times. Each pass pausing to enjoy the amazing views.

 
The trail was really nice. It was wide enough in most places for a quad, in some places the road was perfectly open, and in others it was more of a dirt bike/pony/person width. It was pleasantly green with blooms and flowers, it smelled fabulous, and there was a nice breeze whispering through. It was a bit more exposed to the sun than I expected, although not continuously, but maybe not the best option for the hottest brightest days of the summer. I came home a little pink. There were also a few spots with flowing springs or run offs along the edge of the trail. I would expect these to be dried up in the summer, but they were still running yesterday and the dogs enjoyed them.



The road comes to an abrupt end under some power lines. It was a nice ending, with some views, although I felt like there should have been a trail or something continued at the end. But I saw a big ol black snake on the trail, just a few feet from the end and was more than happy to call it turnaround time. I am not a fan of snakes.

On the ride back I checked out two yellow markers on some small pines growing up on the edge of the fire road, right at a turn. They were old, and worn, but marked a semi hidden trail head. I checked it out just a little and found it over grown with thorn trees. Not the pricker bushes or vines, but the trees with thorns all over them. Forget that.

I also checked out a small branch off to the right, it was again a bit over grown, although still obvious, and very short. I did not see the trail head for the dotted line on the other end at all. Although I was not looking for it and noticed it on the tracker map when I got back.

A nice ride and a gorgeous day.