Spooky Woods Mud Style (Just So Ya Know)

Last year Spooky Woods looked like this:



and this:



This year, because it was the third wettest October ever, Spooky couldn't be held at the traditional Sycamore trail, or at last year's highly successful Denmans, due to mud. This year a small band of "Plan Bers" rode out the Great Midwestern (paved) trail and built a fire under the highway bridge.

Rockin the Halloween hobo style.

I didn't take any pictures, but it looked sorta like this.



Nick and I stopped back in Orlandos for some grub after the fire. There were only a few people in the bar and they were screeching out some Karaoke. While I was polishing off a lovely house salad I had a charming young lady inform me, "Just so ya know, I am a midget stripper from Hollywood." This, as far as I could tell, was accurate. She certainly was a little person...as for her profession and hometown, I can only take her word.

I think I said, "well...ok." or something devastatingly charming like that.

A grade for the night? Well, it was a little lame, but still strangely fun. When you (basically) end it with "Just so ya know...midget stripper...Hollywood."

Well, then I think you've got something.

Just so ya know.

Crowder Revisited: Always Have a Map

Corey and I made our way down to Crowder State Park for some good clean mountain biking fun last year. We were pleasantly surprised with the hilly, rocky and rooty trails we found in this northern Missouri state park. Since we didn't get to ride all of it last year, we vowed to return...

For this year's trip we recruited Nick and Sam into the crew and headed down on Monday.

Crowder is purdy.



I had printed off some local riding tips off the interwebz last year but conveniently forgot to bring them along. This time around I had our little nuggets of wisdom. Apparently Corey and I rode the opposite of the recommended route much of the time last year, but I'm not convinced it matters much as either direction has plenty of hills.



This year we were determined to hit what we missed, the farthest loop, North Thompson. Last year we had a sweet topo map that we got from the trailhead, this year no dice. I could've brought the online map, but I don't think it would've done us much good.

What we should've done was this:


View Larger Map

What we did was this:



We basically missed the east sides of North Thompson and Tall Oaks Trails. We didn't have enough gumption to tackle the River Forks this time around. We also missed the Steep Creek connector on the way back. Its too bad because, with the exception of North Thomson, we missed some of the best trail at Crowder.

There's not a lot of signage at Crowder, but at least what's there is a little confusing. This junction is where we wrong on the Steep Creek and Tall Oaks return route.



Crowder has a lot of wide, double track trail, but it is littered with roots, rocks, ruts and this time of year...leaves. Occasionally a boggy wetspot will slow you down and in the multi-use sections of trail deep pock marks caused by horses hooves try to swallow you whole. It was just wet enough in the low spots and creek crossings to remind me of my beloved Voodoo's biggest weakness - mud clearance.



Action photos





Here's the photo for our (pretend) band's album cover. We're so introspective.



We found the 1800's Thompson manor house, it's very ghosty.



Even though some better navigation would have made our excursion better, it was still an exhausting good time.

Don't Say "Hike"

Even if you really want to, or need to, don't say "hike" around the dog; unless you're ready to go (NOW!) and you are prepared to take him along.



Allie let our intentions slip Sunday morning well before we were ready to leave. Her unauthorized release of information casued quite the frenzy of jumping, pleading and spazzy doggie dance steps all around the house.

He can't help it, he likes:

the car,



and associated wind



and, of course, the trail.







We went to the Center trails and then hit the new sculpture park downtown. I was worried about Trail Dog keeping his city manners in check and mainly not peeing (or doing other bodily functions) in the park.







Luckily he was a model citizen, a refined dog out for a high-brow afternoon of viewing art.