LBL's North/South Trail........Betrayed by darkness!!

Well...Ole' Squish had a plan this year to ride the entire N/S trail at Land Between the Lakes. All 31 miles of it. The attempt was made yesterday by myself and a few of my friends. This is our story.....................



4 of us (Squish, Jmac, Mongoose, and Lefty) met up around 8am on a bright and crisp Winter morning. We had planned on several others riding with us but alas wife duty and work got in the way for some, or maybe they had to do what Squish does sometimes and press their skirts for the Snake this weekend? Gotta look good for that one ya know.




Made the trip up to Clarksville to pick up our 5 rider and tour guide....Mean Joe Queen. Of course, he had us pick him up at his favorite liquor store (Queen City Liquors). He is world famous as the best customer they have. He even gets some sort of award for this each year.



The plan was to drive to the North Welcome station and drop off my Element and pile all 5 bikes and riders in Lefty's Mini Van for the trip to the South end of the trail and ride North..all 31 miles back to my car.Well as luck would have it Lefty's vehicle wouldn't hold 5 bikes and riders unless we piled them on top of each other.

Everyone knows the Mongoose..aka Airsaggo Cooper was not going to stand for piling bikes on his shinny white Vassago. So we had to make a new plan. We decided to ride down the trail for 15 miles or so and then back track to the cars. Thus, still getting our 30 mile ride in.




We rode for around 10 miles and found the trail to be just wet enough to make the going a little harder than normal. Also, the trail was mostly covered in leaves and the rain had washed the trail enough that the leaves made piles. These piles were a little scary on a steep downhill because you never knew what was hidden within' them. (like a large rock).



We also had to contend with some rather deep creek crossings, a flat tire, and in my case wrapping sticks in my wheels. All in all, the first 10 miles were fun but took far too much time. At around mile 10 Jmac said he was starting to cramp some. He had not been able to ride a lot lately due to work and his legs said no more on this day. We made a decision to let Lefty and Jmac return to the cars and Mean Joe, Chris, and I would continue on in an attempt to cover the whole trail. Needless to say I was excited to get at it as I felt good at that point. I did know however that we were fighting against the clock and couldn't afford to many stops if we had any chance to make the end.



Onward went the three soldiers in pursuit of the south end of LBL's N/S trail. We made decent time and the stops were only when nessary. But, the trail seemed to just get more muddy, the leaves more packed, and the creeks deeper.


I also had a stinkin' flat. On my bike at present, I have one tire that is tubeless and one that is not. Of course, the one with the tube flatted. I have been meaning to get it converted to tubeless also but haven't had the time to get it right. I paid for it on this day. Stinkin' tubes....who needs them anyway.

As we continued to press on, I felt pretty good. I managed a slow but continuous pace. Carefully trying to maintain my legs while climbing the hills. It seemed to be working as I and my partners just clicked the miles away. Checking my watch and watching the miles on my bike computer became habit, the trail and I were one.

It was looking close, as the daylight started to wind down. The legs and lungs were good, my partners strong but the sunlight and the time was fading. Next up, a stinkin' creek. All day we had crossed numerous creeks. Some of them we had got off the bike and hiked across and some we rode. This time, Coop was in front and saw this innocent looking little creek. He charged ahead only to find it deeper than the cranks and bottom bracket on his bike. He made it but ended up with a load of water in his socks and shoes. So again, we stopped to get the water out and allow him to continue his ride with wet feet.


Luckily for the Mongoose, he had on wool socks so his feet didn't get to cold. Unfortunately for me and my quest for 31 miles the time just kept clickin' on by.
We checked the watches each time we crossed one of the many gravel roads that could take us back to the main road (The Trace) to see if we would make it in time.
Finally, we came to what was one of the last roads out before the end. We had traveled around 23 miles at this point and the signpost said 8 more to go.



Being former Boys Scouts, we decided that this time prudence was the better part of valor. We checked the map, found a way out, and called the boys back at the vehicles with a pick up point. We did a little gravel grindin' for another 2-3 miles and met up with our friends and the vehicles.









Turns out Lefty had a cooler full of beer which made Mean Joe a happy man. We loaded up the cars and headed back to Nashville. Stopping of course for some food at Wendy's. Adam even got jealous of my Baconator and had to have one. It was his first and probably not his last. I guess my eating does have influence on some people..LOL

In the end, I had a great time doing what for me was a long, tough ride. I am sure I could have finished it were it not for the darkness but that goal will remain for another day and time.


I did have a great time with my friends and spent a wonderful time riding my bike in the woods. I wouldn't have changed a thing. Thanks to Adam, Chris, Scott, and Jeremie for a great trip. See some of you this weekend at Snake...later, Squish