July 19, 2006
Well, the family is going to be heading back north soon...real soon for myself. Starting a new job is going to be taking me back to Iowa next week. So many rides I didn't get to go on in Texas that I had wanted to. I guess there are always vacations back to see the in-laws.
One of the rides described as the "Grand Poobah" of Mountain Biking in Austin that I had not yet done was the Barton Creek Greenbelt. I have read and heard about it for over a year but never did it. No better time than my last day off before quiting my job.
I parked one of the usual places I park to ride Town Lake. I know it's only a short ride and I don't have to pay to park at Barton Springs. It was nice going along Town Lake when you don't think about dodging joggers, dogs and strollers. I will miss the trail around the lake. Since my last ride at the lake I had found my way over to Barton Springs pool it came fast. You know how sometimes when you don't know where your going the trip can seem to take longer?
I started out on the Greenbelt thinking it was going to be a hot ride in the sun on some fast track but that ended soon. After a short time I got into the trees and began to notice rocks here and there. Soon the trail becomes very rocky in parts. No longer a fast ride this was turning into a battle with rocks wanting to slide and slam my tires in all directions. One thing that I found was that you don't have time for scenery because if you look up for too long your going to endo over a rock.
It seemed as every time I took a left at a fork I should have took a right. I kept ending up on what had to be hiking trails because in some spots I had to carry Haro. The water was low...like non-existent in the creek so that took away from some water crossing at one point.
As I battled on the rocks got bigger. I had to laugh at myself as I came to a section where I tried to do like the guys in the magazines and go up the side of a bluff and around a group of rocks and trees. Gravity caught up and I ended up running away from the bike to keep on my feet. Moving on I learned that gloves would be a decent purchase (and for safety reasons, one the wife might not mind) when falling I naturally stuck my hand out to break a fall and ended up with a stick poking out of my hand. I didn't end up as bad as I thought it was since it didn't go too deep but it got this boy thinking!
I had convinced myself that I was on a hiking trail since things didn't get better and turned around and headed back. Again, the trip seemed to go a lot faster now that I had traveled the ground. I went down where the creek should have been and rode some big rock. Crossed my mind wondering if that would be how it was to ride in Moab, UT. I actually found water after a while. Must have been springs because it was like a pond in the middle of all this rock. Shame, there was a tire thrown in as well as other garbage.
I wish I would have brought my swimsuite. I was hot, sweaty, and could have used a dip in Barton Springs pool, an Austin legendary landmark. Well, I never did make it to the "Hill of Life" that is supposed to conclude the trail. I guess when I come back the pool will have to be my reward for making it up the "Hill of Life."
