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A little summary of this years recent holiday as I know there are some (like me) that enjoy these 'travel' posts.
So, 4 years ago we planned and booked a dream MTB trip - 3 weeks exploring the hotspots of Tennessee and North Carolina - only Covid ended that dream. 2024 and we thought it safe to try again - only for storm Helene to sweep through (with it's terrible destruction) days before we flew out. Couldn't change the flights easily/cheaply at short notice so this is what we ended up pulling together at the last minute - be warned - its not all biking but also some tourist tat as well.
Lets Go Then...
After arriving and overnighting in Nashville, we headed out on our first big driving day. Now, you can be sure if there is a fast and direct route, we will ignore it and go take the alternative through small town America and so we managed to pass through 5 states on todays drive - Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri and our destination Arkansas - that's a lot of Trump banners.
Bikes built and looking forward to seeing what all the Bentonville fuss is about tomorrow.
Bentonville
The hype is real! Amazing investment in bike trails and infrastructure giving us safe cycling access right from our AirBnB to a number of trail systems dotted around the town.
Gee, what a day - bumped into this real life superhero the next day who was also checking out what Bentonville has to offer.
Also run over my first snake of the trip - little fella seemed unharmed
Third day saw us ride out to our third trail system - Hand Cut Hollow - narrow, well made singletrack
But couldn't resist another loop at Slaughter Pen on our way back through town
To be continued...
Route 66 (in part)
Next, we headed west exploring some of the "kicks" along a length of Route 66 that we have not driven before.
Our homage to Spielberg
We did find a days biking at the Palo Duro Canyon just outside Amarillo where it was a little warm...
To be continued...
Route 66 (in part)
More tourist guff
To be continued...
Santa Fe
Eventually, Route 66 led us to Santa Fe where we put the bikes to use again, firstly at the glorious Glorietta trail system. This a private Christian church outdoor estate but they generously allow the unwashed access as well.
Next day didn't go to plan. Had a biggish loop worked out taking in trails (including a bit of Winsor) in the Santa Fe Mountains area. But a steep climb to 8500 ft then a 4km double-black ridgeline beat us into submission so we cut short the ride with a dreary tarmac climb back to the car to lick our wounds.
New day and feeling refreshed we headed out to the Galiesto Basin Preserve for more hot desert trails - and another snake/bike incident
To be continued...
Texas
We left Santa Fe with a storm rolling in and headed South to El Paso (via White Sands). No roadtrip is complete without a giant fibreglass pistachio nut.
Bikes out again - this time at the Lost Dog trails on the outskirts of the city. Not the most scenic trail system but had some fun.
Then it was time to start heading back east across Texas with nothing but cotton, cattle and oil to keep us steady company.
To be continued...
More Route 66
Back into Oklahoma and a glimpse of the colour and excitement that Route 66 offered back in its heyday
To be continued...
Bentonville (again)
Managed to squeeze a couple more days in this area but this time just south at Fayetville and Mount Kessler trails. Janky, rocky, rooty, dusty, techy, narrow singletrack through gorgeous autumn coloured oaks. Throw in a creepy cabin in the woods and more snakes (4 ft ratsnake and others) and you have my favourite trails of the trip.
To be continued...
Another day at Fayetville but exploring Centennial Park - a purpose built (world cup quality) MTB XC and cyclocross venue. Don't think Haley Baten or Christopher Blevins have anything to worry about.
Back to Nashville
Completed the trip with a couple "tourist" days at Nashville - not my favourite place - seems to be the party place of choice - like a giant Blackpool with stetsons. Enjoyed an evening of "both types of music" at the Grand Ol Opry
Then home.
Although it wasn't the trip we planned, it panned out OK. I would definitely like more time at Bentonville and it's surrounds - the work put into the trails (and infrastructure) is immense and we only scratched the surface.
Cheers
vmgscot
Great read, great pictures and looks like it was an amazing trip with some awesome trails...very very jealous!!
(apart from the bit about snakes....you can keep the snakes, don't get too many of them at Llandegla!)
it panned out OK
That seems a bit of an understatement.Â đŸ˜€
Thanks for posting.
Your riding pics always brighten my day.