Members attended: 2,5,23,1776 @ Pump Station 12.5 miles

given 1776's recent mud trials and 23's preference to avoid major rock formations for now, we decided to cut the loop short this nite.  we headed out in the usual way all expecting to encounter major water, but we were pleasantly treated to normal water crossings and light mud at the usual locations.  once onto the power lines we did not cross diagonally to the other side but stayed to the left ducking back into the woods on this side.  1776 set another blistering pace as he continues to learn and appreciate the work of the WP boys and the rest of them at [name of the town that begins with an M in Austria that it took the Pres 30 seconds to find that I don't want to bother with right now].  we all popped out of the woods and onto the soft whooped section of the power lines up to the big overlooking sand hill.

I asked "where does that trail go" and a short lived debate ensued with 1776 rethinking his position and finally succummbed when the Pres said something to the effect of "it's like asking me how to get to my house from the road my house is on..."  you know how brash he can be when he is challenged.  I enjoy watching the Pres toy with one of the members when they challenge his unmatched command of some trail sysytems.  all I was missing was popcorn.

after the show, we continued on and I led to the top of the infamous "#10's almost eye-popping hill climb".  we said let's try to climb it and I wanted to ride around to the bottom.  I guess #2 didn't hear me because he slipped over the edge and rode down.  #1776 and myself boogied off and found ourselves running a sweet section of uncommon trail that popped us out to a rather large ominous looking puddle and some lines.  we stopped and decided it would be best to double back since we weren't all together but I warned him to watch out because 23 may have followed us.  he did.  I shouted to him not to go thru the puddle which he interpreted to "go around" it.  1101 would have been proud of the mud-flounder moment.

back at the top of the hill climb (we never actually did make it to the bottom) #2 was standing with the "where did you guys go?" hands out.  he said, it was like a sitcom, I go down, I come up and everyone's disappeared.  anyway we spent several tries trying to make the climb with the following results: #2 made it once and then appeared to have fuel delivery issues preventing the WR from staying running long enough to make the top.  1776 got the front tire over the lip, #5 never came close but rode a sweet wheelie halfway up on the other WR (thumper-type).  23 took a pass and watched us all not do it.

sun setting , we headed back to the trucks but I wanted to mix it up one last trail back.  it was uphill problems for all of us except the Pres who put on a clinic on climbing.  23 gave it several good shots and got within spiting distance to the top but finally waited at the bottom.  we headed back down and rode whoops back to the trucks.

my goal for the next ride: wider loading board.  there seem to be more and more loading issues happening with my old board so I will upgrade by popular demand.  still haven't seen #680, #1101 or #86 in the trails yet this year.  hope it won't be much longer.

#5