Up at 5 A.M. to get my stuff together and make my mandatory stop at Starbucks enroute to pickup aaron at I-75 and 56 by 6ish. All 6 riders arrived at Tucker hill around 7 and we proceded to load/unload bikes and all that goes with it into the appointed shuttle craft. Then another 45 + minute trek to the Landbridge parking area. We rolled out of LB around 8:30 to a healthy SS pace laid down by our navigator, who continued that pace all the way to the new blue. I thought I had experienced the new trail earlier in the year but the new shell lined up and down section was a sweet new addition that I don't remember being so good, finishing the single track we crossed the road and hit some sweet fast rolling double track with a very firm almost tarmac like base. This lasted almost all the way to pruitt, then we hit the section Jonsey refered to, sandy double track full of horse hoof tracks(really glad I had a suspension fork) luckily this section was probably less than 2 miles total, as we made a turn and the surface turned back to that firm tarmac like surface. We rode to 200 and pulled into stumpknockers, after aquick discussion we opted for subway just up the hwy for times sake, great call as they had a few tables in the A/C we were able to enjoy to reenergize our batteries. At this point we decieded that the halpata section would have to wait till next trip,so we headed South on the Hwy. It was at this point, with a full belly that the bike just wanted to GO. I got out front to provide a wind tunnel for my fellow riders, and we busted out probably 8 miles into a nice breeze. As we rolled into what ever town that was? we saw some sweet gnar singletrack climbs that dropped you on the Northern end of the coochie trail. I have always heard that the coochie is flat, but the nothern section is long gradual ups and downs similar to what you would find in croom only paved. We had a nice shaded ride for the next 20 miles passing several lakes, towns and parks with the opportunity to refill our bottles. And finally, the 14 mile bail YES singletrack. The last 10 miles were croom blue sweetness at a very aggressive pace considering we had 60 miles on our legs already. Climbing out of croom yellow, the sight of tucker hill and the cool shower waiting for us was a welcome sight. This type of riding is really starting to appeal to me, even more so with a great group like we had yesterday, everybody was letting them roll.
