Western NC - Ride and Camp 2020

Weather in Pisgah can change by the hour, looking at it this far out is pointless. That said, I would plan for a little rain here and there anyway. The trails dry extremely fast due to the grade and terrain and don't close anyway. DuPont does close if the rain is very heavy but I wouldn't count on that.

 

That's the way I usually do it. Get the road ride out of the way.

 

It's a good warmup for the switchbacks.

 

Bumperdumper.com

Just have to remember to back in.... But not too far.

I love a good IPA and was spoiled with going through beer puberty a mile from Bell's. Two Hearted is the perfect beer IMO. That said, good beer is good beer and many of the IPA options available are not that good. Lately I've been enjoying tasty pilsners and kolshes alot.

 

I don’t like IPAs but Two Hearted is the one I can dig. Unfortunately, Bell’s can now suck my butt. Going after Innovation Brewing here in WNC was a shit move. But hey at least they lost.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.citizen-times.com/amp/1028887001

 

The beer industry is cutthroat. Bell's somehow escaped being acquired by InBev years ago and now they are one of the big ones acquiring smaller brewers. I don't know the details of the deal you mentioned but I do know a couple of the originals at Bell's and I think that they are a company that values beer first so I would like to think that they would help with their resources more than they would exploit for profits. Did something happen with Innovation and Bell's?

Side thought: have you been to Hoppy Trout in Andrews? I stayed in Murphy for a few days in 2017 and the wife and I both enjoyed Hoppy Trout. There was another brewery in either Andrews or Murphy that was mediocre at the time but they also seemed to be quite new.

Edit: Just read about the Bell's/Innovation thing. Does seem petty and shitty og Bell's to go after such a broad and universal term for trademark/branding BS. Hopefully they can counter to recoup for costs to defend/etc. Not sure if this had anything to do with him or if it was just legal team swinging their big dicks around, but Larry Bell is kind of a dick.

 

From what I remember, I think it was very much just Larry Bell being a dick. Innovation is super tiny, the definition of a micro-brewery, in a tiny town of 2500 people.

 

Neighbor across the street works for a local beer distributor. He's a great guy, just bought a '18 Taco. He and his wife also just bought Specialized hardtails. Hoping he'll be ready for next year's trip. Taking him to ASG this Saturday.
He usually has access to some great beer (Sycamore) and I'll ask him to start bringing some home so I can bring to share.

 

I'm gonna need you to not ride before this trip so we can be closer to the same level, k thanks

 

Awesome, I like Sycamores beer but rarely go even though it is very close to me. Too many people, plus at 34 I seem like an old man there.

 

It will be a stretch when I say I'm planning to go for an hour this Saturday. And even that will be at the local greenway trails.
Today is the first of seven days I'm scoring exams for College Board. Basically sitting at my computer for at least 8 hours/day reading student exam responses. I'm either going to be an even bigger pile of goo or a wound up spring on the 18th when I'm done. Just in time to pack and head up for the campout.

 

I really hope you aren't trolling me haha

 

Went once. Got a little weirded out when I started to recognize former students.

 

Weather looking hero and hot

 

I don't mind the heat, I hope we can drop some of this humidity. I almost died this morning.

 

I will be at the campsite around three tomorrow. Will anyone be around for a ride?

 

uh...next weekend?

 

This is awkward....

 

I'm kinda wondering if that's why he said he'd bring that bike to me...thought he just meant he'd drive to me in HSV which is kinda weird but only like 3 hours..

 

You may want to check those dates, brother...