my only friend is a bottle

Working in Asheville is weird. My daily commute is on the interstate and instead of gazing out at Pisgah I watch as the city goes sliding by, trapped in my solitary cage of glass and steel.

North Asheville is a long way from Fawn Lake and these days it doesn't seem to make sense to make an hour long drive for the wndc. So, this past Wednesday I decided it was time for a little drinking alone and stopped at Mills River on my way home. My route was a little different from what I normally ride:

1206 > Slate Rock Creek > Pilot Cove Loop > 1206



At 7pm on a Wednesday it was safe to say I had Slate Rock Creek all to myself and it was sweet. I stopped to take pictures at the waterfalls and couldn't resist the urge to jump into the swimming hole at the base of one. Not as big as Fawn Lake but just as wet and refreshing.





The descent down Pilot Cove Loop might be the most underrated downhill in Pisgah. It is a ridge run with a few very technical switchbacks and other moves thrown in a long the way. The tight Rhodo thicket has prevented riders from making cheater lines and at times the thicket was so thick I couldn't see the trail and just had to point the bike downhill and hope for the best. Somewhere in the middle is Slate Rock itself.



Not bad for a Wednesday after work!