New Waverly to Point Blank

[hctr154]

I found the GPX file for this ride and since it's close by...why not!

A short (27 miles) ride, no need to pack a lunch on this one. Mainly dirt/gravel roads that does take you right past the (in)famous Bela Karolyi (sp) gymnastics training facility. It's creepy when you first see these large green buildings behind some fence line and foliage.

Recent rains made some of roads a little rough but my '21 Himmy didn't shake anything loose.

 

[Tourmeister]

That is the area where I basically learn how to ride unpaved stuff via the school of hard knocks. The roads are in much better condition now than they were 20 years ago. There used to be a LOT more deep sand out in that area before they started dumping load after load of gravel. I still get out there fairly often though just because it is a nice area to ride.

 

[hctr154]

There were a few sand washes but recent heavy rains had them packed down pretty hard.

 

[hctr154]

So yesterday I continued this route, from Pointblank to Riverside to Trinity.

In Trinity, stopped and ate at the Trinity Cafe, which was the highlight of the day.

From there we (my riding buddy JH and I) continued on towards Groveton. No issues...but then we decided to head to Onalaska and things went haywire.

JH took a hard fall on some thick mud that came up literally out of nowhere. We then followed the route and had to stop and turn around due to a locked gate...

Things just got worse from there. Every route we took on my GPX Pro seemed to take us to a sketchy road with numerous deep water crossing and thick mud. There several creek crossings as well but those weren't as bad as the low water across the entire muddy road crossings!

I had a mishap at one water crossing and dropped my Himmy on it's left side. Only tweaked a mirror but the Himmy refused to start due to a flooded engine. We had to push the Himmy through 2 feet or so of dirty stinky water to get back on dry road.

After about a 20 minute wait, the Himmy eventually started up...she was hesitant and ran rough for about 10-15 minutes but give the Himmy credit, it got me out of there.

At around 5pm, we decided to follow our original tracks back to Hwy 355. Mind you, this little episode started around 130pm, so we were a little tired.

Our first attempt to back track didn't work. We followed out tracks all right, but managed to find a creek crossing that we did not attempt earlier. It was too steep and muddy for us. We turned again thoroughly confused and frustrated.

Another back track attempt this time led us out to Hwy 355 and eventually to Groveton, arriving at the gas station there at about 615pm.

We filled up with gas and got a drink of water...and some Advil!

Anyhow, there is a reason why it's called Adventure riding; and we found out yesterday.

 

[hctr154]

 

[hctr154]

View attachment 351351

This is where we were at yesterday. That sharp dog leg just south of Groveton is where all the fun began.

 

[woodsguy]

This is where we were at yesterday. That sharp dog leg just south of Groveton is where all the fun began.

Probably Josserand rd, wet it can be horrendous.

 

[hctr154]

Probably Josserand rd, wet it can be horrendous.

It was...thick mud and low spots where water had swamped the road. Whew!

 

[William Wolfen]

I'm familiar with the mud on that road... Just ask @my6!

 

[woodsguy]

As you show, it is terrible wet. And not just a short area, the whole thing!

 

[William Wolfen]

That day there was just a bad spot, thankfully. It was still an adventure getting it out.

 

[Flipit]

Better check your front sprocket clearance after events like that. The AT is notorious for collecting foreign objects between the front sprocket and the engine case. Ask me how I know.

 

[William Wolfen]

That was February of 2020 and that bike has since been totaled. I've not had an issue with the front sprocket, but I'll beat it in mind. Fortunately that was a one off event!