RollingJ
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- Joined
- Jan 8, 2011
- Messages
- 3,605
- Reaction score
- 1,509
- Location
- Lake Charles, La
- First Name
- Joel
- Last Name
- Sims
A few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to invite a few riders to join me to explore nearly 1000 acres of ranch between Bastrop and Smithville.
So, I assembled the A-team, who were sworn to secrecy:
AustinJake
FiddyK
GreenEggs&Ham
JT
Meriden
MotoTex
RollingJ
Silverbullet
Tjrockit
We warmed up on the south side of the ranch, where we found some mud, high-speed farm roads, and a freshly shredded field. It was too wet and the thistle too high to ride right down to the river, so that will have to wait for next time. We stopped to look at the Rock Garden, plotted lines for the afternoon, and then proceeded to ride through a 5'x5' culvert under the freeway to get to the north side. Meriden had to quit playing hookey and get back to work, so he peeled off.
The north side is 'The Jewel' of this place, but it's hard to describe. It is basically a five-fingered valley composed of large-grained sand and chunky rocks. It burned almost completely in the 2009 and 2011 Bastrop fires, so the landscape is a surreal one that is just starting to recover. This area has a tremendous amount of potential, and we just started to scratch the surface. Elevation change is the name of this game.
We backtracked to the Ranch House for lunch and recovery, then we cut a line through the Rock Garden and tested it out. I had a spectacular meeting with a big rock and a small tree.
We headed back under the freeway to The Jewel and proceeded to tear it up. We did another crazy, blind lap each direction, and then headed back to base.
We called it a day sometime after 1.
The ranch's owner was very happy and seems to be willing to let us come out again. I know he liked the trail clearing we did in the Rock Garden.
Thanks to all that attended. You all represented our DS community with class.
I will be editing the video over the next couple days, but if you have any photos, please post them here.
So, I assembled the A-team, who were sworn to secrecy:
AustinJake
FiddyK
GreenEggs&Ham
JT
Meriden
MotoTex
RollingJ
Silverbullet
Tjrockit
We warmed up on the south side of the ranch, where we found some mud, high-speed farm roads, and a freshly shredded field. It was too wet and the thistle too high to ride right down to the river, so that will have to wait for next time. We stopped to look at the Rock Garden, plotted lines for the afternoon, and then proceeded to ride through a 5'x5' culvert under the freeway to get to the north side. Meriden had to quit playing hookey and get back to work, so he peeled off.
The north side is 'The Jewel' of this place, but it's hard to describe. It is basically a five-fingered valley composed of large-grained sand and chunky rocks. It burned almost completely in the 2009 and 2011 Bastrop fires, so the landscape is a surreal one that is just starting to recover. This area has a tremendous amount of potential, and we just started to scratch the surface. Elevation change is the name of this game.
We backtracked to the Ranch House for lunch and recovery, then we cut a line through the Rock Garden and tested it out. I had a spectacular meeting with a big rock and a small tree.
We headed back under the freeway to The Jewel and proceeded to tear it up. We did another crazy, blind lap each direction, and then headed back to base.
We called it a day sometime after 1.
The ranch's owner was very happy and seems to be willing to let us come out again. I know he liked the trail clearing we did in the Rock Garden.
Thanks to all that attended. You all represented our DS community with class.
I will be editing the video over the next couple days, but if you have any photos, please post them here.
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