Got to Days Inn Thursday around noon. Unloaded the KLX 250S and loaded all the gear in the sweltering heat and humidity for a shakedown ride before sunset and to get my bearings for the departure Friday morning. Left at 7 Friday morning to see how much of track 2 I could do. Went around the west side of Horsehead Lake which had very few visual clues at the beginning. Pretty much just followed the track through the weeds until the road became more obvious. A few undisturbed mud puddles and no sign of previous bike passage made me doubt my course, but the track said I was where I suppose to be. Skipped the first bypass and opted to continue for a crossing of the Mulberry. My last turn and decent toward the river on 1522 show zero previous activity and became more over grown the further I continued. There were a series of tall berms across my paths that in hind sight I believe were put there to impede vehicular travel.
Then this fallen tree which I ramped up to get over. To knarly to drive around.
The last several hundred yards to the river was badly over grown with vegetation being taller than me on the bike. If it wasn’t for the track I would have lost complete confidence in pushing on through. If there was some previous activity there I could missed it by 5 feet and not be able to see it. This was as good as it got and a relief to find. The chiggers are eating me alive.
After crossing the Mulberry
I found a locked gate on the other side.
These signs on the opposite side of the trees
I thought I had better oblige the posters so I cleared path around the west side and went around to get out then drove past this old church.
After getting back to 215 I broke from the track and headed back to Oark for some food units here
I elected to do the smaller of the two loops north of 215 after leaving Oark thinking the shorter loop would be enough for the day. Started off OK but wasn’t long before the uphill section was kicking my butt big time. I would plan my line and go for it. Finally lost it and dropped the bike sideways and upside down in the trail. With the front and rear tire resting in depressions after righting the bike I thought was going die of cardiac arrest before I ever got it point back up hill again. I could hear several others crashing and banging against the rocks on their way up below me so the pressure was on to get the **** out of the way. Man I was spent upon reaching top. The rest on top was about like this until the final downhill turn ahead. It was worse than the climb.
I spent about 30 minutes looking for another way down but gave up. Ended up inching the bike down, straddle walking through the maze of ruts and drop offs. I was very happy to be on 215 again and done for the day. I will not do this short loop again.
Friday I started the Track 2 big loop counter clock wise entering 5099 off 215. The long steep climb on 1497 was a blast. The road has got to have a history of being badly rutted out from the rain but it had been graded recently and it was fun to make the climb without the obstacles. Never saw a car on the road. Nice class two but I was starting to get bored so about halfway around I detoured back south on fire service road 1533 which was a high road closer to the top of the mountain.
This was typical of the route with some off camber ascents, descents with heavy vegetation crowding from both sides of the roadway
And a couple of these monsters to get around.
After exiting back onto 215 I went west and reentered northbound on 1504 then 1518 to St. Paul. Decided to just stay on 23 south, 215 East back to Catalpa for lunch.
Made a stop at the suspension bridge on the way. This is as far as I got. The thought of me trying to swim out wearing my gear didn’t seem promising.
Had a nice visit with Logan which is the biggest 6 year old 1st grader I’ve ever seen.
Sunday I headed on to Catalpa and took 1003-2 East to 21. I have renamed 1003-2 Timken Rd due to its squirrelly surface paved with ball bearings.
Headed north on 21 toward 16 and tried to find a north south route to Catalpa but found only dead ends. Finally gave up and headed back south on 21 turning back west on 1400-1 and then north on 4428, then 1425A which was another fun road with a few climbing S turns, some actual mud to drive through, a steep decent with loose rocks, another friggin gate that was going tick me off if locked (because this one was fenced on both sides), and a creek crossing.
Lunch at Catalpa then headed back to do the full track 2, class 2 big loop north of 215 then home to Clarksville and a nap. Thank you again Richard. Never would have attempted this without your guide.
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and I was there! 
It took three of us to pull it out. I didn't get any pics but somebody did. 
for putting this adventure together!!! Also to my hotel neighbor, Neil for giving me some riding tips!! It was good seeing Scott Friday aka Tourmeister 
I am not real sure where I might have gotten into them, but I am thinking I got chiggered too!! All the way from my ankles up to my waist, I have these TINY little red spots that ITCH!!! Even have a few on my arms. First time that has ever happened while riding the bike.
