Biking the Hoosier Uplands, Summer 2008

Weather: 60 degrees and sunny
Length: 22 miles
Route: Kerr Creek to Gettys Creek, SR 46 to Birdie Gaylon, east on Mt Gilead to SR 45 to home.

Pictures of the ride and fall in the forest are here

I was starting on the east side of town, and so went straight out 3rd St along the path, till it stops at Smith Rd. I just stayed on 3rd St., the the lanes are quite wide, so even without a lane it was not too bad.

I took a left down Kerr Creek, braking on the hill, it is pretty rough. I rode the 2 miles through the valley, and then took a right on Getty’s Creek to the highway, where I jogged over to Birdie Galyan.

I climbed the long, quiet, forested hill to the ridgetop, then rode down the newly paved road, where it ends at the forest road. I started down the dirt road, but soon came upon Mike Wysong (who lives on the ridge) with his truck and a passle of teenage boys just coming out of the forest after playing paintball.

This was surprising, but not so much as coming to the clearing which was logged last year. It had grown over, started to heal, and I got off my bike was parking it, when I had this feeling. I looked all around, and quickly saw a guy sitting in a tree stand about 200 feet away. He had on his camo clothes and held a rifle. I said “Sorry, I’ll head out”, and I did so quickly. I asked him which way to go, and he told me, and I was soon out of the forest. I saw his SUV, rigged with a deer rack, parked just outside the gate.

I headed north on Birdie Gaylan, and waved at Jen as she was driving home. I turned back to town when I got to Mt. Gilead. I rode into the valley, and back out again, from there it was an easy ride home. It was a wonderful, quiet ride through the woods on a beautiful day.

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