Today/tonight I spent a few hours building a new bridge and adding a new section to the mountain biking trails that are currently being called The Stream Trails.  I don’t have any photos yet because by the time I was finished it was dark.  The bridge is made from recycled barn board and other wood from Recycle North as well as two trees that were found in the area.

Bridge #7 - The Stream Trails

The new bridge (#7) is located north of bridge #3 (by the fire pit).  It adds another (currently muddy: Update: 10/20 – sticks have been laid down to combat the mud) connection to what has been officially named the ‘Shoots & Ladders’ section (coined by my neighbor John).   There is still work to be done as the section directly after the bridge is a bit too steep to ride up.  I might dig it out or get creative. (Update 10/20: I dug it out, so much for creativity.)  Who knows what I will come up with.  The section also gives a rider the ability to link the trails via Stage Road (more work needs to be done to create this link).  I am going to temporarily name this section Westie as it is the closest section to my neighbor John Westie’s land.

Westie Trail

Other work was done today as well.  This morning I was out there at about 8am with coffee in one hand and a spade shovel, rake or hoe in the other (ok, so I put the coffee down while I used a tool).  I raked the entire trail system and leveled a few sections.  All in all I bet that I spent a solid four hours down there today.  I didn’t actually get to ride it though.  Party because I wanted to complete all that I was working on and partly because I took a spill earlier this week that put a little bit of the ‘hurt’ on my left shoulder.   Hurt in the form of an egg shaped lump that was raised up about a half inch off my shoulder!  Here is what happened…I was going down a hill, hit a tree with my handlebar which tossed me right over, down the hill and onto my shoulder.  I landed with my (helmeted) head about six inches from a rock and another foot and I would have landed in the stream.  I must admit….I was on a roll!  I made it over sections that I was having doubts about.  Then I got cocky and hit the tree but tomorrow is a new day and hopefully one with injuries!

Yesterday on my drive to work I realized that I did not have enough wood to complete Bridge #6 nor the Rock Ladder for the Stream Trails mountain biking trail system.  So I stopped at Recycle North’s Building Materials Center and they told me I could look through a gigantic pile of scraps and to “take what I need”. Needless to say, I did take what I needed. The wood is rustic and was probably taken from old Vermont barns but it will help keep the natural look of the Stream Trails and should hold up for years to come. Then it was a quick stop to the hardware store for some nails and I was on my way home.

Bridge #6

Bridge #6 was the first to be built. The dimensions of the bridge are approx. 15 feet long by 12 inches wides. It spans the stream and is about 3 feet away from the “big waterfall” (total drop – about 4 feet). Bridge #6 adds an additional connection to both sides of The Stream Trails.  If you happen to slip off or lose your balance it’s certain wet-foot!  But the water beneath the bridge is only a foot and a half to two feed down.  I suggest (as I always do) wearing a helmet.  It will be a real challenge riding climbing up and over the Rock Ladder from the west side of the trail system but it should be possible (for me).

Rock Ladder

The Rock Ladder is about 6 feet long and 15-18 inches wide. (I made this one a bit wider because of how it shoots you down off the rock into a narrow section. I figured that I would rather not be out of control coming down the ladder because the consequence will be smashing into one of the young evergreen occupants.) The Rock Ladder gives a rider the ability to get to Bridge #6 from the “Big Rock” side of the stream.  It also creates an alternative route to take instead of heading to Bridge #4 and up the “Impossible Incline”.

I must apologize for the poor quality of images but it was quite dark out by the time I had the two mountain biking structures completed! I am certain that new photos will be taken. I will probably have to create a new video of The Stream Trails as well but for now this is what I have.

Bridge #6 Construction Begins

Yesterday construction began on Bridge #6 at The Stream Trails. In addition to the bridge (allows for crossing the stream in front of the “big waterfall” creating yet another link in the Stream Trails system) there will also be a “ladder” built to create the ability to ride over the “big rock” and connect with the trail to Bridge #6. The ladder and ladder-style bridge will be constructed out of old futon wood and fallen trees from the immediate area.

Once completed his will become the longest bridge along the trails, total span looks to be about 10 feet.  Construction should be complete over the next couple of days.

This yet another enhancement to the ongoing construction of The Stream Trails.