Heartbreak Ridge / Fire Tower & Bike Shop Rant

Same ride as yesterday with a hike up to the firetower thrown in for some good views.
RANT: I'm looking for a new bike shop to do my business with / I had a much longer rant posted about the situation but I deleted it. To summarize: James says I dont maintain the bike and often ride in wet conditions (I've rode in the rain once and in slightly wet condition maybe twice - check the blog posts, every ride I've ever done on that bike is documented). He also all but called me a liar when I disagreed on both points. Boy thats some customer service for ya! There is no sign saying you'll leave that shop happy. The free bike lifetime maintenance didnt even last a year. I guess I'll be taking my business elswhere. It is a shame I have referred so many people to Glen Alpine - never again.
Fire Tower:




The first step up the tower = 1931.
Some incredible views from the tower. The wind was gusting strong enough to make the tower move. I think the front moved in while I was up there, it got very cold very fast at the tower.


From the inside looking out:



Another view of Table Rock and Hawksbill in the distance:
Black Mtn Crest, one of my favorite hikes:

It is good to be here, it was a little warmer than the parkway.









Amos' Epics

Going for a Big 40 solo ride - only got 37, miles that is...

The Superlight is in the shop, long live the NRS! She did wonderfully. Still an awesome climber.The "play ground":

Brown Mtn.One of my favorite spots anywhere.

Bad hair day but still a wonderful day. Grandfather Mtn in the distance.
Harper Creek:Warm enough for short sleeves but too cool for a swim.


Wilson Creek.What a shame - logging up towards Little Chestnut Mtn.
I love the Fall!
Some nice color at one of the sweet spots on Sinkhole.

I finally made these 2 little drops at the end of Sink Hole / Goat Trail - I rolled them both on the left side. No room for error - if you go over the handle bars here, you'll be tumbling for a long way down to the creek.
It was starting to get late but still time to fire up Hedleys before dark. Table Rock after my climb up to Hwy 181:
View from Hedleys:
They are finally fixing up the road along Upper Creek. I remember the night the bridge flooded out. Roger Teeters and I walked off of Upper Creek after an eventful ferry across the creek - it was running with the volume of a river that evening.

Oct. 31 Halloween

No bike ride, kayaking or hiking today but still a lot of fun with our little Sailor Starla. Noel didnt go trick or treating but she did walk around the neighborhood with Starla and Cierra. Someone thought she was the mother - scary! CierraBFFs:
She hauled it in and started chipping away immediately.