Although I don't keep to a tightly regimented training schedule for bicycling, I usually know my route when I roll down the driveway and will stick to it.
Occasionally, though, I just take my bike and head out with no destination in mind. I'm just going out exploring on my bike, or noodling around. Although it doesn't account for many miles in the saddle, it always results in some interesting finds.
On Sunday, for example, I headed down the pipeline right-of-way on my Rockhopper and followed it to the dead-end above May Creek. That's where I veered into the woods on a light trail. Not far along, I came upon this vintage US Mail truck rusting back into its elements in the woods.
How did it find it's way here? It sits on public parkland, which is mostly undeveloped, except for a couple of trails. I doubt the postal service deposited it here. Was it purchased and then the owner decided he didn't want it? Very curious.
Peeking inside, it looks like it's the occasional hang-out for someone who drinks soda pop.
Landfill sign
Leaving here, I headed uphill along a road that was crowded with bicyclists for the LiveStrong ride just the week before. Then I took a path that ran alongside toward a local golf course. Instead of turning around at the end, however, I poked around and found another trail heading off into the woods.
Turns out the trail is a back route into the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park where people and horses are welcome on most trails, but bicycles are forbidden. I figured I was safe since I wasn't within the park boundary.
Looking to my right, I saw signs of an old road that led to a gate where a huge, rusty landfill sign was displayed. It says the Coal Creek Development Co. has a nonconforming permit to operate a landfill until Dec. 31, 1985. This might have been the old entrance.
Anyway, the landfill is capped off now. On top sits the toney Golf Club of Newcastle and subdivisions of new Mac-Mansions. I wonder if they know tons of garbage is buried beneath their homes.
Bear zone
Turning away, I headed back down the road and passed a construction zone. I pedaled past a bulldozer that was blocking the entrance and began following a gravel road for construction equipment down toward Coal Creek. I abandoned this exploration, though, because it was getting extremely steep.
Back on the road, I passed a gate, behind which was a sign for a “primitive trail.” I didn't see a “No Bicycle” sign so I headed that way.
Right below the primitive trail marker was an new announcement that a bear had been sighted recently in the area. It gave instructions on what to do in case you see a bear — essentially leave.
This trail was actually a jeep road that headed down into Coal Creek Park. The road might have been left over from one of the coal mines that honeycombed this area at the beginning of the last century.
At the bottom were warnings about trail closures and heavy construction work to prevent landslides. That's probably what the earthmoving equipment was doing up the road.
I pedaled along until the road turned into a footpath and turned around. The only wildlife I saw was a crow that was guarding a section of the jeep trail. No bear.
Good ride
So none of these are great finds. I didn't find gold and strike it rich or anything. I did put in about 15 miles of very slow riding, got in some good climbing, and saw a lot of stuff I didn't know existed.
But mostly it was just fun to follow my nose for a change instead of keeping my nose to the bike route.
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