South Wabaunsee county - 1/06

[MacWildcat]

Short notice, but I'm planning to take a loop through Wabaunsee Co. Sunday also. Leaving from Manhattan and bee-line to Alma. Then tinker w/ the low-maintenance stuff Alma-Eskeridge-I70 back to Alma. I can meet up with someone in Alma if that works better. My plan is to be in Alma around noon.

[Harvey Mushman]

Give us a road report when you get back Larry. I went out for a couple hours yesterday and gravel roads were OK with the exception of still a fair amount of snow and a little ice. I'm sure any dirt roads would be nothing but mud right now. Alma/Eskridge is a great area to DS.

-Harvey

[troy]

Went for a little spin myself. Yikes those "dirt" roads are nothing but soupy, sticky mud right now. Caught me a bit by surprise. Had to make a large donation at the carwash. Larry, how'd you fare?

[MacWildcat]

http://picasaweb.google.com/MacWildcat/WabaunseeJAN08
Above is the link to my ride photos for today. When I left this morning the temp was below 40 degrees, my nips were scratching my chest protector. Made a quick trip to Alma via Pillsbury Crossing. The ramp was a sheet of ice, point of no return as I headed across the water. Realized pretty quickly to watch out for roads protected along the south side. Still a lot of ice patches out there. Met up with the advriders group in Alma headed to their destination at Elmdale. The roads between Alma and Eskridge demanded your full attention. Lots of icy/snowy roads in the valleys, almost didn't make it up a few hills, had to use the edge of the road for traction. Took a side trip down Box Turtle road, pretty impassable today. Lots of snow, ice, mud and running water, also more trees across the rod since the ice storm. A few of the roads had me grappling the bike the entire way. Muddy ruts are bad enough, try ice-over muddy ruts! I finally found myself heading north from Eskridge, some of my favorite low maintenance roads. You definitely had to pick a good line today. Muddy gumbo, about one inch deep until you dug down to the frozen layer. I almost made it all the way to I-70 incident free. My last stretch of low maintenance road ended up being the gumbo from hell. I made it almost a mile before the front tire locked up and I got dumped off. I was only 75 yard from gravel. I'm pretty sure I could hear the ranch laughing hysterically from his deck.
Actually a good technical ride today....the roads should be really enjoyable in about two weeks.