2013 Chris Leon Birthday Charity Ride for Samaritans Purse Recap

March 2^nd was a great day to ride my mountain bike around Lake Georgetown. It was a beautifully cool sunny day to ride around one of central Texas’ toughest trails. Adam and I started from his house just off the trailhead at Jim Hogg Park. We rode ¼ of the way together, from about Jim Hogg Park to the Dam, before Adam sent me on my way to enjoy the rocks, cactus, cedar trees and cattle. Once off the road, along the Dam, I tackled the trail from Cedar Breaks to Camp Tejas.

  

About 70% of the trail looks like the picture above with some short descents, climbs and protruding rocks that like to throw you off the trail into cactus or cedar trees.  I had two nice spills that only caused some minor bumps, scrapes and bruises. The rock that hit me square in the left shin as I was enjoying the beautiful flat jeeps trails along the western part trail hurt the most. Ssssssssssssssss, ho, sssssssssssssss, ho, ssssssssssss, ho man that hurt right on the bone. The friendly rock woke me up for hardest part of the trail, Camp Tejas to Russell Park. The climbs and descents are very steep, twisty, and full of loose rocks, taking you from lung buster to hang on to your socks, for a downhill sidewinder that turns your knuckles white.  What fun!

Next year I need to take a hand saw to take care of all the fallen trees along the trail. I had to climb under a large immovable cedar tree blocking the trail and pushed off about four other branches and logs during the ride.

I was feeling better than last year at this point so I decided to add a few extra miles. Instead of cutting off to go back to Adams house I decided to labor on and finish at the end of Jim Hogg Park. I thought I had made a mistake because I was starting to feel the 3 ½ hour ride in my legs going up and out of the climb towards Jim Hogg Park. Running out of water, energy chews and gels added to my self-imposed suffering. Once off the trail, onto the road back to Adams house, I saw fluid leaking from my left front shock. One blown fork was a good price to pay to raise three times the money for Samaritans Purse than last year. ($150 to $505)

I did not realize how tired I was until I got back to my truck to start taking off my sticky cycling clothes. My upper body was torn-up from all the push-pulling and lifting my bicycle over all the rocks and logs. Time to sit down and…. hey it is my birthday and there is home brew waiting for me inside Adams house. It is time to celebrate raising over $500.00 for my favorite charity and enjoy time with family and friends.

Adam and Elisa thank you for hosting the party at your house. You are great hosts and friends. I hope to see everyone next year and raise more money for Samaritans Purse.

View the rest of the pictures on the link LakeGeorgetown Ride