Happy New Year Ride!!! Union Point Trails.

**

Shey heard there was some new trail at Union Point, GA and we all wanted to head over to check it out.  We needed 4 to 5 hours of ride time, so Shey mapped out a route from Heritage Park over to these new trails.  The road portion would be 30 miles of amazing scenery.

Everett was sick, so he stayed home in bed and it was Shey, Jafer, Jansen, Elizabeth and me.  We got to Heritage and heated up quickly on those trails.  Lots of fun!  Then Elizabeth burped a tire and it was soooo tight I couldn't get the bead back up to add CO2.  We called Jafer and he got it for us, then I rode out to the car to get more CO2 and we were off again.  In the meantime, Shey and Jansen hit the road to the new trail.  J, E and I rode on at Heritage, then jumped in the car to drive the 30 miles to Union Point. 

**
Pic at Heritage.  Look, it's a NINER RAINBOW!  Love 'em!

The Union Point trail head is very easy to get to and is like one mile outside of the town of Union Point.  The drive was amazing and I wished I was on a bike.  Rolling green scenery with amazing farm land everywhere.  Plus, we passed some very promising BBQ places.

*

We pulled into the parking lot and there was no one there, but smoke was rising from a fire pit.  Shey and Jansen rolled in about 10 minutes behind us.  Perfect!  We explored the trail head a bit and found hot showers, a fridge, BBQ pit, tables for cook-outs, T.V. and more!  WOW!  What a set-up!  Someone really loves to be outside and wants their riders to love it here.

Elizabeth and I took off after the guys and were rolling along having a good time, when there was a horrible sound from her bike.  Man!  Broken derailleur hanger and derailleur hung up in the spokes.  We pulled it out, pulled out the cable and took the quicklink out to remove the chain, so she could roll the bike back to the car.  We were bummed the ride ended early, but happy we wouldn't have  to carry the bike out.  I was going to ride back with Elizabeth, then get the rest of my ride in, but we met the builder of these trails when we got to the car and he told us all about how he built the trails and how much he loves to ride bikes with his friends.  VERY cool guy!

**

The trail was well maintained.  Jimmy blows it off once a week with a blower that he has fastened to the front of a Kawasaki dirt bike.  (cool!)  Lots of twists, turns and roots, like Heritage,  with subtle elevation change. I think he had 12 miles of trail and then there is another 8 miles of trail right down the road.  We will certainly be back!

**

Elizabeth and our new friend, Jimmy. 

This is the foundation of an old house that was moved to Highlands and reconstructed.  Jimmy said three widows lived together here.

Hot shower, fridge, t.v., fire and Jimmy said to let us know when we were coming back and he would cook for us!!  AWESOME!

**