BCT #2 New Trail......OPEN for riding

BCT Trail #2
Riders: 7- Sticki, Ken Bennett, Brady, Keith, Andy and "mini Micki"
Distance: 20 miles
Time:  'bout 4 hours

Before we left the house for the ride today, I convinced Brooke to do her hair to fully replicate Micki.  Brooke decided to go back to her natural hair color, or something close to it. I'm tired of the "blondeness" she says.   Mmmmmm kay.  Since they are BFFSS ( Best Friends Forever Single Speed) and I always give Brooke a hard time about being a "mini Micki",  we could all get a laugh out of it.  As Sticki pulled in, you could see the "WTF" on their faces, then realizing that the transformation has been completed.  We all had a good chuckle, but there were some of us that are still creeped out.

We suited up for the ride and headed out.  We had heard from some other riders in Prescott that a "new section" of the BCT trail was open.  A few had already made their way to the "worlds largest trailer park" also known as Black Canyon City for the glorious unveiling.  You are now greeted at the trail head with a huge metal sign and porta potty for the hopefully incontinent and pre ride jitters.   The trail heads in a NNW'ernly direction climbing up in elevation as you head to Bumble Bee Road.  The "V" in the mountains in the distance is where the trail leads and we're just about 8 miles into the ride......oh yeah, climb, climb,climb.

Along the way we stopped to take it all in.  I take a couple of photos of the riders.  I didn't realize it until I got home, but,  when I took this picture of Micki,  a "Wookilar" was hiding in the shrubbery just off to the left.  Amazing.  You never see them in broad daylight.  

Maybe that's Ken,  it's hard to tell....

Here is Steve giving me "Tha Fonze".  He  says that there are hardly any pictures of him when we go on these rides, but here he is again.  Way to show off your "guns."  You can see the way this section of the trail skirts the town, once we get a little further up it's more scenic.  Sticki wanted to keep going to see exactly where the trail goes and what shape it was in.  One section was built steeply on a cliff/hillside and was still "under construction."  The trail crew was in the midst of stacking large boulders and connecting rebar to hold the newly formed trail together as it zig-zags down the hillside.  The 2nd pic from above is taken from edge looking down to the marked section of trail.

Here is Brooke toughing out one of the climbs on this trail.  Compared to the BCT #1 this one has "considerably" more climbing and is less picturesque.  Brady and Keith cut out a little early, on the way back they found an old mine shaft and went in for look see.  Inside they found some Javalina skulls and some bat guano, but didn't venture in too far, only about 40 feet and then came back out, as they did not have proper lighting or crucifixes.  The Arizona terrain is littered with old and abandoned mine shafts.  You really have to be careful if you go off the beaten path.  Knowledge of the area does help, but if you can't see the dangers hiding under brush or foliage, it could get ugly really quick.

On the way back we were basically headed down hill so it didn't take long to get back to the vehicles.  On the way up the trail looking back at couple of the descents and multiple switchbacks,  thoughts ran through our heads. We've go to climb back up what we had just come down.  No worries, the trail was built rather well and was conquered.  3 up -1 back.

Another good ride with some good friends.  A good time was had by all.  Until next time....
Keep both wheels beneath you and on the ground.