SCHIMBARIDES.COM

Feb. 28, Mountain Bike Ride to waterfalls and other trails

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:27:47 +0000

Mike Sherrill and his wife Mitzi joined John, Richard and Harrison for a 9.5 mile ride to the SCH waterfalls, Chalybeate Spring, the WRP trail, the South Horse Creek Trail and part of the North Horse Creek Trail this afternoon.

Jan 10, 2010, Road Trip to Rainbow Falls and Factory Hollow

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 23:55:19 +0000

With the temperature still below 30 degrees, John, Henry, Richard, and Harrison made a 60 mile road trip to the waterfalls on tributaries of Dry Creek and to Factory Hollow. We had a few difficult stream crossings, and slid around a bit on the ice, but no injuries or damages.

the damage caused by fourwheelers and four wheel drive vehicles riding off-road at Rainbow Falls was an unpleasant site. It is too bad that an area like this is not better protected.

Richard’s challenge to SCHIMBA members for 2010:

Road trip to Waterfall Park, Collinwood TN., Jan. 2, 2010

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:33:58 +0000

It was too cold for all but the hardiest to ride mt. bikes this weekend, so we made a road trip to explore a waterfall in Wayne County that Richard had found in a book. It was quite an amazing discovery with an abandoned water mill included. We stopped by Chad’s Restaurant at the old depot museum in Collinwood for coffee and pie on the way home.

Here are some photos and links to maps:

Waterfall Park

Google map location

Cookout at Richard Rogers pond and new cabin Nov 4

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:39:56 +0000

Richard, John, Dennis, Bo, Henry, Harrison, Marshall, Ian, Robert Murray, and Randy enjoyed an evening cookout and singing at Richard’s new cabin on his pond.

Richard’s horse story:

Life in the Fast Lane:

Marshall John’s pictures:

Riding Old Paint:

Knocking on Heaven’s Door:

Ghost Riders:

Big Legged Woman:

Remember the Red River Valley I

Remember the Red River Valley II

Jack of Diamonds:

John Ross’ pictures:

Nov 1 mountain bike ride

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:40:41 +0000

John Ross and Marshall Johns were the only members to start November off right with a mountain bike ride. (others we heard from were attending or returning from football games)

Five miles on the Sulphur Spring Trail, the Worley Bottom Trail, Allen Cook Boundary, and back by the Holt Cemetery Trail and Robinson Branch. The creek was still up and we had to dodge a lot of mud holes, but it was a beautiful day with full fall colors showing and at least one wildflower still blooming.

SCHIMBA weekend at Bankhead National Forest 2009

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:52:57 +0000

The SCHIMBA weekend at Bankhead was a big success though not as well attended as we expected. (Three out of seven confirmed attendees dropped out for reasons satisfactory to themselves ((Randy’s reason was probably satisfactory as it was his wedding anniversary and his bride apparently did not want to accompany him there))) Only John, Richard, Ian, and Dennis made the trip. The weather was perfect and the tree colors spectacular.

Saturday we took a short hike to Caney Creek falls and down the creek to the lower falls. We attempted to take a shortcut back to camp by following John’s GPS, but it directed us east to US 231, then north to Addison, and back overland to the camp resulting in a 45 mile tour of central Alabama and the Bankhead NF. We did enjoy seeing a lot of beautiful trees and farms along the way. After lunch at about 4 pm Richard, Dennis and John took another short hike up Brushy Creek to another waterfall which they may or may not have actually found.

Returning to camp we grilled steaks and sausages and turned in about 9.

After a great camp breakfast we were off for another hike to Coal Mine Waterfall near Brushy Creek. We parked and after some dispute about the direction (see map below) divided into separate parties. Richard and John explored some previously unknown territory while Ian and Dennis quickly found the waterfall. Richard and John then returned to it for a quick view.

After breaking camp and lunch Richard and John opted for a quick and easy “downhill” bike ride on the Yellow Trail. A pleasant ride in spite of numerous mud holes and a herd of oncoming horses that were not pleased with bicyclists. After some confusion as to the meeting place Ian and Dennis picked up the riders and we all returned to Savannah.

Richard, Dennis and Ian also have pictures on their Facebook pages but here are the route maps and some of John’s pictures:

Saturday hike #1 to Caney Creek Waterfalls

The “shortcut” back to Brushy Lake Campground through Addison Alabama.

Saturday hike #2 on Brushy Creek

Sunday morning hike looking for Coal Mine Falls on Brushy Creek. The Yellow line is Richards route. Red is actual route to the falls.

Sunday afternoon bike ride on the Yellow and Blue Trails.

Web pages about Bankhead National Forest:

Bankhead National Forest webpage

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_B._Bankhead_National_Forest

Video of Caney Creek Falls:

Coal Mine Falls

Horses crossing Brushy Creek

SCHIMBA fall campout update

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:42:05 +0000

The weekend is finally here, the Schimba Expedition Suburban loaded with all gear will only accept three riders, including Myself. Those lucky participants, “victims” will be departing Walkertown TN promptly 10:00 am Friday. We will establish the campsite and meet the other members at their particular time frame. Remember John Ross’s time frame is from a different planet. Bo and John possibly Marshall, are planning on attending at this point. If you or other friends are coming please call, so we know how many campsites to reserve. Feel free to come and not camp, only ride, or only hike, or sit around the campfire. Which you can count on burning at all times. I need to explain to all members, that my major in college, was agriculture/animal science, not English. In fact the only C I made in college was in English. Therefore this is my disclaimer for all future communications. Due to lack of participation the Schimba whale will be left in the hanger. Donations are still being accepted. Dennis is at least two full days ahead of all other Schimba members, except John, on work detail. Our next adventure needs to be at least one full week , five days, of nothing but trail maintenance. Our first goal for Fall 2009 should be to finish the trail all the way around the top of the two waterfalls. The second goal, and I think this is a very important one, and should maybe be the first goal, is with John’s approval, “that’s the hard part” name all trails and landmarks, with maps and color coded. If we can possibly after five years name the trails where it doesn’t take you fifteen to thirty minutes to explain to someone where we are going or where we have been. I will make the signs marking the trails with their respective names. Remember come prepared, no summer sleeping bags.

Sincerely, Activities Director Richard

Irrelevant NOTE: There are 49 Sugar Camp Hollows on the USGS Topo maps in the US, about 10 in Tennessee, but only one that we know of has an international mountain bicycle association.

10/18-09 Mt. Bike Ride to Sugar Camp Hollow and Worley Bottom

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:02:41 +0000

The cooler weather brought out a good group of riders today. John, Richard, Dennis, Randy, Don, and Harrison rode the Sulphur Spring Trail trail up to the Allen Cook Ridge and back down the creek through the Worley Bottom. Richard had to leave but the rest rode to the waterfall and Randy and Harrison rode the rim trail back. Lots of trail work is needed after the floods.

Mt. Bike ride to the Sugar Camp waterfalls after the floods

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 02:59:43 +0000

John, Richard, Dennis, and Harrison rode to the two waterfalls in Sugar Camp Hollow. The flood rearranged several bridges, and took one over the waterfall, but the big bridge over Horse Creek was undamaged ( a tribute to the re-builder Pat Riley). We found several good fossils including a nice trilobite.

SCHIMBA returns to Bear Creek for Kayaking and a visit to Dismals Canyon on the way home

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:20:33 +0000

John, Richard, Dennis, Randy, Andrew, and sons returned to Bear Creek for kayaking. It was the maiden trip for the SCHIMBA wagon (Whale), which made it thanks to Andrew’s new diesel powered Suburban. On the way home John, Richard, and Dennis stopped at Dismals Canyon to explore the paths and rocks and see the outlaw hideout where Aaron Burr and Jesse James are said to have taken refuge. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dismals_Canyon and http://www.dismalscanyon.com/dismalites/index.html

We will have to go back at night to see the Dismalites, bioluminescent worms, that light up the rocks there: http://www.dismalscanyon.com/dismalites/index.html

Here are some of the pictures:

Dismals Canyon: