Mountain biking (Shawnee bikepack day 2) 4:42:30 [4] 36.3 mi (7.7 mph) +3143ft
shoes: Trek Xcaliber
Rode from Eddyville to Elizabethtown, largely gravel with trail again towards the end. About 20 degrees cooler than Saturday and I underdressed bc I kept expecting it to warm up. Legs were a little less excited about powering 60 lbs of combined bike/gear up the hills and the xcaliber is kind of a slog on roads, but it rides great loaded and I felt comfortable and confident in the trails. Side trip to Iron Furnace and another one looking for an old cemetery.
We’d originally planned to drive from Elizabethtown to Grand Tower (western border of IL) and ride back to our starting point at Ferne Clyffe, but the Monday forecast was pretty lousy and neither of us was stoked about camping and riding gravel in the cold rain. I was totally down with heading home, but now I kind of regret it. Already trying to figure out when I could go back and do the whole thing. Definitely a great experience and so glad to have such an awesome adventure teammate.