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Sometimes It's Better To Go The Long Way
- bliss5
- Apr 22
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 23
by: Robert Sawyer
There have been several instances where we have ridden past a road closed sign and been able to get through without any problems, we saved time and distance by not taking the detour. However, there have also been times when that tactic has backfired on us.
The first one, I can’t remember exactly where, but somewhere in the states. We came to a sign that said “road closed 5 miles ahead”. The detour would have added an extra 1.5 miles to our day’s ride. We were tired and almost to our destination. Based on our prior successes we decided it was worth the risk. We got to the closure, there was big equipment and a big hole across the entire road. Bliss begged one of the workers to let us walk our bikes into the forest around the hole, but he insisted we turn around. He asked if we had read the sign. “Yeah… but…” So instead of adding 1.5 miles to our ride we added 11.5 miles. That was a HARD day.
In Norway we faced a similar situation with a road closed ahead sign. Did we learn our lesson…? After a few miles we came to the construction area that was fenced off. There were no workers. There was a local lady walking so Bliss asked if it was alright to go through. She said that she had permission but didn’t know about us. So I told her that she never saw us and we went through a hole in the fence. It was a little tricky carrying the bikes over makeshift plank bridges, but we made it. SUCCESS!
The worst one, and hopefully the one that has taught us a lesson, was in Kentucky. We were at Mammoth Cave National Park. The way I had routed for us to go had a really steep, fairly long climb near the start. Using google maps I was able to find another route without near as much climbing. We started with a nice downhill and a short ferry ride. After a few miles we got to a nice gravel road. We made it up to Good Springs Church where there was supposed to be a trailhead. What we finally found was a little metal sign nailed to a tree that said Trail Closed. So of course, we tried it anyway.
We worked through the prickly weeds and over fallen trees. We had already gone pretty far downhill when we came to piles of downed trees that were impossible to climb over with loaded bikes. So we climbed up to a ridge. It was much easier traveling there. After a while we could see an improved trail down the hill and across a little stream. The only place to go down was pretty steep and muddy. So I slid down the hill with my bike (not so gracefully) and went back and did the same with Bliss’ bike.
Unfortunately the nice trail lasted only a short bit. Then we hit an up and down single track covered with large rocks and roots. Even better, much of it had giant ruts that made it so difficult to push the bikes along. We walked a couple miles in these conditions with the bikes. Near the end we came upon two hikers, one said that he was impressed by us, so I asked if he found stupidity to be impressive.
Finally we hit the road, bloody, bruised, hungry and exhausted. Luckily, before we left Mammoth I made reservations for a hotel that had a restaurant. So we rode pretty well, motivated by what awaited us. We got to the hotel, and no one was there, no lights were on. The sign out front said open only Thurs-Sun, this was a Tuesday. I had a reservation confirmation by email, but they didn’t answer the phone or have voice mail. We set up the tent on the grass behind the hotel. There was an outhouse in the front, but Bliss said we needed to pee all over the grass and hopefully kill it. She isn’t at her best when exhausted.
We were so tired that Bliss had a piece of cold steak from a previous meal and I ate candy for dinner. Then we conked out. We were hoping someone would come tell us we couldn’t camp there just so we could show them the reservation and get all indignant. The next night was at the great Warmshowers host the Crumps, almost making up for the day before.
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