Ride your bike to Anniston

doing the whole thing each day? damn.

i'd like to go, but i've been taking the whole "take it easy" advice to heart. not sure I wouldn't hold you back.

also, i'm planning on doing something very similar either over fall break or thxgiving break.

I am planning on being out there.

b/c primitive camping is allowed where ever in the forest

true that national forests have a default allow policy for camping, but specific rules overturn default policy sometimes. For example, no camping in AL national forests during "firearms season", which starts Nov 15 (no problem for your trip, just throwing it out there in case someone else is making plans....)

Also, there's usually a distance requirement to stay away from trails or streams.

You say you want to tour? Well, make sure you buy one of these.

Broken spokes suck... so do shitty motels in small railroad towns.

The Silver Comet/Ladiga Anniston and back ride

I met up with Tim at the Hiram trailhead and we headed out, enjoying a ~14mph average things were going well until we crossed out of the Brushy Mountain tunnel... that is where I broke my first spoke.

We arrived in Rockmart, asked the locals for the location of a bike shop, and were informed that the town's bike shop closed about a year ago. I made the dumb decision to continue on.

Tim and I took the long way from Rockmart to Cedartown (Morgan Valley Road. I found out in Piedmont that there is a much quicker route... I think Tim took it when he turned around in Cedartown). I continued on... the path zig zags a bit in Cedartown, but after about two miles it returns to it's normal routine. Be forewarned, from Cedartown to Piedmont is EXTREMELY remote. Miles and miles (~20) of absolutely nothing, just trail. A couple of time on this stretch I was met by an angry canine... nothing a quick dismount and foot chase didn't fix though :)

I set up camp on the Pinhoti trail at about mile marker 8 just south of the bike trail. At about 7:00 is when I heard the gun shots... and the dogs. I knew I was sleeping in poaching territory. I broke down camp in about six minutes and left half of my gear (my alcohol stove, my sleeping mat, my rain suit, two pairs of boxers, my food, a pump, my mosquito net, camp towel, and my two LG panniers). I booked out of there and made it into Piedmont right after dark.

I asked a local paramedic for the whereabouts of a place to sleep. He informed me of a 'sleazy motel' on the edge of town run by 'a bunch of sleazy Indians'... this set the tone for the remainder of the night. I got lost in Piedmont on the way to the motel, found a Huttle House... and made the mistake of going inside. I was about to order and felt a burning sensation... it was the eyes of everyone in the restaurant staring at me. I asked the waitress where the motel was and she pointed me in it's direction. On the way there, traveling along US 278, I broke spokes number two and three... my wheel was now trashed. I pulled into the motel, got a room (full of bugs and a broken A/C, so it was sort of like camping).

I awoke several time throughout the night to grunting noises , screeching tires, yelling and such, standard fare at a no-tell motel I suppose.

In the morning I discovered a flat front tire, a rear wheel that resembled a Pringles chip, and a cockroach sleeping next to me.

I called my brother, he and a friend made the trek out and rescued me. On the way back, the three of us had other adventures (lost shoes/water bottles, saving a woman from an abusive boyfriend, strange smells, a flat tire on my car, etc.)

Overall, a fun trip... mostly because it was unforgettable.

http://www.therealmarktrail.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=32

ew.. ew.. next time take the comforter off the bed! those Never get washed. Ever.

I second Paul's sentiment. Venturing into Northern Alabama is a lot like visiting another coutry.

Silver Comet from Rockmart, Chief Ladiga to Anniston