Where to begin? Sat July 22nd 11:30 am. Big Steve and Lawnboy arrive promptly
for our anticipated day-long adventure. Lawnboy proudly displaying his Garmin(?)
It is Ringwood...closest thing to wilderness in NJ according to the trail
guide...After a few wrong turns just getting to the trailhead we begin on the
red. LB and BS -  no body armor? Red trail up. Nice tech climb good work steve.
Oops we've gone south already...turn around and meet our first good samaritan
who leads us to the killer fire road climb from 600 to 1000 feet...and the fun
begins...of course not before BS shows us his wheelie skills(loosen those pedals
whydontcha) LB is hoping he catches that second wind and he does. The White
trail takes us along the ridge...oh the rocks...BS off to prove a point clears
nearly the whole super tech section...LB and I stop to rock hop... about 3 feet
up ...LB leaps...catches the back tire for a millisecond and then ... forward...
good balance. "Where's the lookout?" Finally we find the view and it's better
than any other time I've ridden there(this being only my second visit) The NYC
skyline is clearly visible. We meet Pete and he's got a 9 year old map with more
trails than my brand new State Park Map. It's time to go down but Pete
passes(must be the sandal and strap combo). We officially begin the Pukemaster
salivation trail...it's steep, it's rocky and it's a blast....quote#1 "I hope
Keith doesn't do this part...Not that I don't think he can but..." Down, down,
down to the Boy Scout camp with the nonexistent water pump...thanks Pete... more
rolling rocky fun on the blue by Bear Swamp... A good place to rest... Quote#2 "
I could probably ride those lily pads across" Go for it Jesus"..."Where's the
green?" Let's go back and take the yellow. It's time to start heading back and
we find our fire road descent..."Did we really ride up this?"  Through the
multiple trail intersections to the red and back to the car...Wow... 20+
miles... 5.5 hours ... Let's do it again, the switchbacks and the racecourse
still await!

Sun. "South Mountain? got legs?" Steve and Stu alone due to LB's broken rd. 6-7
miles of decent orange, yellow, river trail riding. Another nice tag-team climb.

All this not to mention - sleeping bags, monstrous omelets, cigars and Denise
Richards

NJ 's not so bad afterall