Ok, we are on for an AMSA Family Day ride on July 26th at Rusty's Walnut Creek Ranch.

Parking

We will be entering the property from Hwy 20, on the Bastrop side of the bridge over Walnut Creek. That's because we'll be parking everyone under the trees in the bottom, below our usual spot. The goal is to have another ride day in the summer and continue to keep everyone as cool as possible.

Cost

AMSA members may ride for $10 each.
Guests may ride for $20 each.
Pee Wee riders may ride the kids loop for $5 each (our discretion).

Preparation

We will have two Sundays for preparation: 7/12 and 7/19. The 12th will be spent finding which trails we'll use, finding the kids' loop, finding where the easy/hard/expert lines are, and hanging ribbon on the whole loop. The 19th will be for cutting any face slappers that have grown across the trail, more ribbon, and hanging arrows where needed.

Some of you have said you'd like to help with setting up the trails - here are two chances. The more people we have, the earlier we can stop working and ride a little before we leave. It's interesting and fun to take it from being "the forest" to being "the loop".

If you'd like to help, just reply here and let us know to look out for you. We usually get there for work parties around 9:00 AM. We'll work at least four to six hours, then if we're done with what we needed to do we'll burn in the trail for a couple of hours.

You can bring regular pruning tools, like pruning shears, folding saw, and loppers. No chainsaws needed. I like to work in my riding gear. I just take off the helmet when I'm not on the bike. The gear and boots are good protection from the bugs, snakes and thorns. Some people like to dress more lightly, but I don't advise it.

Trail Loop

We will use mostly shaded areas of the ranch for the trail loop, with the "grass track" section marked as a Hard loop just because it's out in the sun and will probably be dusty. You'll be able to ride that part or skip it as you wish. The creeks are still dry, so you can count on having plenty of distance there. We will try to mix it up and not use the same lines that we've used in the past.

Map and Directions

Here is a map to Rusty's Walnut Creek Ranch:
http://www.amsaclub.org/maps/walnut_creek-RUSTYs.gif

The usual entrance was on Pleasant Chapel Rd, which makes a loop from 535 to Hwy 20. That gate will be marked with directions to the Hwy 20 gate.

This time, we will enter from Hwy 20, so you won't need to worry about Pleasant Chapel Rd. You will see markings on Hwy 20 on the day of the family day ride.

Should be fun!

Greg

Sounds like fun!

I cannot wait!

Maybe we should have a cow pie roosting contest?

Thanks,
-Larry

cow pie roosting contest?

Don't follow Larry.....

I am going to try to make it out to help put in the trail.

The best way to enter the property is through the gap in the fence along Hwy 20, between Pleasant Chapel Rd and the bridge over Walnut Creek. I'll try to get there early tomorrow and put some ribbon on the gap. Remember to close the gap if you open it.

DeeKay came out there with me today and we did some exploring and began marking the loop near the parking area.

Parking is under thick trees, so there is plenty of shade to park under. We're trying to use all the creek beds including some that the trail usually crosses instead of staying down in it. This will mix it up a little from the usual loop there.

We'll be clearing some of the sticks and logs from the new creeks Sunday the 12th, as well as putting ribbons up on the rest of the loop.

Greg

Thanks to DeeKay for helping me scout the new trail in the front of the property Saturday. Then on Sunday we had Val, Spencer and his son Jordan, and Bobby L. helping out. That helped a lot because we had enough people to get the loop ribboned and face slappers mostly trimmed. I apologize to you guys that we didn't get to ride more. After working in the heat, nobody felt like riding a few laps for fun. But thanks to your efforts, it will be ready to go for the Family day!

We're using all the creeks in the shady front part of the property, and the rest of the loop is running backwards. We've avoided the ruts from the mud race a couple of months ago too. About 4/5ths of the loop is shady and about 1/4th is brand new trail running in the shallow creeks. Sorry, I didn't do another loop to get the mileage. I'll get it next weekend.

Next Sunday we'll be back out there to put up arrows and signs for Easy/Hard/Expert splits. We'll also do a little more trimming, and then ride a few laps to get the trail burned in so nobody gets lost. Helpers are welcome to come.

Greg

Way to go Greg! I had fun setting up a whole loop..in the shade! You folks are gonna love it. We wound around the river bottoms and it was really comfortable riding till noonish.

On an additional note, Rusty came by and we had a good chat. He seems real supportive of the AMSA now and I think there is a good possibility of improving the relationship with him.

Remember folks, the land owner is your FRIEND! Treat him with respect and warmth and it will certainly be rewarded. For the vast majority of AMSA simply having a place like Rusty's to ride, camp and ride on Sunday is a great thing. There is plenty of challenge out there and it is really close to Austin.

I for one would like to see AMSA negotiate a good agreement with Rusty for more riding in the future.

We have a trials this weekend so Greg will be doing double duty. A few more hands would make the work go faster!

aloha,

deekay

Thanks to all who came out and helped Greg this weekend.

DeeKay, we are always, and will always, be supportive of Rusty.

We plan to work together and support Rusty in any way we can in the future.

Thanks,
-Larry

Jordan (15 year old B class racer) was out there double-jumping the "expert" double log crossing - going the right way and the wrong way on the trail! Now I know I'm a wuss! Each log is a good foot high and three to four feet apart. Yes, they are angled. If you drop a wheel in there, you'll drive up the ol' heart rate by the time you get out. Doubling it definitely looked like the easy way - but I won't be trying it!

The parking area is mowed and just as nice as the Powell's Ranch or Goertz Ranch pecan bottoms. We are so lucky to get shade and breezes like this for the summer rides.

Greg