Continuing our training for the winter version of the Bicycle Ride Across Georgia (BRAG) in February, Joan and I decided to ride from Rockmart, through Cedartown, and then to the Alabama line, where we would make a quick U-turn and go back to Cedartown—a total of 33 miles. There we would spend the night before returning to Rockmart. This would be our longest ride so far—and we knew it included a very steep climb called Mt. Trashmore.
The Rockmart Visitors’ Center
We found an overnight parking spot near Rockmart’s Silver Comet Visitors’ Station. Inside the lobby of the unattended building is this beautiful old Schwinn tandem bike.
Just outside the door is an interesting bicycle-rack sculpture made of welded-together bicycle parts.
A wooden bridge at the beginning of the journey.
The mountain
Most of the Silver Comet Trail follows the route of the old train line, meaning the hills are gentle. But there’s a section between Cedartown and Rockmart where the tracks had to remain in place, so the trail headed straight for the big, smelly landfill. Oh, and did I say it’s a very steep and very long ride up that hill.
See that little yellow dot near the center. That’s Joan pushing her bike toward the top. And behind her is the horizon, about 10,000 miles away.
Full disclosure
Just so you know, we both walked up the hill.
We made it to Cedartown
Taking a break from the action, I sat on the cold concrete and did a quick watercolor painting.
Next: The Alabama-Georgia border (maybe)
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