Whitewater rushes down the side of Buffalo Mountain as a new creek forges its path. The waterway is temporary. It is the consequence of severe thunderstorms ravaging the region Friday night and into the wee hours of Saturday.
Rain has been falling off and on since Friday night in Northeast Tennessee. The downpours are unpredictable, sporadic and over as fast as they start. The Johnson City trails however seem to have weathered the storm in fair condition. The same cannot be said about Warrior’s Path State Park in nearby Kingsport.
Standing water and muddy singletrack at Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park.
Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park is open. The top layer of soil is dryer than expectation but Sunday showers brought massive downpours that soaked the region. The SORBA Tri-Cities Lady’s Ride was canceled due to afternoon rain.
Nathan “Biceps” Cole was at Winged Deer Mountain Bike Park clearing downed trees Sunday. Cole made quick work out of the few that had fallen during the storms. Some standing water was found on the trail.
Puddle of water on the trail at Winged Deer.
ETSU cross-country course, pump track and downhill section seemed to get hit a little harder than Winged Deer. The top inch of soil is wet and sticky, not a good sticky that provides traction. Rather, a bad sticky where mud clogs bike components and damages trails.
The DH area near the lower parking lot was dry! Again, late afternoon showers probably changed the saturation level of the dirt. The rocks were very slick and dangerous. Traction was hard to come by while walking the trail.
Pump track at East Tennessee State University Sunday afternoon.
Warriors’ Path State Park is closed due to storm damage. Local news agencies are reporting multiple trees down throughout the park. A night watchman was temporarily trapped in his vehicle when two trees fell on it. Crews are currently working to have the park open quickly.
Public Service Announcement: Please don’t ride wet trials! The trails in the Johnson City area are purpose built and maintained by volunteers. Remember there is no such thing as Trail Gnomes. An easy ride on certain areas before afternoon showers may be possible. Check conditions upon arrival and make a responsible decision. Make sure to check back next week for more updates.
I check in with bike riders Mike, Christine and Arlene to discuss the Taco Trek in Johnson City, Tennessee. We also take a minute to talk about the building of biking tourism in the region.
Listen to the podcast and follow along with the photographs below.
Riders socialize while waiting to launch the seasons final Taco Trek hosted by Trek Bicycle Store Johnson City. The ride is a once a month event through historical parts of Johnson City and along the Tweetsie Trail Spur. It ends in the Trek Bicycle Store parking lot then 21+ year old riders are treated to a pint at Holy Taco. Photograph by W. Kenneth Medley IIBike Rider Mario helps Bike Rider Luigi fix a costume malfunction while Brian Urlacher, a.k.a. Chad Wolfe, prepares the 100+ group for a ride through Johnson City, Tennessee. Photograph by W. Kenneth Medley IIRiders of the monthly Taco Trek receive a safety instructions from Chad Wolfe of the Trek Bicycle Store Johnson City before embarking on a Halloween Ride through the city. Photograph by W. Kenneth Medley IIMany different style of bikes were represented at the seasons final Taco Trek. Here is an Electric Townie for ease of travel without having to pedal too hard. Photograph by W. Kenneth Medley IITandem Bike Riders Mike and Christine are dressed to impress on the Halloween Taco Trek hosted by Trek Bicycle Store Johnson City. Christines mom is following behind and has been brought back to bicycling after many years by retirement. Photograph by W. Kenneth Medley IIAnother costumed pair on a tandem bike. This one is a little different. Johnson City, Tennessee, provides the perfect backdrop for the monthly Taco Trek. Unfornately this was the last one of the season. Photograph by W. Kenneth Medley IIParticipants of Trek Store Johnson City’s monthly Taco Trek corral at local eatery, and watering hole, Holy Taco for a pint after the ride. Photograph by W. Kenneth Medley II
I recently sat down with Eagle Scout and avid Deer Hunter Adam Wyatt to discuss the conditions on Opening Day of Deer Season. In East Tennessee, and most states, the first few weeks of hunting are reserved for Bow Hunters. Wyatt has been hunting approximately 6 years and mostly in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.
Recreation: Johnson City, Tennessee is a mountain town. The city is within 30 miles of Bristol Motor Speedway. The speed way host two annual NASCAR races. The accompanying Bristol Dragway host events March 26, through Oct. 1, 2016, including “Street Fights,” DER Test N Tune days and NHRA drag racing events.
The mountain location offers ample mountain biking, hiking, all-terrain vehicle and horseback riding trails. The Nolichucky River is great for white-water rafting, canoeing or any other river activities. There are restaurants and music outlets that offer a variety of food and tunes.
Adventurous fisherman will discover mountain streams, rivers and lakes with healthy ecosystems. Different waterways offer varieties of fish including trout, musky, catfish and bass to name a few. The lakes are great for kayak and canoe fishing. Pontoon boat festivities are abundant on the lakes too.
Music: A quick Wikipedia search will inform one of Johnson City’s musical roots. Bristol, Tennessee, has a recognized role in the birth and development of country music by The Birthplace of Country Music Museum, but recordings were made in JC as early as 1928. This musical tradition carries over today.
Hunter Grigg performs at The Willow Tree Cafe located in dowtown Johnson City.
The Downhome, Poor Richards Campus and Hungry Apex are local establishments that offer live music. Poor Richards is a restaurant and local college bar. The Downhome has been serving as a music venue since its founding in 1976. According to their website, “the primary emphasis is on quality music, and the performance atmosphere promotes listening rather than socializing.”
Location: Johnson City is located in North Eastern Tennessee, spread amongst three counties, Washington (mostly), Carter and Sullivan. The city is ninth largest in Tennessee, and ranked number 14 “Best Small Place for Business and Careers” in the U.S. by Forbes. The estimated population according the U.S. Census Bureau by 2014 was 65,813.
The location places JC at the base of Buffalo Mountain. The city is also near Cumberland Gap, The Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The drives in and around the city offer majestic views. One can relax getting lost in the rhythm of the road on country drives or motorcycle rides.
View of N. Roan Street, Johnson City as seen from Buffalo Mountain.
Americana Spirit: First, to understand how Johnson City embraces this one must define the term. Henry Seidel Canby defined Americana as nostalgia when he wrote, “[I]t is the small town, the small city, that is our heritage. We have made twentieth-century America from it, and some account of these communities as they were … we owe our children and grandchildren.”
Johnson City’s communities embrace this. One can achieve a sense of belonging within the community by giving back. The historic “Tree Streets” represent times in America during prohibition. Al Capone’s house stands as one of the largest structures in this area. The boom of the city, as a depot transporting coal from the mountains to America, is still heard in the magnitude of trains passing through everyday.
Art: East Tennessee State University, located in Johnson City limits, allow the “Art Scene” to thrive. Local establishments like The Willow Tree Café offer multiple venues for artist to sell work. Musicians can choose from a multitude of outlets for live shows. Stand-up comedians can discover open-mic nights at local joints such as The Hideaway.
Community: Johnson City offers a variety of communities. There are historical districts, downtown apartments and mountainside cabins all within driving distance of the hottest shopping and entertainment areas. Each of these communities offer a variety of lifestyles. The common thread one may discover is giving back. The more you are involved within the communities Johnson City the more those communities will help you.
History: The history of Johnson City is unique and interesting. The area became a train depot in the 1850s founded by Henry Johnson. The city grew becoming a major intersection for three states. The location and train depot helped grow Johnson City into a traveling hub for those heading west.
Later, George Carter donated 100 acres of land, to the state, helping to establish East Tennessee State Normal School in 1911. The school achieved university status in 1963, becoming ETSU. The school was apart of an effort establishing a state school in Tennessee’s three regions.
Memorial Hall (Brooks Gym) is home to ETSU’s Army ROTC program.
Al Capone, the famous gangster from Chicago, once called Johnson City his “second favorite city” giving it the nickname Little Chicago. Capone’s house is now an apartment complex. Located across the street from an Elementary school in the historic “Tree Streets” area.
Diversity: There is diversity in the activities, food, music and people you will meet. Freiberg’s, a German restaurant, is located across the street from the Korean Taco House. Yee-haw Brewing Co. and White Duck Taco Shop are right around the corner.
Music venues in JC cater to everything from live bands to DJs. Some play covers and others original music. Many musicians will blend their stage time with original music and covers. One can almost bet on hearing the song “Wagon Wheel” if a live band is playing.
Just Jump is a trampoline center where children and adults are welcome. There are over 100 miles of bicycle paths in and around the city. The Tweetsie Trail is over 10 miles alone and connects Johnson City with Elizabethton, Tennessee.
Kenneth Medley and Kaylani Ngirarois enjoy bike riding along the Tweetsie Trail.
Education: Education opportunities are available in Johnson City. There are multiple public and private options for lower education. Religious schools for youngsters are available as well.
ETSU is a 4-year state school. They have award-winning programs in pharmacy, video game design and others. The university has over 100 years of history in Johnson City. Other higher education centers in the area are King College, Milligan College and Northeast State Community College.
Growth: Without delving into statistics one can observe the growth of Johnson City. Over the last three years multiple business have opened. New apartment buildings, such as Monarch 851, have been and continue to be built. Yee-Haw Brewing Co. and White Duck Taco Shop and Trek Bicycle Store are but a few of many.
Defining America by traveling the nation and speaking with its citizens.
American Dream: Overland Expedition 