During a Saturday bike ride in Bent Creek, these starry red flowers caught Xpress’ attention (a little Tweet told me they’re fire pinks, Selene virginica). Another sight for the afternoon outing: teams of tandem bike riders gearing up for rides. Bent Creek’s the site for a three-day AORTA: Appalachian Off-Road Tandem Adventure. Riders from all over the country were converging on Bent Creek Lodge and riding our trails. MTB Tandems.com
By late Sunday, at least one gaggle of tandem riders — some gals from Georgia — had discovered our Biltmore Square Mall Papas and Beer … which is where I landed after traversing Forest Road 1276 from the Pink Beds to North Mills River Recreation Area.
