I have reported many times on my weekly gravel rides in Northern Florida and Southern Alabama so I wanted to cover this weekend’s ride in a slightly different way. While turning winter loops in the Blackwater Forest and nearby countryside is all fun and marvelous, as winter turns to spring and then summer, it is important to know your water stops. Derek posted this ride and called it “Dirt Church” as this particular church like many others has an outdoor water faucet. It’s also nice to drop and knee and pray for a stronger heart, lungs, and legs to keep up with this crew.
These small churches are dotted all over the map in these parts. Southern Alabama is definitely located in the Bible Belt!
This particular church was founded in the early 1800s and its founder Noah Parker is buried in a small graveyard in the Church’s yard. Today’s ride was only 60 miles and less than 4 hours but with temperatures near 70 and high humidity, I still drank 4 bottles and ended up soaked in sweat and quite dehydrated.
davefaitlemonde.com 