Tanasi Family Mountain Bike Festival
A Great Time Was Had
By Those Who Were There
And Stayed
by Daisy Blanton
November 1999
The 1999 Tanasi Family Mountain Bike Festival had something for
everyone - even non-bikers. The US Forest Service, Ocoee-Hiwassee Ranger District went all
out to show us what wonderful resources we have in the Ocoee-Tanasi-Chilhowee area. Along
with the mountain bike festival, the Forest Service hosted Ocoee River Days and the
Chattanooga Hiking Club hosted interpretive hikes of various levels. There were all levels
of mountain bike rides starting throughout the day from the very easy interpretive ride
along Old Copper Trail to the epic ride over on Chilhowee Mountain. The same with hikes.
Games were planned for both adults (??) and kids.
A band was scheduled at the site from 6-8pm and another one at the
campground from 8-10. Wilderness First Aid with Back Country Safety Tips and various
Environmental Education Programs as well as ‘Trail Building 101’ were part of
the activities for the day. Thunder Rock campground was reserved for the Festival Friday
and Saturday night with wonderful hot showers brought in by the forest service for our
comfort and pleasure. Breakfast was provided both mornings along with lunch and dinner. We
had gifts and prizes galore. Litespeed, Hooked on the Outdoors, and Fat Tire Farm
were among the many exhibitors.
Kid’s programs included Smokey Bear, ‘Kid’s &
costumes’, ‘Kid’s & Kayaks’, Leaf Painting, World of Raptors -
Birds of Prey Raptor Show, Face Painting, Llama Petting Exhibit as well as biking games
for kids and singing and story telling through the early afternoon.
Trying to register folks with high winds blowing paper everywhere was a
challenge, but then, there weren’t many to register other than the ride and hike
leaders and the pre-paid. The gloomy forecast seem to scare away all but the hardiest.
Unfortunately the forecast was accurate. The well planned ride schedule went south when
there were only three people signed up for a ride and it was well past the time many of
the rides should have started. The ride leaders just joined together and whoever wanted
just took off. Then another group and another. The rain held off until most had left on a
ride, then it hit and it didn’t stop.
I didn’t hear one person complain about the rain on the ride. All
I heard was that they had a good time. However no one was interested in visiting any of
the many booths or any activities. Lunch in the rain didn’t sound too appetizing. The
trail workers appreciation wasn’t tempting enough to wait in the rain. You stay warm
while you are riding, but it gets cold quick once you stop. Several of us took advantage
of the wonderful hot showers to clean up and put on warm, dry clothes. Litespeed had the
full rig there with lots to check out, but it all got loaded back into the trailer. The
rain sounds great on the tin roof but it’s not a bit good for business. The booths
gave up and left. The children’s events fizzled since there was only one child and
she was leaving.
The decision was made to move lunch and the trail workers recognition
gathering inside the Whitewater Center. The band would come there too. It was a wonderful
idea. It was warm, dry and cozy. The food was good and the company delightful. Recognition
was given to just about everyone who has been helping on trails. There were some there who
had over 70 hours. Several of our workers were presented the free parking passes as a
result of 20 hours work and others were given various other awards. Robert Lee was
presented with a long overdue recognition and certificate of merit from Frank Lewis and
Jim Maxwell, the Ocoee/Hiwassee District Ranger. And lots of good stuff was given away.
The West Polk Fire and Rescue folks will have to get a bike now to go with their bike
parts.
Since all the activities had given up - the llamas looked so cute
looking in the windows at the Whitewater Center - some of us just took a stroll in the
rain, some headed to the hot showers and most of the remaining folks left. One family with
a small child and an infant came in after all the rides in the morning. He still wanted to
ride so Hugh went out with him after the awards. They stayed through the very wet night
with plans to ride Sunday morning, but gave up when the rain just wouldn’t let up.
Another two guys came late Saturday afternoon just in time for dinner. We talked about the
trails - they had never been to the Whitewater Center or the Tanasi trail system - so they
were anxious to ride the next morning in spite of the rain.
After a delicious dinner of Taco Salad, the band started up. It was
really good - Foxfire - ‘New Grass Music’. They set up in the gift shop.
Since there are no chairs down there, the few of us still there lined the stairs and
railing looking down to where they were playing. We eventually worked our way downstairs.
We were so into the music that everybody really had a great time.
Back to our wet tents and the pitter patter of little rain drops all
night long. Good sleeping though. We forced ourselves out into the rain the next morning
and managed to get the tarp raised again, after having to take it down the day before
because of the extreme winds. Once we had somewhere to get out of the rain, things got
better. We had a good breakfast thanks to the goodies Matt had left for us and talked
about the Dirt Criterion scheduled for that morning. Of course the rain won’t stop
the racers. After a list of excuses from the rest of us, John Beverly finally agreed to
take the two late arrivals for a ride while the rest of us broke camp. We then all
proceeded to Fat Tire Farm to watch the carnage from racing in the rain only to find out
the race had been cancelled too.
The Forest Service really had a nice event for us. Everywhere we looked
we could see the effort they had put into it. The West Polk Fire and Rescue were there in
force to keep us safe. To keep them from being too bored, Chris Gilligan volunteered to be
rescued. He decided to take a large slice out of his leg. The rescue folks picked him up
on the trail, took him to the hospital where hospital personnel were expecting him. After
he was fixed up quite well, the rescue person was waiting to take him back to the
Whitewater Center in time for lunch and pictures of the activities so far - along with
more than we wanted to see about the wound. No it was not a result of the wet, slippery
weather. It was one of those freak ‘oops’ while relaxed and not paying
attention. He was actually stopped at the time and straddling his bike, heading back for
some muskadines.
Thanks all of you and to all who came to help or just to enjoy.
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