Laurel Hill Heads Up - Broken Glass and Ticks

[toonces]

Rode Laurel Hill this morning and encountered a couple of broken bottles on the road where you cross over to the Apple Orchard Loop. In fact, after I tossed a bottle bottom away and was thinking about how I made it through without flatting, WHOOSH. A half-inch gash. If someone local has a push broom, maybe they can stop by and sweep the glass away.

Also, the ticks are out in force in the grass along the open pasture trails. On the bright side, the ones that were attracted to my legs weren't deer ticks.
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/6620/dscf2150r.jpg

And after a great ride, I was fortunate to be able to play with some pretty bass on the Potomac at Quantico and watch the eagles. What a great day to be out enjoying the wonders of nature. :D
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9734/dscf2160.jpg

[dug_vinson]

Riding bikes AND fishing! The two things I love the most!:thumbsup:

I ride at LH quite frequently, and the ticks are really out in numbers there. I must of pulled 20 of them off of me during my ride there today. Fortunately, I have a tingly early warning system: leg hair.

[RJ_JR]

havent made it out to LH this spring yet, are the weeds hanging over the trails on both sides really bad right now (as they are between cuts) or are the trails still sorta clear?

[Jackson]

I was there last weekend and didn't notice any particularly close encroachment. Still left with a slow leak from a thorn.

[RJ_JR]

Still left with a slow leak from a thorn.

thanks. others may be luckier than you or i, but last year almost every time i rode there, i ended up with slow leaks

[toonces]

Mostly just tall grass in some areas. But the grass is holding the ticks. There are a few blackberry briers encroaching on the open section of Dairy Barn that passes the landfill.

I think the biggest problem with thorns last year was the initial mowing which left a slew of mowed blackberry branches on the trail. That's not a big issue now. However there are some new broad thorny leafed annuals that are getting pretty big that may cause grief to your legs until the first mowing.

[RJ_JR]

...I think the biggest problem with thorns last year was the initial mowing which left a slew of mowed blackberry branches on the trail.

thanks. probably doesnt help that i like to ride with pretty soft compound tires since i like tacky (tires that is)