Paradise Triangle

We were talking about dogs today over on Kickrunners.com and I did sorta almost have a dog event on my run.
Early on, well before the frost had submitted to the day's clear, blue, sunny sky, two big white Great Pyrenees sheep dogs seemed quiet eager to have a taste of me, but were thwarted by a wove-wire fence right next to the road. The computer info said they were a confident, patient, and good natured breed. Maybe this pair don't read much on the internet.

I had penciled in my mind to do a 40 miler/12 hour today but before I fell asleep, I came to my senses, and decided to reroute to something more modest.

It was my first kilted run of the season.
I loaded my pack, 2.5L water, 20oz chia fresca, 4 boiled eggs, a little can of pineapple juice, some gorp, shot blocks, 2 Gus, cellphone, headlamp, lighter, salt & IBU,. On my belt I hung my 12" machete, and a KaBar army -a little overkill in the cutlery department.
The temps were still in a the mid 20°s,when I set out at 8:30.
After a half mile out of the neighborhood, it was a mile and a half to Alvarado on the Creeper where I took to the pavement and headed straight for the mountain up through the Sweet Hollow community.
After few miles, I came to the Government Rd and took a right back back onto dirt and mostly walked a 3/4 mile climb before the road turned nicely down into Sharp Hollow.
I turned off road up the mountain proper into Sharp Hollow, mostly walking again, but on a good trail.
A pretty good climb for a half mile or so, then I turned off trail into the brush. It wasn't terribly thick brush, but the machete came in handy -a few sawbriers, mt laurel, and stuff. . I've been this way before.
It was a mile, maybe more with several very steep bits. I switchbacked wherever I could apprise a good path.
You could tell I was having fun because the sweat was freezing in the tips of my hair, and my breathe in my beard.
I finally made it to the top where the Appalachian Trail generally follows the ridge line. A few miles toward town, I took a break and chopped a 4" snag in two that had fallen across the trail, but that was the only trail maintainin' I could see to be done, short of a chainsaw in one other place.
It was about 7 miles, mostly downhill, to the caboose in Damascus at the Creeper. On this same route a couple of years ago at this point, I baled and called MomaBonn to come get me.

It was almost 9 miles back to the house on a mind-numbingly flat grade. But my mind goes numb pretty easily. The walk breaks got a little too numerous toward the end.

So, ~23.8 mile, in ~6:03,
almost equal sided triangular route, to the AT, to Damascus, back home on the Creeper,
I'm callin' it a day.
JJJ