Except it was not a road . While we were certainly following a powerline , there was no road – not even a trail . Just rocks . Oh man were there rocks . Nothing but , in fact .
This section eventually led us down to the second water crossing . Wide , and not all that deep , but once again surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of spectators , who quite likely had again populated the river bottom with big rocks to trip us up . I slid out of the seat and walked the KTM through – no issues . The water was maybe eighteen inches deep , and there were some guys drowned out . On the exit side of the river was a big uphill – nothing but rocks , and by the time I got there it was a huge bottleneck . Dozens and dozens of riders just stopped , as many competitors ahead were stuck on the hill . I scanned for a way around , but there was none . The woods on each side of the “ trail ” was filled with gigantic rocks , such that just hiking through would be a challenge . Just when I was about to shut the KTM down and wait the situation out , a miracle occurred . A one-bike-wide gap opened up , right up the middle of that hill . Not believing my eyes , I toed into gear and shot right up there , passing dozens of other riders in the process . And that right there is an example of how simple luck could play such a part in success at the Blackwater .
So , onward we went , and after some time turned off the powerline road and into the woods . Generally good trail , but very rocky . I was getting bounced around all over the place , as I ’ d never ridden anywhere quite so rocky . And there were
VOL . 6 ISSUE 3 - MARCH 2021 // PAGE 167