Lake Leatherwood & Beaver Lake

We adopted a saying a few years ago that has just kind of stuck.

"Life is Better Tandem"

And to be honest, that lifestyle started a little before we ever picked up our Salsa Powderkeg from District Bicycles out of Stillwater OK. And even before we ever took a trip to Colorado by ourselves in an effort to resuscitate our failing marriage. 

It started as a feeling, that was impressed upon us by Bobby Wintle, owner of District Bicyles at the 2015 Landrun 100.  We didn't even know that feeling would bite us and change our lives together and change the way we raise our family from there forward. But more on Unlearn Pavement later
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On any given weekend you can find us, avoiding adult responsibilities as much as possible in an effort to find ourselves disconnected from the typical mundane and connected to nature, friendships and each other. 

This weekend we found ourselves in Arkansas celebrating Amber's 31st birthday. 

​We clocked out early from work and hurried down to Beaver lake late afternoon so we could start our day early Saturday. ​

view from our hammock at the lake house

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​Saturday, we accidentally slept in but parted ways for our own adventures for the day. Quincy geared up and headed to Lake Leatherwood near Eureka Springs with my dad Albert. The parking lot was packed with empty bike racks when they arrived so they knew they were in for a good day. 

Quincy and his dad Albert at Lake Leatherwood

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After some last minute adjustments to the bikes and gear we headed to the trail head, where we encountered an eager young man that stopped us to give some trail info and directions to us, which was helpful due to never having ridden the area before. Upon starting the ride we were very pleased with the terrain, some techy sections with tree roots and rocks, climbs and descents, and the always appreciated flowy sections. 

With the help of a few adjustments, the bikes were dialed in and we settled into the usual pace of pushing the limits, hoofing it around the lake and encountered some brand new trails and the infamous direction arrows on the trees for the following weekends race. So, of course now that we are on the race course we have to push even harder as if we were racing. 

By this time we had made it to the last section of trail, almost all the way around to the trail head, where we encountered a lot of climbing and switchbacks, my favorites. And of course when you do a lot of climbing you get to do a lot of descending too, which was a great way to end the 20+ miles of riding for the day. ​

Quincy at Lake Leatherwood

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We were eager to get our ritual chocolate milks at the car and after loading up the bikes and gear and doing a quick inspection for ticks we hopped in the car and headed back to house for a much needed shower which was followed up with a delicious fajita dinner with our family and friends back at the lake house. 

And that was only one day of our weekend.... Simon Fam