I had been mentally preparing for biking Silver Comet + Chief Ladiga trails end to end for a while. At about 95 continuous miles (Silver Comet – 62, Chief Ladiga – 33), it constitutes the second longest paved trail in the country. It starts at Smyrna, GA and ends at Anniston, AL. Silver Comet used to be a luxury train back in the railroad days. After the end of railroads era, the abandoned Silver Comet track was converted to a rail-trail. For geography, most of the trail falls in the Eastern Blue Ridge Mountains and crosses over the Allatoona Fault, both part of the larger Appalachian Range. Overall, too intriguing to let go. So, this Black Friday after Thanksgiving I did it.

Silver Comet and Chief Ladiga Trails

Though I had done the portion between Smyrna and Hiram few times before, I didn’t know what else to expect. Internet looking up did what it does the best..plenty of material contradicting each other, less information, more marketing. So, I approached this like other challenges in life with the guiding philosophy of “figure out a way, be grateful and don’t ever cheat”. I also reminded myself of my school days when I used to ride bikes every day for everything. With that thought, I got my road bike checked at the local bike shop, purchased a new helmet and a gel seat cover, picked some snacks and drinks, charged everything (lights, phone, smartwatch, Bluetooth earpiece, power bank..what not!) and boom, started at 8.30 AM from Mavell Road trailhead just by myself. Though my wife was supportive in planning, shopping, and dropping me till there, I couldn’t trick her to do it with me 😢

Morning after Thanksgiving meant there were not many people on the trail. So, I decided to say hello to everyone 🙂 Temperature was 55F (about 13C), and there were lots of fallen leaves on the trail. My first stop was in Dallas, GA (~23 miles). It took me about 1.5 hours to get there. I spent near 15 minutes there, used the restrooms, had some snacks, talked to a local senior citizen and continued. Coots Lake (~32 miles) was my next stop because of the natural beauty. Great lake but little facilities. Still there was a sweet family of 4, and some cars parked, so felt normal. So far it has been a fun ride..fancy suburban houses, open air gym, scenic bridges, 800 ft tunnel! That was about to change.

From there on, it was unknown territory. I wish I had known better. Metro Atlanta was solidly over by then. It was thick jungle. Rockmart was too soon after Coots Lake, so I didn’t stop there. It was approaching noon and I wanted to reach Cedartown by 2.00 PM. I got down from the bike near the Cemetery though, and walked my bike there. Felt bad to bike past that. That sort of became the harbinger of things to come..

For the next 10 miles or so, I felt like getting off the bike several times, as it was mostly uphill with sudden drops and sharp turns. I was encountering the best kept secret of Silver Comet, the “Surprise Hills”. Somebody must have decided to throw a challenge there, or the land acquisition would have made the trail encircle several hills. Either way, it was not a rail-trail there at all. Because I was going up the hill all the time and noticed the rail track way below the trail. Then it ran parallel to a motorized highway. Very bare, nothing shaded (temperature was mid 60’s, approx. 18 C, by then). That was followed by the steepest hill so far, made of landfill, aptly named Mount Trashmore. It was so smelly, and mud was visible from the trail. I’d gasp for breathe but would immediately stop breathing. Time to play that old game again – stop breathing and count backward from 20. Twenty, nineteen, eighteen…seven, six..aah! Gasp! Gasp! My backpack with all day’s supply started feeling all too heavy by this time. I had started to feel every organ and fat cell in my body by then. I wanted to sit down, but there was no way I would stop in that stench. So, I hammered through, thinking of an old inspirational poem, but remixing it for fun:

“Woods are dark, dense and deep, and miles to go before I sleep; So don’t even think, to stop in this stink 😄”

Thankfully, a mile later, there were lovely farmhouses by the trail and few benches to sit on, even a table! I took a break there, ate some snacks, re-hydrated myself, called my wife, complained about the lack of information provided like an entitled millennial and reassessed the plan.

It was about 1.30 PM, and I had done about 45 of the total 95 miles. So far, I had not found any business by the trail open, which was odd for a Black Friday. But then, I had barely seen anyone on the trail since my last stop in Coots Lake!

“To each their own! Okay Google, how far is Cedartown Depot?”

‘The Cedartown Depot is 6 miles away. Would you like to request an Uber?‘

“Yeah, Right!”

‘Okay, requesting Uber‘

“No, no, no!”

Going by the up & down territory and the super high heart rate for the last hour or so, I figured it would take me at least 45 minutes to get to Cedartown. There, I’d need a solid 1-2 hour(s) rest and recuperation. That meant I needed to stay in Cedartown probably till 4.00 PM. Did I mention the sunset at this time of the year occurs around 5.00 PM? The trail, of course, is legally open only from dawn to dusk!

Time to put my luckiest charm on and call my wife..again 🤞

“Honey, I don’t feel good that you’re by yourself on Black Friday and I’m out there having fun on the trail. So, why don’t you come over to Cedartown and we will have the nightfall there! I hear there are plenty of good shops in nearby Rome 😉😉”.

That worked! Lo and behold, she was on her way to Cedartown Depot. I reached the depot before her though, around 2.30 PM. The Welcome Center, including the restrooms were very closed.

Though it’s a cute little town, there were notices all-around to be aware of crime. Good thing, the depot is in the heart of Cedartown, and the traffic was very respectful of a cyclist. I biked to the nearby Town Plaza and noticed plenty of food and lodge options! Wife joined me there. I was rejuvenated just  by the sight of her’s. Besides, what would a few kisses and touches not fix! As women are inherently more capable of better planning and nurturing than men, she had a dinner table reserved, a good hotel booked and even brought on some clothes and morning necessities. Jacuzzi had never felt better in my life!

I woke up well past 10 next morning. It was a typical Saturday morning, except the effects of day after 51 miles biking were apparent. Muscles and joints sore, heart rate still a little high, and my butt slightly swollen 🤐 . I thought of the night before – I remembered feeling cold, wife giving me a mini-massage and putting me to sleep. What was I thankful for again this Thanksgiving!

Room coffee was no good. Wife had found a great brunch place by then. I got ready and dressed-up for the brunch in Rome. God, the waiting line was so loooooooong! We had some lovely conversations while waiting though; Rome has its own laurels. I had a high protein breakfast. It took us only 1.5 hours there; it was well past noon. And I had promised to take her shopping! God, was it going to be another day? She sensed my misery and decided to stomp on it.

Wife (playfully) – ‘Honey, should we go to the mall now?’

Me – “you mean in Anniston, right?”

Wife – ‘Of course!‘

She dropped me to the Cedartown Depot. I was back on the trail by 1.15 PM. From there to the state boundary in Esom Hill, it was mostly uphill (~150 ft spread evenly over 10 miles). I didn’t have any problem doing that in about an hour. Highest point I noticed was about 925 ft above sea level. Wife joined me at the state boundary, we shot some videos and pictures. We met few other bikers who were also from Atlanta. As for facilities, there were no restrooms but some benches, a shade and, of course, the iconic welcome arch. The Silver Comet trail ends there (or starts there, depending upon which side you are coming from), and Chief Ladiga trail starts.

It was about 2.00 PM on the Alabama side (time zone changes in Alabama!). Google said sunset was at 4.22 PM in Anniston. So, I had all 33 miles of Chief Ladiga trail to do in a little over 2 hours. I walked my wife to the Jeep and resumed biking. I reminded myself that it won’t get totally dark right after the sunset, so the trail would still be legally open. That thought brought some comfort and allowed me to appreciate the magical mountain chains in the background. I muttered “Alabama has its heart in place” when I noticed the trail surface being Asphalt! (Georgia has only 13 miles of Asphalt and rest concrete). Spoke too soon apparently, as Asphalt would invariably break and be bumpy. So, I left it to the experts to worry about trail surface and indulged in taking pictures by small rivers, creeks and bridges in the protected wilderness of Talladega National Forest and Appalachians. Good thing, it’s all downhill from the state border at Esom Hill, GA to Piedmont, AL. So despite taking breaks to appreciate natural beauty, I clocked my best speed in this stretch.

Wife surprised me with a cheer girl routine at Eubanks Welcome Center in Piedmont. It was easily the best neighborhood over the last 50 miles or so. Small children playing, young women chilling in groups, young boys around doing their things, dogs jumping, cats meowing, and squirrels charging at you before making sudden U-turns (not as annoying when you’re biking). Saying hello to everyone finally paid off. People seemed happy. But Piedmont looked like a town that never took off. It was 3.15 PM CT. However, dark clouds made it look darker. Weather forecast rain. I had 19 miles more to go in little over an hour.

“Go, go, go”

I was speeding though there were no posted limits. Miles went past in a hurry, most of it felt downhill. I switched on the front and back flashlights, good move considering there were several street crossings. I followed the STOP signs. That, and biking past some large offices and plants, made it feel like coming back to the city life which I had begun to crave by then. Jacksonville State University felt like a great area. From there, the last few miles were blanketed in the evening darkness, providing a perfect setting for contemplating when would I ever get to do this again! The tunnels, the cotton fields, old rail towns of the South! I let out a shriek – a mix of joy, relief and missing you already – when the sign said, ‘Welcome to Anniston’.

Including small side rides, I had biked overall 101.2 miles, but not exactly a century ride 😃

Anniston was just the right place for the after-party. And shopping!