The term "witching hour" has a historical and cultural connection to the idea of a time when supernatural forces or witchcraft are most active; while folklore and literature define the phrase "witching hour" as referencing a time of darkness, mystery, and potential danger. Some associate the witching hour with midnight while others believe it to be around 3 AM.
Starting at
11pm on Friday night, the MMGR embodies the ideology of the event’s namesake the
revolutionary war hero Francis Marion also known as the Swamp Fox. Taking place on the gravel and rural roads,
along with some trails, within Francis Marion National Forest and around Lake
Moultrie riders are unsupported, on their own, and riding most of the event
under the cover of darkness. No sag
wagon. Little to no cell service.
Minimal gas stations and stores to get food and drink. No course
markings; GPS devices must be used to navigate the 177.6 mile route. Race
directors are watching riders via GPS trackers in the case of an emergency but
that is the only connection to support. Truly on your own; just like the Swamp
Fox navigating the swamps and forests of South Carolina.
After registering at Commonhouse Ale Works and buying some beer to take back home Joël and I, along with Clifford our dog who accompanied us to the event, headed to the race venue to get ready and take time to relax and try to nap a little. During the late afternoon and evening hours other MMGR riders arrived and it was soon time to, as the race director states “take up arms” under the light of the full moon. The weather was perfect, temperatures in the 60s F and no rain forecasted for the entire duration of the event. Riders seemed excited about the challenge yet uncertain about what lay ahead as we all milled around the start line; regardless everyone was friendly, supportive, and ready to ride. The race started with a lead-out moto and photographer, IconMediaAsheville, showing us the way and cheering for riders. The small but mighty group of us, about 20 riders, held together for a little while on the pavement, but once we hit the gravel the pack spilt up. This is where my solo ride started and continued this way for the next 12 hours.
I pedaled along
feeling like Céline Dion belting out “All By Myself”. Hour after hour just cycling along upon my Liv Devote Advanced bike looking around at the forest. I was sticking to my nutrition and hydration
plan, eating and drinking as I rode, and all was going as expected. My legs feeling strong from all the strength
training at Main Street Gym I was monitoring my heart rate as I kept a steady
pace. I saw areas burned by what I can
assume is either the recent wildfires or by controlled burns, at times even
smelling smoke. The forest was a beautiful
array of pine trees, palmetto palms, and scrub brush. Occasionally the course would come upon a
farmstead or even a small village. One road
that stood out as interesting was miles and miles of chunky gravel with water culverts on both
sides. The sounds of the frogs and toads
was deafening. Interesting there was also a random boat in the culvert and a
washing machine off to the side in the forest.
Of course there was my other worldly events at 3am noted above.
After time spent in the forest the route traversed onto rural paved roads as it
headed to circle around Lake Moultrie.
My first aid stop was around mile 74ish, a church spigot. Found by happenstance
the first time doing this event, it has been the Nankman go-to every time
now. Bottles filled here I know I can
make it essentially to the end without stopping again. The houses along the rural
roads made for a party-like ride; many places had colored solar lights, porch lights,
and decorative lights. Something pretty
to look at. Barking dogs and curious
horses kept watch. A quick cruise
through a small town, where there is a gas station for riders to purchase food and water if needed, then time to head
onto the dike around the lake.
The lake portion is a love-hate. It’s
flat; it can be sucking mud, it can be windy; it’s exposed, and honestly down-right
boring. However, it’s really fun
and surreal to see riders lights circling the lake. Gives some motivation to catch someone or not
be caught. Also, gives a sense of security to know others are out there. This
year a fog rolled in just as I was around the lake, so I saw nothing, only fog. Once again, sing it Céline. I could barely
see the water let alone the other side of the lake. However, I was by myself out there. I did see quite a few
raccoons run along the trail ahead of me, a stray cat or two, and I was able to
spot the eyes of alligators in the water.
I had been
feeling strong and alert all these hours but all of a sudden just before dawn
an attack of, as Joël and I call it, “the sleepies” hit me. A slap in the face of tiredness where it’s
hard to ride in a straight line, it’s a challenge to keep the eyelids open,
tough to keep pedaling. I stopped and rummaged through my handlebar bag for the
emergency caffeine tablets and took one along with eating some Oreo cookies and
a Rice Krispy treat to get as much quick sugar as possible. Problem solved! Well caffeinated and sugared-up it was time
for forward motion again.
As dawn approached and the fog started to lift I finally saw other people. I
passed by a few other cyclists but unfortunately they were all having less than
stellar moments; just needed breaks and one was dealing with some mechanical
issues. All stated they were fine, we wished each other good rides, and continued
onward. On the lake fishing boats appeared
and many good morning waves were exchanged.
I spotted a majestic bald eagle in a tree; my only wildlife sighting once
the sun came up. Soon it was time to
leave the lake and head back towards the finish, just a few hours to go.
Before heading back into the forest and swamps the course passed through another town which had numerous gas stations, a grocery store, and a few little convenience stores- all perfect resupply stops for riders. I was still carrying enough food and was looking forward to my cheese Danish as my next snack and knew I could finish with the water I had so I opted to cruise right on through. It was warming up now with the sun up so I took off my windvest and gloves and stowed them away in my Ortleib fork bag. Essentially by this point I was ready to just get this done; my legs were tired, my back was bothering me, I was getting weird toe-cramps; it was time for survival mode just to get to the end.
Despite my somewhat unenthusiastic reasons to get to the end, I did enjoy the last few hours of the course. Under the brightness of the sun, the forest colors were popping. The blue sky was vibrant blue The pines a dark green. Small yellow and white ground flowers were blooming. The weather was wonderful. The moto guy was out again taking photos, and his cheering was motivating. A few miles from the end the MMGR course meets up with the Swamp Fox Grand Fondo riders so FINALLY other cyclists. Only took me 12 hours to get to pedal next to someone else on a bike. As the course approached the end it turned to pavement and I decided to give it a little extra, pushing well beyond my comfort zone this far into an event, I really wanted to finish in 12:30 or under which was fast approaching. Despite my “sprint” to the end my official finish time was 12:34.
Crossing the
line I was handed my personalized MMGR finishers plaque and exchanged accolades
with the race directors. Joël who finished two hours earlier and was
already showered took some obligatory podium photos for me. A short time later after I cleaned up the
Nankmans returned to the party area at the finish to enjoy our race supplied Empanada
Cuisines meals, some Commonhouse beer, and cheered on and talked with other
riders. Now filled with food and beer it
was evident Joël and I needed naps; by this point we had been awake for almost
30 hours. We gave Clifford some forest
wandering time while us humans relaxed and napped and soon enough it was time
to start the journey home. Quick trip to Charleston for the MMGR complete!
What does Joël
have to say about his ride; especially being he rode the new Saucon Valley
Bikes Mondraker Arid Carbon RR? He says it was the first time in ages that he
really raced. He pushed himself to the max. Riding the full event with a small
pack of other riders they were working together yet also attacking each other
for the full 177.6 miles. It became a
sprint to the line where Joël was afflicted with leg cramps that
put him third within the group he was riding with, for a fourth place overall. But racing to the point of discomfort is the
only way to know you gave it your all.
- Jess
Moultrie
Militia Gravel Raid (MMGR)
in
conjunction with Swamp Fox Gravel Fondo
by Mt.
Pleasant Velo
within the
Francis Marion National Forest
North of the
Charleston, South Carolina area
March 14-15,
2025
177.6 miles
of gravel and rural roads
just over
10ish hours for Joël and 12:30 for myself
Joël 4th
male; myself 1st female
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