I rode 6-Mile for the first time on Wednesday 10/15/08. Beautiful park! I started on Canal and rode the Blue trail to Middlebrush Road. I knew nothing about the trails east of Middlebrush, but on a whim I crossed the road and was surprised to find the trail head on that side. I rode into that for a while and tried to head more or less continually east. I eventually came to a four-way intersection and had to make a decision. Straight went down a short hill to run drop alongside a wide creek. Right went slightly uphill and into a section that seemed to be a little overgrown. I'm not sure where left went. I decided to just turn around and go back. I rode back in the direction from which I came and something happened to me that has never happened in 12 years of mountain biking:
1. I rode back the way that I thought I had come
2. I had to make a decision at one or two splits in the trail on the way back, but I was pretty sure I knew which one was correct
3. After about 15 minutes of #1 and #2, I found myself BACK at the same four way intersection I described above, arriving from a different side.
I successfully managed to get completely turned around 180 degrees -- a first! Anyway, I plan to ride there again, perhaps today (Friday the 17th). I see that there are several GPS maps on here, but they don't help me very much. I would greatly appreciate any general advice for not getting lost in the twisties, like "stay on so-and-so side of the creek" or "skip all spurs on the left" or "you'll have to ride a couple of trails that are sort of overgrown" or anything? I want to ride much more on this side because I flew through the blue trail on the other side way too fast and I really want to extend the ride.
Thanks!