Summer is definitely over. Shoulder season is upon us.
So it’s back to Retallack for another session. If this looks like a fun group well…you’re right.
The first evening got rolling with a bang. I can’t tell you all that went on, but I can tell you that if someone yells out “Trousers to the left!” it’s best to not be standing beside the fireplace.
We’ll have to see if these guys can get up and ride in the morning, because this first night ran late.
Wow…that was quite a ride over the past few months.
To wind down the calendar summer, Jochen and Angela are here. This is Angela. She smiles…a lot. I think she’s having a good time (and who wouldn’t with weather like this).
Jo is also having some fun. I think his recent experiences on the Sunshine Coast must have gotten him into the log rides, because we really don’t have many of them here and he was all over it.
It was a nice, casual day in the Mice. We rode…
..we jumped…
…and then we retired to Misconduct for a session of wine tasting.
OK, I’m done here for a bit. I’m pretty close to a hundred rides this year, and I need a bit of a break. Funny how the summer weather broke almost to the day that the calendar called it, too.
Next up is even more riding. With the cooler weather, it’s time to really hit it hard.
An epic like yesterday often leads to late night behaviour like this:
Which in turn can lead to waking up on the grass looking up at someone like this:
Yeah, that really happened. Mr Bear was up there all night. He was throwing walnuts at me in the morning. Mom tells me he took off shortly after we left to go ride, and hasn’t been back.
Speaking of rides, it was time to “Bring D….”
I figured it would be a good day for Rock Oven, and so it was.
These boys seem to really enjoy a bit of abuse, and Rock Oven always obliges. If the trail isn’t enough, you can always knock some standing deadwood on yourself.
20 something km of rocky punishment, but so worth it as you get to the later sections. Yes, those are the Skaha Bluffs in back.
OK, I think everyone is feeling it now. For guys that like their uphills, this must have been sad. Hardly any more pedaling left.
I’ve got too many shots from this angle, but what’s one more?
We all grouped up here before starting the train down the final pitches.
We shredded the lower sections hard. Nice to have rippers out. We basically non stopped the last 20 minutes, until someone got a flat and I pointed out this exposed line while we were waiting. First time it’s been sent on the 29, and they went wayyyyyy further than the usual stopping point. Pretty gnarly, actually.
Here’s a couple of Dave’s shots with a bit of a wider lens. This is one epic line start to finish, but it’s these lower sections which really stand out.
Dropping in…
I think that put the hurt to the BC Bike Race boys. Glad I could be a thorn in the side of you dirtbags…
Dave’s got a bunch more awesome shots over at his Dirtbag Southern Okanagan gallery.