Year: 2007

Corn Stars – Day 5

Posted on by Smoke

That hangover came to full fruition this morning, but I wasn’t going to let the kids jam out on this one. I was as alert as a pair of Great Horned Owls this morning, even if our Corn Stars were of the temperment of Weeps today (that’s a Farley Mowat reference that you’ll just have to look up).

Kobau is one of my favourite hidden gems, and today was as perfect a day as you could ask for.

Gotta love that view from the top, especially as it’s a ridiculously long haul to get there. We managed to spot our first bear of hte trip on this one, clowsely followed by the second. They were really shy, so no pics. Sorry, you’ll have to be content with those owls.

Teh top of the ride is full on Star Wars quality forest speeder action, and the occasional Shore style log ride.

As this is rarely ridden, old school natural logs are the order of the day.

The lower reaches are all open sage and grassland. Not exactly natural state with all the cattle here, but still unique enough that they will probably be part of a National Park soon.

I can see why.

It’s difficult to get the scale of how large this hillside really is.

No matter how long you ride, it seems lilke the valley gets further away.

How many bikes do you see in this pic?

How about here?

As always, Barb is the poster girl.

I still haven’t caught the pic that I’m looking for here. One day I’ll get it.

This one is close, but not quite it. I guess this means I have to go back again to get the shot I want.

Uh oh…..

Cows. And they’re not getting out of the way.

Too stupid to run. Barb didn’t care either. The ruts caused by last years heavy rains have filled in with dust, and it’s a riot to surf on. As you read this, it’s raining here, so the dust should have settled, but 34C on the last day of May is nearly unheard of (*historical temperature records were set all over BC this week).

Moo…

Still going down, but we’re almost there.

We finished the day with a barbeque at Rancho Relaxo and a full moon. What a way t
o kill a hangover.

Freedom Bikes Ladies Nite

Posted on by Smoke

Now that’s what I like to see in the rear view mirror. Yes, it’s that time of the week again. Ladies Nite, although this time I stayed out of it except for providing a shuttle. Barb and Jules took the girls for a rip on the Rusty Muffler.

Oh look, it’s just like the Shore.

So’s this. Just like North Van, the girls outnumber the guys these days.

Artsy shot courtesy of Barb. She’s getting pretty good with the camera now.

Hordes of them.

I swear I’ll never get tired of views like this.

You getting bored of looking at pristine singletrack yet?

Me neither.

A few minor mechanicals, and it’s sunset.

And then it’s moonrise.

Ladies Nite is every Tuesday at 5:30 behind Freedom Bikes in Penticton. All abilities and biking persuasions are welcom (even roadies).

Corn Stars – Day 4

Posted on by Smoke

We needed a rest day yesterday. BC’s a bit overwhelming your first time out.

Today it was time to hit the home turf. No, not the Shore, but the Peat Bog.

A day off and the njuries had stiffened up a bit, so we took some extra time to get the kinks out today. Yeah….right. Straight into teeters and hucks.

Oops…that didn’t work out the way it’s supposed to.

Luckily we had ‘Stash to show us how it’s done.

There ya go, Gary. That’s better.

Now it’s time for the Moneyshot.

Pictchure Purfekt.

A little lower Gary missed his footing on a ladder (he was really slugging rats today. These things happen). It was a near miss on what could have been a bad leg break, as his foot got caught in the rungs and he went over the side. Luckily we got there in time to get him free with nothing worse than a little bit of blood and another set of bruises.

The afternoon was more time off, courtesy of Cap’n Jack at the Black Pearl.

Yeah, those Balck Pearl martini’s are pretty good aren’t they?

So’s the view.

ARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH! Could be a hangover in your future, mateys.