Hurtin’ For Vert – Stage 1

Now that we got the warmup done, it’s time to ride.  The first stage is the legendary Keystone Standard ride.  A gorgeous out and back rip up by Revelstoke.

Here’s the beta…

As usual, it’s a bluebird day.  Still, even with perfect visibility it’s hard to see Burchie in there.

Oh, there he is.

Our token female out for this lap.  Elinor and Casey had big FR rigs, and went back to Revy.  This is Nicole(I think…sorry if I got it wrong), from Vernon.

Kind of a nice day out.

Check out those switchbacks.  Dingo earned a beer by cleaning that climb.

He had to do some hoping around the corners just to make it.

Looking back into the first basin.

High point, everyone have a beer!

The shooters were having a fun day.  I think they may have gotten paid this trip.

Well, if I’m getting these results with a compact, imagine the pics from the SLR’s these two were dragging around.

We were a bit late getting out, but then again with a sunset in the Selkirks it was hard to hurry it up.

Check out that light.

…and a little panoramic view for you to enjoy.  Dre looks sorta intense, doesn’t he?

**Bonus

Google Map View

Fel Ci Efo Dau Gynffon – Day 5a

Whoa!! This could be a good one. I’m gonna gloss over the whole debacle with the hotel last night, and just say that the Modern Bakery in Revelstoke is a good place.

About as blue of a day as anyone could ever hope for. This is why we took a rest day yesterday.

Even though this is a short-ish ride, I thought we might take a while.

LOTS of picture opportunities today.

So many, in fact, that I’ve split the day into two posts so you can enjoy the abundance.

Big smiles…

…and big views.

Keystone Standard, almost a year to the day since last time I rode it. Not much has changed, except that it’s sort of crowded today.

All these dang foreign types clogging up the singletrack.

And the occasional Martian. He’s going to blow up the Earth….

Graham, feeling right at home.

Which is weird, because he’s not even a Welshman.

Every once in a while, this is what you get.

The skies were so clear today, even the jets weren’t leaving contrails.

Oops, gotta try a bit harder here.

Graham, true to form, tried to clean this one.

He didn’t make it, but he sure tried.

BOO!

You know, for Brits you’d think they’d be bit more used to a bit of water on the trails.

A million laughs…

Holly just saw a spider.

Oooooo…so artistic.

Well, there’s the cabin.

We’re halfway, take a lunch break.

Fel Ci Efo Dau Gynffon – Day 5b

We now join our regularly scheduled ride, already in progress.

Wait a sec, how’d we get to Thailand?

Oh, never mind. We’re still in Wales.

You can tell by the glaciers and large peaks.

I guess to be fair the architecture is similar.

Enough of this, let’s go back.

Even though you’ve already ridden out, the way back is so different.

Definitely a worthy out and back ride.

Things actually got even MORE scenic, with the peaks in full effect for this one.

Damn hippies…

Sure a lot of smiles out there for people that are climbing all day.

Kind of makes you want to put off the whole “Blow up the Earth” thing.

NNGGGGGGGeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeooooooooooooowwwwwwwww!

Our happy crew.

Inukshuk.

Or about as close to the Olympics as any of US will ever get.

Richard and his stitches (they’re doing very well, and obviously not slowing him down. Well, he DID take 2 days off).

OK, enough artsy fartsy Inukshuks, lets ride.

OK, this is getting a bit weird. Can it get any better?

Apparently, yes. Yes it can.

Another big smile…..

..and we’re out.

Have a map.


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