May Long 2011 – 3

Posted on May 23, 2011June 3, 2011 by Smoke

Really? You want to do some more climbing? OK, sure. I don’t get a lot of requests for that, but will oblige.

May Long Weekend Riding - Penticton, Rock Oven

Well, he’s still smiling, so I guess that’s the truth of it.

Rock Oven isn’t an overly long ride, but the climb is fairly intense.

Just ask Barb. I’m sure she’s feeling it here.

At least it becomes more interesting as you ascend. Like this section of singletrack…

Ahhhh…the top and our reward is just beginning.

As is typical of the south Okanagan, the descent is broken up by a bunch of viewpoints.

If you’ve been following the blog for a couple of years, you’ll know that this trail has become a go to standard for us. The short version is great, but I can hardly wait for the snow to melt up high so we can nail this one from the top again.

‘Cause this just isn’t epic enough, right?

Barb likes to test her fear of heights.

Here’s Susan testing mine (that’s a solid 300′ drop right there).

Awwww, no bluebird skies for us? I can’t believe that we even bothered coming here…

A few more standard angles for ya…

I’ve always grooved on the open rock, and this place has an abundance. You can ride almost anywhere you want.

Although you don’t get to see the other side of this ride much. There’s actually a bunch of smooth, high-speed dirt to flow along, but it’s tough to stop and take pics of that stuff. One day somebody will get a flat in that part, and I’ll nab a few pics. Until then, enjoy some more rock.

…And some more texture courtesy of the Olympus “clown paint” setting:

Just a few more of these and you can go back to work or whatever it is you’re supposed to be doing right now.

OK, this is it. Just these last postcard shots and you’re free…

That was a fun time, for sure. A few new faces and another long weekend in the books. If you have no plans next May, drop in. You know what to expect now…

May Long 2011 -2

Posted on May 22, 2011June 3, 2011 by Smoke

“Look at me! I’m a goose!”

Never lose that sense of wonder, kid. Here, see what the top of the jump looks like…

A Naramata day today, with lots of vert and random strangers, like Gabe here.

We pick up where we left off yesterday, with big smiles, sunshine, and smooth trails.

Actually, there was some damn hard rain last night, but it tapered off in time for some basically perfect riding conditions.

Just ask Susan, if you can ever get her to stop long enough.

We also ran into some random Americans.

They only had time for the warmup run, so maybe they didn’t get to enjoy it as much as us.

Ah well, life is about choices, right?

Maybe they just need to get a new clock…

Well, we didn’t quite get a repeat of the wet feet in Ivy League. I was driving, so I didn’t get to try fording the creek, but after Kurt almost got swept away, the crew backtracked from the canyon to cruise the orchards down.

He’s just a little dude, he probably got scared. It’s safer on the beach.

“Broom a zoom zoom!”

Lap 2 was a bit longer, and a bit mellower. We headed out from the reservoir (it’s still a bit mucky up there if you’re wondering) for a High Pony run.

The sun was really coming out now.

Not many riding shots, as per usual. Here’s a rare and somewhat lame one…

The ladies were getting their steep on towards the end.

Vance has been busy scoping out some new lines. Oh, and putting chicken wire on the rocks.

That’s what you get up here, skinnies made out of rock and chicken wire. For reals, yo.

OH! PIC OF THE DAY!

..and the runner up too.

That was thirsty work. Better stop for some cooling beverages…

ANOTHER run?

You bet yer chainless ass there’s another one…

We haven’t hit Drops a Lot yet.

OK, now we have…

Damn, I could get used to this sun thing. I wonder how the weather is in Vancouver (note: it sucked).

Here’s another flooding creek to negotiate. This one we could handle.

Only thing that makes a ride better? Pizza and beer at the end.

Looks like that’s the end of our sun today. More rain tonight, I guess.

Hmmmm, we must look tired. Gettin’ some attention here.

Epic sunset, anyone?

The tired and happy crew. 9 000′ of vertical today, and something like 40 km or so of descending. No wonder Chevy looks ticked off with us. Ah, your time will come, muffin.

May Long 2011 – 1

Posted on May 21, 2011June 3, 2011 by Smoke

It’s not a UFB weekend. Seems like the families are all doing, well….family stuff this year. That’s OK. There’s still some folks showing up to ride, MuddBunnies and such.

As befits our mature status, we’re doing more xc type of riding this year. Although it is Canadian XC, so it tends to look like this:

Uh…it’s bigger than it looks.

Insert “That’s what she said,” at any point that you may get bored.

OK, so we actually have XC riding here. Yes, that’s singletrack and Chris is riding UP it.

Unlike the North Shore, where you ride up roads. Oh, and also…

Sunshine!

And flowers!

Yes, finally Spring has arrived.

Hands up who is happy about that…

The death of shuttle riding?

Well, no….but I had to come up with something here.

Yes, a touch repetitive, but everyone needs a pic of themselves riding through an old car.

So Rhonna gets one…

…and so does Veronika.

As usual, the descent is way to rad to stop and smell flowers, or take pics. Here’s a rare shot of the tortuous route that is the “Feel the Love” descent on Smith Creek.