May Long 2011 -2

“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.

Salad Doggers – 8

Ahhhh…some more summer.  It’s still cool out, but it’s trying to be sunny.   So we’re going for maximum warmth and checking out Rock Oven today.

First we gotta get through the upper forest of Derenzy.   It’s a gorgeous day out in the woods today, making the approach hike a lot more bearable.

Especially once things open up into the grasslands.

A fire rolled through here in ‘97, so it’s very open from this point on.  A bit severe looking, but it makes for an awesome contrast with Revelstoke a couple of days ago.

Lunch time…

Yeah, the sun is out and it’s finally warm.

Now we started to get a few mechanicals, so there’s a lot of pics of railing rocky corners while guys are fixing flat tires.

Poor Lee was feeling the effects of 10+ days of riding.  He normally has a deep tan…

DOH!  And now he has a broken handlebar.  Such a bummer, ‘cause now he’s going to miss the best part of this trail.  At least he wasn’t hurt in this mishap.   Just a little note; carbon bars do not last very long around here.  I just don’t trust them.  Stick to the Fubars.

A short and tech climb later, which I managed to clean (albeit very slowly) on my DH bike, we got this stunning view and another snack break.

The boys were having a great time taking pics and playing on the rocks here.

Stevie likes it.

Ummmmm, do you think we should drop this?

They rode around.

And Lee had a nap.  One more day to go, and the holiday is over.  Awwww, so sad.  We’d better make it a good one.

 


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Derenzy/Rock Oven kml file for Google Earth.