Pumpkin Ride – 2

OK, seasonal shenanigans are over. It’s time to get back to some serious shredding, and a full day of Farwell laps.  I think Cheryl would agree.  That lady likes it steep, and steep it shall be today.

Getting ready to drop in on the Fingers, and can you believe the weather?

25C and sunny.  Lots of wind though.  It made some of the more exposed lines incredibly dynamic today.  Once again, all time conditions were on tap.

You can’t just hit the Fingers once.  At least twice is always the call.  The secret with all these trails is to go WAY too fast.

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Oops. Got a flat.  And also the van rolled off the jack.  Cheryl called it with never taking the last bolt off the wheel until you’re out from underneath the vehicle.  Good call.

We got ‘er fixed in no time and got back to the business at hand of shredding the Classic.

You know that we were not going to leave without a lap down Godsmack.   It was on my mind all day, since I haven’t been able to hit it for a few years (the last two times I visited I had to guide people around the easy way, and the time before that it was baked hard and I crashed).

Today it was butter smooth and wide.  Maybe the best I’ve ever seen it, or at least even with the best it can be.

I think Cheryl got her steep fix, and I know Chicken was having a time.

Shred.

JC continued his mission to rip the local trails up before he leaves.  He went way too fast, as is tradition, and nearly lost it on the g-out.   He did pull through here, though.

One last drop in to finish the line.  This always feels like Spanky’s at Blackcomb to me….but on dirt…with bikes.

Hey Mark!  What’s the point?

Ha!   We got one more run in to grab Chicken’s bag that he dropped, but this was the climax of the day for sure.

What a way to finish the last big road trip of the season.   There’s still some more shenanigans to play out this year, but we’re in the final few weeks before the snow hits.

Pumpkin Ride – 1

It’s been quite a year, but something has been missing.  I haven’t been to Williams Lake since last July.   Well, I guess I should send it then!

OK, that’s not me.  That’s Justin, who is moving away from the Puddle shortly and was taking the opportunity this weekend to dial a couple of lines before he’s gone.  That little road gap was something that’s been bugging Justin for a while.  I think the town will miss him.  He did a lot of great work with Ride the Cariboo and the Peel Out.

Yeah, that’s a skinny. There’s a whole bunch of new ones on Snakes and Ladders.   I don’t care if the kids can’t ride em.  I love those things.

It was very nice out this weekend.  Sunny and warm enough for short sleeves all day.  Plus insane fall colours.

My mom is worried that I’m having my mid-life crisis.  Maybe I am, and maybe I’m not, but this here Fire Chicken sure looks awesome right about now.

Of course, we were really here to take part in the Pumpkin Ride, so after a good 5 or 6 laps we met back at the shop for the annual event.  Antlers are optional.

Good thing I brought my Petzl.   With 50 or 60 riders, you really didn’t need your own light.

This ride goes down every year just before Halloween, where everyone goes for a night ride on the South Side trails and end up at Uncle Kenny’s and Adele’s for a mad feast.   The final trail is all lit up with pumpkins and lights, and there’s enough food for an army.

On the way we have to stop several times for refreshments…

Several times…

Decisions were made, actions happened…

Oops.   Jer, I don’t think those old Manitous are supposed to take air.

While we waited for the ambulance, Doerfling killed some time by killing this hip into the sand pit.

Here’s some more carnage for you.

Luckily, Jer was only ‘Mostly Dead’ after that crash, and so they released him from the hospital with enough time to make it to the feast and eat pie.

I think he needs another slice. He’s looking a lot skinnier…

 

Ladies Hucktoberfest – 1

And just like that, with a quickness, it was over.  Less than two weeks ago we were in the alpine in shorts and t-shirts, now it’s back to snow.

It seems only appropriate that we started the year with a road trip to Williams Lake, and we hit the last snowstorm of the winter on the passes that time.  This time it’s looking like the first real snow of the season, and I’m back up to the Puddle with another women’s trip.

I did a rare daytime drive to get to the Puddle and managed to miss a lot of the snow, but there was still a little bit of it on Pennask.  Most of the drive was ridiculously pretty, like this…

We had time to get a lap in on the new Snakes and Ladders, and while it was cold and slippery, it’s very impressive how much work has gone into the trail.  Here’s a few shots of the ladies on one huge suspension bridge.

Aja is wondering why there’s guard rails.  It’s wide enough, isn’t it?

Not every move is approved for public consumption though.  This one is kind of gnarly though.  I hear they’re going to recycle the materials into something a bit more suitable for mere mortals.

Unbeknownst to me, it was also the night of the annual Pumpkin Ride.  I wasn’t really prepared to night ride, but I was prepared to crash the after party and chow down on some epic good food with some of the locals.

Alright, we’ve got this party started.  Have to see where we end up tomorrow.  It’s looking a bit ugly out there tonight.