Return of the Jedi Council — Part V

Time to head out of the sunny Okanagan. The bugs were freaking the boys out a little too much anyway.

Up to Kamloops for the crew. We went to the Ranch after fixing up the bikes. The Ranch is the first municipal bike park in the world. It’s pretty rad. A bit more hardtail oriented than A-Line, but you get the idea. Once the trannies get beat down, it will be better. they’re kind of short. We didin’t spend much time there as it was just too hot for mad-dogs and Englishmen.

Instead we went to Rose Hill for a few laps of the famous gully.

So much fun stuff here, like wall rides.

Skip

In case you were wondering, there were a few more riders on the tour than what you’ve been seeing in the pics. Here’s Pierre, who rode virtually no stunts last year, dropping the Diving Board.

Pierre

Mark has an injured shoulder, so he’s been taking it pretty easy, but Rose was just too much temptation.

Mark

…and this stylish devil is the man usually behind the camera.

Smoke

We sessioned this hip until nearly sunset. It was awesome.

Stu

Even Paul got in on the action, and he never jumps.

Paul

Ed, riding the pony.

Ed

Finally, Jedi had to throw down the Rose road gap.

Jedi

Which got the ball rolling for Stu to hit it.

Stu

Stu landed in a forty foot manual. Sweet.

Stu

Jedi’s tire mark

Then it was up to Harper for a campout, fire, and S’mores.

Return of the Jedi Council — Part I

Welcome to Canada, eh? What a bunch of loonies…..Tony, Ed, Panama, Pierre, Paul, Stu, Stouph, Mark, and Skip. Thanks for showing up at midnight. At least traffic is light.

Just like last year, we put all the bikes together that night. Bedtime? How does 3 am sound?

We decided to make an early start to the day. As usual, we came across an accident on the highway. This time, a happy ending. The 78 year old rider of this motorcycle walked away from the scene with minor scrapes, and Barb got a job offer from the Princeton Ambulance station.

Bladder break!

Maybe this canyon just scared the piss out of them.

We rolled into Penticton around noon, and took some lunch bbefore heading up to the Peat bog for some warm up laps. Here’s Skip getting reacquainted with a teeter.

Stu goes big on the Knuckleduster.

Skip again, same drop with a different perspective.

Barb got inspired to put the boys in their place.

Skip, mocking death.

Barb, on the Knucklduster road drop.

Stouph gaps a bridge in the sun.

Get that front wheel down, Ed.

Skip at sunset.

Last run of the day. Beleive it or not, this was the lamest trail of the trip.

Get ready, ’cause if that’s lame, then the rest of the tour should be legendary……

Happy July 4th!

What a rousing way to start the American hoilday. A Tour stage with an American in yellow, and Hendrix ripping up the anthem.

And a houseful of ‘Mericans to boot.

Alright, time to get into the big stuff. Today we go to Fromme. I know Jimmie has been thinking about Diggers Cliff all year. Let’s see how he did, shall we?

That seemed to inspire the rest of the crew today. I think we pretty much cleaned Upper Oil Can today. Everybody really got off on Big Smooth.

Old Pete has been doing lots of patchup work too. The entrances to all the big stuff are getting really nice and it helps in keeping a good flow going.

Jimmie is at it again.

Barb had to make sure that she got a round in too. Ryan chased Jimmie off the drop with a headcam and got a sweet shot. When he gets that to me I’ll put it up.

After this the camera died, so I put it away for 7th and Espresso.

And the late run on Seymour.

Big, big day.