Dirtbags – 3

An epic like yesterday often leads to late night behaviour like this:

Which in turn can lead to waking up on the grass looking up at someone like this:

Yeah, that really happened.  Mr Bear was up there all night.  He was throwing walnuts at me in the morning.  Mom tells me he took off shortly after we left to go ride, and hasn’t been back.

Speaking of rides, it was time to “Bring D….”

I figured it would be a good day for Rock Oven, and so it was.

These boys seem to really enjoy a bit of abuse, and Rock Oven always obliges.  If the trail isn’t enough, you can always knock some standing deadwood on yourself.

20 something km of rocky punishment, but so worth it as you get to the later sections.  Yes, those are the Skaha Bluffs in back.

OK, I think everyone is feeling it now.  For guys that like their uphills, this must have been sad.  Hardly any more pedaling left.

I’ve got too many shots from this angle, but what’s one more?

We all grouped up here before starting the train down the final pitches.

We shredded the lower sections hard. Nice to have rippers out.  We basically non stopped the last 20 minutes, until someone got a flat and I pointed out this exposed line while we were waiting.  First time it’s been sent on the 29, and they went wayyyyyy further than the usual stopping point.  Pretty gnarly, actually.

Here’s a couple of Dave’s shots with a bit of a wider lens.  This is one epic line start to finish, but it’s these lower sections which really stand out.

Dropping in…

I think that put the hurt to the BC Bike Race boys.   Glad I could be a thorn in the side of you dirtbags…

Dave’s got a bunch more awesome shots over at his Dirtbag Southern Okanagan gallery.

Rest Day – Deep Cove

But there’s no rest for the wicked, especially when you’re hanging out with a guy (Tippie) who’s got a wicked glow in the dark bike.

So instead of getting some much needed sleep, I found myself heading up Seymour after midnight with Brett and Julian (of PinkBike fame).

I never night ride.  Mainly because I can’t be bothered to ride in the winter.  But Brett never sleeps, and I rarely get to hang with the brotha’, and the timing just seemed right.

Oh, and he happens to have a backpack full of NiteRider lights and accessories.  How convenient…

That’s Julian above.  The next one is yours truly, courtesy of Mr Tippie.

After a late breakfast, and visits with many of the North Shore glitterati, I found myself out for a late afternoon sail with Killer.

..and his new girlfriend…and some kind of ancient dory with engine trouble

The Inlet Belle has an engine from 1911, and it’s not super reliable.  We rendered aid and moved on to some refreshing beverages and swimming in Bedwell Bay.

Where I just missed getting a shot of a seal pup.  You can almost see it…

Enough slacking off.  Squamish tomorrow, and way too much driving.