XC

Newlywed or….? – Day 1

Posted on by Smoke

I think Louise may have thought she was going to end up nearly dead a couple of times the first day.   her and Mark just got married last week, and are in Canada on a honeymoon.  

Actually, since they were riding in Whistler on XC bikes last week, the Okanagan must have seemed like a very friendly Spain.

You’ll note the lack of a derailleur on Mark’s bike.  I’ve ridden a lot of singlespeed, and let me tell you, that’s one HARD way to go out here.

Power to them both, they stpomped Smith Creek easily.  So we went for a dessert lap over in Crawford.  I think they liked the teddy bears.

Yeah, that rain is over and done with.  Summer is finally here.  Not too warm yet, 

… but I sense a big heating up in the near future.  So long as we don’t have a repeat of 2003.  It may make some cool pics, but I’m not into a huge fire right now.

OK, they’re fit.  And they rode Rocky Screech.  I think we’re going to try a full loop out in Naramata tomorrow.

St. Georges KVR – Day 5

Posted on by Smoke

Last day of the trip, and things are so peaceful and quiet around here.

The boys and their bananas are peacefully asleep.

But wait!  We gotta get outta here!   Well, I think we can help get things started…

Ah yes.  The traditional dropping of the tents.

Duuuuuuuuuude! I’m trying to sleep!

Some things never get old.

Meanwhile, we had far too much food lying around, so a round of apple flapjacks with all the fixins’ was in order.

After a quick 18km ride down the canyon (with a short stop for a swim in the Tulameen), the trip is almost over for another year.  There’s that light at the end of the tunnel.

St. Georges KVR – Day 4

Posted on by Smoke

Good morning!  Sleep well?

Some guys just don’t get the hint.  We’ll see if anyone figures out what will happen tomorrow.

Day 4, the best day of the trip in a lot of ways.  Great weather for starters, and a fun section for riding.

It’s also a lot more interesting for things to look at.

Since we were supposed to be going all the way to Otter Lake today, we are going through the canyon a little faster than usual.

We still were going slow enough for Cruickshanks to fetch his litter.

At least he didn’t cry like his brother did.

The light at the beginning of the tunnel…

There’s still one more day to go, so it’s not the “end of the tunnel” yet.

The trail is in much better shape this year.  Last year it looked like this section was going to fall into the river.  Which would have gotten rid of some of the boys neatly.  This year it’s just this one section of sand.

Cruickshanks still managed to find a harder way to do it.

Feeling OK there, big fellah?

Halfway, time to cool off.

Yeah, that’s the way.

Is it warm?

Yeah, a warm river in Canada in early May.  Riiiiiight.

Today’s wildlife is the Western Toad.  This one has yellow toes, how chic.

OK, enough goofing off, time to get back on the bikes.

Besides, we’re making you race today.

It’s a tradition now.  We run them in a relay around the track…

…and see how many of them can crash into each other at the hand off.

Ok, so here’s where the day got sideways.  We were supposed to camp at the Otter Lake campground. Every year it seems like there’s a problem with that place.  Honestly, I wonder why BC Parks even pretends anymore.  They’re useless.  At least this year it said that it was open on the website and on the signs. Usually it’s closed and we have to jump the gate.  This year we get there and there’s a logging crew dropping trees everywhere.  The park has been closed for 5 months, and they decide to LOG IT during the first week it’s open.  Brilliant move.

Oh well, this way we got to camp at Granite City, and hang out with our old pal Cody.

Nice moves, Cody, but I think she’s just being nice to you so she can ride your bike.

And now for an odd episode.  Did you know that there’s such a thing as Bananaphobia?

Yeah, neither did I.  Anyway, this guy has it and in his haste to get away from the yellow peril he tripped over the guy wire you can see in the lower right of the next pic.  Poor guy didn’t even get his hands out.  Even worse, he’s on the rugby team at school and they all know about it too. 

Well, it’s the last night of the trip, so the guides are having a party.  Anyone else feel like playing the bongos?