Fernie BC: Where Summer has been Hiding

Wow, we had such a nice week, 6 days in the Mount Fernie Provincial Park, 5 days of mountain biking, all of which we did without driving as so many trails intersect with the park.  We only had one noisy night, which not surprisingly was Saturday, once the weekend crowd went home it was pretty peaceful and quiet in the campground.  We quickly established a daily routine: slowly peek out heads out of the tent around 9 am, as that is when the sun was just getting through the trees and warming things up.  One of us would crawl out, put on our warm clothes, and fire up the stove to make coffee and breakfast.  We’d enjoy the coffee, I’d knit and wait for it to warm up some more, slowly taking off the toque, baktus scarf, fleece vest, long sleeve shirt, and wool socks.  Finally around 11 am or 12 we’d get our biking clothes on and head on out for the days adventure.  After riding around for 2-4 hours we’d cool off in the nearby creek, relax, and maybe head into town for coffee and groceries.  We went out for dinner once at the Red Tree Lodge as it was Mojito night, and had breakfast twice at the Blue Toque (what a great name, I wore my blue toque both times we went!). 

The trails were sublime, over the 5 days, and only biking in one of 3 areas around Fernie, we hardly repeated a trail except that I could spend days going up and down Old Goat, up to the top of Snake Bite, over and over and over.  It was that much fun.  Many of the curvy single track trails are through old growths of cedars, which make for quiet riding, a bit mysterious.  There were many tricks that even I could handle, although we stayed away from the “big stunts”.

Riding down Snake Bite is my idea of the best mountain biking; rhythmically flowing turns and curves, up and downs that rock you gently more than jar, fun obstacles to maneuver over, skills used but not taxed, a dreamy song playing in your head the whole way down.  So much fun.

We did not miss the phones, tv, computers, radios etc.  While the light was good I knit away on the back of my snowflake sweater while we made a fire, cooked dinner, or chatted.

We listened to the birds, we watched the chipmunks, we watched the bikers cruise by, or other campers, saying hello.  There was a black bear that was supposed to be coming often through the campground, but we didn’t see it, which is good as we spend the first day eating blueberry pie and I wasn’t about to share.  Like most vacations it took me a number of days to relax and decompress from the rigors of everyday life.  By the end however the fog had cleared, and I felt normal again, and very happy.  I read a few books as well, including “Pride Prejudice and Zombies” which was a lot of fun. 

I think we planned well, coming home on Saturday after another huge breakfast at Blue Toque, to hang out with the kitties.  They had really missed their patting, and scritching, so we worked hard to make up for it.  Jackie woke me up from a nap on both days for extra patting, and Piper insisted on sleeping on my hands during my nap instead of just behind my knee.  They missed us for sure!  Getting up for work this morning was hard, but we rode our bikes into downtown which made it seem easier.  And until we get a money tree, here we are!

Biking and Tequila Don’t Mix

Unless you are the one drinking the tequila, watching the bike races that is:

I can’t really think of a better way to spend Sunday afternoon on the long weekend in Calgary then to head down to Bowness, find a table at the one decent Mexican restaurant here, order a pitcher of margaritas, and watch the crit races fly on by.  The restaurant was doling out shots of tequila to the lucky patrons in honour of the bike races, which made me double glad that we had toodled down here on our cruiser bikes.  We definitely sloshed our way home after!  The bike races are so much fun with the whole pack of elite male racers flying by every minute!  Whooosh!  Luckily there was only one crash in the final race, and he got up again and went back to the race minus much of the right side of his uniform and a good layer of skin.  It was very exciting. 

We rode home just as it was getting dark and the storm crowds were coming in:

Those pretty clouds brought horrible gusts of wind, hail, torrential rain, and incredible amounts of lightening and thunder.  One cat huddled close by, the other crazy cat (the boy) got up on the window to see the rain, hail, and flashes of lightening better.  I was busy huddling under the covers hoping the house did not blow down, and that the fire trucks driving by would keep on going, not stopping anywhere near the neighbourhood.  Mr. J. went back to sleep.  Boys!!

24 HRS Race Recap

I had such a good weekend, I don’t really know where to begin.  I’ll begin with the moment that all my stress and worries about my current troubles melted away into one word: “Whee!”.  I was fourth up on the roster, and started my lap around 4:30 pm, a great daylight lap, just after a bit of rain knocked down the heat and some of the dust.  I pinched my finger getting my bike off the stand, and headed off on course.  The race starts with some mild climbing, gradually winding its way up above the nordic center.  It gets fun when you switch onto single track, and keep climbing over roots, and rocks, under a canopy of pine trees.  I was breathing hard, my heartrate was high, but I made it up to the top in good speed, without stopping to walk.  At the top of the climb you switch onto fun, twisty, technical single track through the trees.  Somehow I ended up by myself, with no one in front to try and pass, or behind trying to get by me.  And I thought “Whee!”.  It was so much fun, and it got better from there.  I was careful to conserve my energy on the climbs, but tried to go faster on flat sections and downhill, by the end I was letting it all out and flying up hills.  (Flying for me, not for anyone else).  I passed people going uphill, and had two people kindly move off the trail on some single track to let me go by.  Like I was fast or something!  I felt so strong, so good, and so happy.  I let a bunch of people by me, especially the soloists who were only 5 hours into their 24 hour ordeal, and some of them had come in from Italy, New Zealand, Crested Butte, Boston, so they deserve the right of way.  My goal was to do the course in 1.5 hours, and I finished it in 1 hr 40 minutes, but it had an extra 4 km over last year, which means I did really well.  With the longer course and our 10 person team I didn’t get a second lap, but I had such a great first one, it didn’t matter. 

The rest of the race time was spent cheering racers, wandering around looking at the sights (ummm there were many, many spandex clad people around, plus nice mountains) enjoying the views, making new friends, eating, and a bit of sleeping.  Julian’s first lap started close to 2 am, and I stayed up to see him off, meet him at the checkpoint, and cheer as he finished.  I sat at the checkpoint in the dark watching the racers go by with their lights, with my toque glowing in the dark, chatting with other spectators, looking for shooting stars.  I think the racers had people encouraging them the whole race, especially the soloists who by 3 am were looking grim. 

The toques went over really well, my two teammates wore theirs all night.  I think I need to make more for next year.  There are photos on another camera of us wearing them, I’ll try and get a copy. 

Good weather, no injuries on our teams, smiles all around, and so much good clean fun on two wheels that you cannot believe!  Mrs C. did see one of the three bears in the area peeking around a sign, but she was so scared she just rode right by it, and climbed the next hill at the speed of light.  The smiles on our faces as we finished our laps show how much fun we had!

Adventure Week: Day 2

This past weekend we had an adventure in biking up the Jumping Pound Ridge Cox Hill Trail.  The trail description could go as thus:

Head straight up to Jumping Pound Ridge, around a few switchbacks thrown in to fool you that you aren’t going straight up.  After 1 minute of this, watch your heartrate race past “high” to “way too high” and finally accept that it may explode at any time, and its time to get off your bike and push.  The only other alternative is to collapse at the side of the trail in a heap, and that ain’t getting you up to the top any faster even if it does sound rather nice.  Once on Jumping Pound Ridge, head along semi-flat trail for a little bit, think you are doing well.  Then notice the huge  climb up to Cox Hill, and realize you had better grow new heart, legs, and and lungs fast.  The once source of pride from the day is that I did smoke that group of hikers, approximate ages 70-90.  Left them in the dust baby!!

Once at the top, if you survive, the view is rather nice if you can remember to pick yourself up from your face plant and look around:

Jumping Pound Ridge can be seen over our shoulders.  And in a scene repeated on many trails across many countries, it takes this many people to fix a bike:

MSRide Calgary- Hats and Bags

On June 14th I’m going to be participating in the MSRide just north of Calgary for one day, 78 km.  I am then hopping on a plane to San Diego that night (for THE Water Conference), obviously because I believe in self torture, but that is another story.  Ride 78 km, drive to airport, get on plane, fall asleep, great plan!  But I digress.  In order to raise some money for the Calgary MS Association, I hit upon the plan to hold a yard sale, and give all the proceeds to the charity.  Mr. J. and I don’t particularly like asking people for money, and this way people could donate items that they would normally just be taking to Goodwill, or the Salvation Army anyways, except we would get rid of it for them and save them a trip.  I’ve gone through my house to look for items, and I’m happy to say friends have been coming through and already dropped some items off!  I’ve been knitting hats on the weekends, I’m trying to make two a week:

The yellow fuzzy one still needs some ears I think.  I’ve been using up odds and ends I’ve found in my rubbermaid tub, the fuzzy yarn was purchased years ago to make some fuzzy stuffed animals that were adorable, and long ago gifted to babies.  With two more weeks until the sale on June 5th, I  hope to crank out another 4-5 hats.  I sure hope people buy them now.  My Mum was also busy making some extremely useful shopping bags of cotton:

She has made more that are currently on the way as well!!  If anyone in Calgary is interested in attending the sale on June 6th (the saturday!!  Why do I keep putting in 5th?),  leave a comment and I’ll let you know my address, I’m in the NW.  Or if anyone has anything that we may be able to sell, leave a comment (my neighbourhood is full of kids, I think that stuff will sell well).  Anything we don’t sell we may try and sell at my brothers house on Signal Hill at a later date, or we will take to Goodwill, nothing will be wasted.  Absolutely everythingwe make will go to the MSRide fund. 

If anyone is feeling extremely generous on this sunny Friday, donations can also be made at:

https://msofs.mssociety.ca/2009Bike/Sponsor.aspx?&PID=1131068&L=2

Have a great weekend everyone, and for those of you in the Land of the Free, hope it doesn’t snow and have freezing rain on your holiday Monday like it did on ours!!!!

Winter is out, Spring is In

I’ve been busy finishing up all my winter projects, with photos to follow this weekend hopefully.  The angora Yellowberry scarf is done and blocked, the cabled tank is awaiting yet another ball to be purchased so that I can finish it up.  I decided to make the full 8 inch turtleneck, as I do love a warm neck and chin in the winter.  I’m ready for the spring knitting!

This yarn is so springlike, a lovely Koigu purchased last year.  Its making a darling cute baby jacket and is a delight to work on.  Instead of a February jacket, its an April jacket.  And here is a contest: the next friend who has a baby girl (or baby boy if he is a lively lad who does’t mind a bit o’ pink in his wardrobe) will get this.  Ready, set, Procreate!! 

And in another spring first, I rode my bike into work this morning.  I did misjudge an ice sheet about an inch thick, with water on top coming out of the T-hood and took a good spill onto my side/butt.  It didn’t hurt because a) I’m well padded in that area and b) I’ve done that about a million times on the ice this winter whilst figure skating.  However a few cars did go by without stopping to ask if I was okay which always bugs me a bit.  But I picked myself up, and kept going except with a now wet butt.  As the temperature was below freezing it was good motivation to pedal hard and build up some good body heat so that my butt didn’t freeze.  Vroom!  And in a huge shout-out to my building managed by GWL Realty, the Watermark Tower, they are adding a second bike cage so that more people can ride to work.  Yeah for them.  Now if I can just get them to move the smokers away from it, I’ll be happy.  Nothing like an asthma attack after riding your bike for an hour. 

Happy Good Friday, Easter, Rite of Spring, whatever you celebrate this weekend.  We have tomorrow off, and I get to leave early today so I’m heading home on ma bike, and hope to enjoy nice weather this weekend.  Bring on the flowers Mother Nature, we’re ready for some pretty ones.

Waiting For the Snow to Melt

So that bike and I can get outside again.  Or rather, Gus and I, as I like to call my LeMond road bike:

That’s the two of us heading up to Dead Horse Point.  Mr. J. and I were just talking about how we expected this ride to take us about four hours, and it actually took us 7 hours.  And most of that was at a slight to medium “up”, as we zoomed on the way down.  I discovered on the descents that any speed above 30 m/hr makes me very, very nervous, and I begin to visualize what would happen if my front wheel fell off, etc.  I’m getting more comfortable with the high speed descents, but its pretty white knuckle for me, and I tend to start slowing myself down.

I’m hoping this weekend will involve a lot of time puttering around the house with my faithful companions Jack and Piper.  Trust me, they are never far away.  Tonight is a girls night out with an old friend, and tomorrow may be a pub night.  Home time however is at a high priority right now as I may be out traveling the next two weeks.  Spring cleaning is gripping me as I’ve been rummaging around my closet finding things to give to charity, and wondering why I’m keeping other items.  Out, out! 

And a big “Boo!” to the CBC in Calgary last night who did not televise the men’s skating in Prime Time like their website said they would.  Sounds like Patrick Chan gave a good effort to rise from third to silver, and the American skater zoomed from third to gold!  He must have skated really well.  I would have liked to see it.  Boo!

Have a nice weekend everyone, think snow melting thoughts!

Moab Colour and Texture II

 

170+ Miles = Our Butts Hurt!

Three days, over fifty miles each day, and I’m so happy we did it!!   Saturday’s ride was nice and flat along the Colorado River, Sunday’s ride was a huge climb up to Dead Horse Point, and today’s ride was nice and rolling (if by big climbs and fast descents I mean rolling) along the Arches Park Road.  Well organized, beautiful, incredible weather, The Skinny Tire Festival was immensely enjoyable.  Its been warm, sunny, just perfect.

Tomorrow we’re doing some hiking in Arches, and relaxing.  Also recovering, as most muscles hurt as this point, but its a good hurt.  Moab is the same, but changed.  Mondo coffee is gone (home of the world’s greatest coffeehouse slogan: Coffee: still legal in Utah) or moved, new businesses are here.  I am very happy to report that Desert Thread is still here, and has a big selection of local fibres:

Some greys for mittens from Cunnington Farms, Moab Utah.  This may also make a really good Turn a Square hat. 

And new to me this year is a local dyer of Moab fibre.  This is from Temis (?) California Red Cheviot and Suffolk Sheep dyed with Brazilwood.  I waffled for about five minutes on whether to choose this or yarn dyed with madder or other natural dyes.  The colours were all so beautiful.  I have two skeins of cream wool at home, and this is going to make some great mittens or hats.  It could also be a nice accent in grey pair of Estonian mittens.

The sub-zero Calgary temperatures have been thawed out of our bones, and replaced with the warmth of the red rocks.

Dreaming of Moab

After the holidays, with more months of winter ahead, more cold, more darkness, my thoughts inevitably turn to my annual trek down to Moab for sunlight, red rocks, and biking, beautiful biking.  The entry forms are filled out for the Moab Skinny Tire Festival (must send those in), the cabin booked, vacation approved, plans made.  The exercise regimen has begun that will hopefully make it possible to ride the 150 miles in 3 days, followed by two days of mountain biking.  I’m not saying there won’t be tears, and a turtle may pass me, but I want to make it through.  I’m dreaming of Moab:

Only two more months to go.  Tick Tock.  Now?  No.  Now?  Tick Tock.