So after a brief visit to Chicago for the Paralympic Ambassador Program training, I was back to Rossland for some more biking. And biking I have. I did a little pedal before Jim got off work and then went on to ride Greendoor which goes from Rossland down to Warfield. That is the little trail that is usually the exit from a multitude of trails that we have done. On Thursday we did two rides with car drops, thank you Kim, that were fun and exciting. The first one was the ride that Jim took me on the first ride that I did prior to Chicago. I was excited to ride that one again seeing how much trouble I had on it the first time. I rocked it, comparatively, only unclipping twice to get around obstacles which the first time I walked down a couple of section and avoided some sections altogether taking the service road to squirt around. The second ride was another car drop on Tamarack, Drakes, and Doukhobor Draw. So in simple terms this is how those all come together with out drawing a map for you. Start with a short but steep climb with some sketch rock faces where you are riding the side of the rock and not just rolling over the top of. After a bit of that mixed in with some unpleasant but needed walking we dropped to the top of Doukhobor Draw (a.k.a. “The Draw”). Bit of the way into The Draw we run into Drakes and ride/pedal/walk about half of that. On Drakes you don’t really gain or lose elevation but you do end up climbing a lot of steep bit and for some reason or another I would find myself having to push/walk the bike up. On the return trip on Drakes, back to The Draw, the ride is fun with a bit easier time keeping up momentum for the smaller less steep climbs to gain the back the elevation drops. Once back on The Draw we ride to the drop car which is down the highway on the way back to the States. After all of that riding I get to celebrate Canada Day, equivalent to Independence Day, by going to Trail to watch the fireworks over the river with the smelting plant as t
he illuminated backdrop.
Today we did the pedal up the hill to the viewing point. In theory, which we got a touch of, you can see Rossland all the way to Trail and see up and down a bit of the Columbia River. Today however it was raining. Not just a slight sprinkle oh my hair is getting wet, no, no. A full on down pour where I was able to make the comment, “All of the hair product I put in last night taste awful.” because I was basically taking a shower. Yum Yum. The ride turned out to be really fun though. Jim did some exploring with me in tow down a trail called Pale Ale, only having to walk a small bit that was just to technical in the rain. After that we got back to Milky Way which led us to Cemetery, then across the highway to Bones, which put us at the Wagon Road. Out of all of the I think we got the wettest on Bones due to all of the tall grass and bushes that would spray you with water as your handle bars and arms passed through. Wagon road was fun with the open lane but still rocky, I was able to go faster then on the single track but still let the rear wheel skim across the lose dirt and rock. For the rest of the ride was pretty uneventful except for the superman Jim did on to the pavement. Good news is that he has just a couple bumps and scrapes, no stitches required.
Today we are attempting a triple ride, the backside of Dewdney, then the frontside of Dewdney, and finished with a Tamarack into Doukhobor Draw. The clouds are still out but no rain yet. Today is a bunch descending and fast riding. I am very much looking forward to this last day of riding but also am sad ecause it is the last day of riding.