See ya around 2015

A few images from 2015 and some thoughts on possibilities for 2016

When I look back at 2015 I had a lot of fun, it seems I let every spark of inspiration grow into a fire storm. Currently I am thinking 2016 will be more focused with fewer perhaps more intense adventures, ah not really, I am just going to do everything I can when I can.  We only get one go around and why waste it? Many of the photos below relate to past blog posts, if you scroll down through the page you can find the related stories and others.

Actif Epica, flat bitterly cold, at -41

From an "All Areas" mountain bike ride around Campbell River ended up with over 90k

The Rail Ride, never have so many told me I was crazy, I tried it anyway, my back is still sore.

Hanging the bike from a branch, to fix rear flat on a solo ride

There were a bunch of "overnight" rides with fire

There was another trip around Mt Hood Staying in The Cascade Huts

Beer fueled bush short cut near Government Camp Oregon

Take the road less traveled. Near Campbell River BC

Fort Rock Oregon during Oregon Outback

I rode pavement in Italy

I rode dirt in Italy

I rode in the rain in Italy

 

 

I rode in the sun in Italy

I rode in the snow in Italy

Fishing at Mirror Lake

As I sifted through photos from this past year to assemble this post, I was struck by how much I had actually done, and by how much I still want to do. I am so stoked to adventure in 2016, cycling will obviously continue to be a big part but we will see some run and possibly swim adventures added in!
Ever heard of swim touring?

A Dinner Date

I had an idea it might be nice to go for dinner, so I called a friend our conversation wet like this:

FN2: "Hello"
Me: "Hi how are you?"
FN2: "Oh, hey, I am glad you called, I was thinking about you, and..."
I interrupt, time is wasting away and I cut to the chase,
Me "You want to go out for dinner with me tonight?"
Now you can probably imagine she is thinking maybe a nice Italian restaurant, maybe Mexican, perhaps just a local pub,
FN2: "Yes I would, what were you thinking"
"YES!", I think, this is going to be great,
Me: " I thought, I would make a couple sandwiches and we could run out Ripple Rock Trail, have dinner overlooking the Ocean"
The phone line is silent, I imagine she is so excited she can't speak, she however,
FN2: "Ah, tonight? Isn't there snow? And wont it be dark soon?"
Me: "Ya probably a bit of snow at the start, but we should be thro....."
She cuts me off mid sentence, I am positive she can hear the enthusiasm in my voice and is already gathering a bit of gear,
FN2: "NO, no I don't want to go to dinner with you are you effin crazy?"
Me: "Bu it is only 4km each way and I will make us NICE sandwiches"
Sometime mid sentence she hung up.
"Hum" I think, ok I'll call FN3, perhaps she would like to go for dinner with me.
FN3: "Hi Dan" (she has call display) "what's up"
Me: "Want to run out Ripple Rock Trail and have dinner sandwiches out there with me tonight?"
Fn3: "No, goodbye"
And so it is, another "adventure dinner" alone, me and my dinner sandwich for two.

There was snow, but just a bit, but it was frozen like ice!

Can you find the trail?

Me, and my sandwich admiring the lights of Campbell River off in the distance

!

Day Dreaming

I was startled awake, frightened, a bit confused, unsure where I was, my heart racing.

You see the thing is I occasionally don't sleep well, I have been a better sleeper the last four or so years but the last two weeks has been particularly bad. My mind just won't slow down I toss and turn, I attempt all the classic cliches, somehow my brain pushes on. I designed a tree house, built a car from scratch, visualized an overnight bikepacking trip, designed the perfect van interior for tripping, just random stuff and it won't end.
So when I started Tuesdays ride I was tired, it was bitterly cold the fog full of tiny assassins assaulting my face with their daggers of ice. I thought about returning to bed, to the warmth and security offered by my down comforter, you cannot fail it is safe under the sheets. Regardless I rode on into the darkness, I wouldn't have slept anyways.
The sun having emerged from slumber much later than me began to burn off the fog, the temperature rose my hands and feet went into auto-defrost that painful yet somehow pleasurable time when blood flow returns feeling much like when you hit your thumb with a hammer. A mix of singletrack and gravel had brought me to Loveland Bay, here I stood for a bit as the sun beat on the last of the cold.

Loveland Bay

Ice! Yes ice, as I rode on, I came upon a hollow, a particularly cold dip in the road where the puddles were frozen and again so was I. I struggled, should I stop and put on some warmer clothes or tough it out. I shifted up a couple gears rose from the saddle and began stomping on the pedals having decided I would stoke my inner furnace with effort. On the climbs I unzip my outer layer a light fleece top and vent heat on the descents I close everything up tight and shiver, still my mood is upbeat and like an audible "Ground Hog Day" "I'm Not One" by the Pop Punk band BUM loops in my mind occasionally I sing along out loud, no one hears, no one cares. I pedal on.

The spot of the sugar low

My route took me along an over grown road, dark and moody, mist hanging from the trees, I felt alone. And as I occasionally do when in the forest by myself, I felt very vulnerable and frightened, in the forest you can feel small. The forest does not know you are there, it cares not if you live or die, but it can make you feel alive, it can offer peace, it can offer a place of solitude where you can be strong or weak, I am humbled by the forest. I began contemplating turning back, I ate a few gummy bears, soon enough I was back singing aloud and I pedaled on. I realized in my excitement to ride I had left home with out eating my breakfast, coffee alone cannot power a ride!

Looking north across Mohun Lake

I arrived at Morton Lake my destination hear I planned to change footwear and run some trail before a meal and the return ride home.

Shimano bike shoes

Treksta running shoes

I began my run with a forest ramble, just because, it is good to get off the beaten path sometimes, change things up, you know variety, once on trail the run was, well a run, nothing much to say. I was though getting hungry, the three gummy bears while riding and the two gummy Coke bottles before the run were not much assistance now, food was on my mind.

Cooking up lunch at Morton Lake

For lunch I cooked up half a "noodle meal" ate an apple, then I lade down on my back on the gravel in a spot the sun had warmed where it's rays could push the last bit of cold from me. There I lay eating gummy food feeling the sun. I was startled awake, frightened, a bit confused, unsure where I was, my heart racing.
I had fallen asleep and now bolted awake unsure of why I quickly scanned the scene for danger. There was none, my attention returned to gummy food and I noticed the bag now had a hole in it? A Steller's Jay had hopped onto my belly and helped himself to my gummy food waking me in the process! How rude not to ask first!

Thief!

Comfortable as I was I could not remain here conversing with the Thief, I packed up and hit the road home. These rides have a way of fading from memory and I struggle to believe I actually have completed a single one. After finally having a good nights sleep, and upon rising this morning I am unsure if this ride was a reality or a dream perhaps, a day dream? 

Home is at the end of the road

Hotel Il Perlo Mini Review

During my recent trip to Italy I stayed on two occasions at Hotel Il Perlo in Bellagio. Il Perlo is a small family run two star hotel in a spectacular setting over looking Lake Como and Bellagio.

View from room

The Hotel has secure bike storage, a repair area equipped with basic tools, a repair stand and staff will laundry your kit after the days ride. It is located on the climb up to Madonna Del Ghisallo a climb used in the Giro di Lombardia, ashort walk into the town of Bellagio.
 Carlo the owner speaks very good English, is very often at the front desk and is a wealth of knowledge when you are looking for cycling routes. All the staff are friendly, the food is good, and when weather permits the main patio has the same view as our room and is the place to have your meals/drinks.
I thought the price of a room (which includes breakfast) was very reasonable and if you are there on a Thursday there is a free wine tasting. I highly recommend you stay here when in Italy and you don't have to be a cyclist! For more info check out the Hotel Il Perlo site here.

Hotel Il Perlo

Bartali, in front of the Chapel Madonna Del Ghisallo

Are Snowy Italian Alps A Match For Fools On Bikes?

A guest post by Andrew Hallam

Fabio leaned forward.  At first, I didn’t think he really understood what Dan was saying. “I want to ride my bike up the Gavia,” Dan repeated, “And I want it to snow.”

“Not if it snows,” said Fabio.  “Nobody wants that.” His response surprised me.  Fabio, a blond haired blue-eyed Italian ski instructor could probably snowboard with a blindfold; drive a Ferrari down a mountain after downing a bottle of Campari; steal a man’s wife during his honeymoon.  Fabio had Roman brass gonads.  But just the sound of Dan’s plan seemed to be shriveling them up. 

Fabio's Cafe

 Plenty of sporting moments net our imagination.  Bob Beamon’s record setting long jump at the Mexico Olympics; Roger Bannister’s first 4-minute mile; Tonya Harding’s botched job on Nancy Kerrigan’s knee.

Dan Clements, it seemed, was about to botch something else.

Inspired by American cyclist, Andy Hampsten’s snow covered ascent in the 1988 Giro d’Italia, Dan wanted to replicate the effort.  It was a race that should have been cancelled as snow piled up on the 8,530-foot climb.  Hampsten unlocked the door to cycling lore that day.

Misguided, perhaps, Dan wanted his own key. 

Dan, Gerald Libercan and I woke up to cold rain on September 23, 2015 in Bormio, Italy.  We had planned to climb the Gavia together.  An online webcam, however, showed that snow was piling up on the mountain road. Gerald and I backed out before breakfast. Riding didn’t make sense.  But Dan didn’t care.  A few neurons short of a full frontal lobe, he prepared to go solo.

It was just below freezing in the valley.  Dan left our chalet after taking careful directions from Gerald.  But he didn’t listen.  He passed the turnoff to the Gavia and started climbing the wrong hill in the freezing rain.  An Italian woman set him straight.  She motioned for Dan to follow her car back down the hill.  Before pointing him in the right direction, she pumped a fist on her chest, hugged him, and said, “You’re a brave man.”  At least, that’s what Dan thought she said.  She didn’t speak English.  Dan doesn’t speak Italian.  But it didn’t matter.  “I’m in love,” Dan said later.

Dressed in black rain gear and cyclingbooties, Dan started his second climb of the day.  It should have been his first.  He entered a small village where the road narrowed and the pavement gave way to smooth cobbles.  Shortly after, he was back to pavement.  

A few kilometers further, Dan pedaled through a mountain tunnel.  As he emerged from its shelter, the snow started to dump.  “How are you doing?” I asked, as we pulled alongside in the van.  “I’m loving it,” Dan said.  “But my feet are really cold.”

Before long, snow started accumulating on the road.  “You want to keep going?” I asked.  “Yeah, I have plenty of traction,” he replied.  Now driving about 100 meters behind him, our van’s tires started to slip on a hairpin.  “Dan, get off the bike!” I yelled.  We pulled to the side, letting a four-wheel drive creep past. It was the first vehicle we had seen in ages. 

Then our van started sliding backward, towards a rock wall.  It stopped, just inches from getting the backside crushed.  No longer riding with any kind of traction and needing to help us shove the van from the wall, Dan abandoned his ride.

I thought of the swashbuckling Fabio, warning that nobody wants to ride the Gavia in the snow.  Hang on to your wives and girlfriends. Dan Clements isn’t nobody.

Andrew writes a column for the Globe and Mail. He's also the author of the international bestseller, Millionaire Teacher.

Andrew

The Making of a Meal

I like a good sandwich and often they are my preferred riding food on long days and overnights thus dispensing with the cooking hassle. But when temperatures are a bit cooler there is no denying the satisfaction that comes from a warm meal after a long day destroying your body. Like many other adventurers a long time staple for back country food has been Instant Ramen noodles. They are quick, if uninspiring, so finally I started adding flavor and texture and calories to turn your typical instant Ramen into a meal. This one ends up at about 410 calories and is quite filling at a cost of close to $2.50 in Canada.
What's your favorite packaged food hack?

The ingredients:
                            1 package instant Ramen
                            2 bags garlic peas
                            2 dried Shiitake mushrooms
                            1 1/2 Tbs. dried vegetable flakes
                            4 pieces beef jerky (about 1.5 oz)

All prepped

Bagged and ready for trip!

I cooked up this one for lunch at work!

Tlools Valley Through Hike a Bike

An ill conceived idea? Maybe, but it had been on my mind for quite some time to ride out and hike a bike through the Tlools drainage from the north to south. At only 15 km how hard could it be? The Big Johnson and I set off to give it a try on Saturday evening after work. Geoff and Ftom accompanied us to our first night campsite at Apple Point on Brewster Lake.

Saturday night crew, The Big Johnson, Geoff, Me, Ftom.

Apple Point, ended up quiet except for some croaking

Sunday morning The Big Johnson and I set off  for Jessie Lake and the north end of the Tlools Valley.
Once reaching the end of the road we eventually found a rough trail that led us to Myra lake. We were feeling good about our progress, that was about to change! The forest was mostly very challenging to make headway with the occasional short section of relatively easy going.

Loaded Krampus w old rail trestle in background

Easy bush

Sulfur Shelf  Fungus

Mostly we were on the inside looking out

Myra Lake looking north

Scaly Vase Chanterelle

Thistle Meadow they started out hub high ended up over the handle bars!

Tlools lake is fed only by snow melt

MY Krampus The Big Johnson in the distance on his Krampus

Return to the forest

Filtering water at Hawarth Lake

Night two camp

Tlools creek

I took very few pictures on the third day, it was simply "get on with it" time, and we did. Physically it is devastating, pushing/pulling/lifting/lowering/dragging a fully loaded bike through trail-less forest. I think my text response to Geoff  sums it up best.

  Geoff:  How was the hike a bike? 

  Me:  15hr over two days of hell, 16 for Greg. Huge trees down, lots of them, massive boulders a plenty, wind shrapnel everywhere, wasps and Devils Club.
12 stings total 9 for Greg.
Beautiful lakes, awesome meadow of Thistle, head high.
Tired, beaten, bused and sore.
Been there done that, no need to go back.

  Geoff: So to sum it up in one word was it "fun"?

  Me: Rewarding

And so it was, for part of day three Greg and I had gone our separate ways, Greg preferring the creek and me the forest. In reality I feel we both needed to suffer alone.
When I reached the end of the valley I felt great joy I had made it, then guilt. Where is Greg? Is he OK? He had looked so tired. How long do I wait before going back or calling for a search. My head was swimming in thought. I sat down cooked and ate some noodles, I began to formulate a plan. A familiar sound? A disk brake squealing in protest pierced the forest and Greg arrived.  He was smiling.