My Big Time Out

It was dirty feet in strawberry fields. Straw bails and straw fights. Music beyond genres. Hours of it.

New age belly dancers. The e-Tipi (my name for it - everyone inside a Tipi DJ dancing). Even Burlesque.

Do a 360 and all around is positive juice.

Someone on stage said, “Young people playing young music for young audiences.”

Whoops. Except, I’m old, but young at heart?

The words Time Out weren’t in my family’s vocabulary growing up. Suppose it evolved when the baby jogger came around.

The Big Time Out has become synonymous with music and Cumberland. A funky, evolving community mid-ship on Vancouver Island.

I got a chair, luckily. Made some new friends.

Baked in the sun. Got shielded by the clouds.

Watched a guy with a kilt. Hackers (as in hacky sacks). Solo dancers and hula hoops.

Listened to some funky music. Live looping. 

It was pure soul fun. Love and respect echoed during each intermission.

Someone’s lyrics stuck with me.

“Heal each other. Feel the world.”

Super enjoyed my Big Time Out.

Love Signs

Gotta like it... pleasantly placed on the way to The Big Time Out.

View From My Tent - BC Bike Race Moments

Nothing has changed at home. Except me. I feel dizzy. I’m not done yet. I have not cut off my BC Bike Race wristband. I’m still gulping down the fact that I rode the BC Bike Race Challenge Course. All seven days.
In all the training I got done in a week ahead of the race, the most hours I managed was 14 – only once. Over the past seven days I rode a total of 22 hours, 28 minutes and 21 seconds – mountain biking. I’m awaiting confirmation on the total kilometers. Pretty sure it’s just shy of 200.
The results have me posted as fifth overall for the Solo Women, out of 11. I’m pretty pleased with that. I podiumed on Day 6 in second place. I was stoked with that. I worked hard to get there. Definitely could of done with another year or more of training. But in the short time I had (three and half months) I think I did OK. I left room for improvement.
Family and friends want to hear all. I go through each day step by step. Relive the moments of the rides. Feel the pain again. It was hard work. Truly. When I drop my bike off to my son for a wash and grease he asks me will I be doing the long one (Epic) next year? I hesitate. Stalled for an answer. I ask him if he’ll ride with me in a team. That would be cool. There was a father/son team that did the Challenge. They were from the US.
I continue to reflect on the greatness of the last week. The exhilaration of the race start on Day 1. Leaving the Departure Bay ferry terminal in Nanaimo in a pack. All 500 of us.
Or, the coolness of the team of four that rolled by me on some gravel road in the middle of Day 2’s course in Cumberland. She at the back, drafting the three of them. Pretty sure they were the Australians.
Then I chuckle thinking of dude in the tighty blackies walking to the washroom trailer at the same time I was before dusk one morning. At least I wore my pyjamas.
Or the shower when all the shampoo was lathered in the hair and the water turned to ice. The day was already cold. I left refreshed.
Then there were the BCBR fans in the communities that during each race start cheered us on. Hooting and hollering. The bag pipers in Powell River as we all waltzed to our bikes readying for the race start. And the cool group of kids high fiveing us as we enter the incredible forests in Powell River. Maybe some of them will end up as Pros?
The wildlife seemed scarce, except for the black momma bear and baby in a field at Whistler. Although many a black bear’s presence was seen in the fields of salal we rolled through. We were in their turf.
Then there were the birds. They didn’t seem to mind us. Each forest we went through had their own song. And each had a fresh breath of air.
Logging scars were seen. But if it weren’t for the loggers I’m sure a lot of these trails wouldn’t be there for us to access and ride.
I reflect on the kindness and professionalism of each red shirt, the BCBR staff and volunteers. Mr. Michael Jacoby who diligently cared for my bag, knowing I was packing my computer so I could blog daily.
Never a grump on anyone’s face whenever a question was asked.
The days went by too fast. As I sat at the banquet dinner last night at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler flanked by South Africa and Austria I think to myself, my favourite part of being at the BC Bike Race is that fact that I got to share this experience with the World.

Registration is open now for BC Bike Race 2011 at Early Bird Registration rates. Don’t hesitate. Do it! You won’t regret it.
I recommend you start training tomorrow.
For more information go to www.bcbikerace.com

Done With Yucks!

Supposed to go three times around the Voodoo circle. Head down I missed it. That was yesterday during the Abyss trail ride in Nanaimo.
Thomas of BC Bike Race reminded me of that at the finish line. I promptly blew it off.
“Have an awesome ride…race?” said my pal Shawn as I boarded the comfiest looking bus in line after breakfast. I laughed. I came to ride, but honestly have to say I got a little race funky yesterday.
We're on our way to Cumberland. Us Challengers are doing 37 kms today. On route we have a major mechanical. The comfy bus sounded lots of billowing white smoke. Harry the driver who had happily chirped before departure, “We’ve got the whole world in the bus,” did the right thing. He pulled over and called the supervisor. There were positive comments from all of us. "At least we didn't miss a ferry!"
Nothing we could do but wait. Wasn’t long. Luckily for the ladies there was a john on board!
I was ready to roll in Cumberland. But due to the mechanical, didn’t get to race start till the ten-second countdown. Still buckling up my camel pack, no time to top up water. We were off.
The 500 of us packed Main Street and soon spilled off into some double track. It was stop and go which gave me time to adjust my camera and pack. As the pack spread we swung out to the techy trails of Cumberland. Well-loved you could tell.
Ample places to ramp up. I found myself racing. Hit the Aid Station and asked how much further. Another 14 kms. I went for the banana train and bolted. I wanted more then fifth today.
Had a touch and go with another gal when we broke off from the Epic riders. We kept her going jiggy jaggy through the clear cuts.
All of a sudden there’s another Challenge rider heading our way. He claims a T with no flagging. Crap. We’re soon joined by Christian from Austria. We decide one will go high the other low. I have a phone number for base camp in my Blackberry so ring for help. Five to ten minutes later a BCBR truck rolls up. Directs us back from whence we came.
Felt pretty dozey when we came upon the flagging. How could four of us go off course? Well we did.
Now we’re getting caught by the Epics. I’m pissed cause I gotta slow down for passing. It was a tough slog. We had grinding climbs. Sick single track. Wicked downhills. Knew I was back in the swing and getting close to the finish as I could hear the music. Then I snag some gear issue thing. Stop and see I’ve picked up some yellow flagging in my derailleur. Really want to get her done for the day so I do what I can leap back on and realize no low gears. Good for high. Good thing it’s mostly downhill!
I’m peeling now. I know it's close. Pedal to the metal. 37 kms of Cumberland now under my belt. Three hours and 18 minutes on my clock. Course extras included.
In the end I thanked my bike. My Devinci Moonracer. She held up and got me home. Done with the yucks now. The rest of the week is going to be sweet!!
Powell River tomorrow. Day two, BC Bike Race complete.