Birthday ride 2007! (Mar. 17, 2007)

A few years back my uncle and I have started a tradition of the Birthday bike ride. Since my birthday and my uncle Jim's are only a couple days apart. In the past all the cousins would come down to Maple Ridge from Kamloops and or Nelson to ride the Woodlot. This particular year Jordan, Justin, and Jared had to work and couldn't make it down. But unkie Jim and Jesse were joined by myself and my dad for a ride. My little Manda unfortunately did not come out this time. :(

Jesse gearing up for the climb up the mountain

The four of us decided to head up to Tsuga. It had been pouring rain the day before and the forest was wet and foggy. Jesse (my youngest cousin) has been improving a lot and it was cool to see him conquer new things on the trail. We got to Tsuga and armored up for the descent. I led the chase down the trail so I could stop and take some pics. The trail was well packed down and not muddy or greasy at all (by my standards). My old man rode down the big rock face again unfortunately the fog made picture taking difficult with a flash and the pics would blur without it!

Unkie Jim cruisin over the longest cedar bridge on Tsuga

Jesse crusin over the same bridge, this time the fog was in the way.

Jesse again, this time I didn't use the flash. You can see some of the rock work and another bridge in the background.

The Brentman riding down the first rock face on Tsuga, the fog returned again for this shot.

After Tsuga we continued on with Snakes N Ladders. The Jesster rode the entire log ride/ladder bridge section for the first time! Unfortunately I didn't get a picture. There was a bunch of new construction done on Snakes, including a new bridge on top of the ol log ride that required you to hop off the side and some rock work around the big rock face and an entirely new bridge that eliminates riding through the goopy mud just before the steep ride-down.


Finally we finished off in classic fashion by racing down Shotgun. I led the pack with Jesse right behind me, who later was passed by my dad, and followed by uncle Jim. No wipe outs, and only minor mechanical problems made for another classic Birthday ride.