The start of our vacation began in Squamish. Chris climbed on Saturday and I rode my mountain bike, and it just so happens that I am so friendly I rode my bike with the Mayor of Squamish. SO AWESOME that the Mayor of Squamish rides bikes, I wish the Mayor of Bellingham would ride bikes, and that way he might realize how totally cool Galbraith is and see that we need that mountain so we too can have a mecca of outdoor recreation.
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| The view from the ferry, Canada is beautiful |
The following day Chris and I rode, and I showed him the same trails I rode on Saturday plus a little extra, tons of fun. After our ride we hung out at Alice Lake for a while in the beautiful sunshine. The lake reminded us of Padden, small and really crowded. After that we drove south to Horseshoe Bay to the ferry terminal and sat for 2 hours with everyone and their mom to get onto the ferry to Nanaimo to make it to Comox.
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| View from Cumberland of the Valley |
That Monday Chris and I rode mountain bikes in Cumberland. So we went to the local bike shop, picked up a map and head out onto the trails. Last year we rode there and I loved it, so I was really looking forward to more awesome riding. To make a long day short, the ride turned out to be an Epic Fail worth blogging about. It started when I crashed over a drop and re-split my knee open (about a month ago I gashed my knee open on Hush Hush and it's still healing). Then, I crashed again on some stupid root that I blame on my breaks (my front break needs to be bled). Then, we went down into some ravine dip and back up and I heard a terrible crack, crack. Chris's bike broke...big time. He had to walk out, so I continued on to ride. Then I realized I lost my sunglasses, so I turned around to where I crashed the 2nd time, they weren't there. So I retraced my steps back to where I crashed the first time (this was a total hike a bike not ride-able up hill trail). They weren't there. So I rode back to where I crashed the 2nd time and they were glowing inside a log. So I continued on until I heard some growling, when I looked up and saw Momma Bear staring at me, then I saw her cubs. I freaked out, got off my bike, and stood sooo still (for what felt like eternity). I would have taken a picture had I not been shakin' in my skin. They continued on into the woods and I turned around and sprinted as fast I could out of the trail and descended back to the car on the logging roads. 4 hours later I made it back to the car and just wanted to get home.
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| The part in the middle should be attached right below it...that is a sheared bolt |
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| Broken Carbon |
The next day we ride road bikes around town and stopped at the local bike shop in Comox (Simons Cycles) to see what the chances are of fixing the bike (none) or renting a bike (positive). One extremly awesomely friendly worker named Craig offered to let us ride with him and his friend on Thursday, we accept. The best part about this offer was he was sooo kind he let Chris borrow a test bike for nearly the whole 2 weeks we where there (how cool is that)?! So it wasn't a total fail that I brought my bike and his broke. Riding with people who know the trails is so much better than stopping every 10 minutes to look at a non-waterproof map.
That first week in Kye Bay we spent lots of time just hanging out, riding bikes, kicking back on the beach. I even let Chris take me rock climbing, my cousin and his "special friend" even came! On Sunday we rode our bikes to the top of Mt. Washington. From the cabin it's about 25ish miles, and the last 10ish are the uphill to the mountain. I am really glad I didn't know how steep it was at the time. The whole climb it averaged 8-12% grade. We even invited my mother, she nearly died.
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| Lovers on the beach (it was cold) |
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| Myself at the bottom of the sand cliffs |
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| Chris in the middle of the sand cliffs |
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| Chris jumping around in the sand |
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| Rock climbing at Comox Lake. This was called the devels ladder (scary huh)? |
That Monday we rode mountain bikes again with our new found friends, this time we rode at the Forbidden Plateau (an old Ski Mountain), then we jumped into the river. That was the first and only jump into the river this year, the water was so cold it took my breath away. Damn late summer weather didn't warm the rivers up for us!
The second week we were even more lazy than the first week. Lounged on the beach, rode for a little bit, went on a couple runs, and drank in the sun. One morning I was reminded of my childhood in Kye Bay when we were woken up by F18's (??) that were flying and turning right over the cabin. The first time they came through the house shook! These jets used to fly ALL the time, but now the Air Force Base has some what retired there and it's more of an airport, so we don't see regular shows like that a lot. Chris loved it. I swear if the jet was turning in the opposite direction we could have waved at the pilot and looked right into his eyes. It was perfect timing considering it was just a couple of days before the Blue Angels were flying at Sea Fair.
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| My Grandpa and myself. I found that hat in the duplex so I gave it to him to wear (since it was originally probably his) |
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| Chris and Grandpa heading out to golf |
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| Beach Day!!! |
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| Beach, sun, and water. What more could I ask for? |
Saturday came and it was time to pack it up and head home. It was agreat 2 week vacation, maybe next year I can convince Chris to vacation for 3 weeks?! :-)
NAH, I think 2 weeks was just right!
