Pemby British Style
Words by Sam Gothorp.
whistlerdiaries.com is the online home of a more recent (and less welcome) British Invasion. I guess you could call them summer Aussies - Poms who come to Whistler for the riding season and live like true dirtbags. God bless 'em. These lads recently launched a blog and despite Sam's distaste for spelling and grammar I found some gold. Here's a sampling of their shenanigans. Cam McRae
Sometimes the least organised rides are the best ones, 9:30am phone calls the morning after the night before, no plans, some season old bikes(that means one set of working gears between the lot of us) and plenty of sunshine.
Leaving the high security compound (Whistler) at around ten-ish, the following conversation took place in race car number 70.
SK: I'm sure I've forgotten something, something important..
SG: As long as you've got a bike and helmet, thats all that matters.
SK: I guess so, but I cant help feeling...
30seconds after arriving in pemberton..
SG: Shit, wheres my helmet!
Thats right I forgot the damn thing, so I jump back in the racecar and leave the others to it.
"These people are not cool." Annie and Adam. K. Photo ~ Seb Kemp
An hour later im back, a couple of pounds lighter and complete with helmet. 15 mins later, which is 15mins longer that I could have spent on the shitter, Annie, Seb and Adam turn up. They've done one run and these clowns have decided to leave our truck at the top of Creampuff. So muggins here gets to wait at the bottom for another 40 mins while Seb and co. rally to the top in a Honda Civic and then drive back down with the truck. Another 40mins quality crapping time missed.
Fortunately they left me their bikes, so I got to do skids in the car park for 40 mins - much to the amusement of the woman with the brown Giant Trance.
The 'author' riding Creampuff. Photo ~ Seb Kemp
Finally they return and we get to go back up; another quick lap of cream puff, a first for me and a fantastic trail. Some intial pushing/pedalling but we're soon into top quality single track and rock rides. Seb shouts at us for not being photogenic but we dont care, there's far far too much fun is being had. This trail is a definite must for anyone visiting pemberton. Just watch out for trains...
Back to the bottom, a quick chat to some rednecks and Annie meets us in the truck. Yes thats right someone drove down this time, hurrah!
Straight back up the hill for Bob Gnarley. Apparently Adam is above map reading and merely goes on his iffy sense of direction, much swearing and a fair bit of pushing back up the hill ensue. Eventually we're at the trailhead.
Adam the anti-Riffle. Photo ~ Seb Kemp
Bob Gnarley starts off sedately but soon steepens up. The riding surface is about six inches of dirt and gravel sitting on top of slick rock. Skidding is bad. Braking technique is essential. Adam quickly skids off the track and I nervously take the lead. Adam had mentioned a ten foot drop to flat! but i soon find thats about as accurate as his directions. Quickly dispatching with a nice rock roll I gain some confidence and leave Adam and Annie to my dust.
Coming out onto the fireroad with a big grin on my face I leave my bike and check out the lower section of the trail while adam and annie are still coming down. A proper drop to flat this time starts the trail. Someone really needs to explain landings to the local trail builders.
Hearing squealing brakes I head up to catch up with Annie and Adam. The lower section is a bit more off the brakes and we all enjoy it. We finish up on the last section of Mckenzie Cruise I think. It's awesome, like a dh track back home. Seb soon arrives in the truck at the bottom. He's fuming about the fact no one told him you have to depress the clutch on Canadian cars to start them. Frankly I couldn't give a damn - that last run was too much fun.
Sock sniffer Seb. Photo ~ Adam
Back up again we go for one last run - Hawai Five-0 this time. Log rides (yuck) mixed with some nice single track and ending back up on that amazing section of Mckenzie Cruise again. It's now getting dark so we pack up and head into Pemberton for some fantastic food in the pony cafe. It's cheap too - if you're up in Pemberton check this place out.
McCrappers carpark not the Pony Express. Photo ~ Sam Gothorp
Back to Whistler....
For the rest of the weekends adventures from Garfinkels, to the pie shop, to secret Whistler trails and back again. Check back soon!
PS whistlerdiaries.com does not advocate the use of toilet bowl colour scheme MX outfits anywhere, neither do we advocate the dangerously high trouser levels demonstrated in this article
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