Placenta Descenta

Standing on the beach I stare out to sea. 

My chest tightens and throbs. 

I watch the horizon as small waves wash ashore.  

My eyes moisten...

Had Nelson touched us so deeply that leaving town stirred our emotions? 

No, of course not (my rib is bruised and the fire smokey from the wet wood). But Nelson, if any place, certainly could bring a tear from a dedicated biker. Humbling and teasing stunts await even on the easy trails and question all that one knows about riding a bike.

Ferry crossing Kootenay lake and arrival at Nelson.

For us the experience didnt start well.
We rolled into town on Monday. To shuttle on Shanon pass? Destroyed after 4 days riding but not wanting to miss out, we ummed and arred. What to do? Eventually we opted for the raincheck (it was raining), to chill and get a good nights sleep. We failed on the latter (was it the wine?), so we didn't feel any stronger the next day when we started pedaling up the hill at Mountain Station. 

The entrance to our first trail, Fat Chance, was a good indication of what was to come: a long wonky wooden bridge to rock garden drop. Elisim was much friendlier and took us back to our car finally with a smile. We were starting to like Nelson.

After a long day and a short night, we drove out to Aimsworth Hot Springs. On the way back to Nelson, unable to hold our hunger any longer, we made kitchen on the next pullout and prepared our pasta with a nice lake view.

Enjoying Nelson and its lake before the afternoon ride.

Our Wednesday shuttle trip up Giveout Creek turned out to be epic. The dark clouds, brewing all day, didn't burst. And the trails (Power Slave to Illuminati to Placenta Descenta to Wake and Bake to some new trail not on our map) seemed to never end.

Best for last. 

Near the end of our ride we entered slab country and surf was up. Over and over again we rolled down steep rock slabs, until eventually we broke out onto the highway, done and hungry. 

So in the end Nelson did turn our hearts. Although, it seemed to work against us in the beginning, by the time we left we were sorry to go. We only touched the surface of the trails, hippy hideouts and many organic eateries. Hope to be back for more some day...

Bye bye for now sleepy Nelson, it's time to move on.