Rumplestumpskin vs. TNT (the curse of chinese laundry)

Another tough day at the office: Fernie TNT!

It was Friday.
It was definitely laundry day.
Teased all day by thunderstorms that never came, we rolled into town with the confidence of those who have soap (got soap?). We set our load to spin, and decided for a cold beer instead of going to the grocer while our washing washed.

That was when the storm arrived.

Its entry was rather simple, turning off the lights (and our washing), leaving us sitting and sipping in the dark, spinning our washing wasn't. We thought that we had been struck by the curse of chinese laundry...

To kill time we headed out for 2-for-1 pizza. The storm past, but the electricity never came back on. Eventually we gave up, and returned to collect our washing, but discovered that the machine never turned on in the first place...  so our dirties were dry!

Homeward bound, survivors of the storm.

Heading back to camp somewhat confused we saw the havoc that the storm had reeked: trees bending in the wind and falling over roads and power lines. In the end our laundromat story didn't seem so bad. Although our $44 bill never cleaned our clothes, we were fed, dry and without incident. 

3 days biking at Fernie were epic, it really is a mecca of trails of which we only tipped the iceberg. Timing our trip at the same time as Christian, Jenny and their friends was a great help for finding trails and many laughs around camp fires and wine bottles. 

Heading up for more: Dem Bones worth every pedal!

Our first day started off with 2 trails straight out the back of the campsite. The climb to Project 9 trailhead was too steep (for us) to pedal, so we pushed most of the way. Coming back down through Fernie's incredible flora (seemingly more beautiful than anywhere else that we have ridden) on the rooty, flow trails squeezing our wide bars past trees, left us super stoked. After lunch we headed out again for more and rode Dem Bones, somewhat faster and flowier trail that ended 50m from our campsite!  

The next day was a resort day (only so much pedaling/pushing you can do with a big bike). Our morning started slow until we found the trail gems that the resort offers. Some trails were still closed after the storm, so we rode Rumplestumpskin and TNT, endless trails which drop a huge amount of altitude, starting steep and ending in loamy forests. Epic!

Exploring some of the wooden features before heading higher up the mountain for the real deal.

Smiles at the end of long day of holding on tight, about to head down another steep gully.

If the pictures don't capture it the video gives a bit more perspective.

     
       

Home comforts, campside Fernie: Pinotage and beefsteak on a wood fire.

By Sunday everyone was feeling the action from the weekend and the heat. We all headed out for an easy pedal into Swine Flu, followed by gelato and a swim/shower in the most beautiful lake that we have seen so far, which was also pleasantly warm (compared to the campsite creek 'bath'). 

Swine Flu to Fernie view. 

Local spot near Elko.

Mandatory camper showers after a long day of riding turned out not to be such a bad thing.

After an awesome weekend, it was time for goodbyes, and we started heading for our next stop, Nelson.

 Highway 3.

Bound for Nelson...