April 7th - Big Ride to Harbour View

[Rolf]

This will be my fourth, guys. I know well of what you speak.

But the other coach is away and there’s no one else available to lead the little line of sweet, innocent, smiling cherubic faces out onto the field so they can natter away to each other behind me about the utterly inane, and blithely ignore the formalities up ahead.

Now that I think about it, it’s not much different than riding with you lot.

[Greg F]

Unless someone famous is singing the national anthem, I’d skip it.

[schouten]

I'm setting the date tentative for April 7th or 14th. Rain is in the forecast for the 7th which is not great for the this large a trek.

[LouiseF]

Way to take control Ron!

I'll hold both days. Can't do the 13th.

[schouten]

That's great Louise. Hopefully everyone else that wants to join this ride is able to make both dates too.

[schouten]

Weather looks good this Sunday so let's stick to April 7th. Assemble at Fairbucks at 7:00am. We should be at the switch bridge by 7:30am (skip the E&N) and make the trail great before 9:00!

Everyone welcome of course. Bring lots of water and bananas!

[JTyre]

Hey Ron, the forecast that I'm looking at says showers for tomorrow morning and high winds until 7 am.

Can I interest you in postponing the Big Ride and doing something shorter and more conventional? I think Rolf will be available in that case, and Alan will hang-on to us no matter where we go.

[schouten]

I'd rather not ride in the rain either. Are your sure about the weather? I'm seeing sunny/cloudy and winds dying down tomorrow and rain in the forecast for April 14th. But ultimately whatever works best for the group.

Are your saying that Rolf will join for the big ride if we postpone? Or that if the ride is conventional, Rolf will come out tomorrow?

[LouiseF]

I hate to disagree with a climate scientist, but I'm seeing the weather as low chance of rain and cloudy with much lower winds than today (gov weather website). The weather network shows sun and clouds for Sooke for tmrw. Why don't we wait until a little later in the day when the predictive accuracy will improve? But my spidey senses tell me its gonna be okay.....

[schouten]

I'm with Louise on this. Mainly because I'm stubborn and super psyched for the ride. I'll check in again with y'all at 5:00 tonight.

[Rolf]

Loving the drive, Ron! I sincerely hope the weather's good for you guys, as it will be a long time on the bike.

Because I have to be home by 11, I'm leaving Fort and Foul Bay at 7 to do this old chestnut (Colquitz, Willis, Mt. Work, Thetis), probably minus Partridge Hills. I kinda hope I'm solo, cuz it'll mean my cross buddies are off together blazing new trails! But if any of y'all have similar time problems, you're very welcome to join.

[schouten]

Looks like a fun ride Rolf. Hopefully some more CXers come out of the woodwork to join you. For my part, I hope to be an insufferable braggart next time we ride

[JTyre]

I'm with Louise on this. Mainly because I'm stubborn.

99% of climate scientists believe in global warming, and that Ron and Louise are stubborn (in a nice way, of course).

Forecast when I got up this morning was surefire for showers, but has improved since. I'll probably be at the Switch Bridge at 7:30 am. If not, I'll post this evening.

p.s. Parker Bloom tells me that Terra Nova is wonderful. Suggests going out-and-back to Shields Lake, thereby avoiding the black diamond part of Ridge Trail, and then down into the nest of trails before heading out on Sooke Mountain Parkway.

Tyre

[Rolf]

Hang on, if you’re leaving FBucks at 7 and Switch at 7:30, I’ll just join you at the start and then peel off at Colquitz...

[schouten]

Sounds sensible. And if anyone gets cold feet they can duck out with you.

Weather forecast is holding steady. The ride is a go!!

[steelwool]

I'll meet you guys at the Switch bridge @ 7:30 - looking forward to the ride!

Wayne

[LouiseF]

Hi Ron,

I'm still in, weather cooperating but am beginning to feel a bit nervous...I assume you have all the mapping and GPS etc covered? Since I had no idea where exactly we are going I looked and found this if you haven't already seen it, linked to a garmin connect track of terra nova trail.

https://thelazyrando.wordpress.com/2012 ... -sooke-bc/

Do you have All Trails? Might be handy on this adventure. I don't have it and not sure my phone is capable of downloading it but I'll try if you don't.

See you at Switch at 730.

L3

[schouten]

Hi Louise, I'll have Trail Forks in case (when) we get lost. To be honest I'll be disappointed if we don't get a little lost. I think we'll find a fair number of mountain bikers on the trail too.

That was a good reference site. Thanks for sharing. And by all means install another app. 99% of climate scientists agree that more data is good to have.

[schouten]

I'll meet you guys at the Switch bridge @ 7:30 - looking forward to the ride!

Wayne

Awesome! Glad you can make in Wayne!

[Alan]

Rolf, how about we meet up to drink coffee 6:45ish and gossip about John at Starbucks--leave there by 7 and then join up with the others at the Switchbridge by 7:30. Then when your menopausal hot-flashes kick in, you can turn around and go home, maybe take part in some kind of ancient baseball ceremonial war dance, while the rest of us follow Ron Of-the-Big-Beard into the great unknown, hoping that his navigational competence matches yours.