Sunday's pics...
It should be another successful day for the "Minaun Roosters"
A V-Strom really seems to attract the ladies... Foolonastrom
We were really lucky to be able to ride in this "area of outstanding natural beauty"
Snoopy coming down the quarry - on a flat tyre!
Talking of flat tyres...
C'mon Ian, we don't have all day...
Got the culprit!
After this little delay we had to wait at the start of Special Stage 1 for the ambulance coming our way carrying several victims
Poor Padge couldn't bear to look at the pitiable sight
But as we hear, both patients are on the mend
Another unintended stop on the Strata Florida - and another trail rider to be introduced to the benefits of arnica...
Then suddenly, at the start of the second special stage, the Boss and Paul emerged from the woods...
Great that you made the effort to come and see how parts of the UKGSer community spend their weekend.
Foolonastrom finishing his last special stage in style
And then disaster struck... Although I was aware that all these stops in order to provide moral and practical support had jumbled my schedule a bit, I was gutted when the marshall didn't want to let me start my third lap!
Ok, it's a competition - but I can't just ride past if somebody has crashed, fallen into a ditch or suffered a puncture, especially if this happens to people who have helped me in the past.
I was devastated, felt treated unfairly, questioned the spirit of the whole rally and threw all my toys out of the pram...
Only due to Foolonastrom's diplomatic skills was I allowed to start again - thank you sooo much, Steve, you saved my day!
Turning all my anger into speed I got to the first special stage even
before Ian B had caught up and reached the start of the second stage after just 51 minutes - and that included waiting for the ambulance reversing into the Strata Florida to pick up the poor guy who had broken his leg... Wishing you a speedy recovery, mate.
But then - it went all pants in the quarry again. Being a bit too fast for my skill level, I crashed so hard that I couldn't get up for ages (usually I bounce back immediately). All I remember is shouting at the marshalls to drag my bike over the finish line...
After a while I could put pressure on my knee again but moving my right thumb was just too painful. Got permission to cut out the last loop through the woods and went back to the Dalarwen Forest applying the "chimp grip technique" to operate the throttle - ouch!
Therefore no further pics of action heroes...
... only of outstanding natural beauty
Finished the course just after 4pm - not sure if I was the last one though...
What a weekend! Found out that racing is not for me but still had an absolutely fantastic time. Thank you all for your company - it was great to ride with you (again)!
A huge thank you goes to the organisers, the marshalls and supporters for all their hard work and patience
(btw, I apologised for my tantrum later... )
Oh, and before I forget - apparently next year's winner will get the following prize:
Ela
P.S. Thanks to lots of arnica pills and cream, Ibuprofen and TLC from Possu (including help with getting dressed and giving me lifts to and back from work) I am now able to ride a bike again - phew. Very lucky when I think of the other casualties that weekend... Get well soon, you all!