The first real long weekend of summer this weekend, and summer arrived right on schedule last week!

Andy went out with Marc and Nikki on Wednesday for some extra race training, and some climbing. Jacek and I joined them after work on Friday.

Saturday was super hot, making biking a sweaty affair. We rode over to the Three Blind Mice area, that I have ridden a few times before (for example with Andrea last year). This area has some amazing fast singletrack, and quite a few little jumps:

Andy was feeling Lucky:

Nicki learns to fly:

Andy went bigger:

  Back to camp for lunch, and some maintenance:

Then up to the crag for some afternoon climbing. Marc on a route at Grassy Glades:

Meanwhile, I was leading a little 5.8: (Andy’s photo)

When this baby rattlesnake threw itself off the top of the cliff! It flew past me and plopped down next to Andy who was belaying. We thought it was dead at first, but after a few minutes it made a miraculous recovery, but was quite annoyed!:

Luckily, we had a vet on hand who convinced it to slither off with the help of a big prodding stick. Thanks Nikki! There’s a hazard you don’t get in the Peak District!

Sunday was more of the same, biking in the morning, climbing in the afternoon. As everyone was feeling tired from the heat we rode a mountain you can shuttle to the top of, and has some more "freeride" style trails. We rode "Code 4" (Police code for Do Not Resuscitate!). As you might imagine with a name like that there were some pretty big stunts. We rode round the really big stuff, but hit some of the smaller ones. As usual Andy got the most air-time of the day, including this sizeable Gap jump:

Even I got my wheels off the ground from time to time:

Andy on another even bigger one:

Strictly, this was a Fig Rolls Racing Canada Section training event, only Jacek and I forgot to bring our jerseys so were banished from the photos!

  

Marc showed that he can jump too: (Andy’s photo)

In fact, everyone got in on the act at this spot. Jacek looked a little worried: (Andy’s photo)

Nikki: (Andy’s photo)

Me hitting another ladder drop lower down: (Andy’s photo)

More climbing in the afternoon:

 

Heading home as the sun went down, end of another fine day:

Its so dusty here already you wouldn’t believe we were skiing only 10 days ago:

Nice sky:

Sunset on the lake:

And a nice campfire:

Only time for one sport on Monday as Marc and Nikki had to get back for a ferry. Andy headed off for a ride, while the rest of us went climbing. We managed to get on Double Exposure, a classic 5.9 trad route.

Nikki following Marc’s lead:

Some of the gear was apparently quite puzzling:

But it was all fun:

  

Jacek enjoying the free-hanging abseil off the route:

Poor Matti was pooched after a busy week!:

An excellent weekend all round. It seems that summer is here, at least in the interior – it was still raining in Vancouver when we got home!