RR: Downieville Gathering 07

[allison]

Justin and I were up around 4:30 am on Thursday to finish up morning packing and wait for Ben to show up so we could start the hella long drive up to D-ville. It was 5:30 and no Ben. He hadn't responded to any emails, and wasn't answering his cell. Since he was providing the BBQ for the weekend, Justin and I left home and drove over to Wal-Mart (luckily open 24 hours!) to buy a Bubba-Q.

We were finally outta town just before 6 am.

The essentials -



Loaded up -



On the 210 Freeway, by-passing (hel)L-A



Sitting in traffic



I slept for a bit, and awoke to some hella flat country.



We were getting close, as we reached the city of trees, and shortly were driving through Auburn on 80 toward highway 49. 49 is hella windey, but very scenic.









Downieville at last!



We stopped in to Downieville Outfitters to ensure we still had the bike rental for the following day, and I got some socks and all the Margarita Bloks they had. Onward and upward we went...





Once at the campground there weren't many people there. 5-6 peeps from OC, and a few others. We picked out a site. We had even beat K-max up there!





This is what we waited all day for: the first beer of the weekend!





Paul from Bionicon rolls in...





Thursday evening crew hanging out at the fire pit



Some campfire songs



Thus ended Thursday.

[allison]

Friday began EARLY thanks to Neil, Nam, and Robo-Dan pulling in a little before 6 am and roaring the engine on the truck. That was hella uncool.



We drove into town to get Justin's bike rental, and had breakfast at the Gallows



SX Trail



And that does it for my photos from during the day on Friday. I realized sitting in the shuttle van before heading out of town that I had left my HR strap in my backpack in the truck. It was just a few buildings over, but figured no biggie. Unfortunately 2 miles up the road I realized I left my CAMERA in the truck also! I was hella bummed out.

From Packer Saddle Justin and I took the Sunshine Trail down to Butcher Ranch Trail. From there we climbed up Pauley Creek (very cool trail, but I think it'd be better on the way down than up). From there we traversed over to Big Boulder, got slightly off track looking for that so went through a hella deep stream crossing and passed some bear skat. We got back on our way and started climbing up the hella long fire road. We ran into Nam, Neil, and Hella Tuna Melt. They were waiting for Robo Anchor to fix a flat...or was he just chatting on his cell? He got great reception at the overlook apparently.

We all finally headed down Big Boulder, and Justin and I motored to get back to town before 5 to return the rental bike.

Once back in town we chilled for a bit, and Neil came over and asked if we could wait for Nam and Robo Anchor, since the 5 pm shuttle had already left and there was no extra room on the 6pm. Nam and Robo Anchor were hella nowhere to be seen, and Justin and I had been in town for nearly an hour. Neil and Hella Tuna Melt headed over to the shuttle van, so Justin and I went looking for the other two.

Finally they rode into sight... and right past the truck. We were both yelling for them to stop. We all piled (er, Nam and Robo Anchor piled, I was comfy in the front seat) into the truck and started the drive back up to camp.

I took a sun shower (note: sun showers need to come down from where they are hanging so that they can sit on something warm all day otherwise they are just cold) and the beer started flowing...









The birthday boy (Justin) with the Gathering coordinators and Heather



Mmm...s'mores.

[allison]

We had decided at some point to not do the hella A-ride on Saturday. It probably wasn't a bad idea since Andy and Kmax bailed on it also. We were going to a shuttle crazy day with Neil, Nam, and Robo Anchor. That turned into one shuttle. Robo Anchor only managed to get, like, one flat, but since he was pulling sweep on the group he was always in the back of the pack. It's tough being DFL, man!

Justin got a Bionicon Ironwood to check out for the first run



Packer Lake



Andy and Neil giving flasks a thumbs up!



The group at Packer Saddle



Sunshine Trail











Regroup before Butcher Ranch



and start of the singletrack

[allison]

The waterfall





Switchback









Token handlebar shot



Regroup...and guess who we were waiting for? Yup, hella ROBO ANCHOR




We all loved this short section on Second Divide...



Andy on a log roller







Justin on a drop



Andy somehow managed to go from standing on this log to "dropping" into the tree...



Dirty Chumba



Robo Anchor does the drop



Log roller and wheelie drop (notice Andy in the background just standing there?)



Standing is tough sometimes.

[allison]

At least he's still smiling!













That was the end of the line for us.

Back to camp and back to the beer...





I'm pretty sure Shiggy spent the better part of his weekend devising an evil plan to get dropbars to take over the planet!



Neil looking at his fave photo from the weekend





Hella Tuna Melt finally arrived on the last shuttle back to camp. The 3 Muskateers had moved his tent on top of a rock about 100 yards from the site...

Dude, where's my tent?!



Nevermind, I hella found it!



And behind door number one, our first prize...



Large and in charge... (of the gathering that is!)



Jr. says, "Mas tequila!!"



(No, his dad did not allow him to drink any tequila, or IPA for that matter)

Dueling fires



HELLA WHAT!!!!!!!!

[allison]

Tuna Melt won the tire popping contest, but boy do those things get hella big!



Beer drinking contest



CHICK Beer drinking contest!



Yes, I won!



The raffle was awesome. Lots of good prizes, lots of fun, many laughs. Congrats to everyone that took home swag, and a hella big thanks to the companies that provided goods. I'll try to name a few: Niner Bikes, The Path, Yeti, Park Tools, Oneal, Azonic, 661, Evomo, NiteRider, Surly, Salsa, and I'm totally sorry, but I can't remember the name of the dual ring FR/DH goodies!!

Sunday morning was slow and quiet. At 7:30 am all that was heard was Andy, kicking his keg through camp...



All that was left over, and all that was needed to recover..



Thanks all for a great weekend! I'd hit up this trip again for sure. Amazing trails, good people... I think doing it again next time I've learned a bit and definitely want to hit up more trails next time!

[ShinKen]

did anyone win any boons chain rings they would like to sell?

great pics girl!! wish I could have made it!!

[sheclimbs]

http://mann.rcpics.net/dvillegathering07/IMG_0251.jpg

so Allison how did you like it? I remember lots o exposure on 2nd divide. We did D'ville 4 or 5 years ago but that exposure is still clear in my mind.

[andy aka rut]

Thanks for photo essay Allison. It was a great weekend and a ton of fun getting to meet you all. We will definately have to ride again. Justin has some mad skills on those bikes. The second divide had to be my favorite part of the trail. Really exposed and quick steep climbs. Just my style.
My only two falls from the weekend (at least on the bike ) and not only do you capture them on film, they have to be in the most ridiculous spots on the trail!

Here are a few random photos I was able to take as well...

[allison]

Originally Posted by sheclimbs

http://mann.rcpics.net/dvillegathering07/IMG_0251.jpg

so Allison how did you like it? I remember lots o exposure on 2nd divide. We did D'ville 4 or 5 years ago but that exposure is still clear in my mind.

After doing SART the weekend before, 2nd divide had NOTHING on SART as far as exposure goes.

We had a blast. Some amazing trails up there. Next time we go we'll be getting up earlier, and probably riding from camp. Definitely learned a bit about how to do rides up there. Oh, and don't take Robo Anchor

Andy - nice meeting you! Glad we got to ride a bit on Saturday. Had a blast.

Awesome photos!!

[tkblazer]

great RR allison.... it was a blast hanging and riding with you guys...

Lynn, most of the divide trails had good amounts of exposure, but with all the riding you do in the san gabs and sart, i don't think you would be phased.... i usually don't like exposure, but i and along with the rest were keeping a fairly fast pace through the divides

Originally Posted by allison

Oh, and don't take Robo Anchor

we let danger dan know that this will be the first and last trip we tell him about

[GeorgiaOfTheJungle]

I'm going to have to try to get up for the next one...next time, can you guys schedule it around my daughter's dance recital?

Nice RR, Missed you guys

[allison]

Originally Posted by tkblazer

great RR allison.... it was a blast hanging and riding with you guys...


we let danger dan know that this will be the first and last trip we tell him about

Had a great time with you guys as well! Dan's fine as long as you don't let him ride with you

When's a Mammoth trip gonna get planned??

[tkblazer]

here is allison in the drink off women's final round representing the Socal Cutter Crew proudly

[genusmtbkr5]

Great RR and pics. Looks like lots of fun. Those trails do look incredible and you always manage to put some art into your photos. Thanks.

[Keith B]

Looks like you guys had a blast! I didnt have time for more than a few token pics but I'll throw into the pot later. An exhausting days riding went straight into a beer session with the SC & Yuba guys in Downieville and there after it was a blur of fatigue and sugar syndrome - good times! LOL!

[OMR]

Beautiful photos of an area that I haven't ridden yet...and it's got to go on the "Gotta Do" list. Unfortunately, I was committed to do the Traverse Race... but I KNOW you guys had more fun! Thanks for sharing anyway.

Always love Allison's token handlebar shot.

OMR

[Winston]

That recap was a "hella" good read.

[allison]

Originally Posted by Winston

That recap was a "hella" good read.

Luckily there was a bunch to write about

I'd highly suggest this Gathering for So Caler's if they do hold it again next year. It is a long drive, but not completely horrid. Besides, the trails are SO worth it!

FWIW, I didn't mention it in the write-up... but Thursday was pretty cold. It really got down there at night. Friday we woke up and it was pretty warm in the sun, even early in the morning. The saddle was breezy and cold, but a few hundred feet into Sunshine Trail and that was forgotten. It was perfect in town. The remainder of the weekend it wasn't bad at night at all. I sat around Sat night in a thermal long sleeved, tee shirt, and jeans. Course, the beer and Patron may have warmed me a little!

[Kid A]

Originally Posted by tkblazer

here is allison in the drink off women's final round representing the Socal Cutter Crew proudly

nice chug for the W. don't get me wrong but was those glasses half empty to start with?? or being the eternal optimist maybe it was half full. seriously congrats and thanks as always for great pics and ride reports.