Burnt River XC Photo Report

With respect to the Burnt River XC race this past Sunday a few adjectives come to mind to describe Offroad Ontario’s seventh stop: fast, slow, technical, abusive, relentless, tiring, bumpy and rocky.

Riders were treated once again to a very sunny, hot and humid day making the almost 15 km loop exhausting. Add in copius amounts of baby heads and many finished the race with blistered hands and battered bodies.

Thanks to Offroad Ontario and the gang at the Burnt River Offroad Facility for a great event and of course, kudos to all the competitors and their families getting all crispy under the scorching sun, cheering for the riders.

Click HERE to see pictures of both the AM and PM races. Side note: I have not posted all pictures of the PM riders. Please email me with your plate number and I’ll upload the picture for you. Thanks for your understanding and patience.

Knackered and dirty and showing off the new ‘stache and beard tatoo.
Kids raced early in the morning before the heat set in. What am I talking about…it was already 28C!
The start of a very bumpy and rocky and hot and tiring AM race.
The Shack on his way to a first place finish. Congrats!
Dry dusty conditions were not only tough on the riders but equally tough for photographers as flash kept lighting up dust particles in air. I also cannot figure out how this guy got so dirty?
Always time for some last minute Rekluse adjustment with Bryan Marshall.
Zach Lewis riding through the daisy’s. This kid’s got style!
Scrubbing with Josh Long.
Kevin Cockayne on the rocks.
Wojo bringing it to the finish line.
Checkered flag for Wojo.
Getting sideways with KTM’s Josh Long.
Not only was I treated to great riding all day by the racers I also had some cool one on one time with KTM’s Josh Long after the race. This is one of my favourite shots – unconventional angle and it shows the talent this rider has. Pretty low scrub!
Roosting the berm with Josh Long.

 

Algonquin 2 Day: 26 years in the making.

The Algonquin 2 Day ride is as much as being with friends as it is enjoying the ride.

To view all Saturday and Sunday photos please click HERE. Note: not all photos have been uploaded. Please email if you need help finding yourself. And don’t forget to include a description of your bike, clothing or some other easily identifiable piece.

Twenty-six years ago the Algonquin 2 Day ride began it’s debut as an enduro. Over the years it has evolved into a well established 2 day ride earning a reputation as a ride not to miss. Settled in and around the Madawaska area, just east of Algonquin Park, the ride has the ability to take the most seasoned and skilled rider and reduce them to rubble. And, if you are lucky to survive the 2 days you have earned the right to brag and say ‘I have survived’.

Notorious for mud bogs, rocky uphills, water crossings, river crossings, beaver dams, bear and moose sightings, drowned bikes, mechanical failures, deer flies, long arduous mud infested climbs, and ‘hissy fits’ for the weak – the Algonquin 2 day ride will undoubtedly make you into a better rider…or, at the very least…a better field mechanic.

Navigating Sunday’s water crossing.

 

Even the most expert riders fall in. And if you don’t reconise this guy his initials are G.S. and now stand for ‘Gone Swimming’ 🙂
Perhaps troubled by a stalled bike, and almost witnessing the rider in front of him take a plunge, pro rider Kevin Cockayne decides to play it easy and walk across the river.
Taking five and chatting with friends with only 5 km’s left of Saturday’s 180 km route.
Tired, dirty, and hungry. Never mind the cops…check out the breath taking scenery.
Welcome to Algonquin riding. Scenic vistas, water, trees, rocks, mud, wild animals and much more.

 

Sweet flowing single track nestled among the pines. Betcha didn’t know Algonquin had trails that could rival the best of the Ganaraska in Southern Ontario.
Half way through Saturday’s ride and still smiling! BTW, Ted you rock the red!!
Riding the hydro lines ready to pick up a pink arrow into the areas best singletrack.
Having fun and making the best of a mechanical.

 

Typical Algonquin rocky terrain.
Nature calls. It happens. Just know that if you go pee beside a photog you may get your picture taken 🙂

 

Riding a rail trail.
Entering a cedar and pine tree forest. Day one. Kilometer 5.
Kicking up some dust and keeping up the speed.
A much welcomed lunch break complete with smiles, bloody faces and a bbq lunch!
Ummm…put the tire back on, than the chain. Fixing a flat during lunch.

 

At the end of the day – nothing better than chillaxin’ with the feet up after a quick dip in the river, and reminiscing about the days adventures.
And of course, no campsite would be complete without Bubba Gump’s rockin’ trailer. Kickass sound system and rockin’ tunes!!

Not only is the Algonquin a must do event – it’s one of those rides that make life long friendships as people team up to help each other in difficult terrain. Thanks to Paul and Kirk Holden, and the numerous volunteers for hosting this years event. Not only were the trails a blast to ride, the apres-ride activities, bbq’s, river dipping and good times with friends make for an unforgettable ride.

**To view all Saturday and Sunday photos please click HERE and please note tjat not all photos have been uploaded (there are lots). Please email if you need help finding yourself. And don’t forget to include a description of your bike, clothing or some other easily identifiable piece to help me find you easilier.

 

 

Transforming Gary and his Hercules into a Digital Painting

This is my friend Gary. He’s the coolest guy I know – he rides all sorts of bikes from pushies to motorised. He also plays in a rock band, runs, skiis, snowboards and travels just to name a few. So I thought a digital painting of him and his very cool Hercules would be a good way of showing him off.

I took this picture of him last fall while he was showing Melanie and myself his backyard trails just outside Barrie, Ontario. I decided on this picture for some digital painting as I liked the colours, the leaves and the ‘low rider’ action. For a larger view of the painting…simply click on it.

Digital Painting is just what it sounds like. I move pixels around on the computer instead of using actual paints, brushes and various cleaners. I love how I can make a ‘virtual mess’ of a painting than hit the ‘back’ button or delete the painting entirely and start all over. Plus, there’s no mess – no sticky fingers, no turpentine, no oils, and no spills. However, my eyes eventually become strained from starting at the monitor for too long.

The process of taking a picture and transforming it into a painting is not that difficult. The trick is to start off with a good picture. And that itself can be challenging. What makes a good photograph does not necessarily translate into a good painting. I have also found that certain colours and backgrounds lend themselves better to being ‘digitised’. Once I have found a suitable photograph I play around with it in either Lightroom or Photoshop using levels, saturation, brightness, dodging and burning. Those are usually my main edits. Than I open up the picture in Corel Painter, choose my brushes, senstivity and a host of other things before I begin ‘painting’.

The next part is the hardest for me. I really should leave the painting alone for a few days…not to dry but to see whether or not I am pleased with the results. However, I am such an impatient person that sometimes I skip this last step. My impatience has sometimes gotten me in trouble. This is also another reason why I do not play golf. In fact I have only played twice in my life (not counting driving ranges and mini-golf). The last time I played I ran in between holes as I was getting ‘ancy’ and just had to ‘de-energise’ a bit. Ok…I am so off topic right now.

I hope you like the painting. Please feel free to send me your thoughts!

Cecile