Trailriding with Stevie Ray, Ellis and Rick, 2/2/03

By Tom Niemela

(click on thumbnails for larger picture)

Stevie Ray and I had plans on going riding out at Hood River with our bud Rocket Rick on Sunday.  The night before was the Annual OMRA Awards Banquet and also I invited Ellis to go with us.  As usual, the banquet was a ton of fun and ended up being a late evening and Stevie Ray was at my shack at too-early thirty on Sunday morning.  We loaded up, hit the mandatory coffee stop and met up with Ellis.  Ellis was all loaded and ready to go with his pet Doberman, "Spencer" and his new KTM 450EXC.  

The drive out was cloudy, dark and filled with rain, however, it's usually nice on the other side of the mountains.  Upon arriving (don't ask where, or we'd have to kill you.  Let's just say that this year's Black Dog 'A' course will be using it), we noticed the dark clouds were still present even on that side, but the sun was trying to peek through.  Rick joined us as we got ready and Spencer chased sticks.  After getting suited up, Rick described the new trail that he and Joe had been working on for quite awhile and off we went.  Man, this was fun, tight, technical and slick!  No mud puddles, but is was certainly gooey.  After an hour or so of railing I wanted to adjust my suspenders on the YZF and we went back to the trucks. That's about the time "Trailblazer" Joe showed up with his snippers to do some more trail clearing. Joe is incredible - he's 82 years old and still rides.  His favorite pastime is trail clearing. He's the best.  Some others had showed up on quads and they had an 8-year old boy on his first ever quad ride.  The kid was doing figure eights in the parking area, which just happened to go through a mud puddle.  How happy can that be for an 8-year old?!  

Off we went for more riding on some existing trails and then the camera came out.  Plenty of jump shots, one of Ellis augering into the bushes after miscalculating a jump, Rick getting stuck, and lots of fun. When we got done at the end of the day, Ellis needed to give Spencer some exercise, so chased him around the parking lot (that the kid was STILL doing the same figure eight!).  Spencer got the last laugh when he suckered Ellis into a huge brush pile. All in all a super day, and thanks heaps, Rick and Joe, for allowing us to come roost at your place!

Click to see IMG_2123.JPG
Rick stuck good, while trying to make a water runoff for the trail. 
Feb 2 2003
11:19:26 am
Click to see IMG_2124.JPG
Argh! 
Feb 2 2003
11:19:47 am
Click to see IMG_2125.JPG
Still stuck and needing some help. 
Feb 2 2003
11:20:55 am
Click to see IMG_2127.JPG
"Trailblazer Joe!"
Feb 2 2003
1:48:38 pm
Click to see IMG_2128.JPG
Ellis styling for the camera. 
Feb 2 2003
2:03:40 pm
Click to see IMG_2130.JPG
Stevie Ray doing the same. 
Feb 2 2003
2:04:26 pm
Click to see IMG_2132.JPG
Rocket Rick. 
Feb 2 2003
2:05:02 pm
Click to see IMG_2133.JPG
IMG_2133.JPG
Feb 2 2003
2:05:15 pm
Click to see IMG_2134.JPG
Ellis getting out of shape over a jump.... 
Feb 2 2003
2:05:43 pm
Click to see IMG_2135.JPG
Ellis afterwards. 
Feb 2 2003
2:05:50 pm
Click to see IMG_2136.JPG
IMG_2136.JPG
Feb 2 2003
2:06:35 pm
Click to see IMG_2137.JPG
IMG_2137.JPG
Feb 2 2003
2:06:50 pm
Click to see IMG_2138.JPG
IMG_2138.JPG
Feb 2 2003
2:07:12 pm
Click to see IMG_2139.JPG
IMG_2139.JPG
Feb 2 2003
2:07:23 pm
Click to see IMG_2140.JPG
IMG_2140.JPG
Feb 2 2003
2:07:33 pm
Click to see IMG_2144.JPG
All together now!  
Feb 2 2003
2:18:36 pm
Click to see IMG_2147.JPG
Ellis' Katoom momentarily overheating while doing photos. 
Feb 2 2003
2:22:23 pm
Click to see IMG_2153.JPG
Rocket Rick! 
Feb 2 2003
2:27:15 pm
Click to see IMG_2157.JPG
Stevie Ray just before he bailed into the bushes!

Feb 2 2003
2:39:39 pm
Click to see IMG_2162.JPG
IMG_2162.JPG
Feb 2 2003
2:45:29 pm
Click to see IMG_2163.JPG
IMG_2163.JPG
Feb 2 2003
2:45:42 pm
Click to see IMG_2164.JPG
IMG_2164.JPG
Feb 2 2003
2:46:09 pm
Click to see IMG_2165.JPG
IMG_2165.JPG
Feb 2 2003
2:46:22 pm
Click to see IMG_2166.JPG
IMG_2166.JPG
Feb 2 2003
2:46:34 pm
Click to see IMG_2167.JPG
IMG_2167.JPG
Feb 2 2003
2:47:03 pm
Click to see IMG_2171.JPG
Spencer getting some exercise. 
Feb 2 2003
2:53:25 pm
Click to see IMG_2172.JPG
A kid and a mud hole. 
Feb 2 2003
3:02:03 pm