The Birch Fall Classic was the first mountain biking event I have participated in. Whilst I was coming off long days touring with a loaded trailer, I did not envisage having 8 hours of trail riding in me so I asked the organisers to pair me with another rider. What the event proved to me is that Manitoba does have hills if you know where to look! It was a warm and prerty tough day... and an enjoyable one.

I went for another ride out into the Dharawal State Conservtion Area (SCA) today. I had previously ridden the old Weddernurn/Minerva/Lysaght Road route (the latter runs along the edge of the SCA) a number of times and had recently picked up a National Parks and Wildlife Service trail map listing major trails on which riding is permitted. This was my second trip into the SCA itself, though this time I stuck to the 10B ‘management’ trail and also...