Big Bike Bash Bonanza!

Friday night we arrived at Avon Tyrrell adventure centre all psyched up for the weekend ahead. We pitched up at our hook up near the arena so we didn't have much of a walk to anywhere! By the time we went to the stage area and beer tent everything was in full swing, one of the bands were jamming away to some rock and roll music at full blast. The Hough's then turned up and soon after we saw some friends that are moving to Australia so we had a nice little group! The rest of the evening consisted of little children crazily riding around, adults drinking beer, j20 for me and Charles and some band playing 'banging' music very loud! Eventually everyone retreated to their camping pitches at about 11.30.

The next morning the Big Bike Bash officially started with the under 15's races on the short track setting everything off. First the under 6's, then the under 10's and finally the under 15's! The course was tight and bendy, making racing on it fun. After 2 laps it had finished and I won (woo!). 
Throughout the day, there were events such as Track Stand and Bunny Hop competition, also there was an under 18's race on the main xc course that Charles and I wanted to do. As soon as we started Charles zoomed off in to the distance then winning the race! Having not ridden the course during the race I managed to go in to tape twice but it was great fun! I was the only girl in it so it was an easy win! Later on in the day there was a Malt Loaf eating competition, (earlier we had been told that the quickest time to eat one was 42 seconds!) About 7 men lined up behind hay bales and they got given a Malt loaf in it's wrapper and then, go they were off! 
One person even stuffed the whole thing in his mouth, (but then was nearly sick!) in the end, slow (ish) and steady won the race! After that was the Pint to Pint race, when adults raced around the short track to their pint of beer, then had to down it, do another lap, down another beer and then do there final lap! When they were drinking their beers people moved the bikes confusing them so much when they rushed back to find their bike gone! When that had finished Charles and I headed over to the Pump and Gravity track to find it near enough empty (yay!) whilst we were jumping numerous times down the track, we heard the Lezyne Exploder (inner tube bursting) going on in the main arena. The evening pretty much consisted of the same things as the previous night, loud music and drinks!
Sunday morning started with the eliminator races on the short track, lots of water was involved in it! Charles then took part in the Track Stand competition and was third beating many older men! We then both went in a fun xc race Charles coming first again and me coming third! As we were racing we could hear the cheers coming from the Gravity track as the hill climb and pedal free races went on. After we watched the jumpers on the Mulch Jump Competition, some were quite impressive!
My dad the challenged me to the Giant Slalom, so I accepted as a laugh! Beating him I then managed to go on to win it, beating some upset men! The next Pint to Pint race then started with my dad and his friend Ben in it. They both managed to gain many places from the ability of being able to down a beer quickly and finished 2nd and 3rd! That evening the auction went on with shiny bikes and flashy things up for grabs. 

The timetable for Monday consisted of;
11am - The famous Lake Jump. 
After some persuading I then agreed to take part in the popular event, joining Charles in the queue. When it was my go I so nervous to launch my self off a jump on a bike in to the lake but it was so much fun (apart from face planting the lake!). Charles then followed getting loads of height and not face planting like me! 

1pm - The Massive Prize Giving!
If you can't hold it give it back! (the rule for the amount of prizes you could get!) There was so much! So many people got prizes!

2pm - Pack up and go home safely. 

It was all over, a weekend well spent! 

Thank you the whole of the Big Bike Bash organisers and helper for an amazing weekend, hopefully we will be coming next year!

Great Hound Tor Bunkhouse

Saturday
Running, I have to say running isn't my favourite thing! Anyway, Saturday morning, off we set up Hound Tor for an early morning (ish) training session. A few jumps and some skipping (we all love skipping!) later we headed back down to the bunkhouse. Later on, Harry started his tour around the local area. It was brilliant! I may have fallen off a few times but it was really great. Half way through the ride we went down the nutcracker, well rode half and walked half, which I had heard loads of scary stories about. After that we started to ride back to the house and got out of our sweaty kit and then sat outside by the stream for a nice chat! Before dinner we all sat down to play boggle, we then had lovely chilli, cooked by Maddie and Jay, for tea. After that we started a game of foreign uno with cats on the cards! We then moved on to poker! It was then time for bed, Maddie and Jay retreated to their van, Harry back home, Jack, Fin and Matt to their room and me to mine. Thanks to Harry and Matt the barn was lovely and warm because of the log burner below us. 

Sunday
Sunday morning began with the noises of the farm all around us, especially the doves in the walls of the barn and the sheep right out side! The night before we got told to try and fast before our first session in the morning but that was soon given up and the croissants, bread and pancakes were brought out for our first breakfast. We then cycled up to Hound Tor to do our morning session of hard gear sprints and then messing around on the rocks of the Tor. The weather soon turned and it started to rain. On the way back to the bunkhouse the road was really slippery and Harry slipped off going around a corner, back at the bunkhouse Harry's mum decided to take him the the local A&E so, unfortunately for Harry, he had to miss out on the days ride (hope you're feeling better Harry :) ). After that our second breakfast started and the rain became heavier. Luckily the weather started to become better so we headed off for another local tour, this time from Matt (which was just as good as Harry's!). Today we headed up onto the moors, instead of being in the woods like the day before. The rain then started to come again as we were going up a long moorland climb, later on in the day I even had to resort to taking my glasses off so every thing in the world was clearer and I could enjoy the amazing views! The descents were really fun and not really that technical but I still managed to fall off, but only once today! Back at the bunkhouse we all got changed into clean clothes and got our stuff ready to go back home. 
It was a really great weekend, thank you Maddie and Jay for organising it and Becky (Harry's mum) for getting the bunkhouse for us. Hopefully everyone will be able to come to the next weekend away, and I seem to remember the mention of the total wipeout course in north devon?!

Link for the camping barn-
http://www.yha.org.uk/barn/great-hound-tor-camping-barn