BULL HOLLOW 2007



No Photographer this year but here's my Favorite Section

 On with the rack and off to Dolores. The run is fine with great fuel economy not dragging the
trailer along and despite being proverbially….. over backwards by the payroll company we are on
the road at 0930.

 
 The planned planting goes like clockwork and we have all the beds and boxes complete by 4 in
the afternoon with just a little rebuilding of the mini fish pool and waterfall. An evening with friends
and cheese and wine completes a perfect day apart from the wind. I HATE WIND!

  Saturday morning and the pool is fixed and I set off on time for Bull Hollow with all the memories
of last year’s ride. On arrival the place looks a little deserted but you never know. Meet Jim and
others from Utah and park by Ed’s truck where the sign in will be.

 9 sections, all well thought out and marked by Ed and crew.

 We start on time and the “2’s” start at 1 for a change. This is the same as last year with a little
twister thrown in on the downhill. This was one of the “trial won and lost” variety and rather like
last year the Steed comes through with a great clean. Section 2 is a variation on a theme from last
year and was “my” section of the day. This year the start is easier but it has a soft dirt/rock turn
before the climb up to the step and awkward turn in the crevices. The plan goes well and Steed
does all that’s asked. Tom, my riding partner has not got his “A” game going and is having a few
problems. No3 was used last year but now has a turn at the top and return downhill to the exit.
Another clean and on to 4 which again is similar to last year with a few up and downers across a
wash with some nasty soft spots but again Steed sails through. Hey, I’m beginning to enjoy this
Cub animal with the big Renthals and the slow action throttle. Back to the start area for 5-9 and
a much shorter loop than last year. 5 has an easy uphill start to a left turn into a step with an
awkward recovery area if you get it wrong. Steed takes it in her stride and that’s five in a row.

 On to 6 which looks a little ambitious but eventually a line appears in the mind’s eye. Riding it was
another thing and after the first bounce it was a determined centipede 3 to the ends card. Pick up
the GPS and the Sherpa guide and set off into7! A series of ups and downs with some difficult
climbs, a gulley crossing, and tricky descent. Well, the first couple of climbs are good but the third
needs 2 prods to gain the summit but I’m pleased it got up there. 2 will do! Over to 8 which has
plenty of traps. Uphill start over a rock step then a choice of lines, I like the high line, over another
step by a fallen tree then turn over some broken branches before a log (which rolls) to the downhill
exit. All goes well until front wheel slips on the broken branches for a dab. Back down the hill to 9
in a wash with lots of turns in the loose and up and down some crumbly banks. Plenty of choices of
line here so plan an easy route which works out well. By now we have been joined by Rick
Armstrong who seems to be riding very well today.

 Back to the start and Tom and I wait for Rick to complete his first loop before we set off again.
Just the 3 mistakes on loop 1 for a total of 6.

 Loop 2 and an awful start when the wheel slips sideway off the desired rock taking me sideways
into a tree with the usual result of battle scars and pouring blood, and a tacky 3 to open the
account. HMMM! Section 2 takes a dab and Tom has the same 4 but the other way round. Through
3 and 4 without penalty and a dab on the tricky turn of 5. So 5 lost already compared to the
previous clean card, not good!  Look at 6 again and decide to stick with previous plan and this time
it works for a great clean. A quick look at 7 but it looks the same but with a determined effort I
clean it YIPEE!! Back to 8 and an identical ride for another dab. Rick is still riding well and beginning
to psych out Tom who is coming unglued on some sections. Everybody cleans 9 on 3 very different
lines. Two loops down for a loss of 12.

 More drinks, and off for the final loop. Hit the needle edge rock spot on and Steed sails through for
a nice clean making up for the blood loss of loop 2. Section 2 and a little more care gives another
zero. 3 and 4 go well and 5 just needs the same attention on the step and becomes plain sailing.
No6, which had to be the most difficult, has me in a few body lean predicaments on idle power but
Steed persists and I just get through for a dab. Another trudge through 7 reveals nothing different
and the better line from loop 2 has the same success up the second climb putting me in a good
position for the last uphill, but yes, there’s always a but, as I come forward at the top of the hill
the kicker swings back and lodges in the Velcro of my boot and takes me from bush to bush as a
couple of frantic dabs are taken to save the day. Over the gully and I’m free! So just the saving
double dab here. No 8, and another check of those branches and I’m in and nearly miss my ideal
line but recover well for a nice turn in the wood pile. Just the log to cross and I give her a good
squirt as this beauty is beginning to roll about. Finally my first clean on 8 so just 9 to do which
stays the same and we all clean it. Pretty good last lap of 3 for a total of 15. Overall a good
confidence building ride and I feel I’m riding Steed about as well as I can so ever hopeful for the
rest of the season.

 Back to Cozy Comfort and the party is still going but I have a little catching up to do!

 Not doing Steamboat as Edward arrives from Florida, and also missing the Beemer Do in Panquitch,
so no more RM Trials until Lyons in August as the Grand Junction 2 day is now cancelled. More
reports in a couple of months.

 With the changing scene and being unable to park the monster RV at Lyons we skip that event
and do the joint RM/AHRMA rounds in Casper. (See AHRMA) and then onto Sandia which was again
a joint RM/AHRMA affair and also reported under the ARHMA banner.

 Moab gets cancelled and that wraps up the season with a Second place to Mike Buckholtz….. try
again next year.

TONY DOWN   ……second sucks!!!