It seems like Nic and I have been together for a long, long time. We've been waking up next to each other for so long now that my memories where she isn't around a fewer and more distant by the day. That doesn't mean that our wedding day was easy though. I spent much of the lead up trying to put it out of my head so my nerves didn't get to me. I can't lie though. A few beer in the parking lot before may have been critical in completing this transaction.
I guess sometimes if you want to keep something good in your life you have to man up and pull the trigger.
Nic and I went through a number of options when coming up with this. Destination wedding in NZ or a hall on Grouse mountain were all nice. But eloping on one of our favorite biking trails on Fromme became the clear choice. A choice about being true to ourselves and living our lives. This is who we are. A choice that excluded a lot of important people in our lives. This was not lost on us.
We plied Digger with Chocolate Chip cookies and got him to help us get through the gate. He headed up with us with a tent in reserve. It had stormed in Vancouver the day before and rained a fair bit the day after. On the trail it was cold and muddy, but we were out of the rain. We had lucked out.
If you're reading this and thinking, "This guy found a mountain biking chic who was willing to dress up and walk out onto a muddy trail to get married. Lucky Bastard! " you'd be thinking correctly.
Nic found our wedding commissioner online. An avid outdoors woman who knows Chaz, the choice was obvious. She was excited for our choice of venue and had a great time with us. A fantastic woman I wish I could have gotten to know better.
Kaz Yamamura from NSMB.com did our photos. Joanie made sure he got this one.
After the deed was complete, Digger shuttled Joanie back down and the rest of us stuck around for Photos.
Nic's Sister Lorenza was her Maid of Honor.
Some shots were basic. Other were quite treacherous. This old decommissioned skinny was mossy and slippery, this is about the only reason Ian would ever get up on this kind of wood work. I would have hated to see my new wife face plant off of this. We hung onto each other for a few photos and all made it off unscathed. Lorenza too.
Looking forward.
Nic was a hero in high heels as she maneuvered down the muddy trail, over the wood work to our last photo spot.
Ian Fosbrook bravely accepted the role of best man. He was my Jedi Master in the early days of my ride career being as patient with me as possible until, as he put it, I pulled my head out of my ass. Ian has since moved on from riding. This may be the last ever photo of him on a biking trail. He was upbeat the whole time even as his core temperature dropped. He followed us down the trail and was a complete pro and good friend.
We got a point where we wanted to just get one more photo. We sent the Maid of Honor and Ian back up to warm up in the cars.
I figured since I had to walk the plank it was only fair to make Nic to the same.
The well known Rock Face on Expresso was as far down as we went.
Worth it though.
4" platform heals heading back. Thanks to Ian for making the trek back down with her bike shoes. After a quick swap she motored back to the top in no time.
Judge not, but respect these shins, for they could belong to any woman who follows her man down the shore trails.
We made it back to the top and started to roll down the fire road. A few quick parting words with Digger and Kaz and the 4 sole members of the wedding party headed to Earls for dinner. Later, Nic and I returned to our apartment for pajama time. A Honeymoon delayed until something worthy can be formulated.
None of our day would have been possible without the help of Todd "Digger" Fiander. Totally helpful he stood watch over the trail head while we said our vows. Already a legend on the north shore for literally 30 years of trail work, Nic and I owe him an entirely new level of thanks for helping us with our day.
Thanks also to Kaz and Joanie. All critical cogs in our small, secretive machine.
I've survived the first 48 hours of married life now. The only thing that is really different now is this uncomfortable hunk of metal on my finger. I see a new pair of earrings Nic's future.
Job done. We now return you to your regular scheduled program.
