|
Jan wrote: "To
those who have only heard about the S2S thru word of mouth or=
read
about it somewhere..Riders usually call ahead to pre enter=
on this
ride.Would they NOT ask about the water situation on the=
trail?Also,
the rigs can follow the riders by obtaining maps=
from ride mgt. as to
the pit crew spots. There is LOTS of water=
in every camp to fill up
containers for the next days ride. This=
is no different than any other
ride here. You have to use your=
head and think ahead.This is a tough
ride and to do it and do it=
well one must do some planning.
"
First, I have to say that I LOVE the Shore to Shore
and really like the management and vets. I went there this year completely
alone with one horse and a small rig. I had ridden part of the trail that
was a 2 day 100 (called Grayling to Luzerne) in 1986 (and won and was BC) -
also completely alone, and didn't remember a water shortage.
I didn't think to ask if there was water at checks,
because in 21 years of endurance riding, I don't believe I have never been
to a check where water was not provided in some form - and I am very
frequently crewless.
Of the two or three checks the days I rode (one,
two and four) there was at least one check a day where there was no water at the
site - crews had to bring it with them - sometimes walking quite far with
buckets and containers. I had arranged for someone to truck a bucket with
grain and a human water bottle, but thought it was asking alot to carry water
for me also. I survived - sometimes I had to ask people I knew if my horse
could sip from their buckets, but only one person denied her water - I tried to
not let her drink too much from any one bucket. In other words, it turned
me into a beggar. BUT I survived, and so did my horse, and thrived,
actually, winning BC on day four.
The logistics of this ride were absolutely WILD, I
can't imagine trying to run an event like this, I am not complaining of the
water shortage, but commenting on the difficulty of the lack of water. I
will do it again next year, and arrange a crew ahead of time- unfortunately my
husband is not available that week of the summer, and getting a friend to take a
week off of work to be a slave is a tough sell!!!
Actually, I am planning on coming back to the MW to
do the White River 150 next weekend run by the same crowd. I am bringing
my husband this time!
Laura Hayes AERC#2741 - just let me ride, I won't
complain, honest!!!
| 