[RC] 2003 2003 PAC - From Trout Lake - Steph TeeterWell, there was a head wind. then Earl Baxter went flying by at Baker Or. and I knew I must be heading in the right direction. Steph and Carol were in the subaru (the crew rig) and I followed along with the horses. Uneventful trip (except for the scronging for $3 to get over the toll bridge at hood river -- 32c to spare:) Into camp. nice setup - GREAT spot for folks from the desert not used to human kind (setup way out on the fringes of things. We rolled in Monday evening. Everyone seemed to be there (at the PacNorth dinner that evening it seemed like a large endurance family reunion - lots and lots of familiar and friendly faces. Central and Eastern groups are not yet in camp (as of wed.) choosing instead to steel themselves away from curious eyes. All the other zones/teams are settled in to there proscribed areas. It's tight - no room to spare - but everyone is very cooperative. Now, by wed morning, things are getting MUCH more competetive. This is a race not a ride. This is do what you can to psych out the other teams (of course all in the spirit of good natured win at their expense:) It is FUN to be around an event like this though. Ride management is still (relatively) sane. The caterers(sp?) are used to serving dinners and showers to fire crews so the demands of the endurance crowd are not seen as extreme at all. Tuesday was a kick back day. The teams are grouping. everyone is building that spirit that will carry them through - learning to trot out their horses for best possible presentation etc. The team vets are looking very closely at all the horses - decisions are in need of being made - issues are being addressed etc. great fun. More later. A few picts: http://www.endurance.net/international/2003PAC/images/gettingready/ johnt (btw - it's been raining off/on for two days - scheduled to finish up tonight (ride management did a wonderful job of weather scheduling). The dust is gone pretty much - the fire danger is way lower - the yellow jackets and ground wasps are indeed dangerous!!!) more later (today if time allows:) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|