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[RC] OD Rocks!!!! - Flora Hillman

Alissa -  Congrats on your first ride... AND making that ride the OD!  You
are one awesome Ride Manager, too.  Foxcatcher is one of the best rides here
on the east -- looks soooo easy because it's soooo pretty... but those
grassy rolling fields sure can sneak up on you!

For all those who would love to do this ride, and those that couldn't for
some reason --  this was the PERFECT year to do the 100 -- or any distance,
for that matter --  at the OD. The weather gods were in a glorious mood,
giving us a clear 72 degree day, zero humidity, lots of lovely breezes (it
was practically COLD in the lower hollows in the Massanutten), and nights
down into the mid 40's.  

Plenty of first timers for the 100... and an excellent completion rate.  To
watch, with the full moon rising over the Blue Ridge and the temps dropping
into shivering, as  1st place John Crandall trotted in and leaped lightly
off his father's incredible horse Heraldic at the finish line, both of them
looking so bright and relaxed and limber as if they'd only strolled around
the block instead of tackling that hard, hard trail, was incredible.  And
Daryl Downs only minutes behind riding Cincinnati, the two of them looking
as if they could turn around and easily do the 100 all over again.  Two
awesome competitors on two brilliant horses! 

Kudos to ALL the 100 mile competitors who completed the OD, even the ones
who arrived exhausted but elated at the finish line as the sun was rising.
That belt buckle should be worth it's weight in gold.

The 75's all came in looking  happy, tired, and in great condition.  The
50's had a grand time, and the 25's all went out and came back in with big
grins.  The Shenandoah River was sparkling -- ubber inviting this year!  At
ridecamp the food was to die for -- especially the strawberry shortcake at
Saturday night's dinner and award ceremony, and that stuff-yourself-full egg
breakfast on Sunday morning.  Yum!!  The grounds were groomed to perfection
and parking was organized into distance division with lots large enough to
build a barn on -- everyone had TONS of room.  Best part was -- when the RM
did the 4AM "wake-up" call for the 100's and 75s the truck with the
megaphone stayed in that distance area, and the 50's and layover 25's got to
sleep undisturbed!!

Perfect weather,  wonderful ride management, excellent ridecamp, brilliant
technical trail, and crossing the massive Shenandoah River in the sparking
sunshine or by full glorious moonlight.

Probably the best OD ....EVER!!



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