Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Well, just in case nobody's noticed...this Saturday is Old Dominion. This
will be my first time ever to go there and I'm pretty darned nervous. To
be honest, I just never could think of a good reason to go to what was
considered the rockiest, most humid, most awful climbs rides in the
middle of summer. Something about that just didn't call my name. Add to
that stories I can think of from the past...

Wasn't there a year someone got off trail, and the drag riders didn't
know and came along and passed them pulling markers as they went...
Umm, didn't a bunch of the endurance guys have to go get a guy with a
broken leg and carry him out?
Wasn't there a section of trail in the past that they were kinda
forbidden to *mark*...
Yes, they *have* kept up with the Tevis folks and had a horse
helicoptored out..*with* the additional problem of HEAVY tree cover.
This month's EN has an article (cover story) about someone who darn near
killed himself with a bladder infection that started on that course??

Oh Boy! I can hardly wait!! (sipping water...trying to pre-load) :-P  I
actually even read all the liability release on their entry since I'd
heard there was some extra stuff in there and it seems they do mention
more stuff that can happen that is really...*necessary*. My imagination
needs no help!

Then, last Sunday I checked the 10 day extended forecast...they were
calling for 96 degrees Friday and 97 Saturday!!! (Folks, this is NOT the
same as 96 low humidity...we're talking heat index where they warn old
people to go sit at the mall if they don't have air conditioning)

Meanwhile, as a rider for Jody Buttram's horse I am getting constant
updates of projected arrival times at all vet checks, description of
trail, and coaching on which three climbs we will TAIL up. (I *think* I
remember tailing...once, back in 1987)  She *did* ask me back when we
first talked about doing this ride if I could run down hills with my bad
knees and I informed her the last time I did it I could hardly ride for
the rest of the 50.  Being Jody she took that as a "YES!"

I'm sure that once the ride starts I will be fine, but if anyone wants to
live vicariously through me during this ride you must feel a little sick
at your stomach, make frequent trips to the bathroom (usually after
reading more posts from Jody) and pretty much be overcome with a feeling
of impending DOOM. I considered working out a lot leading up to the ride,
but every time I do that my joints get really inflamed so I have opted
for the "Extremely Well Rested" strategy. Jody seems alarmed that every
time she has called this past week I have been taking a nap, but I've
given this some thought and yesterday when I began nodding off at 1 PM I
realized that the human is the ONLY mammal that does not nap constantly
throughout the day, so as a teacher out for Summer break, I have chosen
to go back to nature.

I will be reporting for Ridecamp from the basecamp, but throughout the
ride itself things will be spotty...maybe a cell phone call. We should be
able to get word to you of the winners as soon as *our* crew makes it
back to basecamp since they do have internet there. Problem is...there's
a pretty decent chance that will be Sunday morning. :-P Last year they
raced the sunrise in and it was one of the coolest OD's ever. Now we're
looking at 90's and chance of thundershowers (my favorite). I am not
concerned about mud like at Biltmore since Jody has ASSURED me that there
is not enough dirt between the rocks to create mud.

Bill & I will be arriving Thursday evening so I'll send in photos as soon
as possible. Bill wants anyone who heard him phone in at Biltmore to know
he is not NEARLY as dumb as he thought he sounded. He was talking
extremely slow because he thought John needed to write it down. However,
there is not a snowball's chance in Hades that he'll try and pronounce
Danielle's last name again. >g< Meanwhile, if *I* call in I'll realize
John is liable to put the recording of the call straight on the net, so
I'll make no smart remarks about vetting procedures. :-/  

OK, off to pack. I ordered more tights from Evelyne but if they don't
show up in time I guess I'll be wearing my extremely sheer version since
they're the only ones I trust not to rub. Better hunt up some black
drawers.

P.S. BONUS TO ANYONE WHO READ THIS FAR.  If you are going to OD look us
up in the campground. Steph has sent a limited number of Ridecamp
T-shirts and we'll give them out on a first come first serve basis. We'll
be staying in a 20' motorhome provided by Tom Sites (YEAH!!) and he has
promised it will have Christmas lights so maybe you can find that along
with my Aqua blue & silver panel truck with a blue campertop.

Angie  



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