Ridecamp: [RC] Jerez - news, Sep 13

September 13

Wednesday (S. 12) was a flurry of activity: obtaining passes and
accreditation, hooking up to the Net, learning the routes to and from our
hotel, the rider's hotel, the media center, the main WEG stadium, the
Eventing and Endurance course and statium, and some miscellaneous shopping.
Had dinner with the other volunteers at an outdoor restaurant by the beach.
Warm, pleasant, relaxed.

Pamela Burton (photo journalist) and I hooked up in Madrid on Tuesday (S.
10) and spent the first night at a small hotel outside Madrid. Always
surprises, we ran into a woman from Idaho, a long distance cyclist, and
spent the evening over dinner and wine comparing our sports and having a
wonderful first night in Spain. Pamela had rented a car and the next morning
(S. 11) we made the 7 hour drive through central/southern spain to Jerez.
Nice drive, pretty country - very open, lots of agriculture - looked quite a
bit like northern California - vinyards, olive groves.

Today (S. 13) we had breakfast with the volunteer group. Ellen Betker
(volunteer coordinator) passed out maps, instructions, and organized
different groups to be at the various crew points so that the riders would
have water and anything they felt they might need for themselves and their
horses. The course has very long loops and short holds, so these stops will
probably be very important during the ride.

We headed over to the temporary barn and spent several hours hanging out,
talking to folks, soaking up the incredible energy. This is a very 'up'
group of riders, crews and staff. Very positive and cooperative attitude.
Art Priesz is the Chef d'Equipe and is helping create a focused, postitive
team. Bob Beecher as team Vet is also contributing to a very tight,
supportive attitude. Spirits are high. For the most part the horses are in
great shape. After a long over-land trip from Amsterdam with long hours of
travel (up to 15 hrs nonstop at times) and a grueling schedule, they arrived
and spent the next week putting the weight back on the horses and letting
them rest. There are some minor problems with foot/shoeing issues, but are
these being aggressively treated and the outlook is very good for all of the
squad.

The horses are being temporarily stabled at a ranch near Girrapilos, the
Endurance site. The ranch is owned by an ex-circus performer who still keeps
a pair of albino tigers around for fun :) Very nice place, with backyard
access to part of the course. The horses will probably move to the official
stable at the Garrapilos on Saturday.

 - later,

Steph Teeter




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