FR distance was 4.24 miles with 302 m climb.
S-1: Only pulled 45 degrees to the right to start today and recovered much sooner. No error time shown.
1-2: Working on being careful, so this was the best split for the day at 14th.
2-3: Being careful, or actually being SMART goes flying out of the window as I descend a steep, rocky scary route from the top. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Kind of shaken after I get to the bottom but find 3 easily enough.
3-4: With the recent experience in my head, I go down the spur to find an easier way down to the next control. Execute the descent well for the first half but again end up in a steeper area. Get down that in one piece, then around the lake, running into a confused PG and actually find the control ahead of him as he relocates off of the road. I took twice as long to get to the control, but PG has the error time, and I do not. :)
4-5: And, then he was gone in a flash! Have to admire how speedy he was, if this is his slowed down pace.
5-6: Another 90 degree error, since I was aiming for the marsh west of the control. Sort it out, though only after avoiding the concertina wire and also mispunching #38.
6-7: Another adventure in poor compass but manage to sort it out and find the control, though only after adding some more climb to the total.
8-9: Pleased with the route choice for this one until I got to the bottom of the hill and looked up. Once I got up there, I walked by the tiny rootstock and only saw the bag tucked into the hole when glancing back over my shoulder. 16th best split.
9-10: Back done ANOTHER steep hill.
10-11: Road to trail and into the control, which seemed like it should be right there, but of course, it is up another big hill. Making matters worse, there was an unmarked trail, so when I got to the small trail, I started looking for the control there. Up and down a couple of times until I was finally where everyone else was. Mary Jo sees me and ask if I was looking for 90, and I said yes, but I am trying to decide if I want to go up there or not. She asks if I had gotten all of the other controls, and I say yes, to which she says something like, well up you go, no use quitting now. So, up I go with Mary Jo behind me. Seemed strange that she was not in total race mode, but it she had some errors. So, we punched the control, and I sat on the bare rock looking out over the pond and chatted/vented for about two minutes, and then went off to finish the course.
11-12: Turn down the trail and MJ asks me if I really want to go that way. Had the same plan but I was about to do a 180. Off to the water pit, though we are little high. Error time on this control because of sitting on the rock after punching.
12-F: Down to the trail, and then I run for the first time all weekend trying to get MJ in the chute. It was a tie.
Water and the finish and then a nice walk back to the parking with MJ and Starr. Hosed my head off in the camp pump. Ahhh!
About 15 minutes in error and ~20 minutes in fitness.
Physically, I am happy to get through the weekend in one piece, except for sore body parts and three burst blisters.
I would have liked to have talked more to people this weekend, but I was having trouble keeping up my side of the conversation. I found myself just walking away. I think maybe want I think of as my orienteering identity is too closely tied to the electronic punching side of things, so I don't know what to talk about when I am not behind the desk.
Thanks to everyone for the hugs!