BrownX day 2 at Bear Brook SP. Jim A gave us a good challenge, between the logged area (lung branches) south of the main trail and the flattish bland area to the north...I felt challenged the entire time, as an advanced course should be, and that's really hard for Brown courses. SL 3.6 km, 50m climb advertised.
I was good to 1 and 2 (got my feet wet in the marsh), then wasn't quote "into" interpreting the logged rides and drifted right to 3 but found the hill with cliff NW of it, and was pretty confident that's where I was...and was right. Down the ride 'til past the depression to 4 then along the hill; straight to five where I saw the water bottle before the O flag; mostly straight to 6, along the marsh edge to the narrow neck leading to the ride to the west which I followed to the large boulder then cut over. To 7 I swung close to 2 (taking advantage of the rides) and then angled back parallel to the stream (which was hard to see) until I was close. Stopped about 20-30m short to look around and spotted the flag.
From talking to others after it seems like going from the water drop on the trail straight through 1 was the way to go to 8; I went past my control-1 attackpoint and tried to keep a bearing but was too far west and came across a flag at a boulder south of the marsh (142, #1 on green X). Went east and found the large double boulders (actually a large erratic that had split, with about 1.5' between the halves that I passed through (what fun!) to the flag). Stayed mostly straight to 9 but edging right of the line to make sure I went off the stone wall about halfway. Smooth the rest of the way in, though somewhere between 8 and 9 I was poked in the bridge of the nose by a branch; and I was thankful it did not continue on into my eye. Nice bruise there now.
I was one of the earlier finishers on BrownX so I could watch the times of the others as they finished. Pleased to have held it together enough to edge out all the really good, fast orienteers like Tony F, Linda, Mary Jo, and Sandy today. It was tough out there!
Third overall in F60 for the two-day total. Now I just have to try to remember all the lessons I learned. It really helped me this weekend that there really wasn't a whole lot of climb either day.
And it was fun to toast Gail's win over Sharon (F65) this weekend. :-) Nice prizes: beer glasses with the event logo and date/location to the top three in each age group (and OUSA medals to the top three US); the winners' glasses have gold edging.
Added
my route on QR