I approached this with an eye to going for almost all controls until time ran out (unlike 2 years ago) and also staying out til the end, all the while having a good time. It didn’t quite work out that way, though I did have the good time.
The weather was pretty awful, 33-35F, don’t think it ever stopped raining - but not hard for most part. It was still raining hours after getting home. In spite of the moisture, it was not a cold day, if not wet. There was one fellow in shorts, one bare arms, lots of no caps and bare hands after effort.
Packets were passed out at the last moment and onto the bus. I had a string for the CC but had to do some improvising at the last moment. A never-quite-know-what to expect scenario. O map, 1/10, “grid north” pointed out at start. I’d wanted to draw MN lines - but flexibility was the order of the day.
I had a good start on the first map, skipped only #10 and had Joe, Ernst etc in sight just before #22 (consecutive order mostly). 22-28 (optional - other option was a rather long RR which quite a few took, I believe) were on the other side of a sizable stream that one had to cross on a fallen tree about 60’ long covered in icy snow with 2 stretches of 10’ or so with no dead branches for handholds. There was a waiting line a few minutes long. Long story short, the map fell (it was in a kangaroo pocket) into the stream, 3’ deepish and say 50’ wide. Got across, no way was I going to get it. A team of 2 guys said I could follow them, which I did the short way to 22 and then about 200m toward 23 when I decided that that “strategy” had absolutely no future (& held no interest) so returned hoping the maps (in their folded but not sealed case) may have come to rest on the shore. They were nowhere to be seen. I crawled back across the tree. It turned out it was Clint on the opposite side, deciding the crossing did not hold sufficient interest. The meet director had pointed out that once across, one was likely committed to those more difficult points - recrossing being an unappealing prospect.
I returned to 18 where I hoped the MD might still be (coffee stop). He was and had a fresh set (5 papers) so I was in business again, only 90’ elapsed. Had cold hands by that time — cotton gloves, fine if dry but the two crossings had gotten them quite wet. Feet were ok all day despite plenty of slush. I had plastic “bags” inside socks to keep dry - not perfect but helpful.
I had a hard time transitioning to the the local street map, even getting turned around which seems peculiar (& going in search of 51 as in mirror reflection). By the time I’d arrived inside Rt 16, it seemed a pit stop at the car was in order - chill was catching up. I couldn’t plan with “all the maps/papers” & shuffling, cold hands etc. I went to the car for a bite and some juice and dry top and then set off for the points on the city street map but did not figure in a few outliers on the surrounding topo version. There were also two aerial shots, south of the other maps. These would have been fun to sample but I had trouble going from the topo to the northern one. I sat next to Ernst on the bus out and he’d pointed out some river bends etc but I did not pay much attention, figuring that could come later. So I finished up the local points with about 30’ to go. There was at least another point to the north of the finish but an out and back held no appeal. I’d stopped again at the car for better light to make this consideration and after a few more minutes “surrendered” for no good reason, headed into the Tavern with mixed feelings.
Without Peter there, I was probably the oldest person competing. I must have heard 10 times words to the effect “well done”. An old man out there, outside the nursing home, I suppose:). I could easily be the father of a 40 year old and maybe 1/2 were younger. I don’t feel as old as I might look so the commentary, while bolstering, gave me something to think about.
All sorts of weather, and whether or not was not a choice yesterday. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
The log