Hood to Coast 2006

September 6, 2006.
The Great Escape - in reverse

We get our group shot taken as well as receive our individuals that had been taken of each runner on the road. I really liked mine but think I lost it, maybe it will still turn up or maybe someone picked it up. Anyway we are in the Beer Camp, wine was also an option. We scoped out a table and got our drinks. Tickets if I remember correct, were 3 dollars a piece. The beer drinking area again was kid free. I went and talked to the manager about how obvious it was that the 3 year old would not be drinking but it was to no avail.

Description of the Stalag

The area had a Double waist high plastic mesh fence, the first one and then a second one about 6-8 ft outside that one. My idea was to toss Brooke across the two fences and then just keep her out of sight. It wouldn’t have worked because in each corner of the square, there was somebody keeping an eye on the perimeter. Besides every time we've busted her in on similar situations, she gives out this Tomahawk wielding Cherokee Rebel Yell as she flies through the air and would have brought too much attention to herself. So my great reverse escape was a no go. I felt bad for Renee because she had to take another one, I mean not be able to get another one, for the team. I made up for it a little bit by sneaking out 2 beers in one of the bags. We didn’t hang around too long. It was a lot of fun seeing the other teams and chatting with people from different parts of the country. In line, I ran into the team from Amsterdam. I remember that they had had the same start time as us.

For all you single folks, All I have to say is that it was a target rich environment, and everyone in it seemed was more than willing to make new friends, ideally hoping that mother nature would take its course. We took some table pics, pics with some of the more colorful characters walking around, downed our brew and headed for the exit. We picked up Renee and Brooke, went to the vans, and headed home for a much deserved shower/nap.

The Best Fed team in all of Seaside

After showers and short naps, we all gathered at the house that was closest to the beach. It, in turn, was only two blocks from our own. The second tradition of the group, first being the mooning, were our pre meal signature drinks, the manhattans expertly mixed together by Jerry, after which, was the shot of Red bull before our meal. We all sat together as a team again and began to put together our combined timeline of the events as they had unfolded.

Here it would seem that there were two camps. Van 1, the Doctor Phil, let's talk about it out in the open group, and Van 2, the, if nobody is talking about it, then nothing is wrong, group. Apparently, Life was beautiful in Van 2. But word had got to our camp, and there were issues the group did not want to talk about. See, a Spy, who shall remain nameless, filled us in on a couple of tidbits of information.

Also, last year, a lot of goings on had happened in the Tiger Room, and they were revisited. The house that year had a theme in each room and the Tiger Room was the room to be in. This is a public forum, minors may be reading, I cannot go any further. Another rehashing of last years events was this Bear theme that went on. Everybody had a Bear name, and I got Baptized with, Sentimental, Politically Correct, Beer Drinking Bear. Sentimental because when time came around for everyone to kinda sorta make a toast, I told my tale of how one of the best moments of the race for me was when I had just come on board. After I was able to confirm my days off, Sara emailed the group and MOST of them had written me personal emails describing what was about to come. what I should bring, and welcoming me to the team. I reiterated the fact that it was most of them, and those that really didn’t give a flip would have theirs coming. See that would be a prime example of Van One, Venting its emotions. P.C cause I wouldn't name names, and Beer because apparently I have left the impression that I like the stuff.

By now the food was ready

Here I would like to give special thanks to the support team of Suzanne and Jerry. Without them we more than likely would have lost weight on this trip but as I found out that was going to be impossible. This woman had put together one of the most delicious dinners I have ever had. There was food everywhere - Some of it would be taken on board our flight home in order to supplement the on board snacks. .The smokey beef was to die for and the wine complimented it perfectly. I can't say enough.

Well, the conversation ebbed and flowed with no particular direction. We came up with the idea of maybe running a 9 person team next year, and other variations. One of them was maybe running this thing every other year, with something different in between. So as of last, it looks like our next adventure as a group will be The Boiler Maker next year, 10 or 15K I can’t remember. Who knows, other things are bound to pop up. Betsy and Gina and Catherine will more than likely show up in Vegas. And Sara and Gary want to come for the ING in Atl. Sara is also after the marathon in every state title. I got an email from Betsy saying she might sign up for the Wisconsin Ironman next year. So an active group as you can see, I'm positive this won’t be the last I see of them.

Brooke, Renee and I retire for the night, we walk back to our second floor room. Brooke is asleep in my arms by the time we make it home. Also upstairs are Sara and Gary in a room down the Hall, Ann and Ginny in a room across the hall, and Jim downstairs on the huge sofa/bed.

Jim’s Revenge

"So, did you hear Jim's snoring last night" was the topic of discussion the next morning.

Here is how it went down. Ginny wakes up in the middle of the night and wakes up Ann saying, "Ann, flip over your snoring". Ann awakes, says, “Oh, I'm sorry," and flips. In the Silence you can still here the snoring, Ginny thinks she’s dreaming, they open the door, and the reverberations are coming from downstairs. Ginny goes down and repeats the request, sleeping happily ever after as far as everyone is concerned. Being from Van 1 she would have acted otherwise if not. It seems that the way the vents run, if you were CIA and wanted to know what was going on in the house, Ginny’s room was the one to have. Now I know I don't snore, and Renee doesn’t either, well at least not that bad. So I don't know why the Girls turned Beat Red when I gave them my Good Morning as I exited the shower which was located at the end of the hall. The efforts of my majestic run were painfully obvious as well. Although there was no backwards walking down the steps, sidestepping was enough to complete the job, it did take me three efforts to get out of the bed that morning. I also have to report the two new badges of courage that I am now sporting, two new black toes - One of which will suffer great disfiguration next time you read.

Well a shower some coffee and off to Breakfast at the other house……..

Remaining Chapters

Bloody Mary Morning, I hate it when my Kid looks better than me, Margaritas on the Cheap, the Bonfire, and how you should never venture too far from your fire after Skinny Dipping in the Pacific because you just might not make it back to YOUR fire, and Final Thoughts.

Braz

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