Gale and I just wanted to add to all the others what a great job Leiza, Jim,
& Corey did.  The RATTLESNAKE was definitely well organized.  It started
when it was supposed to, checkpoints were where they were supposed to be,
volunteers and staff were adequate and friendly, and most of all, the race
was everything we expected and more.  Definitely challenging.  We can
honestly say we got our money's worth.  Thanks RATTLESNAKE RACING.  We look
forward to more of your races and are really glad you have decided to do
more this year.

THE BAD NEWS FIRST:  We, Pushin' Up Daisies, as a team, had a horrible race.
Gale said it was the worst day she had had since childbirth and that was 20
years ago.  THE GOOD NEWS:  Gale and I are still married and speaking to
each other.  Our goal had been a top 3 overall finish and to be the first
Masters team across the line.  We did not accomplish that.  The race started
out fine for us.  We breeezed through the riddle part, found our maps and
passports and headed for the mountain bike section.  Made it through the 15
miles or so of mountain biking with no problems and headed for the kayaks in
the lead pack.  Since we were headed for open water, I, as the navigator,
decided not to check the map and try and save time by following the leaders.
I learned the hard way, just because someone is in front of you, it doesn't
mean they know where they are going.  I followed the lead pack to a small
island which was not where we were supposed to be going.  Once there I
reoriented the map and then made a bad decision.  We decided to leave our
kayaks and trek cross country to Checkpoint #3.  Bad Mistake.  When we got
to CP #3, Jim told us we could either go back and bring our kayaks to CP #3
or continue on with the trekking and when we got back to CP #3, we would
have to go and get our kayaks and bring them back to that point and then
proceed on to CP #10 by kayak.  We elected to go back and get our kayaks.
We finally arrived back at CP #3, with our kayaks, over 2 hours behind the
lead team.  Needless to say we were completely discouraged and my teamates
were not too happy with me.  We left CP #3 headed for CP #4.  We were
trekking across a lake bottom and the undergrowth was heavy, so rather than
bushwack, we followed a fence line and then headed north along the high
ground.  We found a CP.  Unfortunately, it was CP #5, about 1000 meters
south of CP #4.  For whatever reason, I failed to notice this.  Thinking I
had found CP #4, I plotted our azimuth for CP #5 and we headed south.  1000
meters later, realizing the terrain did not match the map, we looked at our
passport and Gale realized we had left from CP #5 instead of CP #4.  We
turned around,  went back through #5 and headed for #4.  We found #4 with no
problem, elected to take an hour penalty for going out of sequence and
headed for CP #6.  I can tell you by now, my teammates were not happy with
me.  We were a totally unhappy team and as the navigator, I felt pretty bad.
Just a little bit of learning here.  If your navigator messes up, you don't
need to remind them of that fact.  They will probably feel bad enough as it
is, and by giving them a bad time it only makes the situation worse.  We
left #6 headed for #7.  No big problem, hit it right on then took the wrong
creek bed and wandered around for 30 minutes.  Once we left #7, really no
more big problems.  We hit #8, and #9 right on and then headed down the
river, back to CP #3 and our kayaks.  We left CP #3 headed for #10 and
passed two teams paddling back towards #3.  They had followed our earlier
example and left their kayaks.  However, they had elected to complete the
trekking and then go retrieve their kayaks.  We made it to CP #10 and then
to #11 with no problem and headed for the boat ramp.  At the boat ramp,
another special test, and then a short jog to the finish line.  As we headed
for the finish line, my head was hung, Gale, my wife, and Bob were in front
of me.  I was the outcast, the Leper so to speak.  I was not looking forward
to the rest of my life.  As I looked towards the finish line, Gale placed
her hand behind her back.  It's a special signal we have between each other.
It means, come hold my hand, all is well.  My spirts lightened, I caught up
with her and held her hand, looked at her and said, "I LOVE YOU, CURLY".
She looked at me and said, "I LOVE YOU TOO, TEE".  We crossed the finish
line, tired, feeling like a pin-cushion, discouraged, humbled, but together.
We still had each other and we had finished.  There is always tomorrow and
hopefully, another race.

 
-Lee