TDR bike, all ready for a run thru the desert down to the sea..........
By the end of day 1, around 9:30pm I was slightly dehydrated
and running on adrenalin instead of re-supply calories. The legs were still good and as the temps had
cooled off I was still slowly riding along in the deep sand. But it was time to change strategies. Having worked my way into the same situation many
times in the past I knew if I camped up, laid down and slept for an hour or two
my appetite would return. However if I
continued I would eventually reach a point of no return.
I walked 90 deg away from the road for about 200 yards and
camped up. I had my full TDR kit—tent (ZPacks™Hexamid Solo Tent ), pad and bag, so once set up I was resting in the lap of luxury
from a multi-day point of view. I
placed a full 32oz water bottle and my half eaten dinner next to my head, laid
back and stared at the moon and stars. I woke at 12:30 hungry and thirsty. Ate and drank and watched some bugs in the bright moon
light trying in vain to find their way into my netted tent. Ha take that nasty desert bugs……
I re-woke at 1:00am feeling ready to go. My alarm was set for 3am and I finaly gave in
and got up at 2am. My plan called for me to deliberately bypass the still closed store at Agua
Caliente Springs and reach the RV park store at Oakzanita Springs
before 4pm close time. Now Oakzanita Springs was
only about 50 to 60 miles away so you would think this was a reasonable resupply
plan. And I still had plenty of calories,
just ones that were not particular appealing to my fickle stomach. Also there were several places on route for
water . So off I went into the night, hanging on to my hopes for a better day.
Needleless to say-- I crashed and burned as soon at the real climbing
started and the sun came out. In short I really should have waited till the store at Agua
Caliente opened and ate & drank till the ol body was truly re-fueled. I met several racers along the way, they were
all passing me as I continued my decent into bonkdom. By 4pm I was still a few miles from the RV
store at Oakzanita Springs. Most of the
day I kept my smile but by 4pm if someone in a pickup truck had stopped to chat
I would have gladly offered them $100 to haul my sorry butt back to my van in Idyllwild.
(also I was so preoccupied with my suffering I did not take any pictures on day 2-- so any here are from day 1 or 3)
Once I reached the now closed RV store I went looking for someone to possibly
open it up and sell me something cold to drink.
No luck with that but “hallelujah” I was offered a tall ice filled glass
of strawberry soda by a picnicking couple out for an evening day hike. And then my luck fully turned 180 deg when
fellow SC 400 racer Tyrel Beede pulled up.
Misery does love company and the two us were sharing plenty. Together we made a plan to share our mutual
woes all the way onto the Mexican restaurant at Descanso.
Soon we were stuffed on great Mexican food and all was again right with
the world. Smile fully back! All that really matters is some good resupply……….
Ty & I both got hotel rooms that night in Alpine. As soon as I checked in I walked over to the
Carl Jr’s and got a second dinner with extra milk shake and drink---did I
mention-- all that really matters is some good resupply……….
Ty was great company and his positive, laid back attitude
really lifted me back up to the point of enjoying myself despite my many self-induced,
minor setbacks.
Summary:
Day 1: 103 miles in 15 hoursDay 2: 70 miles in 17 hours
Day 3 up next--(the joy of multi-day returns full force)
PS: I am embarrassed to point this out but the whole time
I was suffering on day 2 I had a large but forgotten packet of drink mix stuffed away in
the bottom of my bags. Had I remembered
it and used it strategically I might have been able to reach he RV store before
the close at 4pm. That would have totally
revamped my race going forward. oh well.........
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