Left my race bag at home and had a great day at the races

I reached in the back of my car to pull my race number out of my bag. I left the bag at home. No shoes, helmet, clothes or number. I mentioned it to Monte and he said he had a full spare kit in his truck. Well the shoes were a size and half too small but who can look gift shoes in the soles? Teri Berger let me use a scribbled number plate today for no fee. Jamie lent me some gloves. Off to the races I go. My class had 4 participants. Kind of sad as we started the season with 10 or so. The course was challenging with plenty of climbing. Descents were plenty fun with lots of banked turns. One turn even had a fallen tree cut off halfway through the turn in the bank. Just one more foot of sawing and it would have been off the course. The course was mostly shaded and also running along the headwaters of the Chattahoochee. That means the water was not muddy red. It was also mostly cool.

Yet again I did not have the stuff to keep up with the fast guys. That would mean the other three guys in the race. So I just did a scenic joy ride enjoying the ferns, rhododendrons, and other stuff offering shade and diversity. We rode past the jeep river crossing we used to ride across back in the day. Back in the day Helen used to host national mountain bike races which translated means mid 1990’s. That river crossing was often knee deep, maybe deeper. I vaguely recall deeper than knee high. At least one of the fellows after the race recalled crossing that section.

After the race I sat in the river for 10 minutes cooling off. I think the best mountain bike races have cool streams. After a delightful cool down I headed up to change and Paul offered me a beer.

End of the year awards banquet was up at the Unicoi Lodge. Meal tickets were $15. I had 12 in my wallet so I bummed a 5 off Jamie. Waiting in line they would only accept meal tickets as they did not know about the capacity of the room. As I am standing there a guy gives me a meal ticket. His mom was at home trying to get his truck fixed which seemed to have a massive oil leak or diesel leak. For some reason I think I should know that guy's name as I have seen him around and his face is familiar. But I am crummy with names.

So in spite of screwing up leaving my bag at home, 4 guys gave me a hand. How cool is that? Thanks guys for giving me a great day.