Sunday 21st February 2009
After
spending days at Mottistone, updating and extending the area the time came to
start planning the event. Usually Sue and I plan a couple of courses each, Sue
the yellow and orange, me the light green and green. As usual Sue had nearly
finished planning her courses and enquired as to when I was going to start
mine. I said, " You have a go at them, as you know the area quite
well" and I think she did quite a good job with just a little assistance
from me.
The Saturday night before the event Sue
got off to sleep ok after being exhausted from all the preparations (and also
from putting out the String course Saturday evening), but awoke in the small
hours. Not being able to get back to sleep, with lots on her mind for the next
day, all she seemed to do was count kites VC-TT etc. Maybe it's a novel way to
get back to sleep, certainly different from counting sheep- BAA.
I also prepared a little by putting the
car in the garage as we were expecting a heavy frost and needed a quick getaway
on Sunday morning with 47 kites to put in their correct positions, ready for
the participants. No need, the weather changed during the night and was damp
and milder when we got up.
Getting
out early morning does sometimes have its advantages, as turning into the car
parking area there was a lovely Cock Pheasant standing on top of the five-bar
gate.Wished I'd had the camera!
After putting out a few markers the day started to get darker instead of lighter. About ten minutes later the heavens opened and we got soaked, probably some of the worst conditions we have ever set out the courses in. With the last few sites in view it did finally stop raining and I decided to go home and get changed. Sue, Daniel and Emma held the fort while I went and dried out and warmed up, returning with dry clothes for Sue.
The
event went smoothly and all but a few competitors had a dry run.
Thanks
to Eileen for running Registration, as Chris was unable to make it this time
due to a problem with her knee.
Thanks
also to Daniel, Emma and Ian for helping to collect in the controls after the
courses had closed.
Hope
you all enjoyed your Orienteering.