Well, there was the part where I couldn't figure out why the hell my team mates wouldn't let me take my tired and sore body off to bed either before dinner or after on Saturday night. Seems everyone else knew what I didn't...that my best friend Les was desperately trying to find us--me specifically. I still can't believe she flew out just to spend a few minutes at camp. Silly Les. Those moments we were FINALLY at the same 3-Day (she's the reason I signed up last year in the first place) were awesome and I'm sorry we didn't see her again or even get a pic of the two of us. *sob*
The rest of the story...
I took the train down to Union Station. Once there, I searched for the nearest exit. Trains come in underground and I just wanted OUT. I had no idea where I was so called my friend and team mate, Alias. She met me where I was and took me to lunch, then walked me to the Metra station. I waited for more than an hour to catch the next train to Geneva. The hotel (and walk start) was in St. Charles and I figured I would ask someone in the station to call me a cab once I got to Geneva.
But the train station closed early for some inexplicable reason. And everyone who got off the train seemed to be met by someone else. Or got in their own cars or unlocked their bikes and rode off. I looked for a phone book.
I stared into the station windows, searching for a sign with numbers of local cab companies. Nothing. I pulled out the list of team mates that I'd meticulously copied from the Strollers private forum.Two were local. Uh. Yeah. So much for meticulous. I had numbers for "Spicoli" and "Firm Believer," but neglected to add their real names. Smacking myself in the head didn't shake anything loose. And I absolutely could not call and ask for "Spic" or "Firm." I just couldn't.
(Though when I related this to Lisa and Becky later, they were both insistant that I could have and SHOULD have. They're right. It would totally make my day if someone called asking for Twinsanity Twatwaffles. :-D)
Finally, I remembered my shuttle pass, with the hotel phone number on it. I called, told the woman who answered that I had a reservation and asked her to please send a cab to the station. She said she'd send "a blah, blah, blah cab." Cool.
Yeah, over an hour later, a prescheduled (for someone on a later train)cab took pity on my plight and asked his passenger to share the ride. Very nice man, both of them.
I met Rebel, my roomie and walk partner, who somehow managed to check into our room (reserved in my name, good thing she really was my intended roomie). And my other team mates. We stuffed into Spicoli's car to go out for dinner.
l-r: part of Rebel, Alias in the back and Firm Believer
The five of us who stayed at the hotel, waiting for a second shuttle (the first filled up) to take us to opening ceremonies
l-r: me, Kat, Alias, Rebel and Hair Goddess
(note the tiaras worn by our SM admins, lest the rest of us mere members forget the powers we walked with)
Spicoli and Firm Believer met us (in the rain) at opening ceremonies with coffee and Munchkins from Dunkin Donuts. As our hotel sucked and refused to open the restaurant early for walkers, NOTHING could hit the spot more.
Our opening flag.
Yes, it really was that dark.
Our seventh teammate, Angelbitch.
I walked with her most of Day 1 but she injured her knee and we only saw her a few times the rest of the walk. She'd left for home by the time Rebel and I made it to holding so we never got a pic of the whole team.
Two awesome men that I heard came from CA to support us.
They were everywhere we were and such a welcome sight.
Rebel, my well-matched walk partner on Days 2 and 3,
posing with Reporterbabe's quote ("the 3-Day is a story of magic in unexpected places... where the most beautiful woman in the world is bald from radiation and chemo but still has a smile on her face for everyone. This is the breast cancer 3-Day. ~~Jennifer, 3-Day walker") as we came into camp on Day 1.
Firm Believer performing her morning routine
(mine consisted of brushing my teeth, rinsing from my Camelback, then pouring ice water over my head and running my hands through my hair) at camp on Day 2.
Lunch entertainment, draining one of my two blisters
with a sterile needle (Sybermoms LOVE this kind of stuff!)
Team pic at the end.
Close up of Hair's feet. She had the worst blisters.
I didn't get a pic of those but the slipper/sock combo pretty much encompasses the end of the walk.
Other than being tired and some muscle soreness, I feel great! MUCH better than last year. Though I didn't train near as much, I credit my weight loss (one pound for every mile!). Oh, one more pic...
The shirt I picked up at camp on Day 1
Now I just have to figure out how to break the news to my husband. :-D
1 comment:
Inspiring! I can't believe I'll be doing this in a mere 9 days. Sorry you had to bow out this year. I thought I might have to too, since my gall bladder most likely has to come out but it is waiting until after. Come back to my blog to see how I did!
Post a Comment