Myakka City 01-08-10

Friday, January 8, 2010
“Okay, we’ll leave by 4:30!” Well that didn’t happen! After final preparations and last minute inspections of bags and bays, we got on our way by around 6:00. We made a quick stop at the Frostproof McDonalds and we were on the road for the two hour drive to Myakka City. This race was another relatively close one with a pleasant evening drive. We encountered a bit of rain as we neared our arrival, but barely enough to dampen the roads.
When we arrived, the Hedin’s already had their rig set up and Michael, Michelle, and Mikey J. were completing the final tasks for their setup (McKenzie stayed home with Mimi to go to a birthday party). We picked our parking spot and began our setup process. The air was damp and the temperature was around 40 degrees, so we got organized quickly. Our setup was complete in record time! Of course the frigid weather did not stop the munchkins from enjoying each other’s company. They went right on ahead running around and tackling each other onto the cold, damp ground…and loving every moment! Our evening socializing, and the kids’ playtime, was cut short by the chilliness though. It wasn’t long before we all headed into our warm, cozy campers for a good night’s sleep.
 
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Our camper must have been extremely warm and cozy this morning because even Trey slept in until 8:30. It was about that same time that I heard my Angel inquiring about the location of her donuts. That was my cue to get my warm self out of bed and begin my day. I got Brie her donuts and peeked outside to check out the weather. The thermometer that we installed last night was reading 40 degrees and there was a light, but steady mist. I took my time getting ready while Brianna watched a few episodes of her newest Scooby-Doo series that Santa brought her. Trey on the other hand, got up and going fairy quickly and was headed outside to see what was going on.
Michael was already warming up his quad and preparing himself for his morning practice. Michael J. was following in his Daddy’s footsteps and getting his gear on as well. Trey went out with Michelle to Mikey’s quad practice and his Daddy joined them after his practice was over. Brianna and I chose to stay in the camper for this excursion and let the rest of the MTB crew handle pee-wee practice. Brianna and I passed the time watching a bit more Scooby-Doo and playing games. The crew soon arrived back at the campers and spent some time relaxing as well.
The time passed quickly and before we knew it, we were all out at the start of Mikey’s race. The official called for hands on their heads and the horn sounded. As always it was an exciting start – some are quick, some a bit slower – but it is always exciting. Then, as if another horn had sounded, the parents raced to snag a prime viewing position on the track. Brie, Trey, and I opted for the back portion of the course. The whole track was pretty muddy and we managed to find a corner with mud, roots, and trees – it doesn’t get much better than that. We witnessed a few rear end collisions and almost got to see a few riders turn upside down, but fortunately there were no major incidents. Both Karlee and Michael J. seem to be getting faster and more confident with each racing experience. Way to go, Munchkins!!!
It was back to the campers and time for lunch for the MTB Gang. In an unusual change to our routine, lunch was served inside our campers and very little lunchtime socializing was done. All of this thanks to the frosty weather. Now it was time to wait until Michael’s 3:30 quad race. Trey had some work to do on his bike, so Brie and I explored her new travel games. They all have little holders for the extra pieces and they fold up so neatly. Where was that kind of stuff when I was a kid??? Anyway, we played, watched TV, and snacked until it was time to pack up and head to watch Michael.
As with the start of the pee-wee races, the big-boy starts never fail to provide quality entertainment. We saw one well-maneuvered spinout, as well as the #1 quad racer miss the double greens and have to turn around to come back and go through them. Michael got a solid start in the middle of the pack and was off to endure an hour and a half of pain and pleasure in the freezing cold. Since we were unsure of the whereabouts of the rest of the MTB Gang, Trey, Brianna, and I headed to find an interesting viewing spot. We ended up near the backside of the pee-wee track watching a hill and a creek crossing. It was amazing to see the mud that had covered the quads and the racers as they came barreling across the creek. Although it was chilly, our spot allowed us to see the racers use their various skills to maneuver diverse terrain. Unable to feel his extremities, Michael pushed through and completed the race in second place. It was another positive finish for MTB Sports.
After seeing Michael’s final pass through our viewing area, the three of us headed back to the camper to get warm and check in with the rest of the MTB Gang. As we walked into the MTB compound (AKA our camping area), we saw a rather distressed version of Michael rolling around on the ground and Michelle pulling on his boot. Okay, we saw him five minutes ago…did he break his leg in the last few miles of the race and make it back to the compound?! After some inquiry we determined that he was suffering from cramps in his calves. That doesn’t sound so bad, but amazingly it can bring about pain unlike any other. After a minute or two of stretching, the old Michael was back and headed in to take a shower. Whew…no hospital visit today!
Racing was done for the day and everyone was ready to get warm and relax. Trey and Michelle decided that they needed snacks from the ice cream man and endured the freezing cold to go and get them. When Trey returned, our camper was full of munchkins – Karlee, Kalob, Karson, and Brie had all gathered in our warmth to watch a movie and play. However, it only took them a moment to realize that “Uncle Trey” had warm boiled peanuts. In less a minute our table was surrounded by munchkins popping open peanuts and gobbling them down. From two year olds to adults – the ice cream man’s boiled peanuts were a hit.
Soon it was off to our individual campers to eat some dinner. Our normal outdoor dinner gathering was just not going to happen in the 36 degree weather. A quick meal of hot dogs and soup filled our bellies and we were ready for whatever the night had in store. For Brianna, that meant more playing with her friends, followed by the remainder of “A Bug’s Life” and bedtime. Trey spent the time trying to figure out the most effective technique for keeping his bike from freezing during the night. With the low expected to be 28 degrees for a sustained period of time this was a valid concern. He decided to treat the bike like a plant and cover it with a blanket (or two) and hope for the best. I spent my evening chatting with Mimi, who had just arrived, and writing.
Aside from the always entertaining racing that occurred today, our time was rather uneventful. Extreme weather conditions seem to have a considerable effect on our camping routine. However, as always the MTB Sports Gang had an AWESOME day of racing! Can’t wait until tomorrow – the high is supposed to be in the 50’s!!! I never thought that I would be glad for the 50’s!
 
Sunday, January 10, 2010
To practice or not to practice…that is the question of the morning. The temperature is just above freezing and the track will likely change quite a bit before the race, so is there any point? On the other hand it is an opportunity to get some ride time on challenging terrain and get a feel for the track before race time. After a chilly discussion, the boys (Austin, Steven, and Trey) decided that they would brave the cold and ride practice.
Slightly frozen and numb, the boys arrived back at the camper just in time to eat a warm breakfast sandwich and head out to watch the morning race. The MTB munchkins all loaded up in the Hedin’s Mule and off we headed to the starting line. There was a slight delay in start time because of an incident during practice, so we had to endure the chilly wind a bit longer than planned. The first class got off the line at 11:00 and Trey, Austin, Garrett (Austin’s friend), and I headed to the creek crossing behind the pee-wee track as we had done yesterday. Not only did this spot provide great viewing, but it was also warm and sheltered from the freezing north wind. However, the boys had to get back to the camper to grab a sandwich and get prepared for their race, so we headed back after only one lap.
As we do on most race days, the time before Trey’s race is spent relaxing and making sure that everything is ready to go. Trey had a slight issue during practice with the new brake line he installed yesterday, so they worked on that for a short time and were able to resolve the problem with plenty of time to spare. Then it was a quick sandwich and final preparations for the race. I prepped the CamelBak and goggles while Trey took care of his gear and the bike. As we were working on these final tasks we were pleasantly surprised when Keith offered to let Trey wear his helmet camera. I immediately handed the goggles over to Keith and he got it all set up for us. This was going to be a novel experience for us, as we have never seen the track from Trey’s viewpoint.
As usual, the time passed quickly and it was nearly 1:30 before we knew it. Down to the last few minutes, I made final arrangements for Brianna and handed her the CamelBak loaded down with snacks, Benadryl, and water. I hopped on the back of Trey’s bike and we were headed to the line. Because of the cold weather his bike did not want to start, so while he took his final potty break I was assigned to “revving up” the bike to help get it warm. As I stood there in the cold with the near deafening sounds of the bikes all around me, I was entranced by the amount of power I was holding at the mere twist of the throttle. All I could think about was how incredible it would feel to hop on the bike and take it for a lap around the track. Then I snapped back into reality and I realized that I would probably kill myself. It was about that time that Trey made his way back to the bike and resumed the job of bike warming. Our next few minutes were devoted to Keith’s helmet cam. I verified the directions and prepared for my new job as “helmet cam operator”. Trey took a moment to speak with his competitors and performed final checks on the bike and his gear.
The moment had arrived…the horn sounded and the first line was off. Only four minutes left. My new job had made me a bit uneasy, so I went ahead and pressed the power button and pushed the record button into the proper position. The helmet cam was up and running! Trey took his position on the line and I took my position holding the bike. The horn blew, we exchanged “I love you’s”, and Trey kicked the starter. Apparently I was not a qualified “bike warmer” because the bike failed to start on the first two tries. As they say, “the third time is the charm” – the bike started and Trey was off the line. Austin followed behind him after having starting issues as well.
After the final class got off the line Mimi and I headed for the creek crossing. The rest of the MTB Gang headed to various spots on the course to find the premier viewing locale. For the MTB munchkins that place seemed to have a great deal of dirt in which they could build sand castles. Mimi and I enjoyed our spot as we got to see the riders select various lines. Some turned out to be a good selection, while others decided to try a new line the next time through. Like this morning, this location provided shelter from the wind and at one point it was almost warm enough to take off our sweatshirts. Even with the AA riders flying through as if they were one with their bike and the sun keeping us warm, the best part of watching the race from this spot is that I got to see my sweetheart jump the creek. He didn’t take the “safe” route as he has so many times in the past, but he “Cowboyed Up” and rode to his capabilities. Regardless of his finishing position, I am proud of him for pushing himself! Great race, Darling!
As the race concluded, Trey came off of the track in 9th place. We chatted for a few moments at the finish and Brie climbed on the bike to head back to the MTB compound with her daddy. The rest of us grabbed our chairs and made our way back through the mud. Our camping adventure had come to an end. The time had come to devote our energy to packing up…once again! The cold weather was an inspiring presence to encourage us to hurry the process along. As we were finishing the process Keith made the unfortunate discovery that their camper would not start. Luckily, through the use of two sets of jumper cables the boys were able to get it going. Before we knew it the kids were loaded in the Hedin’s rig and we were all headed to Pizza Hut for a nice warm dinner.
When we arrived, we left the front parking spot to the Hedin’s. They had discovered that the problem originated with the battery-generator connection and once it was turned off it would not start again. Everyone quickly piled out of their respective rides and made a cold dash for the warmth of the Pizza Hut dining room. What a surprise it was to us all to discover that Pizza Hut was not equipped with a heating unit. So, out we ran to the campers to unpack all of the sweatshirts that we had just packed up. Although it was a chilly dining experience, the pizza and the company was terrific.
With our bellies full we loaded up to finish up the drive home. Another race weekend had truly come to an end. It was time to unload and clean out our weekend home…until the next time!