Two or more current and/or one-time OK members made it to the A-meet put on by the CROC club near Goldendale, WA. These included Mook and Snorkel. The meet was a good one with plenty of interesting terrain, some nasty terrain, adequate maps, marginal coursesetting, comfortable temperatures, competent organization, and a good field of orienteers. There were a number of unique tourist attractions in the area as well, one of which at least rivaled the Big Chair if it didn't quite have the appeal of an Ames Monument... more on that later.

The most significant revelation of the weekend is that Snorkel is now on a weight-loss diet! It just so turned out that the nearest food establishment to the meet site was a Dairy Queen in Goldendale! Snorkel would have none of it however, passing up a chocolate rock for a "heart healthy" turkey sandwich from Subway. Snorkel also reported a series of several times weekly training sessions, a few of which were close to an hour in duration! He even had the heart rate graphs to show for his efforts. This is not the Snorkel we have come to know and dread over the last year! What gives?

Snorkel ran for SLOC. Snorkel talked about running for an OK relay team. Snorkel talked about training to make the '03 WOC team. Snorkel talked about SLOC's chances at the relays. Snorkel was giving mixed messages. Mook egged him on. Snorkel ate it up (but stuck to his diet!). Snorkel had decent runs, going up against his red course nemesis, BAOCer Bruce Wolfe. Snorkel's ankle held out in a fairly rocky area. Snorkel seemed inspired, but inspired to do what, who knows? (note that this wasn't a business trip for Snorkel, he flew into Portland for the sole purpose of orienteering.)

Besides the orienteering, there were other things going on. Mook and Snorkel took an auto tour of the Goldendale sights. First the observatory. Perched high on a hill above the tiny town, the Goldendale Observatory is a first class institution and Snorkel was quite impressed. Next a tour of the local banks for Snorkel to visit an ATM (later we found out that he planned to treat Mook to a brunch). Mook then pointed out Gee's Family Restaurant. Then the highlight of the tour: a visit to Stonehenge!

Stonehenge rests on a bluff high above the Columbia River. It is a WWI memorial, and built to scale. Unfortunately no picture exists of OK's visit to the site, it will have to live on only in memory. It inspired Snorkel to a fantastic 2nd day run, however, so there can be little doubt of its magnificence.

It was a good meet all things considered. But, it still leaves Snorkel's future up in the air. I think that's just the way Snorkel intended it!

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), July 02, 2001

Answers

I wasn't paying very much attention to the signs, and I assumed it was called Concretehenge. I probably do have a picture (not developed yet), but with no OK people in it.

-- J-J (jjcote@juno.com), July 09, 2001.

Snorkel needs a lot more than a fresh beginning. What he really needs is some 5 day old yogurt that has been sitting out in the hot Yuma sun.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), July 12, 2001.

Well I was thinking about a mid to late August training camp and was considering Laramie, Northern Minnesota, or Colorado. Now that Yuma has been thrown in the mix it makes the choices even tougher. Any suggestions?

-- Snorkel (danielmeenehan@aol.com), July 12, 2001.

Well Yuma might be nice, but if you head north a ways you'll find places like Bullhead City and Lake Havasu City which would probably be warmer. I don't think you'll find any maps around there, however.

For mosquitos in August it may be hard to top northern Minnesota. I don't think you'll find any maps around there, however.

A place like Lake George could be quite nice in August, especially if you like the feel of those harpoon grass seeds in your socks. What's more, I do think you'll find some maps around there!

LaRamie is, well, exactly what it is! Provided they don't get an early winter, late August would be great in and around LaRamie for o' training!

I think the choice should come down to LaRamie or Lake George.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), July 13, 2001.

The combination of heat, the fierce Baja Sandfly, and the Dwarf Spotted Sidewinder makes Yuma an unbeatable choice. Git out on those dunes and go!

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), July 13, 2001.

The harpoon grass is no laughing matter - especially now that their season is nearly at hand. The first seeds are already ripe and launching themselves into any likely passing calf or ankle.

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), July 13, 2001.