Day 53 - Ragnar Relay Race

Some of you might know what that is. Jonathan knew and was pretty geeked when he found out. Let me share what I've learned tonight.

There are 100s, maybe even thousands, of people here at Crystal Mountain resort. The hotels are full (we got the last room) and the hill up to the ski lifts are packed with tents and campers to fill them. They are here to run a relay race that lasts for 30 straight hours. An 8-person team runs 3 courses 3 times, testing endurance in speed & elevation.

I talked with a few of them (there were games, vendors, and activities set up all evening and into the night). They all seemed to have the same attitude, "Yeah, why not!" The evening espoused an obvious spirit of adventure and accomplishment. A bunch of people that enjoy the same thing, reveling in it.

I think we'll get to see some of the race tomorrow. We were just going to take the gondola up to the restaurant for lunch tomorrow... no running for us. Maybe we can watch from above. In any case, it has been fun to be a part of it, especially because I don't have to do the running!😉

But the day was full of adventure outside of the race. It started with dodging bees & wasps at breakfast and trying to fit my bike in the van with everything else (quite simply after all was said & done). Our car ride to the hotel was diverted because a forrest fire closed the road. We we were told to double back and add a few hours to the trek to come up on the other side. But one really can't complain too much about driving through the mountains, along a river, with blue sky above and a snow-capped mountain framed in front of you most of the way (unless one must use the restroom!). We made it to the resort in time to walk around and eat some dinner. Now I am comfortably back in the hotel room with Evelyn, while her parents enjoy a "night out on the town".😊

People I met:

- two friends that had never heard of this race before they were recruited this last Spring

- the KC Royals fan, employee of the restaurant (whose owner is a Tiger fan)

More people I met because of Beatrice:

- Clyde, @ Mel's Diner in Yakima

- family who came to celebrate mom's birthday weekend

- Sean, seller of light-weight backpacking hammocks

As the evening wears on, I hear through the open window the revelers returning to the hotel. It should not continue too much longer, most have a race to run in the morning!

Tonight I thank God for:

- the workers keeping the roads safe for travelers & the firefighters trying to douse these flames out this way

- His creation all around me

- friends to share the ride with

- open windows on a cool night

- the quiet of the mountains

#IthankGodfor #PeopleMet