Happy. Healthy. Heathen.

Okay, about 11 hours to gun time…

I wanted to blog one more time before the event…here’s what has happened since last entry.

So Amy and I are planning on driving the motorhome from Murfreesboro on Wednesday, going as far as Atlanta, then travelling the rest of the way on Thursday.  Glenda, her boyfriend Sam, and his roommate Michael (also British) are driving to Atlanta from Knoxville in the minivan as well, so we’ll pick them up Thursday as we head south.  Son Sam and his girlfriend Laura are also going to Atlanta from her family’s home in Cleveland, Tennessee; he’s going to work for brother Eric for a couple of days, then come to Atlanta with son Ben for the race.  Kind of an intricate arrangement, but it’s how my family functions, so it suits me.  (Hubby Jesse is flying, and will join us SOMEWHERE when he finishes his trip).

Amy and I projected a noon departure, then revised it to a 2pm departure, then revised it yet again to a 4pm, which we missed by about half an hour.  (Something to do with Amy getting her passport renewed – ask her the details of THAT odyssey).  I go to start the motorhome – it cranks, which is superior.  However, with all the rain we’ve had in Middle Tennessee, where do you think said 35-foot motorhome was parked.  Yes.  See pic below for the rest of the story.

Ultimately, the hero of the moment was neighbor Ralph Wrather who came to the rescue with his John Deere tractor and a long, strong chain.  Many many thanks for his kindness.  That averted a potential freakout on my part.

About half-way through the trip, I got an unsettled feeling in my mind, stopped to check, confirmed it: FORGOT TO PAY MY EMPLOYEES.  Checked on that 3 times before I left and got it wrong 3 times.  Fortunately, I have the World’s Best Staff and they were sweet and patient about it because they are sweet and patient.  Trip to Atlanta otherwise went well…all kids were there, so I got to marinate in Jordan for the evening, which did more to calm my spirit than any Valium ever could.  Ben, Laura, and Eric and fixed us a delicious dinner of filets, salad, vegetables – perfect pre-pre-race food….

So the next morning (Thursday) we set off for Florida.  Know that I LOVE this motorhome and all its retro charm…Mom and Dad thoughtfully gifted us with this a while back and it’s all the RV cliches you can come up with…the open road, the independence, all that.  Weather was to have been clear, and motorhome has been parked (cross-reference ruts, above), so when the RAIN began, and I turned on the windscreen (British Sam’s word for windshield) wipers, see below.

So I stopped at an AutoZone, but nooooo…this is a specialty vehicle which requires a motorhome store to find replacement wipers.  There is such a store in Dothan, Alabama, which was on my route…perfect.  Closing time:  5:00pm.  Arrival time:  5:10pm.  So I drove wiperless (again, my blog, my words).

Anyway, here we are.  I’ve taken my little swim, taken my little bike ride, taken my little jog, gotten registered (#299),  shopped at the expo, and am about to go turn my bike in to be put into transition area.  Water temperature is flawless, waves are manageable, I am so ready I wish I could start NOW.  

Next blog:  summary of race.

Can’t begin to thank everyone for words of support and encouragement.

Thanks for reading…