Here we are: part 6 of The Deb's tale of the driver's experience. Waverly is where she really started to embrace her ragby-self.
Day Five:
Already? Dang, we had not partied
in any town yet. This was not what I
signed up for!*
Ok, load em up, skip the
morning run** and head off to Waverly.
It was a long ride day and I was certainly catching on that I certainly didn’t
have to hustle to the meet town. I could
have gone golfing, to the movies, or maybe to Jamaica (Iowa, that is) and back before I
would see everyone in the meet town.
Well, off to Waverly. This
actually was my favorite town, because of the great host family. So I drove through town and beyond. The I saw a host family sign on my right. Whoops, missed it. Being Iowa, always predictable, I knew I
could just do gravel roads in 1 mile increments to get turned around. On a prayer, and wishing I could grab a shot
of Jack, I did my turn about and drove up the hill I went to the host house. I kept thinking that it didn’t make sense, and
I was never going to get the motor home out or down that driveway. Good thing it was the wrong house, but a nice
hostess!
And as if the Ark knew my fear, it wouldn't go into gear as I was trying to turn around and go back down the hill. I was thinking, "I guess
you have a new team joining you today!"
Our place was actually right across the street and down this dreadful hill.
I so wanted to overcome the challenge that
day, but I needed backup. We called our hostess and her
brother-in-law came over to help. He had
a motor home himself and got it to go into gear.
I really think the Ark wasn’t going into gear as long as I was in the driver's seat as a self-preservation
effort.
The brother-in-law came to the rescue. He moved the Ark down that
driveway and into place where it belonged.
Enough excitement for that journey.
Tammie, our hostess, had the area marked where all 3 groups were to camp, and I
carefully chose the flattest area and haphazardly put the tents up with no
stakes to dry from the morning dew.
The Dale arrived at our host's house, so I took him with me to town to get supplies. I then went back to the meet town in the
Jeep again. On the way into town, I
spotted the Navy support vehicle and knew I would stop there on the way
home.
I had also been scouting for food,
especially rhubarb pie for Too Much. I finally found it! I made a mental note to pick that up too! Meet and greet*** town was ok, so funny that no
one could believe I picked The Dale up in Waverly and came back. Hmmm, will you ever know for sure?****
On the way back to the host's house, we stopped at Team Navy
for a few beers and a visit. I loved their
bunk beds and the shower system. I had bit
of driver envy, I think.
We went back to Waverly to pick up dinner and visit with the hostess. We pulled out
the lawn chairs and the beers.
SWEET. The Dale showered and visited
as well. A few Jacks and Cuban cigars later, he
was very happy in Waverly.
The wind picked
up, Lauren’s tent went flying away and it kind of looked like carnage in the
yard. I knew I should have staked them,
but after a few beers, I knew I would be unsuccessful in putting them together
right again. Weh.
We had a cice dinner thanks to the Methodist church
and the Boy Scouts. The pulled pork was
fresh and very good, and I had a visit with the pit master. And the pie was to die for. One thing that does not grow here in Arkansas
is rhubarb, well that and probably lots more things that I really don’t care about
anyway.
Now, I finally figured I had the
pattern down. Team riders, ride, drink,
ride, drink, eat, drink, ride (and so on til the stopover town) where they
drink, eat, shower, eat and crash. I got
this now. I need to ride, drink a bit,
ride, drink, set up, drink and hang out for dinner. It started to make sense, and I felt less like
I was missing the party in town.
I just
had to make my own… Remember the guitar
and corny songs by the campfire. But I
did forget the power hook between the jeep and ARC was broken and I had no
power to the Jeep which could create ticket #2. Our hosts certainly came to my rescue in Waverly, and even in that horrible
rain, they came out and replaced the whatever it was.
I loved Waverly.
*In all fairness, she did not tell us "that is what she signed up for." We will try to accommodate this request in 2015. I did not realize there were so many beaver chomping at the birch to get downtown at night. It wouldn't hurt to have Going-Out-on-the-Town-Ranger-Dave to encourage and inspire us.
**The Deb was training for a 10-mile run in Disney World. Long time readers of this blog will know which run, because I did it too.
***Love the new name for the "meet town."
****Wait, what? Did the Dale not actually ride this whole day?! Beaver-scandal!
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