8th Annual Triathlon 9-23-14

At least this year we did not have 2 armed guards waiting at the gate of Back Bay Wildlife Refuge, stopping everyone because our Government could not get their act together therefore closing down the National Parks. Actually no one was at the gate this year so we rode our bikes right through it and headed south to False Cape State Park.

I had 16 Tuesday Groupers for this years Triathlon and what a group they were. All but 2 were there before the leader who for some reason had every slow driver, school bus and stoplight working against him. I know there is no reason for being late, you just leave earlier from home, right ? We were able to ride our bikes out of the parking lot there at Little Island City Park at 9:45 A.M. and be on our way. The weather was not the best we’ve had over the past 8 years, but it was not half bad. The clouds over head kept the sun off of us and the wind kept us cool all day. The wind was out of the N.N.E. at about 15 to 18 miles an hour and the bike ride of 6.5 miles went by very fast. We had no blowouts and only one stop at False Cape Gate to take a picture and by 10:30 we were on the water paddling south in the state park’s kayaks. Out of the 16 we had 7 new people that had never been on this Triathlon and were not sure what they would find around the next bend. All of them stay right with the group on the biking, kayaking and hiking, maybe so to not get lost. Whatever the reason we all stay together, mostly the whole trip and I want to THANK ALL for doing so ! With the wind behind us we were at False Cape Landing by 11:40 A.M. hiking towards the ocean where we would stop to take a break to eat our lunches. Walking on the deserted beach we saw only one truck south of us heading north. The wind was blowing between 18 and 22 miles an hour which kept all birds away on this day. We retreated back into the Live Oaks Trees at the campground and used their tables, for lunch. By 12:20 P.M. we were back at the boats and heading north into the wind but hugging the shore line as much as we could the trip was very fast. When the last boat pulled in it was only 1:30 P.M. and after replacing all the boats back on the racks and placing the paddles and pfd’s inside the Boat House, we headed towards the park’s office. As we reached the office we found it closed. However we did see the Park Manager Kyle Barbour. We asked him to take a picture of our group, standing beside the newly painted buoy. It was 2:10 P.M. and we were on the last leg of our 20 mile trip. John F. headed out first and everyone followed pushing a little harder on their pedals. We had the wind in our face, but still as Nancy P. had said “we all were back in the parking lot at 3:00 P.M. as promised“.

On this trip first timers were: Nancy P., Milton B., Gayle O., Kama M., Tom R., Diane L. and Jack S. The old timers were Richard T., J.P., Bob S., John F., Jane O., John O., Ken V., Super Woman Dottie A. and the No. 1 guide Bruce J. I want to Thank All for a great, fun and safe trip.

On the way home 10 of us stopped at Pungo Pizza for a little snack and it was so so good. Thanks Everyone Bruce

Click on the link to view Bruce's pictures: https://plus.google.com/photos/116682864874529858847/albums/6064138586803811153?authkey=CNfT_rXI__mpLQ