My second involvement in the raid forest, again with Isabelle. Back in this beautiful region of Chimay (hey .... another Trappist beer, it pursues us ..), after Couvin last year, this time the visit takes place in Rance.
The weather is cold (but not too much) and dry, the ground is frozen and we'd be struggling not only in molasses (it's not worse).
Like last year, we entered the long course (17 km) and runners (33 teams).
We find some knowledge and a delegation from our beautiful "BABA club," a dozen!
Saturday. This time, no panic to find the departure station more than 1 km from the room, we follow the others to be safe! General grouping, latest briefing (prohibited areas and meadows shaded) and go into mass start with a small ten minutes behind the planned program (11am). Okay, we have before us 6am to complete.
few hundred meters to warm-up, then the map B & W is given to us. We need to transcribe the posts to find on color map, without error.
At this game, Isa is quicker than me, I can not help but check 2 times each score to be sure of my shot. We point 10 of the 18 tags in a first step, and go hunting! Some more pros, start directly with the map B & W ...
Okay, so .... we are here, and we must go .... there!
First, second, OK. The third asks us (already ...) problem. We turn around, because some of being in the right place. We decide away somewhat from each other for "raking" wider, and what should not happened: we lose sight! In searching my partner, I bang on about ... Tag No. 3 sought. I call, I whistle, no answer. Finally, the cell phone that will connect us. We fix an appointment at the point of a place visited before. Finally, we find ourselves, are pointing the 3. Result: At least 45 'Lost! Well, it repositions itself to focus and go again. The following do not ask us big problems, identifying specific positions is far away.
Once the 10 found, we point on the map the remaining positions, break ravito (fast, otherwise it cools quickly and we lose our concentration). For the following, we provide via the main roads or landmarks clearly visible and just one last little bearing to the station. It linked together rather well, noytre pace until the 15th. The 16 we again raises complications. Checking up the road, the border, it sticks "more or less", then control the terrain, and we can reposition ourselves just, diving toward the small stream, the path, facing the valley, and after the beacon ! Even the precious time lost. Anyway, without scoring, more racing! We touch on goal, 17, 18, and passing under the banner at the foot of Lac du Val Joly (France).
All posts found in 5:02:55 (25th), we are relatively happy with our first day. Just
recovery towards housing in the holiday village nearby (it was this transfer, on foot, which was the most "boring", in the bitter cold and exhaustion after the race). Potluck in the right mood and atmosphere of a good evening "Bibit" Trappist. The "CO Liège" and "Baba" together, it is relatively dangerous for the bar .... But this is part of the atmosphere "Karrim'HOC.
Sunday After a good night on recovery (hm hm, for some, it seems that gives Chimay a headache ...), breakfast and preparations for the second day. If the first start from 8:30 to hunt according to their ranking from the previous day, we leave in "Mass" at 09:30. The weather looks similar to the previous day.
Even running on the cards, but we must point to a different color from the beacons of the night before. Small concern indelible pen (which fades over time ...).
Do not repeat the mistake of the day, concentrate, concentrate! And it was paying the first 10 pointed in the 2hr, it looks pretty good. We are pointing on the map the rest of the posts (fortunately, a black pen found me out in the woods ...). And it goes again.
was not counting on the traditional tag recalcitrant, in this case by the "11", which we will lose at least 1:30 ... "finally does not find it! After several inspections of the land (profile, vegetation, road, compass ...) we are certain to be the right place. We cast the net wide (way back, forward), back to the previous tags, back there, nothing happens, not found for us. Then we must resign ourselves and leave the station without the point, which means putting disqualified! Is death in the soul and moral sneakers as we continue our journey, are pointing to the passage 12, 13 for fun. We pass then a member of the HOC that .... débalise! Already? ! Well, it only serves to no longer continue, we go live via the road, still enjoying this beautiful sunny afternoon and a nice walk in the woods.
Upon our arrival, our president BABA, Iwan, solicits our explanations. And yet it was well that this "11", as others have found.
Too bad. This will be our first raid CO not entirely closed. Ok, one last Chimay and go home ....
result Team 20: Rongvaux B - MICHALAK I (Mixed) - Saturday 5:02:55 (25th) - Sunday (5:02:59) P11, 14 - (10:05:54) - not Several podiums classified reward the efforts of Baba Club!
But never mind, I will come back, because the organization hosting the course and the atmosphere is quality!
