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Stuck on a Rock
Its 10:56PM on Sunday night. I just learned that Team Mighty Dog has been held at the Ropes section since 4:37PM today due to weather. The Leaderboard shows them in 17th place at CP40 while the GPS tracking system shows them at CP41. CP 40 is before the ropes and CP 41 is at Castle Rock. Apparently lighting storms have held up 10 teams in this location. Thinking that they were almost done, I'm sure most teams did not take enough food or their heavier sleeping bag, etc. for a 5 hour stay on an exposed rock.
The good news is that teams are now moving from CP40 according to the Leaderboard. Unforunately, we have no communications with CP41 to know if the teams which had already past CP40 are also moving and if so, are they going up through the ropes course or around.
I was sleeping by the finish line banner when Dancing Pandas' family woke me to tell me the news. We (Mighty Dog and Dancing Pandas' fans) have been at the finish line waiting since 6PM when at one time the GPS tracking system showed Mighty Dog on the water. A race of this length is hard of the team for sure, but it is also hard on the families. The PQ website is a great resource for information, but GPS systems are not flawless. Batteries die or antennas fall off in their little yellow boxes and you loose communications with the team. Even though this is stressful, everyone I have talked to will take a little communication even with hiccups over not having the updates at all.
True Grit and Moat came in while we were waiting. It was great to see the reunion of these families. JP, you've got a great Mom racing with Team Moat. I enjoyed collecting rocks with you.
Finishing PQ is not like finishing any other race. Its the tough of the toughest, hard of the hardest, long of the longest and somehow changes your life.
A family member's wish list for the next PQ might be:
1) make the race more spectator friendly;
2) give the team access to their guest book at TAs; friends and family post wonderful messages to their love ones but the team doesn't get them until after the race;
3) make it supported
I'll be here all night. I'll post when I know they are moving towards the final paddle.
Sherry O.