TrackTown, USA: I am going to start this column with a food photo and end this column with a food photo. (Probably not the first time.) Truth is, I am so busy watching the meet and talking about track with our posse, there isn't much time to photograph.
Just when you think your brother loves you, he goes to Spain and taunts you with text-messaged photos of the Patatas Bravas he is enjoying without you. Cruel! Rick and Ali are in Barcelona, living their best life and eating my favorite tapas often. Have fun, you two!
Dave and I had a quiet morning, hanging around waiting for our favorite RV tech, Brian Van De Walker, to tick a few things off our list. Don't know if you are keeping track, but the RV door (not the passenger/driver doors) handle was broken. This happened while we were camping with the grandkids in Lake Havasu. To get inside our RV during this entire trip, one of us has to climb into the cab, get into the RV and open the door. It really hasn't been that big of a hassle on this trip, but obviously something that needed to be repaired. Also, do you recall DT and I attempted to fix this issue after watching a YouTube video, but could not fix it ourselves?
Thus, our Guru Brian. While Brian was servicing the generator, Dave removed the door lock panel (since he had done this once already during our repair attempt), and Brian took one look at the situation and had it fixed in a minute. Dave watched him do the repair and 100% positive he will never remember what Brian did to remedy the issue... luckily for us Brian is in the Coachella Valley in the winter and in Oregon in the summer. Brian also found our kitchen sink leak and replaced the seal, then hooked-up a trickle-charger situation for our chassis battery (for when it is parked for long periods). We are good to go! I sent Brian on his way with a sandwich.
Today was prelims for the female athletes. Same events as yesterday for the guys. Basically the same time-line as well. The only men on the track/field today were the second-day decathletes. The weather was just outstanding. Not too hot; and not too windy in the late afternoon.
Can't even imagine how many photos I have taken of decathletes as they finish the last event - 1500m. It is such an emotional moment. Just think you have been running, jumping and throwing for two days with the same men, and then have to run a mile? Ugh. They do it! They cheer for each other. They hug. They cry. Mississippi State junior Peyton Bair won the decathlon in a college-leading score (8323 points). Bair is the first American to win the NCAA decathlon in ten years.
The Lady Ducks did not have a great day, but three women advanced to the 1500m final, and one advanced in the 110m hurdles. Oregon junior Emily Fitzsimmons, finished 6th in the pole vault final. The Ducks had a racer in the 10000m, but she dropped out, and we have yet to learn the details on his situation. We will see what happens in the 1500m final Saturday.
This morning I prepped everything for a big salad for our late dinner after the meet. The last two new potatoes from Sister Gina and one egg were boiled. There was lettuce (iceberg!), baby tomatoes, an avocado and Kalamata olives - with a jar of Italian tuna in oil. Dang if this wasn't good and devoured!
The next two days of the meet will be super exciting. All finals all the time. ESPN. Late afternoon pacific time. Check for local listings, but watch. The kids - a our sport - need your support!
Until my next update, I remain, your repaired correspondent.
Campground Information: Eugene Premier RV Resort - Huge campground at exit 199 on I-5 (and I mean right on I-5). Full service sites, back-ins, pull-throughs, nice landscaping and a pons, bathhouses and laundry. Pool in season. Rally facilities. We are paying $87 per night for a front-end site facing the pond... but our back-end is really close to the noisy freeway.