Scouting Saddleback Marathon Trails

I managed to head to The Saddleback Mountains this past Sunday to scout some of the marathon trails. It was a warm Autumn day for sure – our cool down trend has not occurred but is much anticipated. Anyway, Blue Jay Campground was closed for improvements. They’re fixing it up for us! I cannot tell you how great it was to be back up in that campground. (Yes, I snuck in!).

Anyway, below are some quick pictures of mainly San Juan Trail and The Viejo Tie which are part of the marathon course. We’ve got fresh poison oak out there, which is normal. And only one fallen tree (so far). Overall, except for some overgrowth, the trails look great.

More previews to follow.

The Main Divide on the Way in:

Poison Oak

San Juan Trail:

San Juan Trail, close to Viejo Tie

Viejo Tie

Saddleback Marathon 2019 is on the Books!

We were hit with big rains a couple of weeks leading up to the Saddleback Marathon (and ½!) Time was fleeting, and I worried that we would not get enough water stashed. Thank God for help. When Yi Feng (Marathon 4th overall) emailed asking for clarification on the route, I mentioned that I was doing a water drop and he could join me. He did. And he carried water! Then Dave Wiskowski messaged with an offer to mark San Juan trail (which he marked the hell out of, and he had to do it twice because someone, grrrrrr, was taking ties down). Dave dropped some water too!

We got a couple of days reprieve from the rain the week prior -- I checked the weather report constantly, and the forecast fluctuated. The forecast always read rain, but the percent varied from 10 to 60 percent for Saturday, December 7. Meanwhile, the US Forest Service worked behind the scenes that last two weeks to get lower Blue Jay opened for us because the entire lower campgrounds (race headquarters) were closed due to hazardous trees. We were looking at other race locations, even got a quick approval from the California Conservation Corps to use their parking lot about a mile away. We came up with an alternate Start/Finish but ultimately did not need to use it because the Forest Service really came through for us. They got the trees cut down and the area inspected in time to open for the race.

That last week was rushed and crazy. I felt like a deer in the middle of the road staring down the headlights, frozen. I had lectures to plan (3 of them) and computer labs to run (3 of them), plus regular life like boys’ music concerts and getting everyone to their places. So, basically, I shoved all the packing and organizing to Friday. So many stupid things were missed (like sorting the roster alphabetically!). Again, thank God for help (my family and a super group of volunteers!)

I picked up the bibs in Newport Beach Friday morning, and then hurried home to finish packing. After pulling my youngest son, Lucas, out of school, we headed off up Hwy 74 (Ortega Highway) to Blue Jay Campground. The time was 2:30 pm and it was raining. About thirty minutes in, I pulled into the Ortega Oaks Candy Store to get a signal and text my husband, but also to treat Lucas since he was in for many hours of work at zero dollars an hour (but on the up side, he got to camp, and he has always been the most enthusiastic about camping out of my 3 boys).

With Lucas in the store picking out some treats, I remembered the earlier years working races up here. Lucas was 7 or 8, before his voice changed. He has always known Old Goat Races. It is part of his tradition. It felt good to be parked in the rain right there at the candy store. I got a chance to gather my thoughts and collect these quick memories that were rushing in. Rain was falling pretty hard and I had no idea what to expect. Whew. Looking back, that feeling of the unknown is something akin to riding a roller coaster or dare I say, running a trail? The unknown is scary, but it’s exhilarating which I suppose is why I (or rather, we) took on this wonderful adventure.

We were not alone the night before in the secluded lower campgrounds of Blue Jay. Whitney Shepherd, long-time and trusted Old Goat volunteer had a bed set up in the back of her car. And three young men from BYU (Nate Medsker, Austin Christenson and Time Maughan) purchased a campsite with their marathon registration. The rain certainly had not dampened their spirits. They drove down to Elsinore for take-out Olive Garden and drove back up the mountain for campsite dining. No other campers arrived that Friday before, though several had purchased sites with their registration. Lindsay Nicoson (2nd place female, marathon) arrived in the evening for pre-race check-in. (I’m so glad that I drove out to Newport Beach to pick up the bibs!).  

I did not want to set up our tent in the rain and spent the time instead marking Long Canyon Road with signs and ribbons. When the rain finally stopped, my son and I found ourselves pitching the tent under darkness. Lucas was not thrilled about this. Darkness, however, is far better than rain in my eyes. But now we were rushed, as I had left the tent to last minute and I really wanted it up before my husband, Dave, arrived. He had done so much already, I wasn’t going to ask him to put up our tent too! When he finally did arrive, we had the tent up, and Lucas had lugged up all the wood and had a fire burning (in the rain!)

Winding down the night with a campfire, the clouds parted some and I was happy to see stars even though a cloudless night meant colder temperatures. Whitney, Lucas and I sat beneath a canopy until 10pm. Lights were completely out by a quarter past ten. My family was sleeping comfortably on mattresses that Lucas had pumped with air. I was nervous, but also content being back in these campgrounds. The last time we had camped here was for Chimera 2018. For the past 7 or so years I have camped in these very campgrounds every March, September and November (and then some on a few family outings that had nothing to do with trail running).  It was good to be back. 

It was a cold, wet night this time around. I awoke at 1:30 am to a downpour. And the downpour continued for many hours. I remember looking at my watch again and again hunkered down in my sleeping bag, each time relieved that we were some hours out from start time. I didn’t know how this whole thing was going to pan out, and I wasn’t very optimistic in those dark, wet hours. I worried that no one was going to show up. I recall quick little dreams of standing in the pouring rain trying to give race instructions. It was a long night.

  

5:00 am, Dave and I were up and headed down the hill. I merely put on a pair of shoes and a coat and slapped a beanie on my head (dressed-up Pjs!). Dave got the stove up and water boiling for coffee and hot chocolate. Whitney and I worked on checking in the runners. And just before sunrise, Lt  (Negative Split Timing) was doing his set-up for chip timing. It was all starting to come together despite the weather, as the runners, yes, those wonderful crazies, began arriving at 6:00 am. They definitely were not afraid to run in the rain. (Afraid to camp in the rain maybe -- one runner who paid for camping said that he didn’t come out because of the rain, to which among our dearest volunteers Whitney replied: “We camped last night. Are we dead?”)

Hot Springs Aid station crew arrived for gear after the early start. (Julia Holt, Rick Herr, and Matt Ruiz -- all have been involved with this race since the Baz days)  They would be meeting up with Leon Gray and Mark English at the bottom of the mountain, the turnaround for the marathon (with a 10:30 am hard cutoff). About the same time, Tom Barr took off from the start/finish to the hike-in station at Cocktail Rock. That location would be about mile 6 for the runners, but with a short cut straight out “Old” San Juan Trail, Tom would make it in about 2.5 miles. Still concerned about water (even in these wet conditions -- what was I thinking? I wasn’t thinking), I asked Tom to carry in a gallon along with the small first aid kit and gels. And then lastly, but definitely not least Dave Tan and Melinda arrived with a long day ahead of them sweeping the course. 

We had 55 registrations and 42 starters. Early start took off at 6:30 am. Marathon regular start left at 7:30 am. The half marathon began at 8:00 am. (One mistake I made here was to list one check-in time beginning at 6:00 am, when in reality, many of the runners did not need to show up that early. Next year, we’ll specify different check-in times!)

  

There was only a slight drizzle for each start time. My main goal with the race instructions was to make it simple so that runners didn’t get lost. I have gotten lost at a couple of races -- one of them an Xterra race in the Santa Monica Mountains and another, one of Baz’s 50k, re-routed due to snow, on the very trails that we were running for Saddleback 2019. It is crucial to me that no runner gets lost, and with reports of ribbons being torn down by a couple of mountain bikers the day prior, I focused on simple important directions. Number one direction: Never leave the trail -- on the way out, always veer right at a "T", and on the way back veer left. SECONDLY, when you come to a four-way intersection, always run straight through. And LASTLY, If you end up at a waterfall, turn around and go back because you veered off San Juan Trail. (“But bring me back a picture of the falls!” Whitney added).

Soon after the last starters, I took off in my truck and headed up Long Canyon Road, removing ribbons, because we needed to mark a different (slightly longer) way back to the finish line. It wasn’t raining, but the weather was cold. I still had not changed out of my flannel pajama pants (but I had brushed my teeth and managed to run a brush through my hair!). I met up with Whitney walking her dog, Leo, and she offered to remove the remaining ribbons. I drove off to San Juan Trailhead to switch the direction of the signs. And what perfect timing -- that’s where I saw Steve and Annie Harvey driving the Goat Mobile into the campgrounds. What a delight! I would not be directing the Saddleback Marathon if it wasn’t for Steve. I was so happy to see them, but the rain was beginning to fall again, and I still needed to mark the remainder of Long Canyon Road and Falcon Trail.

Hiking Falcon Trail in flannel pants was not well thought out. It was beautiful, and I truly enjoyed it BUT my pants became drenched and heavy, and full of plant stickers. 

The Final Stretch -- Falcon Trail Turn Off

Some memories drifted in as I marked the end of Falcon Trail -- I nearly teared up recalling the emotion of running through that shoot toward the finish line of Baz’s Saddleback Marathon. And then hanging out there again, cheering runners coming through when the Old Goat (Steve Harvey) had it. I have always loved runs in these mountains. They are special to me and many others.  

The Last of the Trail, Finish is just around the corner!

I was back at the Start/Finish line by 10:00 am. In time to see Steve and Annie a little longer. Chili was on the stove (big batches of meat and vegan). The hot chocolate and marshmallows were a hit with the spectator children.  It was still raining, but it was no downpour. By my calculations, the ½ marathon runners would not be arriving until 10:30 am (and that was with excellent pace). So back at camp, none of the finisher medals were put on their lanyards. David and Whitney were both busy getting the post race festivities and meal ready. Thinking that we still had plenty of time, I headed up to the tent to change my clothes. I had a pair of jeans in my hands when I heard cheers from down below. I bolted down the hill as quickly as I could, threw my jeans in the back of my truck and was able to get this picture of our first place ½ marathon runner, Doug Herman (2:10:58) -- what a great time on these trails!

Doug Hermann, 1st place overall 1/2 Marathon

I am kicking myself because after that, I left the scene momentarily to change my clothes and I missed photo finishes of the next placers for the ½ marathon. Nixon Gallardo (age 17) and Salvador Avila (age 15!) came in within 1 second apart after that.  It wasn’t long after that the top 3 females came in: Samantha Avila (age 15!) at 2:14:14 and following quickly after, Linda Vigil and Holly Palmer.  (Special awards for the placers & dfl was an ounce of silver each, different design silver round for each place.) 

(Click here for all photos of race day on our Facebook Page and please send more if you have any)

Jesse Cardoza, 1st place overall Marathon (Another great time!)

Marathon Top 3 Females:

1 Taylor Sherman / 4:50:52

2 Lindsay Nicoson / 5:18:06

3 Laura Goff / 7:53:45

Marathon Top 3 Males:

1 Jesse Cardoza / 3:31:19

2 Nate Medsker / 3:57:56

3 Eric Palmer / 4:27:12

½ Marathon Top 3 Females:

1 Samantha Avila / 2:14:14

2 Linda Vigil / 2:20:59

3 Holly Palmer / 2:34:01

½ Marathon Top 3 Males:

1 Doug Herman / 2:10:58

2 Nixon Gallardo / 2:11:07

3 Salvador Avila / 2:11:08

Full Results here (NegativeSplitRunning)

What a great group of runners and volunteers we had. For some, this was their first trail marathon, for others, their first run in these mountains and/or trails. That delights me to no end. These are some beautiful trails. To top it off, everyone had great attitudes, and it rained on them for much of the race. I wish that I got know all of the runners' stories for this race. I got to hear a few of their tales, and it was as I expected, the Saddleback Marathon was an exhilarating challenge that tested both the physical and mental, that in the end, no matter how you fared, left a smile on your face (at least eventually). This was no minor feat! 

The day turned out better than I expected. Fantastic runners, great friends and family. I got to see some running and volunteering friends, some I have not seen in a long time. (Emmett Rahl and Doug Malewicki ran the 1/2 marathon, Donn Ozaki and Stephen De La Cruz ran the full, Tom Barr worked Cocktail Rock, Julia Holt, Rick Herr, Matt Ruiz, Mark English, and Leon Gray worked Hot Springs Canyon, Whitney Shepherd, came in the night before and helped tons throughout the race, Dave Tan swept the course with help from Melinda and of course Lt, long time timing favorite spent the day with us as well!) 

Meet my friend Doug Malewicki who has completed 80 revolutions around the sun. He also ran the 1/2 Marathon on Saturday. Doug is an inspiration to many. He talked me through my very first trip of W. Horsethief -- for those of you who know the trail -- yikes, I had no idea what lay ahead. He said we could do it in 45 minutes, he warned me not to look at the top, and we marched right up that thing in precisely 45 minutes. Doug also lead the way for my very first Saddleback Marathon (2010). I took the early start with two girlfriends. I phoned Baz (whom I had never met) the night before and requested an early start. He cussed me out on the phone -- in a good way, for those of you who know Baz know what I mean -- and allowed an early start. We set off with Doug until he ran ahead to finish marking the course.

Saddleback Marathon 2019 

 

What a great day. Saddleback Marathon 2019 is on the books!

Point to Point Hike (San Juan Trail)

It has been much too long since I last hit the trails (8/10/19). Eleven days ago to be precise. And then school happened -- my two youngest boys went back to school, and so did I. It all came like a whirlwind and I am off kilter just a bit. I am back to teaching at one of my schools, and at another beginning next week. Gosh, it all came like a fast. I still feel a little out of sorts. Summer vacation was like a race to me, a race to check things off my list. Well, the end of my summer vacation has ended, and I did get some things done. I so feared that I would not. And I was constantly critical of myself over whether I was doing enough. Well, I didn't get everything done. But I certainly did enough. And the most important things, they got a check mark. 

I'm also back to working on Old Goat races (more about that later), so my last hike was to measure San Juan Trail in it's entirety, from Blue Jay campgrounds down to Hot Springs Canyon. You can bet in the middle of the summer, the only way I was going to do this hike was to do it one way -- the downhill way. 

Early that morning (but not terribly early -- 8:30), I met a friend of mine, Jose, and his neighbor, Pedro, at Hot Springs Canyon Road. We drove into the canyon and parked Jose's car. Then the guys got in my truck and we drove to the top of the mountain and parked in Blue Jay campgrounds before setting out on San Juan Trail. The trail was beautiful with views going for miles and miles, as far as the Pacific Ocean. And can you believe it, we were the only people on them. We had some shade, especially in the first third. But after that, the trail is pretty exposed, and the weather was hot. Hot but bearable. There was a tad of uphill, but overall the 12+ mile trip was technical downhill. The fun stuff!

About five miles down, Jose realized that he had left the keys to his car in my truck. Oops. This was indeed a situation being that it was his car down at the bottom of the mountain that we were going to drive back to my truck. I was not so concerned about this. To me, this was just part of the adventure, and I enjoyed the rest of the trip without a thought to the matter. One thing for sure, I wasn't willing to hike five miles uphill back to my truck. I just trusted the guys would figure something out, and if not there was always my husband or son that I could call (if I could get a signal that is). 

Somewhere in the final switchbacks (look at that lovely pictured below!), Pedro got a cell signal and phoned a friend to meet us at the fire station on Ortega Highway and Hot Springs Canyon Road. We picked up our pace some at that point because we still had quite a ways to travel to the station. I estimate the friend who was driving out to rescue us was about twenty minutes away. We on the other hand were about 2 miles from Jose's car and another mile to the station (which means that our hike was not 12+ miles, it was 13+)

Just about the last tenth of a mile before the bottom of  San Juan Trail, I slipped in the loose dirt on a turn in the trail, and then on my fall, slipped again. I felt like the top half of my body twisted one way, while the bottom half twisted in the other direction. It was quite a jolt. I recall Pedro rushing in to help me up but I just couldn't really focus at the moment. It's like I had to take a moment to process the pain, accept it and then finally get up and get going. Once I did that, I just had to pretend and ignore the pain until I got home and could deal with it. I should point out that I was confident that my injuries were not serious, no broken bones or anything like that. At the worst, I felt I could have torn some tendons in my foot, as the twist and subsequent feeling in my foot felt very similar to the time I tore tendons in my foot on West Horsethief Trail. 

Every hike or run is an adventure, isn't it? Pedro's friend was waiting for us at the station. I drove up the mountain with him, leaving the other two behind because his truck had only two seats. I wish that I remembered his name because he is definitely worth mentioning. What a good friend he was to Pedro. He told me, and I could tell that he was uncomfortable driving up that windy mountain road. I believe he said that it had been 15 years since he had driven up Ortega. I didn't blame him. I used to be scared to death of driving to the top of the mountain (I'm still a tiny bit scared). Anyway, Pedro's friend spoke little English, and I spoke even littlier Spanish, so our communication was challenging. He had no idea what he was in for, and yet he did it with a friendly smile. He got me back safely to my truck. And we both drove back down to the fire station on Ortega Highway and Hot Springs Canyon Road to meet up with the other guys.

It really was a lovely hike. San Juan Trail is challenging, even on the downhill. I was sore for a few days after my fall. When I dress for work now, I make sure that my dress covers my knees so that the scab doesn't show. It is healing up quickly now though. And the scrapes on my arms are barely noticeable. 

All's well that ends well. 

Chimera 2018 Behind-The-Scenes

Chimera 2018 is finished. First we thought there would be no Chimera ‘18. The fires burned through much of the course. And then just about 6 weeks out, RD Steve Harvey got approval for a revised course – “The Candy Store Loop”, 5 loops for 100 miles (approximately). Difficult course, perhaps not as difficult as the previous Chimera courses, but difficult indeed (and what 100 miles wouldn’t be?). On a good day, when I am fit and have lots of miles on my belt, it takes me 6 hours to complete a slightly longer version of this loop (my version is 21 miles). Conceivably, it could take me 30 hours to finish five loops, but there’s no way that I would be able to keep the 6 hour pace after the first loop. The cut-off for Chimera 2018 was 34 hours. There were very few 100 mile finishers (7 completed).

The course: Start in lower Blue Jay campgrounds and run up Old San Juan Trail near the outhouses at the top of the road -- from there, quickly cut left to San Juan Trail. Run San Juan Trail past the Chiquita trailhead and turn left at The Viejo Tie, then turn right at Chiquita Trail and take that to San Juan Loop to the left to end up at the parking lot across the street from the candy store on Ortega Highway (Ortega Oaks Candy Store). The way back is the same, except runners take the other half of San Juan Loop back to Chiquita.

After weeks of prep, show time began Friday, November 16. I got up to the campgrounds around noon, partially set up camp (mainly the tent, pillows & wood). Steve had the shelters set up at the start/finish line. Stoves, heaters, lanterns, canned goods, tables, cooking utensils and such were unpacked. Whitney S. (AS captain at The Candy Store) was down in Lake Elsinore buying the food. It felt good to be back in the Cleveland National Forest. There were quite a few campsites available in “upper” Blue Jay. People weren’t really in a rush, I suppose, to campout here 3 weeks into November. Even at 3 pm, the weather was quite cool as I waited for Chris D. He and his friend Bill H. are regular volunteers and they always request the most remote station. One awesome perk about that is Bill is a licensed HAM operator. But this time around, Chris’s truck couldn’t drive to the most remote station -- they had to pack it in to Chiquita Falls. It would take runners about six miles to reach the falls. By cutting the course, you can get to the location in about 3.25 miles. And for weeks we had been doing that -- stashing water (about 90 gallons total) near that site.

Friday afternoon Chris, myself  and Ace (a Wisconsin who was camping with his wife and baby, volunteered on the spot, and remained with us until the end) hiked out to Chiquita Falls with the remaining gear: a small table, two sleeping bags, a lightweight tent, lanterns, extra batteries, glow sticks and other essentials. I must mention that the terrain to Chiquita Falls is technical and difficult in places. The last three-quarters of half mile coming back into camp is the most difficult with a terrible incline (or great incline, depending on how you look at it). We were all really pushing the pace Friday afternoon, having left the camp a little after 3:00 pm. We got caught by darkness with about a mile remaining which was not a bad thing. But I wasn’t sure if my text had gone through to my husband saying where I was when he arrived and I was not back. The company was delightful. I hardly had to talk at all, instead listening to interesting tales, occasionally chuckling and feeling glad to be out on the trails even though I hadn’t felt like going out originally.  The sunset was striking -- set against pinkish-orange wispy clouds. We could see the ocean from of the higher points. And that transition period between light and dark was eerily beautiful. The weather was still and the weather and growing colder. Eventually, I had to switch on my headlamp (which I held in my hand because it was too dark to figure out the adjustments -- and I didn’t want to stop because we were on THE MOVE).

Back at camp at 5:40 pm, I had dinner with my husband and two of our boys. Then I worked on setting up the start/finish line for registration early the next morning. I finally lay down to sleep at about midnight, and it seemed that I did not sleep a single wink the whole 5 hours that I lay there. I wore a long sleeve thermal shirt, flannel pajama pants, socks, a knit a beanie, and zipped all the way in my sleeping bag, I still froze. Damn was it cold! I could hear the zombies panting outside my tent.

I was happy to bounce up Saturday morning when my alarm rang out at 5:00 am. It meant that I could move around and get warm. Volunteers were already busy checking in runners at the registration table. Whitney had packed up and was at The Candy Store. Mike E., Noel S., and Steve’s daughter Kate were directing parking along Long Canyon Road. Chris and Bill were down at the start line, ready to head out to Chiquita Falls for the next 24+ hours. And the Hailey, Christine and her friend were ready to hike out to the San Juan Trail aid station.  All of the stations would have at least three shift changes, except for Chiquita Falls which would not change shifts until Sunday morning at 7:30 am.

Saturday (11/17) early morning check-in:Chris & Bill getting ready to head out to Chiquita Falls:Part of the Blue Jay AS morning crew:

Chimera 2018 Aid Stations:

1. Blue Jay (located at start/finish line in lower Blue Jay Campgrounds off of Ortega Highway)
2. Chiquita/San Juan Junction (around 2.4 miles on first trip for the runners).
3. Chiquita Falls (about mile 6)
4. Candy Store (mile 10)

Once race day arrived, my job was actually much easier compared to prior years when I needed to coordinate pick-ups and drop-offs on The Main Divide. This year, the weeks leading up were much tougher (stashing water, clearing the trail). But this year, race day was much easier for me. I made sure I was down at the start line to greet shift changes, draw up maps, go over things with the volunteers, and coordinate equipment drop off. The Blue Jay station was so well-staffed though, that after I showed the various shifts where everything was, the station was up and running without me. Head chef was Steve’s daughter Kate (her vegan chili, burgers and tomato basil soup were superb). 

At the homestead:Freezing our asses off Saturday night (11/17):

So, were there mishaps in the volunteer coordination and logistics? Of course there were. There always is. Maps can be drawn, but under darkness, or other conditions (like cold!) turns are missed, directives are forgotten. But no mishap was detrimental, and in the long run, everything worked out great, and the volunteers went above and beyond (again and again). Case in point: the so-called Chiquita/San Juan Junction aid station was set-up at the wrong location -- it was actually short quite a bit, and nowhere really near Chiquita Trail. I think the best thing about this error was that the volunteers got to be in a much more comfortable area (especially during the cold of night) because of its close location and tree coverage.  And I did not learn of this until Sunday afternoon. Ignorance is bliss. There was nothing to fix, the runners found their way, and the volunteers got a much cozier location.

But the poor guys at Chiquita. We had radio contact with them, and on 3 occasions they were told that hamburgers from the grill were on the way. All 3 times, they were delivered to the wrong aid station (which was also in the wrong location). And then, the replacement crew (bless their hearts!) got lost on the way to Chiquita (I drew maps, I did, but I don’t think anyone looked at them.) When I heard that the Chiquita Falls replacements hadn’t showed up by 8am, I grew quite concerned, but later learned that the two volunteers figured it out and made it. Whew! Chris and Bill finally made it back to the start line from 24+ hours at Chiquita Falls. And the first thing that Chris joked was that he had lost all faith in humanity (being told on 3 occasions that burgers were on their way out to them, only to never arrive!). To top that off, it got damn cold out there deep in the valley -- Chris claimed that the sleeping bags we hiked out the day prior saved their lives! I can imagine how cold it was. We all froze that night at the start/finish line. Really, it was damn cold! (About 39 degrees at the candy store, and I believe we were probably colder).

Todd V with Chris and Bill, & Ace between them (after returning from Chiquita Falls):

As usual, the help we received from volunteers was immeasurable. They put in countless hours in sometimes uncomfortable circumstances. It was just more of “what can we do to get it done?”

It really does take a village to get this race done. In no particular order (except RD Steve and wife, Annie, are first), here is a pretty complete list of the actors who put Chimera 2018 on the books:

Steve and Annie Harvey, Ace and Shannon, Mike E, Noel S, Cat O (& spouse), Yen D, Tom and Minerva B, Tom T, Kat, Christine H (& friend), Hailey A, Joyce L (& four friends), Walt H, Stefan B, Chris D, Bill H, Rob N, Jessica, Whitney S, Leon, Ryan B, Chris F, Tracy K, Nancy I, Dave T, Colleen S (& 2 friends), Todd V, LT, Jean, Laura, Kate, Lexi (& hubby), Lucas M, Leonard Z, Victor, Mark, AND AT MININUM TEN MORE! (I wish that I had everyone’s names) 

Looks like I have a little time off for now. Happy Thanksgiving!