Well, I’m not riding in the RAAM but manning Time Station 1. I need two volunteers.
What do you have to do? Not much. I did it last year so I should be able to dig out all the info we have to have on hand for the teams (nearest hospitals, gas, WalMarts, etc.) Since the station is only 55 miles from the start, the teams don’t need much. We mostly just sit under an awning and shoot the breeze for a few hours on two days. When the teams roll through we answer questions and look at the bikes and team car setups.
What you need. You’ll have to commit to two partial days, I think a Saturday and a Tuesday. The Saturday is most of the day and the Tuesday is maybe 4 hours. I’ll have all the details hopefully next week. There should be at least two-three people there all the time. If you volunteer and then you decide you can’t make it, there are no excuses for flaking out on me. If you die and can’t make it, please give me at least one weeks’ notice and a replacement person.
You’ll also need a chair, a hat and some water. It’s hot up there in June. Maybe a camera so you can take pictures of the bikes.
Where is “up there”? The beautiful Lake Henshaw resort parking lot. For those of you who ride around here, it’s the lake at the bottom of Palomar’s East Grade Road. For those of you not from around here, the address is 26439 Highway 76, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070.
What you get. Last year I got a t-shirt, a cycling cap and some little Clif bars. You also get to see all the cool bikes up close. And lunch or dinner from the restaurant.
There’s some pictures of last year’s festivities at http://www.sandiegorandonneurs.com/photos_06-10-07_RAAM_TS1.html and http://www.sandiegorandonneurs.com/photos_06-12-07_RAAM_TS1.html
If you’re interested, send me a PM or email me at grumpypig@yahoo.com
alicestrong
05-07-08, 07:03 PM
Sounds like a nice opportunity for the right people....:)
Grumpy Pig
05-07-08, 08:57 PM
Sounds like a nice opportunity for the right people....:) Come down early on Saturday, June 7, have a leisurely 28 mile RT ride on E. Grade Rd, lunch at the lake cafe and catch the women's teams. You'll be home before dark.
alicestrong
05-08-08, 09:18 AM
Come down early on Saturday, June 7, have a leisurely 28 mile RT ride on E. Grade Rd, lunch at the lake cafe and catch the women's teams. You'll be home before dark.
Hmmm
Interesting idea...a bit far for me. Amtrak??
photonick
05-08-08, 03:12 PM
I can do it on a saturday but i work on tuesdays all day.
Grumpy Pig
05-08-08, 03:23 PM
I can do it on a saturday but i work on tuesdays all day.Excellent. PM me with your shirt size.
alicestrong
05-26-08, 09:08 AM
How's it going?
Grumpy Pig
05-26-08, 10:44 AM
How's it going?
OK. I've got a couple of volunteers/interested people. I was a volunteer last year so I know what to expect. Out of the 50-60 time stations this is the easiest since it's the first one.
Do you need directions to the lake?
alicestrong
05-27-08, 12:06 PM
OK. I've got a couple of volunteers/interested people. I was a volunteer last year so I know what to expect. Out of the 50-60 time stations this is the easiest since it's the first one.
Do you need directions to the lake?
Sneaky...:D
Anyone else interested in driving down there and helping out?
Chucklehead
05-27-08, 12:35 PM
I and a couple of teammates/crew members may stop by and watch some of the action.
Grumpy Pig
05-27-08, 01:32 PM
I and a couple of teammates/crew members may stop by and watch some of the action.Won't you see the same people when you're blowing by them later in the week?
Sneaky...:D
Anyone else interested in driving down there and helping out?
I probably have enough people to man the event. I belong to a club that is sponsoring the station.
Everybody is still welcome to come though. I thought it was fascinating last year but I'm easy to entertain.
Chucklehead
05-27-08, 01:37 PM
Won't you see the same people when you're blowing by them later in the week?
Hopefully. But they want to drive the first portion of the course, and I figure what better time?
IanInSD
06-05-08, 01:39 PM
GP... around what time do you expect the riders to be going thru? I might plan on driving out there, park my car and go up Palomar and then check out the action...
Ian in SD
Grumpy Pig
06-05-08, 07:09 PM
GP... around what time do you expect the riders to be going thru? I might plan on driving out there, park my car and go up Palomar and then check out the action...
Ian in SD
Probably around 3.
The anticipated times are here: http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/subwebraam/route/2008/08TSStats.pdf I received an email that said that the listed times are EST.
igoyippy4skippy
06-06-08, 01:18 PM
I am pretty sure I am taking the day off and me and chucklehead are planning on riding out to palomar to check it out
Grumpy Pig
06-06-08, 02:22 PM
Still kind of slow at the start .
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/RAAM%202008/RAAMFriday.jpg
jeff^d
06-06-08, 03:42 PM
I'm thinking about heading down Saturday or Sunday. Looking at the RAAM website, I see only two solo females registered. Am I missing something, or are there really only two racers starting on Saturday? I'd rather catch the 20+ males starting on Sunday if that's the case, I think. Thanks for the help.
igoyippy4skippy
06-06-08, 05:23 PM
yup no mistake only two solo females taking off tomorrow
WhiteCarbonDude
06-09-08, 11:03 AM
Nice little write up (http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/subwebraam/blogx.php?N_webcat_id=86&PHPSESSID=8166c4c860f5049e24c6dcc41dd6bc79)on our one and only. :D<--FRANK
Days 1 & 2 were fun. There are worse ways to spend a weekend than riding to the observatory then kicking back at the lake and napping. There were a bunch of cyclists that stopped by for snacks and water.
The big news up there wasn't the RAAM; it was the Mongols MC campout at the La Jolla Indian reservation. There were at least 40 SDSO cars in packs of 6 along with the SWAT armored car and a helo. I saw several deputies with M-16s on traffic stops. Several RAAM crewmwmbers that were pre-driving the route asked if they were RAAM support. Umm...only if your'e unlucky.
The cafe was busy.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/RAAM%202008/SDSO.jpg
I was busy too.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/RAAM%202008/TS1.jpg
Two of Chucklehead's former crewmembers.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/RAAM%202008/Crew.jpg
The hometown (Poway) favorite, Janet Christiansen.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/RAAM%202008/Christianson.jpg
Caroline Van De Bunk
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/RAAM%202008/CarolineVandeBurk.jpg
The sole 60+ solo man, Richard Rupp.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/RAAM%202008/RichardRupp.jpg
This is more typical of the local interaction with the sherriffs.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/RAAM%202008/Meeting.jpg
I'll download the pictures from Sunday later.
DScott
06-09-08, 02:02 PM
All right, Frank! Good job for getting out there to support those folks.
:beer:
Can't wait for more pics.
Grumpy Pig
06-09-08, 03:09 PM
Pictures from Sunday. The solo riders, 24-hour corporate riders and Race Across the West riders came through.
Lake Henshaw
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/LakeHenshaw.jpg
Another relaxing day.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/Relaxing.jpg
My feet got a little sunburned.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/Sunburn.jpg
Waiting for racers.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/WaitingforRiders.jpg
Swamis in the lead!
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/Swamis.jpg
Jure Robic’s team were easy to spot.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/SlovakianArmy.jpg
Most of the crews wore uniforms.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/Uniforms.jpg
Waiting for a handoff.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/Waiting.jpg
Here she comes.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/TeamRider.jpg
I couldn’t believe this guy went sleeveless in the sun. I hope he can move his arms today.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/Sleeveless.jpg
Inside of a team van.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/TeamVan.jpg
Storck? Never heard of them.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/Storck.jpg
Captain Ron. He wolfed down a cheeseburger and fries in about 3 bites and took off.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/CaptRon.jpg
Captain Ron’s crewmember Steve. He had a surfboard lashed to the top of their 4-Runner.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/SurferSteve.jpg
#122 was cramping bad. They worked on him for over ½ hour. When he left, two crewmembers held his bike while he clipped in, then gave him a push.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/Cramping.jpg
Storck is German. They make super-light frames like the Fascenario.
jsigone
06-09-08, 04:38 PM
great pics!!!
Grumpy Pig
06-12-08, 09:21 AM
Wednesday was the last day. The cross country teams started on Wednesday.
I found these guys at the palomar general store
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/Store.jpg
and went to the observatory with them.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/Observatory.jpg
Then we hung out with StrangeWill and Chucklehead.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/TimeStation.jpg
The film crew was here again.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/FilmCrew.jpg
They rigged a video camera to aerobars.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/Filming.jpg
The ride from the coast to the lake is a little hilly so mostly we just waited.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/TeamsWaiting.jpg
Even with a back injury, Chucklehead was able to run out in the road to chase a ball.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/Getoutofthestreet.jpg
Riders started coming in and some of the teams changed riders. I don't know what the patches are for on this rider's arms.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii204/grumpypig/Nicoderm.jpg