ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE WEKIWA WOODS

Well, this was our second (or was it third?) attempt at coordinating an event, and I think this was the best yet. Beautiful weather, 83 maps out (it must have been over 200 people, but I haven’t got a final count from Bob yet.), and no major mishaps. I must admit, with the situation at the park as it has been, I was somewhat (a lot) nervous about all this, but it went very well. Of course, this had very little to do with anything Steve or I did and everything to do with all the great help we got. The nicest thing about coordinating this event was that I got three terrific days in the woods for coordinating one event. What a bargain!

First, thanks to Bob Putnam for designing the courses. He provided me with a map at the LBE event, and a couple of weeks later the family went out to tag flag locations. This occurred on that last pleasantly cool weekend (you remember the one - probably the last one we’ll see till somewhere around October). That’s when we discovered that Lake Previtt was bone dry. We considered a control in the middle of what is now a meadow, but decided the abundance of dehydrated fish would probably be a turn-off to some folks.

Then, thanks to my daughter Kris, who went out with me Friday before the event to set controls for the White, Orange and Yellow courses. This after she had been rudely awakened by my dog, who was terrified when a strong thunderstorm passed by. The sky threatened all afternoon, and Kris kept a rather wary look to the west, but it turned out to be a beautiful day. We saw many deer, quail, an owl, a wild turkey and a multitude of woodpeckers. All in all a lovely hike in the woods, and we got the flags out as well.

Then the day of the event, Mother Nature cooperated and gave us great weather, not too hot, partly cloudy in the afternoon. As we pulled up to the gate to the Youth Camp a few minutes after 8:00, Russ Steineke pulled in right behind us. Russ earned a gold star - no, five gold stars - for everything he did to help. Every member of FLO should tell this man ‘thank you’ the next time they see him. First and foremost, Russ volunteered to handle parking to make sure that nobody parked on the roads or any other place designated as off limits by the rangers. He met with the rangers to go over the rules and requirements, made signs, posted them first thing in the morning, then directed parking all day. The result: not a single incident of improper parking. Then, after all of this, he stayed till the very end and helped clean the hall! Thanks also go to Allen Wilson and Tom Reynolds, who assisted Russ with parking.

Other people who helped were Janet Putnam, who did her usual great job at registration, assisted by Ray Brueneau. With a map count of 83, there were a couple of times they could have used another set of hands. Bob Putnam set the Green and Red controls Saturday morning. Frank Kuhn was FLO’s goodwill ambassador, greeting people and directing them to all the right places. Steve Savrda covered Start/Finish, I did most of the map instruction with some help from Bob, and Ken Ferris, Joe Malueseski, Bob and Janet Putnam, and Steve pulled controls. Russ, Steve, Tom and Ken all stayed to help take out garbage and clean the hall. If I’ve forgotten anybody, please forgive me - your help was appreciated even if I didn’t get your name written down at the event.

I did not notice any major problems. Bob was somewhat embarrassed about a mis-placed flag or two on the Red course, and I’m still not sure that we really got Orange 5 right at the ‘top of the hill’. The firebreak and indistinct trail that show on the map as nice handrails to the top have become somewhat overgrown with pine saplings. I warned any beginners I talked to about it and gave them a couple of hints on how to find it, but several people still commented on how tricky it was. Lots of people on Orange, and not as many on White and Yellow as usual. In fact, there were only three White maps out. People seemed to want to go for the longer courses, even if they were beginners. Maybe it was the weather. We try to explain to everyone that it’s not just the length, it’s the level of difficulty in finding the controls, but sometimes they have to try it to believe it. I had one couple, experienced hikers who had never orienteered, insist on going out on the Green course. To their credit, they made it back. But in the future I think I will try a little harder to make sure a beginner doesn’t get out on a course that could get them in trouble. As for the courses, my general impression was that times seemed a bit long, but I’m not an expert - we’ll have to confer with Bob or Ron about that.

So, this terribly inexperienced coordinator has survived another event, thanks to all the help. Everyone came back, no major injuries and no problems in the park. What more could I ask?

 

Results Wekiva Springs May 15, 1999

White Class Time

DiSalvatore G-9 40:22

V2EL-4 47:02

Ferris-3 55:52

Yellow

Patrick Kiley 21:20

Sanger-5 31:02

Dave Moraseski 32:55

Kiley/Kiley G-2 38:00

Kelly G-3 39:15

Richter G-4 46:19

White-3 47:08

Chissoe G-3 50:02

KerseyA-YMCA 50:06

KerseyB-YMCA 50:23

Schemerhorn 51:33

VZEL-4 53:59

Team 3 55:18

Savrda/Burrow G-3 71:00

Player G-3 71:00

Stebbins-2 72:32

Fishinger 3 G-3 89:04

Canty G-2 DNF

Orange

Matt Mohoney 41:35

Reynolds 69:44

Boettcher M 70:19

Wells M 71:19

Maze M 71:41

Peterson G-2 79:46

Johnson-2 84:33

Steinke 84:55

Borah G-7 80:49

Cox M 87:16

Kelly 88:30

Oviedo#1 G-3 91:30

Lee & Sue Baker G-2 97:35

Kern G-3 104:53

ROTC W. Orange G-5 106:21

Stevens 107:25

Black-1 111:11

Player-3 117:25

Yeadon-2 119:45

Brown 122:11

Lauterer G-4 123:13

Plaice G-3 125:20

Agar-2 126:55

Oviedo#2 G-3 132:18

Danagher G-3 144:53

Boone#2 157:17

Maliborski G-2 157:20

Boone#1 160:06

Mark Iafrate G-4 DNF

Labrot G-3 DNF

Manatee#3 DNF

Dunne-2 DNF

Matthews G-2 DNF

Young G-3 DNF

Green

Dempsey 76:43

Seymour 80:00

Dan Maraseski 96:51

Wilson 104:39

Chase-2 114:50

J. Moraseski G-2 116:33

Matione/Jamick G-2 130:00

J. Yeadon 2 149:37

Carraway 170:51

Walter G-2 193:34

Red

Eaglin M 65:00

Albert Hofmann 65:13

Arild Orsleie S-1 67:18

Zerfas F-21 86:14

Bev Ousley F 86:24

Matt Mahoney M 88:38

Ray Brueneau S-1 89:00

Brewster G-2 99:53

Carr G-2 99:53

Maliszewski-1 121:50

Seac#1 165:08

Rocking Chair 165:48

Team 1 196:48

Lynch G-2 229:06

Team 2 DNF

Cagnin DNF

Fairall-2 DNF

Spiegler DNF