Yep, the water IS really clear in Clearwater, FL. White sand and blue, blue water. Awesome.
Okay, let me back up a tad. This trip started with us coming straight down from IM FL in Panama City Beach, FL. This was the race that Les starting felling bad at. Les and Lawrence the normal drivers of the truck, and Bill and myself, hitchhikers all rode down in the big truck to Clearwater. By this time Les was very sick. He spent the day in the lower bunk of the sleeper with fever and chills. Bill and I taded off from the top bunk to shotgun.
So when we got to Clearwater a little on the late side the rest of the crew was waiting there to unload the truck. It wasn't a great place to do so. We had to block a lane of traffic to unload and got it done in about 2 hrs and 20 mins. Les was still in the truck sleeping thru a fever. Cid was happy with the unloading job and rewarded us with dinner at Crabby Bill's across the street.
The next day we set up and got started on the full service bikes while sales set up the store. I ended up searching out a dr to take Les to since he seemed to just be getting worse. They determined he had a strain of virus but had to wait for blood tests to come back to be sure exactly what. They sent him home with a shot of steroids and antibiotics.
Everyone was setting up on this day. The Ford truck and trailer got into a little trouble. Stuck in the sand.
The clothing sales over in the Zorrel tent was a little slow at first. Meahgan, Lawrence's Gal, dressed up in a lion outfit to help promote a race in KS that is coming up in June.it's a 70.3. She also got our gang free entry into that race. I'm in!
Les was resting in the hotel room. The decision was made on our second day in CLearwater to fly him home to get some solid rest and to try to keep the rest of healthy. The ones of us that rode down in the truck with him were all feeling a little off. We need Les at the next race which in just a few weeks in AZ. So we were a mechanic short for the entire Clearwater race. This meant some late nights of working to get it all done, including one night til mid night.
Then finally race day. At this race we did not have to do on the road support but we did do transition on race morning.
Bill was using Bernard's air tank. The rest of us were using traditional pumps.
Bernard took Les' spot as transition tech for last minute flats and repairs.This race had 1500 of the world's fastest half Ironman racers. Everyone here had won a race elsewhere in the world to get here. Championships.
The transition tools.
There are many two wheel vehicles at the race to work. Anyone that knows me knows how much I love the motorized kind as well as bicycles.
Gary and I went down to the waters edge to watch the swim start once transition closed to the athletes.
The pros were long gone before the age groupers started coming in. They do get about a 15 min head start though.
We saw a lot of inspiring sights at this race. This is a Dad and his son that do every race like this. The son is in his 30's and very bright. He was disables at birth.
This is Mark Cook--A Dentist from my neck of the woods, Carbondale CO.
Mark on his way out.
An 18 yr old x motocrosser.
This guy, Scott, was not doing the race but had a very interesting story. He was the first double amputee to complete the Kona Ironman.
So we got a short break at this race by not having to do on the road support. I spent my hour or so on the beach.
Then it was time to get back to work and pack up.
The bikes have to be put back in boxes to be shipped out.
Then below here is some more of the aftermath of the Ironman.
Finally all the bikes are packed. Time to enjoy the tips.
The next morning was pack up day. The trucks are staged out by the street.
Loaded and ready to go.
Loaded up and ready to go on the road again. Mehgan and I drove a truck back to Kansas for Zorrel. This was a 25 hr trip. We saw Lawrence on the road.
That's Black Betty and Rental Ronnie.
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