Hawksfest Crossfest at Boone - Halloween Oct 31,2010

Well first the drive. It was a good 3.5 hour drive to this much anticipated Halloween race. I was looking forward to this one with a slight costume and all! Took my older pup with me to accomodate the long trip. She chilled at times and paced in car the whole way out. Took a few pit stops, but left probably a little late to do this, but figured have plenty of time. Finally climb the last mountin heading into Boone, and confidently follow my GPSas it hasnt been wrong or too off before! Wrong. It lead me up some steep and winding back road off the main drag that said no outlet, First mistake! so followed it up road for a good 10 mins, you cant drive fast on roads this steep or windy! Get to top and the road is was off by two vowels. I needed Skyland and it took me to Skyline! @#%!?*&, is all i could say. Headed back down again and got to main road. Took a left cause my mind remembered a slight area where google said it was. Followed road, getting close to time, saw a few signs and someother poor soul behind me in same dilemma. kept going and finally sign for Hawksnest. Appropriately in a town called Seven Devils, especially for halloween- rock on! Well went up the windiest and most switchbacks paved road I have ever been up to top of hill where the ski resort was. Got there with 25 mins till start time, drove down bumpy road and parked quickly. Abby (my weimaraner)and me ran up and over to registration, signed paperwork and ran back while the end of the cat 1-2 race was dying down. Spectators were hootin' and hollerin'. got back to car, changed got bike off rack, andput dog back in car and put my skicap with pigtails on with helmet of top and rode fast to start line- WARM-up! got there just as the guy behind driving in made it as well.

Well time to start after standing there for 2 mins. Started in last row. not good! started on straight but very bumpy fairlane which led to small sandpit and the first circle/spiral. spiral was sweet, but i felt tense so tried to loosen up, but had trouble doing so. This then headed back beside where we came from and back up to short steep uphill and left turn on gravel road to a slight paved section and another steep right handed uphill. this short hill climbed to a sharp right turn on a uphill and then to a sweeping downhill on some rough uneven ground. this led down and then along a slight ridge and along a slight path to some switchbacks and then another big spiral . This second one was nice as well, but not easy to keep momentum when coming out. this looped to a short downhill through the woods and back to a fast downhill back close to the start line. This led a bumpy lane out around the first spiral and than back out and heading toward the main tene and registration. Folks were screaming, beer was flowing, music was pumping and i felt rigid and unable to relax. This then led to anothershort uphill and then a off camberhill which had loose dirt. that is where i first head lets here it for Pippi! I guess Pippi was my new name with my long strawberry blonde locks flowing from my helmet. This off camber hill led to a little section of downhill and then which led to 3 large whoop-dedoo- bumps like you see bmx's jump. right after the 3 large bumps wwas a sharp right run turn to follow the course. This led to flowing right turn into a short quick uphill and back to the start.

Spirals were fun, hills were killer, and barriers were great. great spectator course and all were having a blast. Saw a few beer hand-ups as well. Dropped my chain once and still managed to get 28th out of 51, not great but considering the circumstances, ill take it. below are a few more pics of the race and someafterwards of my pup, dressed up as well. Hard course, late arrival, and no warm-up took me out of this race overall. Hey its cross what can you say!