We spent about 40 minutes at our first transition area. We restocked our food, checked the water in our packs, packed extra clothes to make sure we stayed warm for the ride, and prepped our bikes. We were about to head out for a 40ish mile ride. David and Mike moved quickly and it took me off guard as I realized we spent so much more time at our TAs in our first Sea to Sea. I tried my best to move quickly along side them, but also spent a long time in the women’s bathroom as it was warmer than outside. I was dreading being cold, I just hoped the rain would hold off as well.
After a quick resupply we headed out of the TA and I yelled out to David ahead of me, “David! Where is your pack?!” David did a quick look at his back and realized he had left it at the TA. “I was wondering why I felt so light and good!” he said in surprise. He raced back to the TA and Mike and I waited for him, always thankful for a little break.
We continued on and all knew this was going to be one of the hardest parts of the race in terms of finding checkpoints. Our first Sea to Sea went through this area known as “Santos” and we came up empty handed last time. This area has multiple trails, spider web like, and only a couple of them are shown on our map. So knowing exactly which trail you are on is quite impossible unless you are from the area.
We took a while to get our bearings but once we hit a paved trail, we had a general idea where we were. We headed down a connecting dirt trail, looking for our first bike checkpoint.
As we cycled we thought we were on the correct trail and started looking for a checkpoint to our left. When we saw another team and chatted with them, they let us know we were on the wrong trail and needed to be looking to our right. After a while, we bushwhacked to another nearby trail and once we saw another team, they let us know we were on the wrong trail and needed to move up one. Did anyone know where we were??
After searching for longer than we should, we decided to get back to the paved route and move on, we didn’t want to waste too much time searching as there was plenty of other checkpoints to look for. It’s always a hard decision to give up on a checkpoint, especially when you feel like you are close, but we knew we could make it up later.
Additionally, this part of the race had A and B checkpoints. Meaning, you would find the first one, and it would have an additional map with the B checkpoint to go search for. You had to get both in order to get ONE point. We figured spending time on other checkpoints would be better for us.
So we made our way to the paved path and cruised along. I could tell David was disappointed, we have yet to ever complete an A-B checkpoint. As we moved along, we decided we would try an A-B checkpoint again as it was close off the paved trail. We found it with ease and saw that the map for the B checkpoint had us backtracking all the way back to the other end where we started. We decided to go for it and found ourselves searching and bushwhacking in a field for a ridiculous amount of time. Eventually there were 10 – 15 headlights all searching through the trees and brush looking for this one checkpoint.
After a while, we decided to call it, no one was finding it, maybe we were just in the wrong area. We left it, once again feeling defeated. How are we not finding them!?
We continued on, and came to yet another area where the A checkpoint was close to the direction we needed to go. We popped off our bikes, searched for it, and found it within 15 minutes. It showed us the map for the last B checkpoint and we decided to go for it again. This one was in an area we had biked before, “The Vortex” is what it is called as there are multiple mountain bike paths to take. We knew that if we stayed on the outside the entire time, we would get close to the checkpoint without getting lost. We searched around, and found it hiding under a bike ramp.
YESSSSSSSSS!!!! LETSSGOOOOO!!!!
Finally, we completed an A – B checkpoint and were feeling great as the sun was coming up and we could see clearly again.
We grabbed a couple more easy checkpoints and made our way to TA number 2. The temperature was still freezing but we knew with the clear skies and a shining sun, we would eventually warm up.
We moved quickly at the TA and realized we were going to have to carry our paddle bag a few miles, pick up our canoe and carry it about a half mile, and then start the next canoe section. The paddle bag, mind you, is heavy and hard to carry with its single strap. Inside it is our paddles, seat cushions, life vests, and paddle clothing. We spent a quick 30 minutes at the TA area, grabbing a delicious breakfast sandwich and coffee and moved on.
David and Mike switched carrying the paddle bag back and forth. I was thankful they didn’t make me carry it as it would have slowed me down tremendously. We came to an area where there was a down and back checkpoint so we dropped our paddle bag and ran down to snag it. While at the TA we found out that “waypoints” were highly suggested to take but that we didn’t have to if we didn’t want to. This was new for us in our racing career.
We raced back to our paddle bag, walked a little further then picked up our canoe. This is where I took the paddle bag as David and Mike took the canoe. All of it was more strenuous than we would have liked but I was glad we all did some strength training to prepare for the race.
We jumped in the canoe, and took off going North to get a checkpoint. As we cruised, passing teams, we realized eventually no one was following us anymore. We had missed it.
We turned around and headed back South, looking for a “manmade object” that was our clue. As we headed back we saw multiple canoes parked on the side of the river and hopped out, following the people heading in one direction. The clue was behind a large cylinder object, one that we would have missed if we were alone. This was a lucky find thanks to the other teams.
We jumped back in the canoe and started the most boring canoe leg we have ever had.
This river had minimal bends and the same view for miles and only a couple checkpoints along the way. This was where our eyelids started to get heavy.
After a while, we saw another canoe parked along the river on a nice boat dock and a couple people sleeping up on the grass. We made a fast decision that we could rest for a short bit too.
We parked the canoe, went to the bathroom, and shut our eyes while laying on the grass. I found myself in a haze, not being able to fully fall asleep as I was suddenly paranoid about an alligator coming out of no where, but felt my body relax with ease. It felt good to pause.
We laid there for roughly 5-10 minutes, none of us really able to sleep just yet, it was too early and headed back out. Multiple teams had passed us, but we saw more teams down the river taking breaks on the side. It was just SO monotonous.
We grabbed another checkpoint and eventually made it to a dam where we had to take the canoe out and carry it around and port back in. Unfortunately the handle on the back of the canoe was broke and would keep sliding out which made carrying it very difficult for David and Mike. I carried the backpacks back and forth, trying to help as much as I could.
We were all sick of the paddle and we still had a long ways to go.
We ported back in and set off, finding a new sideways wind annoying us. After a while it transitioned behind us and helped push us down the river faster. This was such a relief.
While the sun started going down and we were cruising down the river, I noticed a snout of some sort come out of the water, and saw a long wide body slowly peak out of the water, and end with a tail flick.
WHOAAA!
We all were in amazement at what this creature was and as it came up a second time, we realized it was a manatee! We could hear the solo kayaker behind us also let out a yell in excitement as it swam past him. I so wished he would have jumped out of the water or there was someway to see him fully but regardless, it was wild to experience such a large creature next to our canoe.
Eventually after 8 and half hours and 30 miles, we made it to the next transition area with an hour or so left of daylight. We found ourselves disappointed with the TA aid station with only ramen noodles as the hot food. The first sea to sea race we participated in had TAs stocked with food both hot and cold.
Regardless, we spent another quick 30 minutes at the TA and headed out on foot to find more checkpoints on leg 6. This would be a quick trek leg ranging from 6 to 13 miles depending how far you went.
We set out all in good spirits to be done with the paddle and moving on foot. I was also excited because after the bike and canoe, my foot wasn’t on fire any more as the swelling went down.
We found our first checkpoint with relative ease and then tried to find our second one before darkness fell. We came to an area that became swampy and tried to get eyes on the checkpoint on the other side but fell short. Dang it, where was it. We knew that we were close and that the checkpoint was on the other side of this swampy mess. None of us wanted to get our shoes wet or muddy but eventually Mike decided he would go, hoping to hop along the grass patches without getting too wet.
As we watched Mike head off, searching for the best place to extend his foot, we see his foot hit a grass patch and then his entire leg disappear down into the swampy mess. I let out a gasp as he is now about a foot below us. David reached his hand out as Mike is now stuck in this muddy mess. We pull him out, trying not to fall in ourselves, and I do my best to stifle my laughter. That was WILD. Mike was a good sport and we easily decided that we would have to get the checkpoint once we went up and around the perimeter.
We continued with a nice jog/walk pace around the perimeter to find the furthest marked checkpoint. Darkness surrounded us now and we used our headlights to guide the way. I noticed looking off to my right in the swamp mess that there was yellow alligator eyes peering up at us. One set was huge and I was so surprised we couldn’t see more of it’s body when we shined all lights on it. The eyes would turn and follow us as we walked along.
As we pace counted to find the checkpoint, bushwhacking through thorns and vines and a forest that wants to tear our clothes, we eventually gave up, coming up short with spotting the checkpoint. Our first trek checkpoint that we missed, but we needed to keep moving.
As we continued around the perimeter, we noticed three pairs of yellow eyes watching us, however we were looking out at a grassy field, no longer a swamp… I asked the group if it was an alligator, but quickly realized it couldn’t be and said
“Oh, it’s deer.”
David then eerily claimed, “No, deer have green eyes.”
As this is said, we watch a pair of yellow eyes go from about a foot off the ground to about 4 feet off the ground.
Oh my god.
We kept walking as we became side by side to these creatures and turned the brightness up on our headlights to seeing a mother Florida panther (similar to a mountain lion) and her two cubs. Seeing the long tail sway and their bodies go still as they watched us walk along. HOLY SH**.
I told David and Mike to grab something to throw at her if she charges us, adrenaline spiking my body.
We were unsure what shining a bright light in her face would do, so we continued to walk along the edge and we would occasionally look behind us to see 3 pairs of eyes still looking at us.
I had the heebie jeebies like none other. She could run and attack us before we would even hear her. We kept from running and kept a slow walk moving down the grassy path.
Thank goodness she didn’t feel like we were threatening!
We eventually saw other teams as well which made us feel relieved, the more people the better. After a bit, we turned down a path to try and find the checkpoint near the swampy mess Mike fell in and found it with ease. Once again feeling bad for Mike but were happy to hear his shoe and pants were drying out quickly.
We had a few more trek checkpoints to go after, one which was laying on a large tree that was stretching over some of the swampy mess. This was by far the most “sketchy” checkpoint we had encountered, since if you slipped, you would be falling into that mess. EEK. David shimmed up it and grabbed it with ease.
We then continued along and had two checkpoints left but decided to get one and head back. I was ready to get off my foot, the pain was coming back with vengeance.
We made it back to the same TA late in the night and started to gear up for another long bike ride in the dark on Saturday morning.
Izzy + Ozzy 