[OrRando] Congratulations to Dart Teams!

[Michael Rasmussen]

Congratulations to the Dart teams that participated in the first ever RUSA
Arrow/Dart event over the weekend.

Special recognition to:

Loopy Hood Loopers - overachivement award turning in a 140% effort for the 12 hour
period.  Great teamwork too, as one rider was having a tough day on the climb up
Hwy 35 to Government Camp the rest of the team dropped their pace, gave him tows
and encouragement.  Leader Del made sure the five starters were five finishers at
the end.

Last Minute - flexibility award for planning an Arrow, realizing their schedules
wouldn't coordinate and reforming as a Dart team at their namesake moment.  They
enjoyed a nice out and back from Forest Grove to Birkenfeld.  They also collected
the most moisture for the weekend, being the only team to be rained upon.

Seattle Seattle Skedaddlers - most clued in team.  If you look at the routes for
our teams the path of a boomerang might come to mind, but not an arrow or dart. 
The SSS came the closest to a dart path in their journey from Chehelis to
Portland.  They also deserve recognition for traveling the furthest to participate
and having 117% participation in the brunch - six team members and a logistics
support crew member.

Lanterne Rouge - creativity award, won twice.  How do you start on a ski lift at
6,500 and manage to have a route that involves almost 5,000 feet of climbing?  The
only direction from the start is down!  They did it.  Bonus effort points for
routing through 20 miles of "it's a great day for wind surfing" Columbia Gorge 20
to 26 mph headwinds.  Part two of the creativity award comes from their answer to
this question:  How can a ride with a defined distance _and_ time have a lanterne
rouge?  Solution? Team DNF!  With less than 12 miles to the finish two inspired
members of the four person team dropped their teammates. Finishing in two groups
of two the Lanterne-ites did not qualify for a team finish.

Nate Armburst and Michael Rasmussen were the only photographers.  Links coming soon.


--
   Michael Rasmussen, Portland, Ore, USA
  Be Appropriate && Follow Your Curiosity
        http://www.patch.com/words/