as a priority to master a foreign language, in this case Portugese. Add in to the mix that this was the opening day for the TransOlímpica and it was a voyage of adventure. The TransOlímpica is the new road linking Barra (Olympic Village / main Olympic Park) and Deodoro (Equestrian Venue plus Shooting / Hockey / Canoe Slalom / BMX / Mountain Bike / Rugby 7s) so, yes, a key road that has been subject to an amount of debate regarding it preparedness. So yah boo sucks to the members of the Negative Club, but the road is ready and operational. Ok…so only accredited vehicles can use it, and accredited vehicles do not have to pay the toll – so why was every toll booth manned with smiling Brazilians ready to take your cash; a little goofy. I did have a little chortle when we passed 4 dogs sitting patiently (and being most well behaved) at a BRT Station. BRT is Bust Rapid Transit System and is the public transport system linking Barra to Deodoro – not up and running yet as the Deodoro Venues are not “in competition” so the aforementioned pooches will have to wait a few days. We made it to our destination although the parking area we are supposed to use does not seem to yet exist – adapt and overcome – we used the VVVVVVVIP Parking area (aka reserved for the gods of the IOC) to disembark and the watch our van and driver disappear off in to the distance.
And so we arrived at the Venue. A sort of “Grand Depart” in reverse. I am not going to say all was a state of calm or that all is ready for the first horse to canter down the centre / center line but it is looking good. We were first to arrive and we found our stables and tack rooms with ease. The stables are looking great; rubber matting down, individual lighting, good ventilation, sliding doors…but more to follow on these. Tack rooms are spacious if basic but there was a sparky working on installing lights and the plug sockets work so those with iPhones will be able to charge them every 48 minutes.
Our container had arrived from Gladstone, but some kind customs man had locked it with a bolt seal. My herculean efforts to break the bold with a steel bar failed, but luckily Peden came to the rescue with a hacksaw and then the fun could begin. The container was packed to the roof and all needed unloading and most of the kit needed shifting to the tack rooms. Now was the moment for CrossFit Leah to really get some training in. Whichever member of Mensa decided that the path through the stables should be 4” deep sand has clearly never pushed a cart loaded with kit up an incline through sand.
Also not helping our “unload” was the presence of the Beast. But more on the Beast later.
Abridged version – unload kit – sweat – set up fans in stables – sweat – watch Leah master storage box building – drink water – sweat – eat Pringles (thank you USOC for our presents) – set up shelves and hanging rails – eat lunch – more work – more sweat - back to hotel (navigation interesting), soldiers deployed everywhere for security – quick shower – transport meeting at Elcotour offices – restaurant; red wine and L’Escargots – stop sweating.
Must rush as I need to scrape my face (clean shaven at all times, standards, standards) grab some breakfast (surrounded by Japanese TV people) and then head back up to the Venue for more sweating & building.
Keep the faith.