noosa

Now that I've started talking about memories, I can't keep this one from flooding back... last November a group of us went up to Noosa (Sunshine Coast, Queensland) for a triathlon - an olympic distance, which was the first at this distance for most of us. I wasn't racing because I'd dislocated my shoulder in August, but I went along as team 'mom' and cheerleader.

We flew into Brisbane and piled 5 people and 3 bikes (the 4th bike had alternate transportation) into a Toyota Tarago (the minivan) and drove the hour or so up to Noosa, a gorgeous resort town on the coast. The weather was perfect. We had rented a 3 bedroom apartment for the 5 (me, KV, FM, CD, and C) of us and other teammates had the apratment across the hall. Shortly after our arrival, the apartment was covered in bike parts, grease, and food. We went to the race expo, walked around and mingled with all the other triathletes (such a good looking and fun bunch!) and relaxed. This is my strongest memory of Noosa, driving into town that afternoon, all the windows down, radio cranked, singing along to Gloria! I think dinner that night was a sushi place down the street.

Race day was good - waking up at seriously O-dark 30 (I think the alarm went off at 4) - bleary-eyed, I drove the racers to the start line and held various pieces of clothing as it got closer to start and as transition and bikes were set up. For the next 3 hours I alternated between the beach for the various wave starts, the transition area to watch people go out and come back on the bike and the run, and in the grandstands at the end to watch the finishes.

After the racing we went back to the apartment and we climbed into the pool with beers and just goofed off. I remember eating burgers and fries down the street and then pizza in town, after dark, on a picnic table by the beach, with wine in plastic cups (we roll the classy way). Then we partied - the first place we went to was empty, even after waiting in line! But we had fun. Then we went to a bar down the street and we acted like cattle being herded around for a few hours - heaps of people smashed together celebrating. It was great fun. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention JW, who I met at that bar and started a long distance fling with - long story short, it didn't last.

We left the next morning, a little more bleary-eyed but happy as clams.

My memories of that weekend are so tinged in gold (how cheesy, right?) - but they are... it was just awesome - perfect weather, good food, good friends, gorgeous scenery, a fun little apartment, not a care in the world other than checking out the biclists (not a mis-spelling there, that's what I call cyclists). Wish I could bottle up the feeling of that weekend.