John T.,
The rest of "I don't want to be rude" is 'but I'm going to anyway...'.  I
don't know you, and I don't know Sarah.  I have no personal axes to grind,
but as for this not being endurance related and telling an admitted newbie
that they should lurk for 4 to 6 months, reading the archives????
Additionally, I was really glad to see a post that is "not really in the
spirit of ridecamp".  Lately, a lot of the spirit of Ridecamp has been
character assassination and just plain mean.  Isn't one of the purposes of
this list to disseminate information and trade "war stories"?  I don't know
about anyone else out there, but that's what I thought and hoped for.  I
have yet to ride a ride, but I've worked a lot and seen a lot.  I have yet
to come away from one where I didn't learn something.  That's what's so neat
about this sport.  You can have/gain insights that may be beneficial to
others, whether your a seasoned veteran rider, or a seasoned veteran
volunteer.  But there's no need to get nasty.
Does anyone wonder at the exodus of subscribers lately?    I don't.  My
information is below -- fire at will!
Milinda Ellis
Beargrass Cleveland Bays
Jewett, Texas
milinda@xxxxxxxxxxx