Finally and Dinah Rojek, crew practice.

Bev, on a mission.

Ali, crew.

Travel, and stabling
Wednesday (S. 12) was a flurry of activity: obtaining passes and accreditation, hooking up to the Net, learning the routes to and from our hotel, the rider's hotel, the media center, the main WEG stadium, the Eventing and Endurance course and statium, and some miscellaneous shopping. Had dinner with the other volunteers at an outdoor restaurant by the beach. Warm, pleasant, relaxed.
Pamela Burton (photo journalist) and I hooked up in Madrid on Tuesday (S. 10) and spent the first night at a small hotel outside Madrid. Always surprises, we ran into a woman from Idaho, a long distance cyclist, and spent the evening over dinner and wine comparing our sports and having a wonderful first night in Spain. Pamela had rented a car and the next morning (S. 11) we made the 7 hour drive through central/southern spain to Jerez. Nice drive, pretty country - very open, lots of agriculture - looked quite a bit like northern California - vinyards, olive groves.
Today (S. 13) we had breakfast with the volunteer group. Ellen Betker (volunteer coordinator) passed out maps, instructions, and organized different groups to be at the various crew points so that the riders would have water and anything they felt they might need for themselves and their horses. The course has very long loops and short holds, so these stops will probably be very important during the ride.
We headed over to the temporary barn and spent several hours hanging out, talking to folks, soaking up the incredible energy. This is a very 'up' group of riders, crews and staff. Very positive and cooperative attitude. Art Priesz is the Chef d'Equipe and is helping create a focused, postitive team. Bob Beecher as team Vet is also contributing to a very tight, supportive attitude. Spirits are high. For the most part the horses are in great shape. After a long over-land trip from Amsterdam with long hours of travel (up to 15 hrs nonstop at times) and a grueling schedule, they arrived and spent the next week putting the weight back on the horses and letting them rest. There are some minor problems with foot/shoeing issues, but are these being aggressively treated and the outlook is very good for all of the squad.
The horses are being temporarily stabled at a ranch near Girrapilos, the Endurance site. The ranch is owned by an ex-circus performer who still keeps a pair of albino tigers around for fun :) Very nice place, with backyard access to part of the course. The horses will probably move to the official stable at the Garrapilos on Saturday.
- later, Steph Teeter