The race was held in Balmy 90 degree (f) temperatures starting from the earth day celebration (sponsored by Enron, a gas company, figure that out?) and leading all over hell and back, with a special emphasis on upwind. Starting at 60 second intervals, the victims went to the federal courthouse for a time stamp and then to a mythical address for a pickup (OK, the building wasn't mythical, but I swear they made up the address). About this time the cops noticed and threw James against a wall in a desperate search for information. Fortunately, James was as clueless as the rest of us and gave nothing up. The pickup was going to 301 fannin (the main courthouse) but on arrival we were told (by the "filing clerk") that it was for family
court. Onward to the family court and a further dispatch to 4900 LA. Louisiana street only goes to about 4000. April fools joke? No, When they built Interstate 59 they cut through the end of LA and left an orphan street, one block long, with the amazing address of 4900 LA. OK, I got sucked in but I found it without help (this is a partial excuse for my time). At 4900 LA everybody got a 10 pound (4.4kg) bag of ice to drop at 2929 (allen parkway), 3 miles by bird, 6 miles through downtown, 1 1/2 miles by courier (miracles on call). With the blessed cold stuff strapped to our back we proceeded back up main street (downwind) and were told at 2929 to drop the ice at State Street for the Keg. Thank God. The results speak for themselves except for "evil twin" Dave's time of 77 minutes. Dave got a flat so he has an excuse. All the way up LA (46 blocks into the wind) I was praying for a flat and wishing for a radio to call in and announce the fact.
The results:
1. Drew, Mach 5 Couriers, 47 Minutes
2. James B. 48 Minutes
3. James 23, 50 minutes
4. Ashtre', 53 minutes
5. Sam, 55 minutes
5. JB, 55 minutes
6. Butch, 57 minutes
7. Jacques, 61 minutes
8. Ross, 69 minutes
8. Dwayne, 69 minutes (we didn't plan this so no rude jokes please...)
9. Dave, 77 minutes (won the winter solstice alleycat)
10. Rob, 79 minutes
11/ADFL. "T" (name withheld by request) 81 minutes.
If we can work a miracle (a small one) we expect Drew to represent Houston, the fourth largest city in the U.S., in Toronto in June. Be nice to him, we're only country hicks and we really don't understand big city ways.
Thanks to everybody who helped organise the race and thanks especially for letting me escape this one so I could race.