(but then, using Gmap Pedometer, the distance covered is being calculated to be 6.9 km. In fact, with the gmap tool, the "bird's eye" distance seems to be 6.1 km, and not 5.7 km as reported on the clue sheet given out at the meet. Later, with map at hand, and measuring with a ruler the distance, it seems to be 5.95 km).
The area where control 1 was located had several parallel streams. Placing the control on the second stream was a good idea to stump those that went looking for it in the first stream.
Control 2 was located at a stream intersection in a thick vegetation underbrush area. Followed the stream to the clearing, which I noticed didn't have any tall grasses or weeds, so ran across the clearing and went head-on into the underbrush, often zig-zaging in the vegetation and ducking my head under fallen logs and low branches. Stayed a bit high above the stream, and then, by intuition, started descending towards the stream, and got pretty lucky, seeing the control right away once I got to the stream.
From 2 to 3 simply climbed up the slope staying parallel to the stream and found trail, followed that to the control. Once passed the pipeline straight line clearing very close to the control, saw Dave Battista running back, towards me, and at that moment I thought he was either lost, or was running on a different course.
From 3 to 4 I followed a direct route, going straight downhill, and was met with nasty jaggers and really impenetrable cobweb of vegetation on fallen logs, trees and other flora debris. Sounded the retreat, climbed back uphill, ran level for a while, and as soon as I could see a "hole" in the vegetation downhill, went for it. Once reached the stream, gained the hill on the other side and got to the control. I later found out that Dave Battista was indeed on the same course I was, but he followed a different route (purple dots). Looking at that route, his was much better choice, avoided the jaggers, and stayed level without hill climbing.
From 4 to 5, went around the clearing (had tall grasses) and descended to the parallel trail below staying close to a reentrant nearby. Then, at the spur, left the trail and followed a spur going south, and while looking at the reentrant on my left, saw Dave Battista descending the hill. I then noticed the control was 90 degrees on my left, slightly uphill. Punched it, then ran downhill along the stream trying to catch up with the white shirt of Battista. He pretty much went on the route I intended: the paved footpath along the pond, and then between the pond and the parking lot. But as I was running and following, glanced at the map, and thought maybe a better route would be to stay on paved ground as much as possible for speed, and continue past the parking lot and to the corner of the fence around the playground, and from there, it would be a straight short distance crossing the creek and gaining the spur hilltop. That is what I ended up doing, and Diamond Jim was in the parking lot getting his mountain bike ready, and he saw me and warned me that "that is exactly the same route I ended up doing but I warn you there are some killer jaggers as you cross the creek". And indeed he was correct: with pain management in full effect, I forced myself across the tall grasses and thorny strands of whatever-plant-they-are-but-they-hurt, and quickly gained the other side of the creek and walked up panting and puffing to the top of the spur. Punched, and just in time when here comes Dave Battista, with a "where you come from?".
From 6 to 7, I followed a trail that often zig-zagged and sometimes event went downhill, and mentally directed myself to find a control that I thought was on the Green course, but instead was a control that I remembered from when doing the Orange course (green circle). I punched the control card, but afterwards realized that the surrounding terrain didn't look like what was shown on the map around control 7, and realized that I punched the card with the wrong puncher. So I ran uphill looking for 7, recognize the man-made object from a distance, and on my right, coming from 90 degree angle from me, the white shirt of Dave Battista came darting towards the control. He obviously followed another route, probably a better one (purple dots).
From 7 to 8, had planned before the run to follow a trail that I knew was pretty level, and that is exactly what I did.
From 8 to 9, again, stayed on the same big wide trail and once got to the clearing, went into the woods to find 9.
From 9 to 10, went uphill to find a trail that was going straight East, and followed that trail with numerous turns and intersection to the control (nice little cliff).
From this point on, I could not run anymore, my energy was sapped.
From 10 to 11, followed a trail for a little bit, then walked uphill in a underbrush vegetation to the summit where I could see the fenced water tank. Funny think is that I walked by the control, 5 feet away, and didn't see it. Then, stopped to consult the map, get my bearings and scouted the surroundings, and THEN saw the control, and I said: "I WAS THERE JUST A MOMENT AGO". Funny how orienteering is...
From 11 to 12, ran through the woods downhill to the stream below and then uphill, and ended up at the edge on a frisbee golf par. Followed trail, could see the opening up of the clearing and ran to it, punched.
From 12 to 13, crossed the clearing to the corner, walked in the woods with the thick grasses of a neaby stream, saw the evergreen trees, and the control around the spur. On the way back to finish, on the map it seemed logical to go on a straight line, but in reality it was much easier to go North a bit to where the stream bed is, and from there, cross the paved road and run across the open area to the finish.
