Our Latvian Orienteering is over. Two days in the Bumukalns forest on the banks of the Lielupe inlet, close to the Baltic sea.
The terrain was classic sand dues with establish pine forest with little other vegetation apart from a dense mat of moss, lichen and other grasses. The visibility was great but the track net work was difficult to use. Wider tracks had a soft sand base and were very energy sapping. Narrow tracks were vague and after two days racing on the same maps, elephant tracks had dominated the area.
It was classic N.Z. Woodhill Forest and just as tough, go off line and you were done. On day one I lost all my time on leg 1 – 2 in the open terrain after you cross the second track. I relocated back at control 10. Days racing done, despite the fast new red socks. I covered a total of 7.2kms, not exactly middle distance for a 70 year old. Ted Van G and Ilze both struggled in the same area near along the red line on my map between controls 13 and 14.
Red Sox. Faster but all over the place.
M70 Qualifier
M70 D Final
Day two started out with showers and then turned fine until 1:13pm when I left the shelter of the start tent and off into the rain. It did not las long last long just enough water on the glasses for me to mistake the elephant track running through the clearing for the track leading to my first control and again my day was done. Pressing on in my blue socks I finished off well with no more errors. I even had time to queue up at the refreshment tent, three ladies serving food and five men serving beer, they get their priorities right here in Latvia.
Even had time to chat to the crowd.
Ilze had the best of her runs so far and is feeling justifiable proud of herself. Team Australia think that because of her Latvian heritage she has an instinctive and unfair advantage in this terrain.
Rightly proud of her placing.
We also spent the day with a fox terrier who spent most of his time under the carpet of moss.
Fox terrier in heaven
Team Australia along the finish chute.
We missed our opportunity to get a photo of Ilze and cheer her in is as we were busy rehearsing our new chant.
“Aussie, Aussie, Aussie.”
“Aston, Aston, Aston”
Not much more to say.
Off to the shower.
Pete (in his comfortable indoor white sox)
dipidydoo 
WELL DONE ILZE!! You’ve got the Baltic in your blood. Something must be working for you.Sounds like it’s the Latvian beer. Try drinking “RIGA” champagne. It was top quality and I couldn’t get enough of it. It was very cheap too!
Ilze you blitzed it! Girl power! Deb
Well I blame this on you two, what with your swanning around in the Latvian sunshine, sipping Latvian wine and devouring entire Latvian farm animals in a single meal. As we shivered through a wet winter afternoon, our thoughts turned to packing.
“I need some new zip off pants” said Ian.
“OK, lets go to Decathlon and have a look” said I.
One hour later …
“I like these blue ones” said Ian.
“OK I’ll buy them for your birthday” said I.
“I also like these black ones” said Ian.
“Make up your mind” said I.
“I’ll have them both” said Ian.
“Oooh look” said I. “Quick dry running tops!”
Five minutes later …
“We’d better get a wheely basket” said Ian.
“Yes, I need to add my new burgundy quick dry running top to the pile” said I.
“Don’t you have dozens of running tops?” said Ian.
“No” said I (obviously a complete lie). “Oooh look there’s a nice blue one that will match your new zip off pants (Master of distraction). “Try it on”.
“It fits” said Ian. “But I like this red one too”.
“Make up your mind” said I.
“I’ll have them both” said Ian.
Into the basket they went.
“Let’s check the other aisles” said Ian.
“OK” said I. “Oooh look – a fluoro yellow thermal running pullover. Perfect for streetO!”
“Chuck it in the basket” said Ian (resignedly). “I’m going to look at microfibre towels”.
Five minutes later …
“I want this black one” said Ian.
“I want this green one” said I.
“Why do you need a new towel?” said Ian.
“Same reason as you – to dry myself with” said I.
At this point we decided to leave before the credit card exploded.
Off to buy a bigger suitcase. I blame you guys.