THE SPIRIT OF ROCK COBBLER GRAVEL

LOT'S OF EVENTS have a get together the night before. Historically, this is a big carb loading affair. A chance to reconnect with our motley community...

... and make some new frenemies.

It can be risky...

• food may be meh
• timing might not be perfect
• the emotional energy cost is high if you're shy

... which is why not everyone goes.

Me included.

But, since it'a a B race...

• be fast
• behave
• be friendly

... I plunked down the $12.

Oh, the other reason is Sam Ames' food game is always excellent.

On the way over, I picked up some secret race intel.

There are goatheads all over the parking lot.

Bad enough when they're tracked into the van...

... potentially catastrophic on the way to the start tomorrow.

Made a new friend, a cool cat from Santa Barabra...

... we'll see if that status turns to enemy tomorrow.

Doubtful.

Genuinely nice people tend to dominate the gravel scene.