Musing

What a beautiful trip south this has been so far. We’ve camped in old growth forest, where the only noise you hear is the soughing of the wind through the trees. We’ve stayed at the beach where we were 10 steps from toes in sand and crashing ocean waves. We’ve camped beside a pristine lake with rolling hills, glorious sunrises and sunsets and good friends close by. We’ve meandered through the redwoods imagining ourselves in movies with Ewoks and dinosaurs. I hated to leave the coast route that twists and turns through Oregon and California behind and head over to I-5 again but, alas, all good things must come to an end and our lazy, “no schedule” leg means it is now time to make some time.

Here is the big surprise. While the secondary (?) roads in California are in great shape (albeit narrow and twisty) the same can’t be said for I-5. After a day on that thoroughfare my insides feel as if they have been in a blender. It is clear that the infrastructure of this beautiful state (and, yes, a good deal of California is quite beautiful) is suffering severely from the current economic crisis. They are not unlike other states that are struggling to keep things going but the roads have clearly taken a big portion of the “hit” when the budget got cut.

Eureka was a big surprise to me. We’d stopped there on our way southbound in ’08 but with no ground transportation we couldn’t leave the marina so I don’t know what the town looked like at that time. What it looks like now is, basically, sad. It is easy to see that most of the businesses are hanging on by their fingertips as even the buildings look unkempt and neglected. This is an old town filled with beautiful old homes with lots of gingerbread and unique features but so many are in need of painting and maintenance. And then there is the large number of homeless people wandering the streets and going through dumpsters. It only takes one look to see that many have never been in this situation before. They look dazed and shell shocked and overwhelmed with hopelessness. If California is anything like Washington, the Social Services are also being cut and cut and cut so they probably aren’t getting much help from that program either. From the outside, Eureka seems to be sort of a microcosm of the problems that are happening all over country these days.

OK…I think this has gotten a little too melancholy so I will move along. I just can’t help but be thankful that we are able to live the life we do. Chris and I are by no means wealthy, and it costs us much more to live when we are in the States than when we are in Mexico, but we still have all the necessities of life. And we have our health. Too many of our friends and family are struggling with serious medical issues and all we can do is pray for them, hold them close in our hearts, and be thankful for what we have.

Only one of the reasons we keep on cruising:

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2010/10/16/1330911/pismo-fatality-freeway-pedestrian.html

Life is so very short and none of us knows how much time we are allotted. Please take the time to do something that pleases you every day. Take a trip to a place you’ve always wanted to see…make cookies with a grandchild…call in sick and spend a day doing whatever you want…connect with an old friend…or just sit and watch a beautiful sunset. Life is a gift…use it wisely. And never forget to tell the people in your life you love them.

Crater Lake

We’ve been on a rather zig-zaggy course since we left Vancouver and, thus far, have only managed to cover about 160 miles since the 29^th because of the slow pace but its been heaven being able to just stop or take detours whenever we want without a deadline looming.

We arrived in Sutherlin on Thursday after a beautiful drive down a “new” back road. We saw tons of Elk and came close to running out of gas but what is life worth without a little excitement? After getting the trailer set up Chris & I met my daughter, Amanda, and her husband and boys for dinner. We had a nice visit but it was a weeknight and Amanda had been working 6-10’s of late so we made it an early night. It turned out that Anthony, my grandson, had no school on Friday so we decided to take him to Crater Lake the next day. The original plan was to drive up there after we’d left Sutherlin but this seemed like more fun. We are nothing if not flexible!

We picked Anthony up at 9:30 and were off. The drive to the top takes about 1-1/2 hours and Anthony kept us entertained with a running commentary about football. This is his year of playing and he is clearly having fun. He plays both offense and defense so is on the field throughout most of the games. Of late he’s been watching Sports Talk so he was able to bring us up to date on how all the teams are doing this year, which players have been traded to which teams and the whole lowdown. Mind you, Chris & I have little or no interest in football so we got a good education. Fortunately, Chris has some knowledge of the principle players and teams so he was able to keep up our side of the dialog.

The drive up to Crater Lake follows the North Umpqua River and meanders through farmland and forest in fairly equal parts. In a word, it is a gorgeous drive. This River is strewn with boulders and rapids abound so there are few places where one can imagine even a raft safely navigating. We saw no one fishing from boats but quite a few men in waders were readying their fly fishing gear for the day.

At about the 6500 ft level the trees became much sparser and we found ourselves driving through a moonlike terrain that is quite beautiful. This is the “Pumice Desert”. It consists of rolling hills that are covered with pale reddish colored pumice. A few clumps of trees stand here and there but, clearly, nothing much grows in pumice.

As we approached the first viewpoint, we passed a sign I couldn’t resist photographing. I have long been a fan of the Darwin Awards but this really brings it all home. The big red “DANGER”, followed by “Falling Will Cause Injury or Death Stay Back From Cliff Edges” says it all. It is hard to believe that people can be that stupid but, of course, some of them are.

Our first glimpse of the Lake nearly took our breath away. It is close to impossible to find words that adequately describe this gorgeous place so I will just leave it to the photos. I was stunned to learn that the Lake was first discovered by gold miners back in the 1800’s. I wonder if any of them fell over the edge?

There are no native fish in the Lake but over the years 6 different varieties have been introduced and two types (Rainbow Trout and Kokanee Salmon) still live in the cold water. Because they are not indigenous, fishing is encouraged and there are no limits. The only restriction is that no live bait may be used. Chris is an avid fisherman so before we left town he dug out his new pole and purchased some lures in anticipation of showing his new grandson the ropes. Turns out there is only one place you can actually get to the water and that entails a hike down a trail with a 700 ft elevation drop. As the brochure clearly states, coming back up is like climbing 65 flights of stairs. This is at an elevation of 7,000 ft where walking across a level parking lot can leave you panting like an asthmatic during haying season. Having done my share of skiing, I was pretty clear about what the hike and the climate would be like so I brought a book along. Thus armed I would be able to wuss out and sit in the car while “the boys” were off bonding. They never even contemplated that trail. Five minutes of standing in the viewing area with that cold breeze burrowing down inside their sweatshirts and they quickly decided a trip to the gift shop and lunch in the lodge was a better idea.

We had a great day and deposited Anthony safely home with plenty of time to back to the RV park and pay for another night. Next morning we were sitting at the 50 yard line watching 9/10 year olds playing football. I hadn’t been to a game since my kids were little and I’d forgotten how much fun it can be (when its not raining or snowing) to watch these intense young players. Anthony’s team won with a score of 7-0 and he and he and Amanda were both happy that we had stuck around to be there. Well…who wouldn’t? I think it is in the “Book of Rules for Grandmas and Grandpas”, isn’t it?

Travelin' On

It’s that time of year again and we have begun the annual southward migration back to the boat. I know she is patiently awaiting our arrival and anxious to get back into the water. We left Vancouver September 29^th and this year we are taking the scenic route. In addition to the numerous stops on the list to visit friends and relatives, there are some new places we’d like to see as well. Besides, the weather in Mexico is still pretty warm so we aren’t in a big hurry to get into that. Our first stop was Astoria, just because. We spent so much time there in ’08 waiting for the bar conditions to be conducive to crossing that it was like revisiting an old haunt. It was awfully nice, though, knowing that all we had to do was climb into the truck and drive instead of heading out into the cold, intimidating Pacific this time.

Driving the coast route is a wonderful choice in this part of the world. The scenery runs the gamut between deep forest and breathtaking ocean views. Coastal towns of grayed shake buildings that huddle together in small inlets, atop shifting sands or perched high up on sheer cliffs with waves crashing at the bottom are interspersed often enough that there is little chance of driving too fast and missing the view.

A few miles down the road, in Seaside, we stopped for a couple days to spend some time with our friends, Rod and Debo. We had a nice visit, did a little shopping and walked the spectacular beach that goes forever. In this area the powdery sand and row upon row of frothy breakers seem to go on forever. The day we arrived the tide was way out and we walked for what seemed like miles looking for a whole sand dollar to take home. Alas, between the number of people who scour the beach for treasures and the sea gulls who eat the animals inside, all we found were halves and pieces.

After two days in Seaside it was on to Pacific City…about 50 miles farther south…and a much different beach. This tiny place is off the well used path (hwy 101) but is worth taking the bumpy ride to get there. Again, the sand is soft and fine, but here the waves pound around a rocky outcropping and onto a somewhat sheltered beach area. Holding court in the middle of this area is Haystack Rock. Here is where dorymen have launched and landed their boats since 1927. There were no dories working while we were there so I purchased a CD and Chris & I were appropriately impressed with their daring as they row over and through huge breaking waves. It brought back a few memories of Astoria bar crossings caught on tape…scary! This beach is also a big favorite with surfers and it was fun to sit in the brewpub on the beach watching the breakers and the surfers while we enjoyed the excellent food and beer. The trailer was just a short walk across the street so no worries about driving.

Yesterday we continued the drive to Florence and in and it is such a beautiful drive along the coast road. The highway is mostly lined with beautiful evergreens but regularly opens to spectacular views of the Pacific and miles and miles of beautiful beaches.

Today we are in one of Oregon’s beautiful state parks, snuggled down in the trees, waiting for the coffee to finish perking and just beginning to move around a bit. This state has wonderful camping available (for RV’s as well as tent campers) in most of their parks and most have yurts and/or cabins for rent as well. The rates are quite reasonable nd thus far we have had little trouble finding a vacancy. Our biggest challenge thus far has been getting into some of the spaces as the roadways are quite narrow and the other campers tend to park their tow vehicles such that it is sometimes difficult to maneuver around them. I’m not quite sure why they do that as there is plenty of room to get them clear off the road but it seems to be their preference. It just makes it more exciting to get the trailer backed into the space. Fortunately, Chris is pretty darn good at that.

This park, the Jessie M Honeyman Park, is just outside Florence and practically across the street from Chris’ brother, Lee’s, home. It is lovely area in the forest with trails, a lake or two and the main attraction, the huge sand dunes just beyond the trees. October 1^st is the first day of the “Discovery Season” which means that the ATVer’s are allowed to drive their vehicles directly from the campground onto the dunes instead of having to take highway 101 around to another area. I couldn’t even guess how many of these sand buggies are here but at 7:52 am they were already starting them up and heading out for a day of play. Sand racing isn’t something I have a lot of interest in but those who do it (and that includes my son and his family) love it.

We’re off to visit Lee and Julie and see their pictures from Ireland & Scotland. Can’t wait!

Next stop...Canada!

After leaving Cathlamet we drove to Port Townsend where the trailer would be parked in Sue’s driveway while we went to Canada for a week. From there we went to Port Angeles. I grew up in this town and an old family friend, Kathryn, was kind enough to put Chris & I up for a night, allow us to store the truck in her garage while we were gone and drive us to/from the ferry.

Tuesday morning we were excited to get on the ferry but my hopes for beautiful views of the Olympic mountains and Canada during the crossing were dashed. It was raining. Nuts! The heavy fog hung just a few feet above it so all we were able to see was gray fog and gray water but at least the water was calm so the ride was pleasant.

As we disembarked, Angus & Rolande were there to pick us up and the next week was a whirlwind of activity as they attempted to show us as much as possible of their part of the world. Chris has already detailed many of the places and activities we enjoyed so I won’t duplicate that but I must spend a little time on Butchart Gardens.

In my “other” life, I had a friend who taught me a little about gardening and, as I came to realize how cathartic and rewarding it can be to get dirt under your fingernails, enjoy home grown vegetables for dinner and have fresh, beautiful cut flowers in the house all summer, I moved from trying to keep the yard presentable to actually enjoying doing the work.

Since I moved onto the boat I can honestly say that I have not missed mowing grass or weeding or spreading barkdust hither and yon but I do, truly, miss my flowers…especially the roses.

Butchart Gardens was a place I had always wanted to see and it was every bit as gorgeous as I had envisioned. It was originally a lime quarry owned by Mr. Butchart whose main business was making cement from the limestone. When the quarry was exhausted, Mrs. Butchart devised a plan to make something beautiful from an ugly pit and she succeeded famously. This is still a family endeavor and they are constantly adding new objects d’art making the gardens even more beautiful.

Everywhere we turned there were different displays and types of gardens. The Japanese Garden with its Bonsai trees, moss covered stonework and lily-covered ponds was quiet and soothingly meditative. Strolling through the Italian Garden with its statuary and ponds almost makes you believe you are in the heart of Rome. The Rose Garden (one of my favorites) was in full bloom and I was thrilled to be able to remember the names of quite a few varieties. When I was gardening I had quite a few rose bushes and was always surprised when friends complained that they were hard to grow. They are actually among the easiest plants I’ve had and if you keep cutting the blooms they reward you with an entire summer of beauty. The “Sunken Garden” is the real piece de resistance and it is stunning.

I was surprised how many flower names I remembered…and what simple ones I had forgotten. Since Chris is from Arizona there were many he was seeing for the first time and it was kind of fun to be able to rattle off the names and characteristics of quite a few. One of his favorites was the Dahlia with all their different varieties and vibrant colors. I never had enough yard space to grow Dahlias but have always loved them from afar. Over the years I have seen a lot of different varieties but even some of these were new to me.

By the end of the day I was just itching to spend money at a nursery and work in a garden, but, alas…the trailer doesn’t have a yard.

Cathlamet

I realize I am way behind on blog entries but, quite honestly, I have been so busy since we left Vancouver, I just haven’t had time to write anything beyond email. Now that Chris has written several blog entries I guess I’d better get busy. So…here’s number one:

Our stop in Cathlamet for the “Sea of Cortez Cruisers Rendezvous” was a welcome respite after 6 weeks of an asphalt pad in an RV park where no one wanted to get acquainted. I have been very surprised at the difference between those who “cruise” on land and those who cruise on water. As I have mentioned in previous posts, “boat cruisers” form very strong, intimate connections almost immediately when they meet. When they see each other again it is like “old home week” as if you had been separated for years. On the other hand, RVer’s tend to pretty much keep to themselves. After 6 weeks of living in an RV park…in the long term area…we had met only 2 people and that was just because I walked over to the clubhouse one morning and barged into their conversation. Still, after that, there was no further interaction with these folks. I like to think I am a fairly fun person but this foray into the RV world has left me wondering if, perhaps, I am just pushy.

We had a great time catching up with several friends we have cruised with in Mexico and meeting others who are on their way. Everyone was suffering a little from the chill as it is clear that fall is in the air and, those of us who spend winters south of the border seem to have thinner blood. At any rate, all were getting excited about the warm days coming up in Mexico before long.

Our friends, Mike & Pat, from Vancouver, sailed in on their boat, “Somehow”, while we were in Cathlamet and we were able to share a couple meals and play a game of Mexican Train with them.

If you haven’t been to Cathlamet, WA, it should go on your bucket list. It was an easy walk to town which is quaint and a little funky. The residents are friendly, helpful and sometimes a little quirky as is typical of most small towns. I would guess that this is one of those places where the residents still leave their doors unlocked.

The views from the trailer were stunning and wildlife abounds. For us, it was especially interesting to see the entrance channel (at low, low tide) from the land side after we had negotiated it by boat 2 years ago. Quite a few of the cruisers went out kayaking one beautiful morning on glass smooth water. If only I had my new kayak I could have joined them. Sigh… Well, maybe next year.

Land vs Water Cruising

We are now two months into our first real summer of “land cruising” and still learning the ropes so to speak. Last year we did a little living/traveling in a borrowed RV and decided it was a good option for the “Where do we live during the summer?” question. Shortly after we returned from the South Pacific we purchased “Errol” (we’ve been told they are like a boat and must have a name/identity), a 27’ Wildwood travel trailer and “moved in”.

It was so much fun furnishing the trailer and making it “home”. Kind of like moving into our first apartment together. We made lots of trips to Bed, Bath & Beyond, Target, Fred Meyer, etc for linens, kitchen stuff, and all the other things we needed for day to day life. My first wake up call was s-t-o-r-a-g-e! Mind you, before the purchase, Errol “appeared” to have lots of storage. In reality, the kitchen cupboards are minimal and most are about 6” deep. No pantry (as in places to put food). Linen storage for towels/sheets? Not so much. Clothes storage? Yikes! Just so you know, I am quite used to having very little storage as boats are not exactly set up for living aboard for more than a week or two. It would appear travel trailers are the same way. Errol is a “bunkhouse” model so he has two bunks in the back which we now use for storage. There is also storage under our bed and we recently discovered we can put stuff under the dinette seats as well. Most of the “underneath” storage is really being used for boat stuff. After all, who wants to have to lift up the bed every time you need to get a can of tomatoes out? Oh! Wait! Any time I need a can of tomatoes on the boat I have to tear the settee apart to get it!

And then there are bathrooms (heads). Both versions are roughly the size of a refrigerator box. Not to be indelicate but when you are doing your business, your hip will likely be wedged against the toilet paper roll while your knees are inches from the bathtub (which, by the way, is a great place to store the liquor and the laundry basket). Most boats don’t have bathtubs but the tubs in trailers are pretty much the same size as the showers on boats...almost enough room to contain an anorexic midget. Hence why marinas and RV parks are successful…the luxury of a long, hot shower that you can turn around in cannot be described.

OK…on to the actual “cruising” experience. When we tire of an anchorage on the boat it generally takes about 30-60 minutes (depending on how long we’ve stayed) to get everything stowed and the anchor up so we can move on. Of course, long before leaving, we have already spent much time checking weather, putting waypoints into the GPS, re-provisioning, getting last minute laundry done, fueling up, filling water tanks, etc, etc. Land travel, by comparison is much, much easier. All that we need do is store the lawn furniture, unhook the utilities, retract the slide-out, hitch the trailer to the truck and we’re off.

Weather. Well, what can be said about weather except “it is what it is”. On the boat, there are a few simple “rules” we hold dear with regard to weather. 1) If it is snotty…wait until it isn’t. (Snotty means big wind and big waves.) 2) If it is cold, go south. 3) If the weather guy says a system will be past on Tuesday don’t leave until Wednesday. (It takes a good 24 hours for seas to die down a bit.) Pretty simple, huh? The fly in the ointment, as is generally understood among the cruising community, is that the weather predictions are most often only suggestions. The wind will usually be much more or much less and blowing from an entirely different direction than predicted (usually dead on the nose). Last season we spent 3 days in one anchorage waiting for the 25 knot SE wind to change or die off and every morning on the net the weather guy predicted 10-15 knots out of the NW.

Land yachting isn’t nearly as dependent on correct weather predictions. Certainly it is not advisable to travel during a blizzard or hurricane but if bad weather develops while you are “underway” it is pretty easy to just pull over and park until it is over. Not so when on the water. You just keep on going until you get to a place where you can “park’ with some protection. At an average speed of 5 mph that involves a lot more commitment and discomfort. Oh…and while you are waiting to find a safe anchorage you will likely be continually thrown from one side of the boat to the other and regularly blasted with saltwater.

Even though weather isn’t as big an issue with a trailer (RV), the road conditions most certainly are. The one constant about water is that it is always different. It can be glass smooth or have waves as high as skyscrapers and all sorts of “interesting” conditions in between. It is a given and we all understand that what is going on inside an anchorage is not necessarily indicative of what is outside. Roads, too, can be wonderful or “exciting”. As I reported in a previous blog, we burned up the truck brakes going through Yosemite. We knew the road going through it wasn’t an interstate but the map did not elaborate that it was 2 lanes, narrow, few guardrails and constant switchbacks as you climb and then descend 10,000 ft. Some roads are smooth as a baby’s bottom and others can launch the teeth right out of your jaw. The only hint you have from a map is the width and color of a given thoroughfare…and the condition of roads are different in every state. We like to explore new places so we tend to take the secondary roads that are a bit more unpredictable. Sometimes they are more difficult but they’re usually worth the extra interest.

Amenities are different between land and water cruising as well. Unless you are into wilderness camping (we aren’t) most places you stop on land will have all the comforts of home close by. And…you will likely have a vehicle to take you there. Water cruising (at least in Mexico) is not so cut and dried. Even in a marina the water may be questionable, the nearest grocery store may be a 30 minute bus ride away, and the showers may have no more than a trickle of cold water. The ability to call home or check email is often “interesting” south of the border and if you are at an uninhabited anchorage it will be non-existent. Not so in the States. Most RV parks have cable TV, Wifi and all sorts of extras.

The one common is scenery. It really doesn’t matter whether you are meandering down the California coast in an RV or the only boat anchored in a serene spot, the scenery can be spectacular. Sunrises and sunsets to die for, the continually changing colors of water and land, unexpected glimpses of wildlife that you wouldn’t get if you lived in a house in one place. Those are the rewards. Those are the really special things that make the difficulties worthwhile.

Summer Fun

Yesterday was a real highlight of our summer vacation. We went to the drag races in Woodburn, OR to watch my 10 year old grandson, Anthony, race and he ended up by winning his first race. I don’t know who was more excited…Anthony or the adults who were there to cheer him on. It is hard to believe kids this age are racing dragsters but that is what is happening, and in a big way. The NHRA Junior Drag Racing program is open to all kids ages 8-17. The cars they race are half-scale versions of Top Fuel dragsters with 5 hp single cylinder engines that can go as fast as 85 mph and run an 1/8 mile track as quick as 7.90 (that would be seconds, folks). This is Anthony’s second season, although last year he was only able to make it to one race. He is in the “8-10” Class which is the beginning class where they learn the ropes. These kids are not allowed to go quicker than 12.90 or 45 mph. The next class up is the “Thunder” class which is also 8-10 year olds but these kids are allowed to go as fast as 12.70. “Lightning” Class is for ages 10-12 with a time limit of 8.70 in the 1/8 mile. Finally is the “Fast” Class for 13 and up. These kids may go up to 7.50 or 89.99 mph. If they go 7.4999 or 90.00 mph they are immediately disqualified. Oh...and lest you think this is a male sport…there are many, many girls racing as well. They are capable, smart and often beat the pants off the boys. Given that many of these girls are very pretty as well, I suspect they create other issues for the boys as well. Ahhh…the joys of being a girl! Honestly, it is great to see the camaraderie between the genders that takes place at the racetrack. These kids do not seem to have those same stereotypes that those of us from the 60’s grew up with. They treat each other as equals and that is a very good thing to watch. Oh...and one of the really great things is the sportsmanship the kids learn. Win, lose or draw, they always go up to their competitors and congratulate them on a good race and wish them luck in the next one! I know a few adults who could stand to learn that lesson. Here’s how the racing works: Everyone arrives early so they can get as many time trials as possible completed. This gives them an average speed for the car and driver on that day at that track. Then they try to figure out what might change as the day goes on and how that might affect the performance. Will it get warmer or cooler? Will the wind pick up or die off? Will that make the car run faster or slower? All this must be taken into consideration so they can “dial in” an accurate time which will establish this driver’s handicap. The trick (and it can be very tricky) is to get as close to the speed and time the car will actually run on that day. If the dial in is too fast, they may end up too far behind the competitor to catch him. If it is too slow, they run the risk of “breaking out” (beating their own time) which is an automatic loss. Fortunately, dial in’s can be changed between races but it is better to get it right the first time. As you might imagine, the parents (“pit crew”) are kept busy re-tuning and tweaking the engines between races so they will go fast but not too fast. Another big part of racing is the driver’s reaction time. The faster your reaction time the more advantage you have as far as getting to the other end before the guy in the next lane. Anthony’s reaction time is quite good for a beginner but he tends to stage deep so he worries about red lighting (another automatic loss) and is a little slower to leave. Yesterday there were some amazing reaction times…several 0.00’s. Anthony’s was around .40, which is very good for a beginner, but he is working on improving that as it is key. It was a lot of fun to watch the kids in particular but there were adults racing as well and many were racing “vintage” cars from my era. I have to admit that the sights and sounds brought back a lot of memories. I used to race back in the late 60’s and spent lots of time at the track. My ex built the engines and I drove the cars and we really did quite well. A lot has changed since then. The car I drove most often was a ’64 Fairlane and it usually ran the quarter mile in the low 14’s. That car is still around but has been severely modified over the years. My son drives it now and, as I understand it, his times are in the low 12’s. Much faster! His son, Jordan, is also in the Junior Racing program but at the moment his dragster is not running. I don’t miss the noise or the sunburns or going home from the track smelling like burning rubber but there are a lot of memories from that time. The thrill of racing at an NHRA National competition. The agony of catching a great light and then leaving spider gears all the way down the track. Blowing by a guy with a big handicap just before crossing the finish line. Watching some of the greats…”Big Daddy” Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, Jim Dunn, Don Prudomme…as they set record after record for speed and elapsed time. Life moves on and we all change but, somehow I have never lost that competitiveness. I have shown dogs, done a bit of downhill ski racing, raced sailboats (though that seems a bit like an oxymoron) and constantly pushed the envelope in an effort to experience new things. I’m trying to slow down. Honest. But that adrenalin rush is hard to deny. It looks like that gene has moved on down the line! The picture at the beginning is Anthony with his trophy and his best bud (and competitor), Shawn, who won a medallion for being the first qualifier in his class.