DAY ONE
Alarm rings at 5:30 . Rachel and I ( Rachel2 ) are at breakfast , 5:45 . Done eating , 6:15 . In the van before 6:30 . Talk is minimal . Machine Gun Kelly rages . Suits the mood . 7:00 , at the paddock . At ISDE , you live by the clock and are preoccupied with time . Yet we ’ re dressed by 7:30 and we don ’ t impound until 8:54 . So we wait . We stretch . We check our toolpacks . We resolve to leave later tomorrow . Finally , it ’ s go time . As we leave the line , I hear Baba O ’ Riley playing ( GNCC riders – if you know , you know ) and take it as a sign it ’ ll be a good week .
Out on the road , I ’ m filled with a swell of gratitude . I ’ m at Six Days again and everything ’ s right in the world . We crest the hill , and a postcard scene unfolds , beams of morning sunlight cutting through the clouds of dust … wait , dust ?? Noooooo ! The gratitude is replaced with concern . I hate dust . I ’ d rather ride in a monsoon . But Italy doesn ’ t care about my feelings . What wasn ’ t huge dusty silt piles was hard , scorched ground .
The first test was a cross ( potato field ), with the start / finish on an expansive hillside . The test swept down , dropping off ledges into a plowed field before climbing up again . My only goal was to stay upright . So of course , I promptly fell . I still had a mid-pack finish though and felt okay . I felt even better after the enduro test ( military ), where I finished fourth . It was more technical and even had a mini-EnduroCross section .
However , there ’ s an undercurrent of anxiety . I don ’ t know how generous times were . Brandy is taking an eternity to put her toolpack on . Unable to stand it , I dart off . I shouldn ’ t have worried . We have 10min at the check , enough for a snack from my check bag . I initially packed huge bags but didn ’ t need to . Our lovely and competent chase rider Meg Argubright was at every checkpoint and test . Despite it being a last-minute assignment , she did an outstanding job . My check bags got lighter every day .
After that , Brandy , Britney and I
VOL . 6 ISSUE 10 - OCTOBER 2021 // PAGE 95