Delaware Valley Orienteering Association

Topic created by Dasha on Sun Sep 9, 2012 at 10:39 pm

Dasha
Num Posts: 108
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Mt Joy
First O: 2002

Reply by Sandy on Mon Sep 10, 2012 at 6:01 am

Sandy
Num Posts: 318
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Hickory Run 1:15000
First O: 1993

It was a great day!  Thanks, Ann for pulling it all together.

Reply by camperpat on Mon Sep 10, 2012 at 6:48 am

camperpat
Num Posts: 385
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Hibernia
First O: 1999

Thanks to everyone including Ann for the great day at Myrick! What a beautiful park.  I love orienteering but I equally love spending time in the parks, sometimes i forget I am on the clock , like when I saw the big red tailed hawk !  thank you

Reply by DaveDarrah on Mon Sep 10, 2012 at 7:11 am

DaveDarrah
Num Posts: 47
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Fatlands
First O: 1976

Yes, a great day to run in the woods. Thanks to all that made the event possible.


Anyone else take as long as I did (namely, the next day) to see the big red 'X'
about 15 meters SW of Red control 11/24, Number 33?  (The 'X' may not have
been on maps other than Red. It was also White 3 and Orange 7, and for you
running other courses, it was about 65 meters NNE of Number 36. I'm pretty sure
it was to indicate that the short east/west trail there through the green was no
longer passable.)

Seeing this yesterday may have helped, but, then, again, maybe not. It was nasty
in there!


Again, thanks all, including a spectacular job by the weatherman.

Reply by Vadim on Mon Sep 10, 2012 at 7:58 am

Vadim
Num Posts: 221
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Stuckey Pond
First O: 1983

The special symbols are on all maps independent on what course is printed. So, the red X was on every single map and it was to indicate the bridge is out. Also, it was in the meet notes posted way ahead of event.

Reply by anniemac on Mon Sep 10, 2012 at 9:08 am

anniemac
Num Posts: 156
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map:
First O: 0

Yesterday I experienced a little of the heart of DVOA, and I am in awe.  Coming to compete, I was only ever around for a few hours.  Following an event from start to finish has given me a new perspective on the communication and support from within the club, and an appreciation for Orienteering as a community activity:  from the volunteers that stayed the whole day, always smiling; to participants young and old rising to their respective challenges in the field, coming back and interacting with each other; and finally families growing closer while problem-solving together.  Really the word I come away with is FAMILY.  Whether related or not, DVOA is a family of sorts.

Thanks is owed to many, starting with Vadim and Clem, for course setting and vetting among many other things.  Clem captured many great O'moments and added a media presence to our event which is always fun. Vadim's level of volunteerism is inspiring: I learned that every vacation day he has taken this year has been for Orienteering activities!  My whole family was very supportive of and involved in this entire process:  my Dad (Mac,) who gets MVP award for the day for his diversity of tasks - hanging signs in the morning, beginner instruction, picking up controls at the end of the day, dealing with me, to name a few; my brother Hugh for helping me navigate the initial ED checklist, hanging controls, working the start, getting his family to come out, and cheering me on; and of course Julie the cook who fed us while we stuffed maps.

We could not have done it without Mary Frank and Sandy Fillebrown, who both have a lot on their plates at this time but rallied to come and ended up staying to the bitter end while holding down the fort in registration and epunch.  Dasha, your radiant smile ensured that the First Timers will return again! Steve Mones, nice job at the start.  Jeff Riegner, your commanding presence at the epunch allowed Sandy to compete. Tom Mentrak, nice job hanging controls in the morning, and nice run later in the day. Kathy and Dave Urban, your cheerful presence was a huge help.  Tom O thank you for keeping Mary company at the reg.  Bob and Carol Fink, thanks for your patience with the start going a tiny bit late.  And finally, thanks to Ron Wood and Dan+Zac Barker for picking up controls at the end of the day.  I hope I didn't forget anyone!

HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS FROM THE DAY

In the future, I think it might be important to include the Legends on maps where there could be a lot of beginner and first time Orienteers showing up.  One woman and her family (Trish G4) was very frustrated on the White Course, because she really didn't know how to read a map.  In addition, if I could do it all over again, I would have printed out the Course Notes and had them available at the registration area, to remind people of the areas to watch out for - the hatched out fields and uncrossable trails.  However, seeing your legs covered in briars and burrs was pretty awesome.

Finally, it was great to meet so many of you for the first time, and see so many new faces too!  I hope those new faces come back again.

Thank you for the great day! See you at Hickory Run.

Ann

Reply by KathleenG on Tue Sep 11, 2012 at 9:05 pm

KathleenG
Num Posts: 104
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Elk Neck
First O: 1998

Lovely day, and a fun course.  Thank you to whoever put up the "trail closed - falling tree danger" signs - which kept Larry off the trail near Green control #3 where the tree fell LOUDLY! He was about to head down that trail but turned back at the markings.  I was also approaching 3 and heard all the cracking and crashing somewhere near the control.  Knew Larry was ahead of me and sure hoped he wasn't under that tree!