Surfski Knowledge Base

Dean Bumstead
09/09/07 #3450

At last minute I decided to join Joost for the Bainbridge Island Marathon, because I had only paddled once in the last five days, I was already tapered. It was starting to look like another potential upset (almost Shaw Island 06) when Joost arrived a half hour late muttering something about “didn't hear the alarm”, “bag of bagles”, then a few miles down the road it was, “damn, I forgot my gps, and my favorite hat”. It was looking good.

I had already had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich by the time we got on the ferry, and Joost made a b-line for the food court. We both bought Egg McMuffins - I guess Joost decided that bagels just didn't cut it - and while I went to take care of a bodily function necessitated by too much coffee, Joost sneaked another McMuffin that would turn out to be a crucial move in the later stages of the race.

We got to the race start in plenty of time and there was a pretty stiff wind blowing from the north. It was decided that we would all go in a clockwise direction, because there was only one small chase boat. It was with great apprehension that I lined up on the start line, for it was this same direction several years ago that David Scherrer (need I say more), and I, comfortably in the lead, had blasted by Restoration Point, and it wasn't till we were half way to Tacoma that the chase boat motored up to us and asked us where we were going. At the end of that race we co-authored the book on bonking.

The surfing was great going down the east side of the island. Apparently, there were a few mishaps though. Rainer Storb and his partner in a double rowing shell were swamped by a wave that left all there worldly possessions floating throughout the greater Puget Sound region. They went from 4th to last place while collecting their valuables - how they did it in those conditions, I have no idea. Michael Lampi abandoned his pedal boat after tipping over and got a ride back in a fire department rescue vehicle.

My great surfing run down the east side was briefly interrupted by the Winslow ferry and after that I lost sight of Joost and the double rowing shell (Tyler Peterson & Evan Jacobs), whom Joost had beaten to the south end, but was then overtaken in the calmer water. After making a correct turn at Restoration Point and riding the current through Rich Passage it was a long uphill grind against wind and current. Throughout the second half of the race I kept spotting Joost and thinking ah ha! His McMuffin is finally wearing off, only to discover I was getting excited about overtaking a white mooring buoy. With about six miles to go, I did something I had never done before in a race. I was paddling just seven feet from the shore to stay out of the current so I pulled over, stood up, and frantically tore at my cliff bar wrapper. Now why don't they make edible wrappers? Consuming the cliff bar had amazing results. I felt very strong at the end, and even though Joost still beat me by thirteen minutes, at the finish line, Steve Benett told me I looked a lot better than Joost coming across the line. I'll take it. Dean

Larry Goolsby
09/09/07 #3451

I'm envious! Not of the race but the great write up. I wanted to say “Who wrote this and what did you do with Dean Bumstead”?
Larry G.

Michael Lampi
09/11/07 #3461

— In whatcompaddlers@…, Dean Bumstead <deantree@…>
wrote:

…
Michael Lampi abandoned his pedal boat after tipping over and got a ride back in a fire department rescue vehicle.

Actually, I stayed with the pedal boat and pushed it to shore. Having lost my water bottles, most of my food, and many of my worldly possessions, my desire to race the remaining 23 miles disappeared as well.

The boat was not abandoned! Nay, it was parked temporarily next to a garage whilst I went to retrieve my car. The ride from the FDRV was certainly appreciated, as was the help from concerned observers on the waterfront.

BTW, one thing Dean didn't mention was that when the safety boat turned to see if I needed help their motor died. They ended up beaching at the same spot.

Misery loves company.