25-27 June 2010 AFLAC Iron Girl Triathalon Trip

I don't think I mentioned that Helen is a professional triathlete and she was signed up to compete in the AFLAC Iron Girl event scheduled for this weekend.   So we headed up to Atlanta for the big weekend.  Okay, not strictly Atlanta but just northwest of there. Helen had already reserved two nights for us at the resort where the event was scheduled.  We took off after lunch as Helen worked in the morning.

Here we are traveling northward.

Steve did an outstanding job of driving the rig once his mother was willing to let go of the steering wheel.  He was actually driving when we hit the Atlanta traffic which was fortunately near the end of our drive.  It turned out to be a bit further than I realized and, of course, you go a bit slower in an RV if you don't want it to suck you dry in the diesel department so we arrived a little later than we figured but our reservation was posted on the office door and we got backed in and hooked up without a problem.  The resort was quite posh (as in expensive) but the camping area was pretty much like a decent state park trees and winding roads.

The next day we checked out the resort and spent some time in the afternoon getting Helen all signed in for the big event.  That took a bit of time since there were a lot of participants.  We also figured out the best place for Steve and I to watch all three events.  For those not familiar with triathlons, there is a swim, a bike race, and a run and one of which is enough to do most people in but you have to do them all.  As I said, Helen is a pro.  Early the next morning Helen took off on her bike to get in set up in the bike area.  Steve and I hiked down to the swim area shortly afterward as that is the first event.

Helen and a few other swimmers warm up before the swim portion of the event.

Can you pick out Helen?

Heading out of the chute for the final event--the run!

 Here's Helen refueling after awards were handed out.  She has so much energy that I get tired watching her.

After the events were over, we headed back to the RV and packed up to head back to Panama City.  Helen is also an experienced RVer so she demonstrated proper dumping techniques to Steve.

Here we are on the way home.  Helen stretched out in the back seat and even managed to take a little nap after she called her Mom to give her the race results.  Willy, Gretchen, and Harley demonstrated their napping techniques just in case Helen needed some instruction.

All in all, it was a great weekend of seeing new sights, getting a chance to see Helen in a triathlon, and just enjoying great company.