[DVBC] Brandywine Tour: post mortem

[dreamer]

First of all, DVBC Volunteers--YOU ROCK!!!.  Without you, the tour would 
not have been a success.  Thank You!  Thank You!  Thank You!

I've been told that 432 riders rode yesterday.  Great turnout on a 
picture perfect day.

I got to Pocopson at 6:32 a.m. and there already were 6 or 7 cars of 
riders there.  We got registration set up and were swarmed with riders.  
We split up the food, tables and utensils and everyone was off to their 
assigned positions.

After registration I went to Fred Engle and the volunteers there were 
great getting everything set, getting the Gatorade ready and making PB & 
J sandwiches and cutting bagels.  The first century riders came through 
there at 9:30 and that started the non-stop wave of riders.  We went 
through 10 loaves of bread and I had to send Doug out for more bread and 
jelly.  We wrapped Fred Engle up around 12:10 when the last rider came 
through there.

Next I headed over Brandywine Outfitter's stopping along the way to 
check on 3 riders, 1 who had a flat on 841 on the Rt 1 overpass.  They 
said they were okay and didn't need a SAG so I drove on seeing about 20 
or so other riders still on the 50 mile route.  Stopped to chat with 
David Bennett who was watching out for riders and warning them at the 
covered bridge.  When I got to Brandywine Outfitter's things were going 
smoothly and all the riders there were definitely enjoying themselves.  
Hung out there and then headed back to Pocopson.

At that point at Pocopson, we had live music, people were in line for 
free massages, and there were cheese pizza and tomato pies.  The looks 
on the faces of the riders coming in all seemed to be happy and thankful 
that they were finished.  That last hill up the driveway is always 
tough!  We wrapped up Pocopson and left there the way we found it around 
6:00.

I also want to especially thank Dan Dillon, Mike Toof, and Dom who came 
back to my house afterward and unloaded all the supplies, cleaned off 
the tables and water and Gatorade containers and helped me sort out the 
supplies and load them in my garage.  As I write this I have the final 
load of utensils, bagel cutters and plastic containers soaking in my 
sink to wash and thankfully all the work will be done for this year.

Again, thanks to EVERYONE who took part in the tour--whether you were a 
Volunteer at the food stands, registration, SAG, or a rider--all of you 
made this tour the SUCCESS it was.

HAVE A GREAT LABOR  DAY EVERYONE, YOU DESERVE.  I KNOW I'M GOING TO!

Debbie


Bob LaDrew wrote:

>     Just curious to hear from the brass back at Pocopson how the Tour 
> went today. From our perspective out at Brandywine Outfitters in 
> Modena, everything went beautifully and every rider was happy. We 
> heard nothing but praise about the scenery, food, arrow markings, SAG 
> support.... You name it.
>     Talked to one rider group from Puerto Rico and they claimed they 
> had come up from the island for the express purpose of doing this 
> ride. We had provided seven stackable plastic chairs and our Spanish 
> speaking friends were the only visitors all day to form the chairs in 
> a circle and set up a little neighborhood. They stayed awhile and boy 
> did they eat!
>     One thing that struck me was how many of the riders were repeat 
> customers. I think our ride is a perrenial success because of customer 
> satisfaction.
>     I always tell people that there are clubs closer to home that I 
> could join but I am in the DVBC because the people are special. That 
> was evident again today when you saw how many of our members 
> volunteered, how well and cheerfully they worked together and what a 
> terrific tour they put on!
>     --Bob La.
>
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