Arrival St. Croix

The day is almost here. Yesterday Alisha and I arrived in tropical St. Croix after two less than eventful flights from Norfolk. Walking off the plane the first thing greeted us was a warm blanket of sweat humidity. My first thoughts flashed back to my race in FL two years ago. The painful hobbling experience brought on by humidity and dehydration stayed with me as I walked inside to baggage claim. I can’t pick easy race locations can I? I anxiously stood by the baggage carousel waiting for our bags. Unfortunately, my bike never made it. Apparently, the race overloads the airline’s capacity for luggage. They typically have to charter an entire flight just to get them all to the island. (As I am writing this they called to inform me of its arrival.) This morning I awoke, gobbled down a bowl of oatmeal, threw on my swim trunks and walked out the patio door for a morning swim. The turquoise water was bath water warm and crystal clear. I paddled back and forth in front of the resort for 20 minutes working the kinks out from yesterday’s travel. I could really get used to this. After spending the rest of the day reading and relaxing by the beach, Alisha and I wandered into downtown Christiansted for dinner. Walking through the boardwalk afforded a preview of the swim course laid out in the harbor. I also got a preview of the warm-up swim to the island for start. Maybe, tomorrow I’ll get a preview of ‘The Beast.’

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