Color

"Some people see only in back and white, shades of grey at best", he acknowledged after the meeting. I suppose it takes a lot of courage and more than a little flexibility to see the potential of change. Colors instead of monochrome. A vibrant challenge designed to extract as much, or more, as the opportunity offers. Sure there is risk, but would you rather sit and watch someone climb a mountain, or gear up and trek yourself? Managers, directors, those with "power" seem to see the black, the binary, the fear vice the free, the illusion of order rather than the reality of chaos. Tightness versus trust. Ego and control to cooperation and support. Within every controlled environment lives a healthy and vital counter culture, You are color blind indeed if you can't see the rainbow or the trees.
The good news was that his assigned motorcycle pilot, Mike, got the picture almost immediately, and they discussed semantics and esoterics after a visit to the local BMW dealership to look at the RT 1100, the bike they would be sharing for five hours starting tomorrow morning at 0700. They would meet again today at 3:30 to set up, configure, tweak and test the moto-mounts. They had finally received permission from the race officials to start 45 minutes after the pro wave and to do three laps, or the entire 112 miles. This took some doing and was a little painful as the opening commentary attests. But now they were set and needed this day to prep and also some cooperation from the weather gods. It rained a touch this morning and here at 0800 was still misty enough to cause malfunction to cameras, not to mention moisture on lenses. That was the bad news, with no back up plan for rain, as there were no cars allowed on the course. Not even black and white ones.

Yesterdays scouting of the course was helpful. The first ten kilometers was thru town with some nice climbs and a few technical parts. Then a long, semi desolate flat leg to the eucalyptus forest where he gaged the trees mature enough to allow in sufficient light, and lastly a nice tight two way out and back and the return to town. Three loop course. All in all a beautiful venue, with some decent climbs, rollers and grades; a great opportunity to start the season with a bang. There were even signs posted about kuala and kangaroo crossings, so maybe the magic of OZ would manifest as cameras were rolling. I'll have some pictures of the moto-mount test tonight, and then out until tomorrow night as, at last, race day dawns.

"Tact and diplomacy, rainbows and tall ships", he questioned himself aloud, "what part of ego have you yet to understand?"

Top photo: At the top of Town Beach Hill heading back to transition.

Middle: Phil and Wendo at the CompuTrainer booth. Looks like the Queen K is on the scren.

Bottom: A spectacular rainbow points to the swim course early this morning. Color, ahhhhh.