Hurkey Creek

The "Le Mans" start to the race (we had to run a lap).
Listening to directions from the clown.
Kids at camp with bikes.

We went to a bike race at Hurkey Creek yesterday. We camped over night with 100's of other cyclists and their families and friends. It is quite an experience. If you haven't heard of them, they are called '24 hours of adrenaline" races, only this year Chris entered an 8 hour category. For 8 hours, he and his brother took turns riding the mountain bike course, relay style. Athena got to ride in the kids bike "race" as well. She was so excited the entire drive, she kept asking me when her bike race was going to be. They had all of the 4 and under kids line up first and follow this silly clown around. They were riding in the grass so I had to run along side her (while carrying Rowan) and give her a push whenever she got stuck, most of the parents were doing this. The next age group of 5-7 year olds were a little more serious, although they made it really fun and difficult to say who "won". The kids really loved camping. It is so much work to camp with the little ones, but they get so much out of it. Athena even said, "I LOVE nature!", as we walked around the campground. She later exclaimed, "We are having a REALLY good evening Mommy!" Rowan cracked me up with his fire reminders. Everytime we went by a fire he say, "Hot! Hot! No, no! No, no!" I guess my little speech to him worked. He also said a new phrase which I don't know where he picked up, "Oh baby". Rowan LOVES, I mean LOVES, bike helmets. He didn't want to wear his own though, only his Dad's. When we looked at pictures he would get so mad when he saw the pictures of him wearing his hat, and then get really excited when he saw the ones with him wearing his helmet. It was too funny. We are all wiped out, but it was worth it. I think we will all sleep well tonight.