Storming the beaches, the first wave

16 Aug 2018– “That’s my spot,” the BMW rider said, trolling the campground for the ideal spot.  Early bird catches the worm.  I couldn’t sleep so woke up at 0600, showered and quietly packed up, leaving Rachelle to catch up on some sleep–her first vacation of the year.  I got to the first-come-first-serve campground to snag sites for NORWESTARS, pre-positioning my bags, hammock and bike in the available real estate.  I called in for reserves and Dave Grossman got there to help with securing our sites, hovering over families packing up their tents and RVs like vultures circling roadkill.  Finally, with the sites secure and NORWESTARS dug in, I was able to walk into town and meet Rachelle at Broadway deli for a delicious chicken wrap.  Back at camp reacquainted myself with our NORWESTARS family, sitting around in the circle of friendship and began the harassment, social banter and bragging that make this group so damned enjoyable to be with.  We stayed up, under the glow of our solar-powered campfire (light) until 2200.