Discussion: Florida A meet
in: Orienteering; General
Jan 26, 2006 2:42 PM
#
PG:
Saturday 1/26 is the postmark dedline for the cheapest registration if you want to save a few bucks.
Jan 26, 2006 3:32 PM
#
Are there map samples from that available someplace? Various Swedes are interested in going to Florida for a winter break and taking in the A-meet.
Jan 27, 2006 1:10 PM
#
feet:
There was a copy of one part of the map in a recent ONA (the November issue? I don't have ONA available at the moment). However, probably more useful for Swedes is that FLO have all their maps on their website, including versions of maps very near the site of this event.
Woodpecker Hill
Woodpecker West [edited to add: this link is broken]
The list of all their maps is here.
Obviously these are older maps; I'd expect the new ones to be improved.
Woodpecker Hill
Woodpecker West [edited to add: this link is broken]
The list of all their maps is here.
Obviously these are older maps; I'd expect the new ones to be improved.
Jan 27, 2006 7:57 PM
#
feet:
One thing I should add is that from the pictures of the forest in ONA, it looks really fast. It sounded like (iirc) the woodpeckers do better when the forest floor is mostly open rather than overgrown, so ground vegetation is reduced compared to natural forest.
(Actually, the same is true for the HOC event at Jones SF just outside Houston that I'm going to tomorrow. Gotta love woodpeckers if what they can achieve is getting people to do this... I may be releasing more woodpeckers around Houston in the near future.)
(Actually, the same is true for the HOC event at Jones SF just outside Houston that I'm going to tomorrow. Gotta love woodpeckers if what they can achieve is getting people to do this... I may be releasing more woodpeckers around Houston in the near future.)
Jan 27, 2006 10:15 PM
#
walk:
We have some patches of Mt Laurel that could sure use one of those - right Charlie?
Jan 27, 2006 10:32 PM
#
So we need to turn Harriman into a woodpecker sanctuary to get them to take care of the woods like that? Maybe it's time USOF made an alliance with the Woodpecker Society.
Jan 28, 2006 2:16 AM
#
Dude - Harriman is good enough. DVOA has some places that may need that mower, but those have got worse things than a couple blueberries!
Jan 29, 2006 6:35 PM
#
The Woodpeciker Hill map has a nice discussion of the woodpeckers.
But where is the "Hill"? is it on the map?
But where is the "Hill"? is it on the map?
Feb 3, 2006 8:37 PM
#
Mapping is complete. Some parts of the map have been 100% updated, some 0%. I did ~1.5 km2, Rick DeWitt, ~2–3 km2, and Joe did some; but the map is 20+ km2, of which ~12 km2 is used by the courses. Expect further elaboration in event notes.
A large portion is indeed very runnable. I estimate the winning speed for the Middle to be 5:25/km, for the Long, 5:45/km. FLO and I both tried to make contact with "various Swedes" by virtue of J. Mårtensson and H. Eriksson, but I sort of dropped the ball by not showing at the Jukola with a stack of brochures in hand, so as of now all contact is lost. If someone really good (M or F) is interested in coming, we can sponsor accommodations (one person only, at organizer's discretion). We did that for Toni Louhisola last year, travel and full board.
Event center hotel accommodations: There are still ~15 rooms available, and they need to be booked by February 10th.
A note to all who travel to the event and rent a car: Be very, very careful. Can't underemphasize this. When you receive the car, go over all dents, etc. Don't leave the lot until you hand the rental company back the list of possible problems with the car, and have them sign off on it. Make sure your rental agreement has unlimited mileage. If you intend to travel out of state, make sure your agreement allows that. Make triple sure you decline the rental company's insurances (unless you think you need them), and write "I DECLINE" on the rental agreement, and sign. Don't ever go much over the speed limit. Keep the car nice and tidy, and don't drive on the power line (southern boundary of W. Hill and W. West). When you return the car, make quadruple sure the gas tank level and the mileage are recorded correctly. Keep all copies of rental contract and receipts. Make a copy of the rental contract at a Kinko's because you won't see it after you return the car. If there is any discrepancy between your contract and the charge on your credit card, dispute it immediately with the credit card company and let the rental car company (FL location) know in writing you did so. If there is indeed a discrepancy, do not argue with the car company by any means but in writing.
It seems that there are strong incentives in place for local rental employees to collect additional fees from renters by all means possible. On our two trips, we got overcharged a total of $174 for 6 days of rental. The first time (Enterprise), the location called the sheriff when I tried to argue (no jail time). The second time (Dollar), upon return, an employee tried to get a verbal admission from my girlfriend that she drove out of state (even though the contract allowed that), and marked the gas tank as empty while it was 3/4 full.
A large portion is indeed very runnable. I estimate the winning speed for the Middle to be 5:25/km, for the Long, 5:45/km. FLO and I both tried to make contact with "various Swedes" by virtue of J. Mårtensson and H. Eriksson, but I sort of dropped the ball by not showing at the Jukola with a stack of brochures in hand, so as of now all contact is lost. If someone really good (M or F) is interested in coming, we can sponsor accommodations (one person only, at organizer's discretion). We did that for Toni Louhisola last year, travel and full board.
Event center hotel accommodations: There are still ~15 rooms available, and they need to be booked by February 10th.
A note to all who travel to the event and rent a car: Be very, very careful. Can't underemphasize this. When you receive the car, go over all dents, etc. Don't leave the lot until you hand the rental company back the list of possible problems with the car, and have them sign off on it. Make sure your rental agreement has unlimited mileage. If you intend to travel out of state, make sure your agreement allows that. Make triple sure you decline the rental company's insurances (unless you think you need them), and write "I DECLINE" on the rental agreement, and sign. Don't ever go much over the speed limit. Keep the car nice and tidy, and don't drive on the power line (southern boundary of W. Hill and W. West). When you return the car, make quadruple sure the gas tank level and the mileage are recorded correctly. Keep all copies of rental contract and receipts. Make a copy of the rental contract at a Kinko's because you won't see it after you return the car. If there is any discrepancy between your contract and the charge on your credit card, dispute it immediately with the credit card company and let the rental car company (FL location) know in writing you did so. If there is indeed a discrepancy, do not argue with the car company by any means but in writing.
It seems that there are strong incentives in place for local rental employees to collect additional fees from renters by all means possible. On our two trips, we got overcharged a total of $174 for 6 days of rental. The first time (Enterprise), the location called the sheriff when I tried to argue (no jail time). The second time (Dollar), upon return, an employee tried to get a verbal admission from my girlfriend that she drove out of state (even though the contract allowed that), and marked the gas tank as empty while it was 3/4 full.
Feb 4, 2006 4:08 PM
#
You don't want to hear my stories of rental car
runaround over the years ...
... but my advice from an experienced traveler: Get #1 Gold and use Hertz. I hate to endorse a specific company, but I've had less ripoff issues with them than any other company, and my experience in getting problems corrected has generally been successful. (But please don't blame me if you have a bad experience following this advice, every location is different, its about playing the odds). Vlad is correct in suggesting that many rental car company employees are incented to ring in the extras.
Also, some rental companies put GPS units in their cars so they can charge you for speeding, etc. Read the fine print. And Vlad's advice is excellent, you absolutely have to go over the car with a microscope and get the agent to acknowledge any damage seen.
Another piece of advice is to book rental cars on Travelocity. They guarantee the price quoted is the price you pay, within 1% (assuming you don't damage the car, violate the contract, etc). I've used this service in a dispute, and while tediously slow, it did work in the end.
runaround over the years ...
... but my advice from an experienced traveler: Get #1 Gold and use Hertz. I hate to endorse a specific company, but I've had less ripoff issues with them than any other company, and my experience in getting problems corrected has generally been successful. (But please don't blame me if you have a bad experience following this advice, every location is different, its about playing the odds). Vlad is correct in suggesting that many rental car company employees are incented to ring in the extras.
Also, some rental companies put GPS units in their cars so they can charge you for speeding, etc. Read the fine print. And Vlad's advice is excellent, you absolutely have to go over the car with a microscope and get the agent to acknowledge any damage seen.
Another piece of advice is to book rental cars on Travelocity. They guarantee the price quoted is the price you pay, within 1% (assuming you don't damage the car, violate the contract, etc). I've used this service in a dispute, and while tediously slow, it did work in the end.
Feb 4, 2006 4:15 PM
#
feet:
Caveat: Hertz has recently been spun off (about three months ago) by Ford and is now owned by a consortium of private equity firms. They've already changed a few provisions of the contract for the worse (eg the grace period on returns is now 30 minutes not 60); there are also reports they are stocking fewer spare cars. I'd be wary of Hertz too until the new regime has established its own customer service attitudes more clearly. (I agree Hertz were great in the past.)
Feb 4, 2006 8:55 PM
#
walk:
I've gone through AAA lately and gotten good rates for Hertz from them. While they ask about the extra insurance, gas fills etc, Hertz doesn't push it like the others. Have really had issues with the Travelocity cheapies at times in the past.
Feb 5, 2006 4:46 AM
#
The cheapest I could find was $263 "estimated total" for 5 days, Avis, intermediate size, AWD #K513400.
-Joe
-Joe
Feb 9, 2006 9:28 PM
#
So, car rental is going to be fun. Anyone out there want to camp with me and brave the dangers of Floridian car rental together (strength or at least cheapness in numbers)?
Feb 10, 2006 9:41 PM
#
Some ancient history. First-ever (?) A meet day in FL, date unknown, 1995. Ocala National Forest, same general area as the 2006 A meet. 11.3 km, <110 m climb (as per clue sheet).
The times in my record are indeed in decimal minute fractions.
It is very curious that there is virtually no terrain overlap between the 1995 event and the 2006 courses, so even if you think you remember, you don't.
1. Joe Brautigam 63.52
2. Michael Eglinski 70.63
3. Jonathan Campbell 76.22
4. Bruce Wolfe 76.71
5. Drew DeWitt 78.04
6. Clive Giddis 79.80
7. Ron Hudson 80.65
8. Daryl Remick 81.15
9. Vladimir Gusiatnikov 83.18
10. Martin Schuster 88.12
11. J-J Coté 88.48
12. Geoffrey Jeram 90.07
13. Jeff Coker 91.87
14. Paul Bennett 94.07
The times in my record are indeed in decimal minute fractions.
It is very curious that there is virtually no terrain overlap between the 1995 event and the 2006 courses, so even if you think you remember, you don't.
Feb 15, 2006 12:53 AM
#
Regrettably, it is most likely that we will again not be able to offer WRE points to Women's class participants.
Feb 15, 2006 5:26 PM
#
Course lengths and est. winning times have been posted, and course/event/terrain/map notes will be posted soon, too.
Feb 22, 2006 4:40 PM
#
PG:
Does anyone know how long it takes to get to the meet site from the Orlando airport, and what the best way of going is? I might have trouble making my sprint start....
Feb 22, 2006 5:25 PM
#
Joe:
allow at least an hour 20 from the airport. the easiest way is to go north on I-4 and go west through Deland. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=orland...
Peter, don't worry about your sprint start, I will keep the course open for you.
Peter, don't worry about your sprint start, I will keep the course open for you.
Feb 22, 2006 9:53 PM
#
Start times are available. Note: WRE (F21 and M21) starts for Saturday will be between 9 and 10 AM, and will be drawn & published according to the schedule stated in the Event Bullentin referenced above.
Feb 22, 2006 11:10 PM
#
I am serving as substitute registrar for Donna. So, please direct any inquiries to me.
Feb 24, 2006 1:55 AM
#
Start times for the WRE. Sorry we are running late. Major manpower loss.
This discussion thread is closed.