Sandy reports as of 9:36 PDT: Ken is doing well and we’re just waiting for an orthopedist to see him this morning. He’s hungry, thirsty, and wants to get out of here. We hope to get Greg back in the race sometime today. I spoke with Eddie and Brad about an hour ago; Brad and Dave are riding well and pushing ahead but with only two riders and two crew and no sleep for more than 24 hours it’s tough going.

And from the official RAAM site: …Team Cyclonauts and Team Nor’easter, have sent riders to the hospital in Brawley, Calif. The latter’s rider was blown off his bike by crosswinds that sent him skidding 5-10 yards. His fall left him unconscious but he is now awake and on the mends.

(Editor: Brad & Dave have passed through CP #4 at 10:50 EDT and have gained time on the team ahead of them – Team Cyclonauts, reducing the gap from 3:45 @ CP #2 to 1:27 @ CP #4.)

At 5:11 PDT, there is no update available on Ken’s condition since it is still very early in California. His son, Greg, Sandy, and Ron have remained at the hospital.

Brad and Dave have pushed on with Eddie and Pete as their crew members. They have checked in through CP #3.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Ken, and all of the riders and crew.

Bad news received at 2:28 EDT: Team Nor’easter member, Ken Walker Sr. (kadley), took a fall off his bike about 5 miles from CP 2 and is in the hospital. Though it was a very serious crash, and injuries may include a broken shoulder, he is conscious and alert. He wants the team to continue, and they are deciding now what they are going to do.

Sandy reported that Ken was traveling through a very windy section of the course and was caught by a large gust of wind which took the bike right out from under him.

Hopefully, an update after 8 AM EST.

A report from Sandy Fillebrown: We passed inspection with flying colors – had all the right forms and the bikes and jerseys and vehicles all were as required. (Editor: I am guessing the bikes weren’t in this condition for the inspection…) All 4 riders will ride the few blocks from the pier down to the start of the bike path and then Ken Walker will ride the first leg. He and Greg will then swap back and forth for about the first 120 miles, through time station T2. Or at least that’s the current plan. The support vehicles can’t do anything for the first 21 miles, and then not much more for the next 15, so there’s some limitations to how we can do things at the beginning. The RV can’t join in the fun for about 80 miles.

Here is a picture from the prerace activities. Team Nor’easter is in white under the letters “ce” in Race…

All 4 riders (Brad Whitmore, Ken Walker, Greg Walker, Dave Nash) and 2 of the crew (Sandy Fillebrown and Eddie Bergeron) are at the race hotel in Oceanside, CA. The hotel is right on the ocean – beautiful views. Today, they have to run around getting the RV, going to the rider meeting, passing inspection, and so forth. The race starts Tuesday at 2pm local time.

The rest of the crew is Ron Grayson, who is starting the race but will be replaced by Lex Bundschuh on the 14th. Pete Dady, who flew in after attending the North American Rogaine Championships. And Dave Pruden, who will be filling in for Sandy as of the 18th so that Sandy can attend her son’s high school graduation in Philadelphia.

Sandy hopes to pick the racers back up before the finish in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Pictured from left to right: Greg, Ken, Dave, Sandy, Brad, and Pete.

Picture courtesy of Eddie Bergeron, therefore he isn’t in the picture. Eddie was replaced as a rider after being selected to represent the United States at the World Orienteering Championships (WOC) August 1-5 in Aarhus, Denmark.

I hope to post updates here on Team Nor’easter, which is competing in the Race Across America (RAAM). RAAM is a coast-to-coast bicycle ultra marathon totalling 3,052 miles.

The actual rider tracking will be available on the official RAAM website. However, if the plan works, I will provide the more personal information on how things are going.

The team of riders is made up of:
Brad Whitmore, 53, Freeland, Maryland
Greg Walker, 25, Westwood, California
Dave Nash, 53, Arlington, Virginia
Kenneth Walker, 57, Chester, Vermont

More detail, and a picture of each rider, is available in their RAAM biographies.

All the Team Nor’easter riders and crew members are, or have been, involved in orienteering on the national level. They are confident that they won’t be getting lost out there.