Finally... something cool to post!

Ok, so I finally got our 3-Day and Travel Blog typed up. And yes our trip was in October... but I wrote a lot. In the end it was about 11 type pages, not bad.

Anyhow, here is the first installment... this is "Day Zero" which is the day before the San Diego 3-day kicks off. "What is a 3-day?" you may ask... read on!

The 3-Day
Day 0 – We flew out to San Diego, leaving crappy rainy weather and entering a bright, sunny, and warm oasis. Getting on a shuttle to the rental car terminal proves to be our first challenge. Everyone seems to be using Budget Rental for their transportation needs. While waiting we spy a woman that must be a 3-day walker; she has the tell-tale fanny pack and water bottles and like us is in attire that is suited for cooler weather. Bored I go to chat with her and discover that she certainly is a 3-Day walker and happens to be from Alexandria; small world.
Finally, snug in the van with 15 other folks and about 50 bags we are off to the rental lot. The couple thinks we are kidding when we share our cross-country plans. They can hardly believe we could make it in only a week. I decide to ignore the naysayers and try to admire the view of the luggage rack during the rest of our trip. At the rental office we find a new line awaits us; full of those who caught the shuttles before us. Soon enough we are wandering across the parking lot in search of our ride and off to the Crew Check-in.
We find our way to the fair grounds and Check-In. There is some initial concern about the team we will be working with, as it is huge and the majority of them know each other from previous events. After all of the logistical stuff is done and we have had multiple mini-meetings to discuss the next three days we are armed with our Nextels and blue Crew shirts.
We finally head out to find something to eat. The last meal consisted of a latte and a scone at 7am in Dulles. One of the team members recommends Il Fortanto – a little pricey, but delicious. We find ourselves driving along the Pacific coast and the view is awesome. We settle in at our table and are thrilled to see the same view of the Pacific. A tasty bread basket arrives and is promptly devoured. After a minor snafu with the appetizer we get our entrees. The food deserves the praise it was given (not with holding the fact that we were starving).After wandering the patio and taking a picture with the pacific as out background we head to our hotel. We settle into our boushie room (complete with the over-priced chocolate basket) and pass out for the evening, anxious for Day 1 to begin.