ALONE IN 70604

The crew in front of our breakfast spot, the Moscow, ready for travel.

Just sent Signe, Leon, and Pat off to the airport; an event for which I made a rare appearance at breakfast.  Back in the apartment now and immediately a different feel.  And clouds for the first time this morning.  Nils gone, too.  At least I'll be able to use the bathroom again.  With high occupancy, the fanless one in 70605 was only appropriate for showers and peeing.  A house rule (not mine, just evolved) that was thankfully honored by all.

The last of the Lagunitas Sucks is used to toast the moment.

K125 event went late last night... crazy air moving around and some big names kicked to the curb in both rounds but in the end it was still the best jumpers who were on top.  Funny how that works.  So obvious was the outcome that I had the winner and next three jumpers picked correctly in the NBC pool (100 rubles- $3) just not in the right order. Pappa nailed top three in order and won for the second time.  The guy is on a roll and is about ready to be both analyst and play by play.  News beyond Pole Kamil Stoch winning second gold was 41 year old Noriaki Kasai (JPN) taking silver.  Proof positive that mediocrity isn't necessarily terminal if you stick with it long enough.  Tough conditions, tough field- very impressive.  Coverage a bit of a mess with winds, starting gates, and fortunes changing  at every turn.  Challenging to tell the story with the staccato format we favor.  Basically making a module of each athlete so it can be cut and pasted if/as needed.  Stark.  

Pat the big bowling winner with his PBA hook.  And YES they have black-light bowling in Russia.  #timeforepilepticseizure

So didn't get to the bowling send-off until after 2 am.  Fairalls (Nick = US jumper and his father, Martin, and sisters Gewn & Beth), Sharyons and Signe just finishing first round (of bowling, certainly not beers of which it appeared there had been more than one round).  Leon smuggled in the last of his cherished Lagunitas stash and we closed the night with another round of bowling (career best 124 for me, Leon over 140 and Pat coming up huge at 168) and fresh-from-the-factory Lagunitas Sucks.

A couple of shots:

One of seven meters that monitors wind direction and velocity.  Skiers with better conditions get points deducted (7 pts for 1 m/s = 2.2 mph) while skiers with bad (tailwind have that and 20% more added).  Confusing?  Uh huh... but better than nothing.

Weather forecast in Rosa Khutor (mountain cluster venues).  Luckily I got sun block in my make-up kit.