The rain eased up yesterday. We still had mostly cloudy skies and the threat of rain in the morning. I took a walk around the campground. The place is completely full – many of the inhabitants are here for the Ironman competition.

Some are competitors. Others are spectators and supporters. Some of the competitors staying here at the RV park aren’t typical RVers. They’re camping out in tents or pop-up trailers. This isn’t what we’re used to seeing in RV parks.

Tent camping in the RV park

Triathletes from Canada camping here

Pop-up trailers

Coeur d’Alene is a resort destination. Many accommodations are priced higher than comparable hotels in other cities. During events like Ironman, they jack up the prices. I think that’s why a number of competitors choose to camp out.

As our site began to dry, I got my mountain bike out and went for a ride.

Our site drying

I rode out Kathleen Avenue and entered the Prairie Trail. I headed south, toward Lake Coeur d’Alene and City Park. I wanted see how things were shaping up for today’s competition.

Intersection of Prairie Trail and Centennial Trail

Mouth of the Spokane River at Lake Coeur d’Alene

There were more bikes on the trail than before, some were competitors loosening up before staging their bikes in the transition area. Their bikes are locked up overnight in the transition area. As the competitors complete the 2.4-mile swim, they jog to the transition area, retrieve their gear and get on their bikes to begin the 112-mile bike race.

Staging gear at City Park

The 2.4-mile swim takes place in Lake Coeur d’Alene. The water temperature is 62 degrees. This is warmer than usual, but still plenty cold.

City Park was bustling with activity Saturday afternoon. Competitors were staging gear. Spectators were roaming around and visiting the vendors.

Crowd at City Park

I rode back home on Government Way. The ride took a little over an hour. Later, Donna and I walked to Safeway. She bought an Italian chicken sausage to add to the lentil stew she had in the slow cooker all day. It was last night’s dinner and it was delicious.

Lentil and sausage stew

This morning, I woke up early.  I tracked Allen Hutchinson’s progress in the race. There was a glitch in his swim time. They had him at the swim turnaround in less than 18 minutes. I don’t think this is possible. The next 1.2 miles of the swim took almost 56 minutes – the timing splits didn’t make sense. Altogether, his swim time was 1:15:49. I heard the cold water was choppy this morning. Allen’s time for the swim was 10 or 11 minutes longer than his target. He’s off to a good start on the bike. The bicycle course is tough and the wind this morning will make it even tougher. Donna and I will head down to City Park to cheer him on as he passes by.