It isn't a 3 Day in Boston...
...if the weather isn't odd!
In 2002, my first 3 Day, it snowed in May. In 2004, the 3 Day occurred on one of the hottest, most humid weekend of the summer. In 2005, we had heavy heavy (anticipated) rain, sun, unanticipated thunderstorms, and even more sun.
This year I was on the setup crew. I went a day early to make sure everything was ready at camp for when the walkers arrived. That includes setting up the tent grids and all the tables and chairs in the dining tent. 180 heavy tables and 1368 chairs. Someone has to do it!
In anticipation of the heavy rain, we set up masking tape grids in the gym and cafeteria to try and maximize the amount of people that would fit. The walkers were very happy to get into camp and find all their gear dry and a dry place to sleep. Fort Devens is a great place, and they opened up quite a few areas for us to sleep in. Crew was assigned to a small elementary school, and by the time we got in there after setting up camp 2, there was very little space left. My crew captain and I staked out an area for the rest of out team and then we slept in the back of our 15 foot box truck. Dry and not overcrowded. The sound of the pounding rain on the top of the truck was a little loud, but it was a steady sound.
We headed out Saturday morning to finish setting up camp 2. The fields were drying up making a lovely place to sleep. We had a lot of help setting up the tables and chairs, so it took a lot less time. By the time the walkers started arriving in camp, we were done with the majority of our job. I cheered walkers as they came in, picked up trash when I saw it laying around, and talked with my fellow crew members. As more walkers came in, we decided to help them out- moving gear to tent sites, helping people set up their tents. People were so grateful to have help with gear and tents- you could tell some people needed help but didn't want to ask. You had some people asking for help for people they were walking with. There were other walkers helping people they'd never met before. It was great. Until the bolt of lightning. There was lightning, thunder and then the skies opened up. It was horrible- the kind of storm that you thought only happens in movies. Within 3 seconds, I was soaked from head to toe. We had to relocate to the gym at Minuteman high school because of the lightning.
The storm passed and the sun came out again. Everything was soaked. I was lucky- my stuff was still in our truck so it was still dry. Tents were soaked, gear was soaked, people were soaked. It showered off and on for a while, and a lot of walkers and crew opted to get somewhere dry- a hotel or home for the night. People were upset and tired and wet. Not exactly fun. We worked our buts off, trying to help clean up the field. We filled bag after bag of trash. I was amazed at how much stuff walkers threw away- sleeping bags, air matresses (some not even deflated), tarps. A lot of people left the camp site and left their tents. Wet towels were everywhere.
I ended up sleeping in the truck again- this time by myself. All my gear was there, and it was dry. Drier than my tent! Sunday morning was full of packing up- there was insane amounts of stuff to get moved. A lot of the thrown out/left tarps were donated to a local boy scout troop, and the youth corps helped to tear down tents that weren't dismantled. The sun was finally out. We got called over to closing ceremonies site to help set up the holding area for the walkers. We spent quite a while folding up victory shirts. Around 1:00, my credentials were scanned, I recieved my white victory shirt (blue=walker, white=crew, pink=survivor). I was officially done with my crew duties. I got some water and cheered the incoming walkers on. Crossing that finish line is an incredible accomplishment, and rather emotional.
We had an all crew meeting in a nice air conditioned auditorium at MIT, then it was time for closing ceremonies. Closing ceremonies were hot and a little emotional, part boring. I cried when the survivors walked in, and when we closed the circle.
I've reserved my spot for 2006, and I can't wait to walk in Tampa. Tomorrow I get new shoes (nothing like torrential rain to ruin a pair of sneakers!) and the training will continue!