Posted on 04/28/08 11:15 AM| by team-admin
Team TravelCountry.com - Patricia Williams Smith, Don Nettlow, Blain Reeves and Ulf Petri
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 Team TravelCountry.com Primal Quest Blog
Check back for additional updates from the support crew on the course in Montana as Team TravelCountry.com looks to conquer Primal Quest 2008.
 Sunday, June 22 08:00 PM MST - Pre-Race Briefing
The pre-race brief is complete and the team is finalizing their preparations for the start tomorrow morning. The latest information from the briefing is that the course will be over 525 miles - 200+ miles of biking, 200+ miles of trekking and 70 miles of paddling. The course is shaping up to be dangerous, but everyone is very excited to get going. The team is beginning what promises to be a late night, plotting the 11 maps that have been provided by the race organization. Check back for more tomorrow after the starting gun goes off!
  Wednesday, June 24 04:00 PM MST - Race Day 3
Day 3 and the support crew finally has cell phone coverage, checking in from CP13! Recapping the race thus far, the team started the race with a short but epic trek up Lone Mountain. The Florida boys kicked butt, coming in right with the lead pack. The team made it through the remainder of the long opening foot section running about 10th without any major issues and most importantly their feet in good shape. They got 3 hours of sleep at CP7 before heading out on the first river section at 6 AM Tuesday.
The team encountered their first major obstacle on an extreme paddling section when Blain and Patsy’s duckie capsized amidst the roaring rapids. Patsy struggled with the cold throughout the remainder of both the paddle and the ensuing riverboard section. With her body temperature as low as 90 degrees, the team was detained by the race medics after each section waiting for her temperature to rise so that they could continue.
With Patsy recovering at CP10, the team was also able to get some eats prior to setting off on what has turned out to be an epic trekking section. For all but the three lead teams, times on this trekking section have far exceeded pre-race expectations. We believe the team stopped for some rest on the course overnight and that the team is likely also low on food.
Latest estimates expect TravelCountry in to CP13 by 5:30 PM Wednesday. At the TA, the crew will inform the racers that the kayak section (expected to be the next leg) has been cancelled due to the high water levels and replaced by a biking section. We’re hoping to report back once they’ve left the TA on their bikes (coverage permitting, of course).
 Wednesday, June 24 08:00 PM MST - Race Day 3
The team is through CP13. They arrived around 6 PM hungry and looking a little worse for the wear, but perked up quickly after getting some food and made a quick 30-minute transition back onto the bikes. They passed a number of teams asleep in the TA and appear to be traveling 8th at this point. The crew continues to hustle to provide the team the latest information about upcoming checkpoints which have been in flux as a result of the last minute cancellation of the paddling section.
The team’s tentative plan at this point is to bike 80 miles to Big Timber and stop there to get some z’s. They will then bike 20 more miles before transitioning back to foot for another gnarly trek over the aptly named Crazy Mountains.
 Thursday, June 25 06:00 PM MST - Race Day 4
As planned, the team was able to bank four hours of sleep at Big Timber, heading back out at 6 AM this morning in good shape and good spirits. They finished off the remaining 20 miles on bike and then set out on a long trek through the Crazy Mountains. Reports are that there is still a good amount of snow on this section, so the team will be carrying the mandatory snowshoes and going may be slow. The crew is now waiting at the transition area on the other side of the Crazies where temperatures have dipped and 4th place DART-nuun has just arrived. Word from the course is that TravelCountry just reached CP17 (slightly more than mid-way through the Trek leg) around 6 PM - good news that they were able to navigate through the most technical, high-altitude portion of this leg during the daylight hours. Estimating based on the lead teams times, the crew is expecting them in to the TA some time during the early morning hours Friday.  Stay tuned for more…
Check out this update on TravelCountry.com from a Primal Quest field reporter as they finish up in the Crazies - Team Travel Country Enjoying the Crazy Mountains
 Saturday, June 27 4:00 PM MST - Race Day 6
Well, they say that in adventure racing you experience the highest highs and the lowest lows. That could not have been more descriptive of the past 24 hours for Team TravelCountry.com. After “smoking” three consecutive segments and making a swift bike-to-foot transition at CP20 mid-day Friday, the team set off on a long trek through the Bridger Mountains. 100-hours into one of the toughest tests on Earth, they were ”in the money” in 5th place. Unfortunately, the next 24 hours would turn in to one huge cruel twist of fate. First, the team was forced to backtrack to the TA as team member Ulf became ill with a respiratory ailment. The team was detained in transition for 12-14 hours waiting to be cleared to continue. With Ulf recovered, they set out again around 2 AM this morning on the Bridger trek having fallen back to 11th position. That’s where bad turned to worse. During a nasty bushwhack late in the ascent up to CP21, Don became seperated from the rest of the team as they had spread out in search of a trailhead. Due to significant noise from a nearby rapidly flowing river, the team found themselves unable to hear each other. Blain, Patsy and Ulf were able to reconnect but could not locate Don. Those following the SPOT tracking map, may have noticed Team 50 making loops through and around CP21 - they were searching desperately for their seperated teammate. After a long morning of searching unsuccessfully for each other, Don made his way back down the mountain and the rest of the team has now done so as well.
The team was transported to CP23 where, facing disqualification due to Primal Quest rules about remaining with 100 m of all teammates at all times, they officially withdrew from the race early this afternoon. They are extremely disappointed but they’re handling it remarkably well. Everyone is in good health and looking forward to warm beds and a nice night’s sleep in the Big Sky Resort tonight. Though they did not get the storybook ending this time, they will take a lot of solace in the fact that they were able to hang with some of AR’s best for 4 days over grueling terrain. They’d like to thank everyone for the support and encouragement throughout the race and remind us that while this may be the end of their race, there are many adventures yet to come.
May 1st, 2008 at 8:38 am
Good luck guys!! Team Travel Country will be branded on our babies during the race!!
-Carlos
June 5th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Good luck guys. Have fun be safe!!!!!
June 14th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Go Nettlow et.al.
we’ll be watching from WHHOR
June 16th, 2008 at 7:23 am
Good Luck TCC, Team 50!!!! We will follow you as we can. Doing the BTC the same time you are racing. You’ll probably finish before we do, but I sure hope we have more fun!! Be safe and fly through the course!
June 18th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Hey Guys!
All the best for PQ…be safe, look after eachother and have a blast!
Cheers,
Neal
June 20th, 2008 at 2:14 am
Good luck!
Patricia, I hope this is not your last race…
June 20th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Good luck Don, come back alive, you’re on call immediately following the race.
Rob
For all your orthopaedic needs dial 1-800 broken bones.
June 20th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Don, kick some tail. Race smart, and win!!!
June 21st, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Blain and gang:
Good luck!!
Keep the round side down.
3 sets of 50 push ups when uber tired and/or hallucinating!
-Marc M.-
June 22nd, 2008 at 7:31 am
Ulf and Crew, Leslie and Justin Pearson here… we we’ll be keeping updated on your progress. Have a fantastic race.
June 22nd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
good luck.
June 22nd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Ulf et al.
You guys are ready and can dominate, now go out there and make Sarasota proud! We will be taking notes for beer night!
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:31 am
Have at Guys! You’ve trained hard, now race hard. All of us in Sarasota wish you well.
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:27 pm
All the Florida Orienteers are cheering for you.
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Go Uncle Blain - WE LOVE YOU!! Race Hard!
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:03 pm
In the top ten at 12 hours, just about ten miles behind the front-runners! Awesome job! Take care of your feet…
June 24th, 2008 at 4:52 am
You are all going great, hope you got a good first nights sleep. Race smart and keep the rubber side down!
June 24th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Go Uncle Blain!!! Race Hard and don’t forget to look for bird feathers!
June 24th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Go Blain and Team travelcountry.com! We are cheering you on from S. Florida!! I will make sure L.I. wears your team shirt every day while you are racing!
June 24th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Go Blaine and Travel Country! We are watching 24/7 and cheering you on! Hats off to you all from Pembroke Pines!
June 24th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Sorry Blain about the “e”, no E in Blain, no E, Tracy! Should have known better, just nervous about this race! Can’t wait to celebrate when you get back to Florida!!!
June 24th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Uncle Blain, keep up the pace….and watch out for the tipping kayak at 3am!
June 25th, 2008 at 5:44 am
I feel like an Eco Stalker….Keep pushing! You guys are hammering! Beware of the Yeti’s!
Marc M.
June 25th, 2008 at 6:47 am
Way to go Blain; keep strong TravelCountry. Yeah that’s right, even some of us who haven’t met you are now following and rooting for you.
Stay tough,
Roland
TM
June 25th, 2008 at 8:19 am
What an AWESOME Team ! Take care of your feet, Go!Blain GO!
June 25th, 2008 at 9:58 am
GO BLAIN AND TEAM TRAVELCOUNTRY #50!!! WE ALL ARE ROOTNG FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM HERE IN SOUTHCOM. CAN’T WAIT FOR YOU TO GET BACK AND JOIN US IN CROSSFIT.
SSG MENA
June 25th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Keep on trucking guys - doing great.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Everyone at WeCeFAR is watching and cheering! Keep it up!
Jessica
June 25th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Go Blaine Go - you trained with me on the Get Lit catching 7 tunas and 18 sailfish in one day, and you didn’t even break a sweat. You are a machine! Do it Do it! your my boy Blue
Good luck
Pete
June 25th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Don,
Hope all is well. Didnt know if you might be done by saturday for BSG in North Carolina on Saturday. Keep going!!!!!
June 25th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
You guys are moving up! Now at 6th place, and a few teams including Racing with Giants have lost team members. Hope your feet stay dry and tough. Just stay consistent, focused, and determined! I’m quite jealous-the course looks pretty awesome!
June 25th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Ulf et al.,
no more white water for you guys, this is where the rubber hits the road and you can make up time in the bike and trek. GO GET EM! We are proud of you guys!
June 25th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Don
We keep checking on your progress while at work as well as at home.
Stay Safe, all of you.
June 25th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Team Travel Country - You guys are doing great!! More time on the bike, make it work to your advantage. I am heading your way on Thursday. I want you to try and beat me to the transition!! See you soon!
The General is her way!!!
June 26th, 2008 at 3:50 am
Wake up Travel Country! I hope you are well rested. Great job on the bike. Keep it going! See you soon.
June 26th, 2008 at 7:55 am
Great job Team Travel Country. We are cheering you on from S. florida. Love the picture of you Blain with your football pads on under your dry suit. Can’t wait to hear all about this adventure.
June 26th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Ulf, keep it up, don’t lose your sense of humor! Be sure you are telling all those great football jokes you are so good at - I’m sure you have the rest of the teams rolling with laughter by now. Eat your fish………
June 26th, 2008 at 9:27 am
How am I suppose to work with this kind of excitement!!!!??
Keep rockin’!!
Marc M.
June 26th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Way to go Blain and Team Travel Country!! Keep up the great job and stay safe.
June 26th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Go Nettlow and team
you’re looking good and we’re watching
June 26th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Go Patsy…Go! We are watching!
June 26th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Ulf and Team:
You guys are running a great race. Race smart, don’t put magnets in the same pocket as the compass, no cigar smoking in the TAs and don’t challenge any bears for their food, no matter how hungry you are, and you will do great!
Jan
June 26th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
will you please finish this race soon. hard to do anything else but watch you. peddle to the medal. mom
June 26th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Your team is amazing! Keep going strong!
June 26th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Yeah, this web site is like a black hole sucking away hours of my work day. My kids moto is, “SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK”. May the wind be at your backs.
Todd
June 26th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Don,
We all feel like cyber-stalkers, but are in awe! We Stay safe and strong! We’ll keep watching.
June 26th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Remember guys: when life gives you lemons, don’t make lemonade because you don’t have time to. Instead, eat the damned things, peels and all. It will be the least painful you will do all week and you definitely need the calories. Hustle on now, there’s no time to read, unless it’s a map.
Cheers,
Ulf’s kid brother,
Jan
June 26th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Hey Team TravelCountry:
Geraldo Rivera just reported that one of the teams ahead of you is placing hungry bears at all remaining checkpoints. I told you guys to bring bear traps, but noooo… you had to bring extra socks instead. Oh well, good luck fighting off the bears with clean, dry socks.
If you see a nice, compact moose out there, would you mind bringing him back to Florida for me?
Cheers,
Ulf’s kid brother,
Jan
June 26th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Ulf and TC,
you are hanging tough in the top ten. Don’t forget to smile, you are half way done…remember: you spent all that money to have this much fun!
June 26th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Ulf and Team 50: you are gaining on the teams ahead of you. Of course, you know that because you’re the ones out there doing all the work. I could give you some valuable advice, like: “walk faster,” “ride faster,” “don’t sleep,” etc…, but coming from your fat younger brother, you wouldn’t head it, so just keep on, keepin’ on. Did you see my moose yet?
Best,
Jan
June 27th, 2008 at 6:32 am
Ulf and TC,
MOAT just moved into the money spot, number five…now show them who is the “Daddy Of All Teams”!
June 27th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Way to go Blain and Team Travel Country! Everyone here in TX is watching closely…We are all so proud of all of you!
June 27th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Team 50: I just saw a picture and short write-up on you guys while you were trekking through The Crazies. I love the tactic of looking so well-rested, relaxed and happy, topped off with the comment that you “smoked” the previous section of the race. You guys even appear to have taken the time to shave, making you look calm, rested and in control- almost dapper, in fact. Whoever is running your PR knows what she/he’s doing. When the others see this, they will give up the chase and those ahead of you will begin to feel the strains and pains a bit more acutely, which will eventually slow them down. Perfect duck strategy: look calm, cool and collected above water, while below water, those webbed feet move churn like the beaters on a mixer.
Cheers,
Jan
June 27th, 2008 at 9:15 am
You guys are celebrities! Your team is getting all sorts of attention — and you deserve it!! Keep it up! (and take it easy on Ulf, he’s looking a little haggared)
Jessica
June 27th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Also, thanks to support crew who is posting updates. Great to get the down-low on the team. Crew — you’re doing a great job taking care of the gang!
June 27th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Team 50: Okay, it appears that you took your duck strategy to the extreme. What’s with the seven hour transition? I’m kidding… You guys rock! I trust that you have had a chance to rest and recuperate. Also, a quick tip: I hear that if you offer a moose Big Sky Bread, it will gladly carry your packs or pull you on your bikes at a steady 23 mph clip for hours on end. Try it, and let me know if it’s true or just another internet hoax.
Jan
June 27th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Good job guys; looks like you’re going strong!! Keep racing smart and strong.
June 27th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
The teams in front are starting to look back over their shoulders! The sense the Wolf is about to pounce. Keep your feet dry.
June 27th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
If the ghosted out CPs indicate that a team didn’t find that particular spot, then you are the only ones in the top 13 who are running a flawless orientering race. The Norwegians in 14th are the next team to do so. Everyone ahead of you has missed between one and three of them. Stay strong, change socks. You see, my advice about not keeping magnets in the same pocket as the compass was good and wise.
Jan
June 27th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Ulf
Good job! I have been following you with great interest1 AXEL AND i ARE GOING FISHING TOMORROW. We are going with the flying Fish. Take care and Good Luck
Ma
June 28th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Hi Dad!
How are you doing, we miss you and get home safe.I cought 1 fish
I love you Axel
June 28th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Hey guys:
I am so sorry to hear about the unfortunate reversal that occurred in the last 24 hours. You guys are as gritty, tough, and committed as they come. We are proud of what you have accomplished.
Be well and take care of each other.
Jan
June 28th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
An incredible display of courage and fortitude hanging and challenging the top dogs in a Don Mann event..heck…you guys are top dogs!!! Great job Team Travel Country!!!
It’s been exciting watching you race!!! I had many workmates and friends checking in and hooked on you guys as well!!!
Pizza, beer, and rest is in order!!
Great job!!!
Marc M.
June 28th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
I am so prowed of all you have endured during this week and we have all been so very proved of you all. This is really a test what the human body can take and you have proven an incredible stamnia. You did it and be prowed of what you have accompiced. Ulf I am so very impressed of your achivment and even if you are disapointed right now you havedone an amasing thing. Keep your heds high and come home safely. We all love you. Mom
June 28th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Patricia, I’ve been tracking you all and am so bummed for you having to pull out of the race. You all made a remarkable showing and I can’t wait to hear all about it! You are a rockstar! Now go enjoy some R & R in the most beautiful part of the world!
June 28th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Don
I’m sorry you were unable to reach the finish line. It’s been exciting for many of us from our computer chair watch places but we couldn’t have made it to the START line.
Glad you’ll be home in one piece and you’ve been a great team.
See you soon
June 28th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
To my “favorite” sleeper…YOU ROCK! I wish you well and a safe trip home to us. What a glorious view of the world you have had! We mortals can only imagine what you have experienced. Wish your team well.
June 28th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Hey Guys,
I couldn’t be prouder of my TC bumper sticker on my car!
You guys rocked the course and just ROCK!
It is never the destination but the journey - and you guys had QUITE the journey!
I hope our paths cross again
All the very best (and enjoy the adult beverages!)
Cheers,
Neal
June 29th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Ulf and Travel Country,
Congratulations on getting through some major grueling terrain and hanging with some of the best adventure racers in the world…you are definitely amongst them. Heck, if it were not for course formalities and if you’d had an extra map, I bet you guys could have all made it through the remaining day of travel and met up at the finish in the top five! Relax and enjoy a job well done!
June 30th, 2008 at 8:03 am
You guys did a great job!! Keep your chins up. You inspire all of us. Have a safe trip home
June 30th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Hey Guys,
You’ve done the toughest race there is, now perhaps you should consider the funniest: the Leadville Boomdays pack burro race, which is held every summer in Leadville, CO. Only 27 miles, and two-creature teams only: human and burro. The race goes from 9000 ft or so, up to 14,000 ft and then back down again. Imagine an adventure racer and a donkey racing together, talk about a stubbornessfest!
Cheers,
Jan
June 30th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Hey guys, I know there’s nothing to say that will take away the feeling of disappointment but reality is that you all did a Fantastic Job over several days and a very tough course; sometimes unfortunate events are what put the “adventure” in AR. So, I say Congratulations for an Awesome job amongst world-class competition; clearly, yourselves included in that elite category! Safe travels home.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I loved watching you guys…… Blain - I’d love to hear from you once you return…..
Thanks
June 30th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I hope all are well, I realise the disappointment but congratulations onthe effort.
Patricia; nice job and hope to hear from you.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:25 am
Nice bowl of white rice, black beans and cuban steaks waiting for you guys when you get back to HQ