This report was written by Aja Cook. Enjoy!

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Who finished first?
Four big Avocados and one baby Avocado went to the Presidio early morning Sunday to participate in a challenging, fast paced orienteering course. The three big Avocados went to a BOAC advanced pre-course training clinic, jam packed with vital information. The baby Avocado, along with daddy Avocado, headed out on the orange course (4.4 km), one of the four courses available, while the three other Avocados watched, and waited patiently in anticipation for their departure time. Unable to handle the waiting, the three big Avocados bottled up from the clinic and headed to the start line. With maps of the long orange course (6.6 km) in hand and clock ticking, the big Avocados headed out in search for the first of eleven CP’s .

Teams scattered in all directions, on all different courses, some looking like they knew what they were doing, others not so confident. One thing that all the teams had in common was constant chatter and laughter associated with having fun. By the time the team of three big Avocados gained their bearings, they found themselves at the location of CP1. The big Avocados had all been under the impression that the course would be used that day for skills training. Dependent upon others in the past to lead them through races, they decided it was time to learn these navigation skills for themselves. Each Avocado carried a map in hand and listened to one anothers suggestions about where they thought the upcoming CP would be found.

Group naving proved to be successful for CP 1-6, although it became apparent that certain Avocados had stronger skills than others and were being relied upon for their strengths. Together the Avocados decided the remainder of the CP’s should be naved out individually. The least experienced naving female Avocado took the first challenge of locating CP 7. All went well until she cut the trail short, costing the team about 7 minutes of unnecessary searching. With CP 7 located, the short ultra fast Avocado set out to find CP 8.

Up and over obstacles, down steep embankments, bush waking through shrubs of all sizes, the team of Avocados finally made it to the CP that proved to be the hardest to find on the course. A half hour out, the team had time to make up if they planned to arrive back at the finish before the father/son Avocado duo. The giant organic Avocado was placed in charge of finding the next CP, which was found less than a mile away. With only two CP’s left, the team decided to revert to naving together, which had proven to be a much more effective strategy for the first set of CP’s.

Within a few short minutes, the team of three Avocados had their finish line in sight. They sprinted off to cross the finish line with assurance in their eyes that they had arrived before their friendly Avocado competition. Just as they were crossing the finish line, the infectious sound of a baby’s laughter could be heard. The baby Avocado had been hiding behind a tree with his father awaiting the other team’s arrival. The baby Avocado looked up at his dad and said, “See dad, two smart heads are better than three strong heads…our wits proved to be stronger than their physical strength!” before running out into the field to greet his fellow Avocados.

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