Approaching California Gulch aid station, there was (like last year ) a photographer taking photos about 0.5mi before the aidstation. Arriving to California Gulch, I looked at my watch and was surprised to see 7:20am.. the exact same time I had arrived last year. My time in this aidstation was short. As a volunteer capped off my water bottle with water, I grabbed a Boost from my drop bag and some PB&Js from the table. I said hello to Geri K and told the volunteers I'd see them in the afternoon and then headed down the dirt road. ABout 100ft out of the aidstation I saw Matt C sitting in the back of a pick-up truck being helped by his friend Brandon. Matt said he was okay, just fixing a problem with his gaitors.
I remembered from last year, Wayne telling me about runners getting off course in the section just after Calif Gulch aid station, but I could not remember exactly what he said. All I could remember was that there would eventually be a right hand turn. When the turn did not appear as quickly as I thought I remembered it, I started worrying I had run by the turnoff. I could see no ribbons ahead, no runners behind me, nor could I make out any footprints in the dirt road. After about 5 more minutes of worry, I saw a man standing by a vehicle ahead on the road. I asked him if he had seen any runners. He replied there was a right hand turn just ahead and he was there to make sure runners did not miss the turn. What a relief to finally see the ribbons and the white marking on the dirt road surface.
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