I started out the day on the far end of London in the ExCel Arena for fencing. The arena was amazing. You had to enter on one side, my arean was the first one on the left, then when you exit, you have to walk to the other side of the venue. No big deal, except the venue is at least a mile long. There are at least 12 arenas in that one venue. It can hold something like 6 747 airplanes or something...insane!!
All of the American's had a bye for the first round (64), 2 of the 3 lost in their first match. I left right after Kieffer won her match. She went on to loses to the eventual silver medalist. The entire time I was there, I was getting a fencing tutorial from a fellow New Jerseyian, Kalle Weeks, the president of USA Fencing. She was so kind and fun to talk to. On the other side of me was a couple whose son is 12 and already being groomed for future Olympics and the father owns a fencing club in which the a British fencer belongs to. She lost in her first match to a fellow Briton.
After fencing, I headed over to basketball. I wish it was that easy. I had to walk the length of the ExCel arena, then through the Paradise Gardens fair to the train. 3 miles later, I catch a train to the Olympic Park. Unbeknown to me, the basketball arena was in the very back of the park. At this point, my ankles are ready to give out as I finally reach the basketball arena. I arrived to watch Turkey defeat Angola and then USA defeated Croatia. US didn't play very well, but came away with the victory.
I had tickets to the 2 night games, France v. Argentina and GB v. Australia, but sold them to come back "home". I was beat and hungry. Seems Britain doesn't know how to budget for food. When I got to the Olympic Park at 3pm (15:00) most food stands had run out of food. It was bad.
Oh, I figured out why nothing stays cold in England, the ice is the size of pellets and melt faster than dime size hail. For the same reason, I can't seem to ice my ankles and contiue to walk on my swollen softball size joints.
Up for tomorrow...swimming in the a.m. and women's team archery in the afternoon. Women are ranked 2nd after the rankin round.
All of the American's had a bye for the first round (64), 2 of the 3 lost in their first match. I left right after Kieffer won her match. She went on to loses to the eventual silver medalist. The entire time I was there, I was getting a fencing tutorial from a fellow New Jerseyian, Kalle Weeks, the president of USA Fencing. She was so kind and fun to talk to. On the other side of me was a couple whose son is 12 and already being groomed for future Olympics and the father owns a fencing club in which the a British fencer belongs to. She lost in her first match to a fellow Briton.
After fencing, I headed over to basketball. I wish it was that easy. I had to walk the length of the ExCel arena, then through the Paradise Gardens fair to the train. 3 miles later, I catch a train to the Olympic Park. Unbeknown to me, the basketball arena was in the very back of the park. At this point, my ankles are ready to give out as I finally reach the basketball arena. I arrived to watch Turkey defeat Angola and then USA defeated Croatia. US didn't play very well, but came away with the victory.
I had tickets to the 2 night games, France v. Argentina and GB v. Australia, but sold them to come back "home". I was beat and hungry. Seems Britain doesn't know how to budget for food. When I got to the Olympic Park at 3pm (15:00) most food stands had run out of food. It was bad.
Oh, I figured out why nothing stays cold in England, the ice is the size of pellets and melt faster than dime size hail. For the same reason, I can't seem to ice my ankles and contiue to walk on my swollen softball size joints.
Up for tomorrow...swimming in the a.m. and women's team archery in the afternoon. Women are ranked 2nd after the rankin round.