If you were anywhere near Mazama this past Friday, you got a leeeetle taste of summer. Not just the weather, which finally figured out that it is May, and not the flowers that are bursting out all over the place. No, it was the amount of people that really made it feel like summer. There I was, cruising down Lost River Road, when I was jolted into reality. Just about the time I reached the 35 MPH sign, there were people everywhere. People riding, running, roller-skiing, walking, climbing, talking, parking and even barking. OK, that last part was just a joke. No one was barking. There was just an enormous amount of people. It is time to tune up our driving skills, Mazamans, lest you get caught unaware.
I had intended, on this particular drive, to stop in at the Mazama Store and pick up a loaf of bread, but there was not a parking spot to be had unless I wanted to park in the ditch, like some person in a large, jacked-up truck actually did. So, I just drove on by trying to stay calm as I dodged groups of very fit people standing in the road, perhaps not realizing that it actually was a road. Although I chose not to enter the madness, Hannah Gonzales, Lisa Northey and Sally Gatlin were far braver and enjoyed wine and beers at the store while chaos ensued around them. Hannah noted the shocked faces of other Mazamans that had dared enter the store. The quiet shoulder season is officially over.
So, what was going on that brought people in droves to Mazama? Friday was the packet pick-up for Methow Trails’ very popular event, the Sunflower Marathon. Not only was Mazama the place to pick up race packets, but the good people at the Mazama Store opened up their courtyard and served beer.
Mazama, and the Methow, were well represented in the race. The relay team, The Power Forwards, finished first in the youth category. This group consisted of Graham Sheley, Carter Sheley, Will Halpin, Eamon Monahan and Edelweiss resident Cooper Legler. Not only were they first in the youth category, but they also came in sixth overall. The Goats Beard came in ninth in the relay category and former Mazama resident Taya Delong arrived across the finish line 15th overall and third in her age bracket.
In other nonrelated news: Upper Lost River has a bear that is hitting the bird feeders and the dumpster in the Lost River Airport Association, the Methow River is quite calm for May, there were already people swimming and sunbathing at the swimming hole, and Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan are now the proud parents of Baby Boy Sussex, whom at the time of this writing is nameless. Like I said, unrelated news.
