Pre-race...

Nerves or excitementor excess energy prevented me from sleeping. Rooms in the basic Ibis were really warm. Good to be around Phil the veteran. Spent a long time checking and re-checking and re-checking the bike.
Bought some shorts at the expo, but decided not to wear them, remembering the sage words: don't use anything for the first time on the day.
Separate everything out into bags.
Race briefing 2pm. Going through rules, age group winners for Hawaii. etc. Apparently there was a guy doing 100km/hr down one of the hills the previous year on his tri bars and came off. There was a ban imposed for this year on tri bars down said hill. Another use for tri stearers, as they call them, was illustrated amusingly in a short film of last years event where an american girl had a clutch of polythene bags full of snacks looped over them which she had collected.

Friday night welcome party: Well organised. Huge hunting lodge. Wooden floor, ceiling, tables, chairs, enormous embossed sheilds. Welcome athletes from all the nationalities represented in their own languages. 4 course meal - salad, pasta, chicken, creme caramel, coffee.

Sat
Slept a few hours after a couple of beers at the welcome do. Adjusted seat and tri bars am and met Christa for lunch at midday.
Backe to hotel to meet Mum and Dad. Watched a bit of Wimbledon, fed and refreshed then came back down with bike for the England game
Rack bike at 19:30. Mange to get some air at the 11th hour.
Lift halfway back then find a good pasta restaurant with Phil and Brian - homemade ravioli.

Meanwhile Mum and Dad are at Christas having a great home cooked meal and some Swiss hospitality.