Richmond, Virginia - USA

So Wess and I decided to take a road trip down to Richmond, Virginia this past weekend to compete in a NAC - North American Cup which is basically the elite circut for the USA. I met up with him in Brockville then from there we took the long 10 hour drive due south. As per usual, the USFA (and their multi-million dollar business) rents out the most lavish of Convention Centres to host the tournament. This place was huge...with 40 plus strips in a room about the size of a football field!!! You can see it in the first photo. With a field of about 140 fencers, (in my weapon) the US is reaching a world class level when it comes to skill and winning. But like everything else they think they are the best. I sailed through my pool round and first elimination round until I was cheated out in the round of 32's. YES, thats right..there is cheating in this sport. When a referee is friends with your opponent and his coach, there is nothing you can do except pray for 'one light hits'. If 'two lights' appear on the scoring box, he will always give the point to the fencing he wants to win. Still, my concentration was missing that day...and still I'm struggling with sorting it out. The most challenging thing, I guess in any individual sport, is the constant focus that you need. Making sure that for everypoint whether you're winning or losing, you are working at 100% and not letting anything distract you from the task at hand. That is what seperates good athletes from great athletes. On the bright side of things, this tournament is not on our required list, it was just meant for practice. Once again, we left as soon as the finals were over....that 10 hour drive back now seemed longer then ever! We actually took a wrong turn on the I-95 North and ended up in Washington D.C. - yes, the Nation's capital. Took some pictures of The Pentagon, The Washington Memorial and Wess and I trying to look for directions....?? Unfortunately, George Bush was busy practicing his golf swing so he didn't have time see us...the nerve!!!! Well, driving through the US for me has always been tough on the ol' stomach. As pretty as Virginia is, and most other States, you just can't find a decent meal anywhere? Nothing but fast-food and burger joints...oh ya, and a Coke with that? So luckily packing a few lunches, courtesy of Mother-Peros was the way to go!!!! Thanks Mom!! Didn't get back to Brockville until 3am monday morning but still managed to crack a smile.