Summer 2019: Day 21

Summer has arrived, but it hasn't quite reached Montana yet ...

Today was the solstice, but if felt more like April or October in Missoula for Ben's swim meet. This morning was officially cold, and everyone was bundled up.

I'm not sure if the poor weather contributed to Ben's kind of average performance in the 50 backstroke. The way the meet was structured, all swimmers 13 and older are one division, and he needed to finish top 24 to make finals ... and he ended up 26th. But his time wasn't the greatest, and he really should have qualified. He did better in his other race but wasn't close to qualifying, so that left him without a swim in the evening session.

The morning was interesting. The pool had no toilet paper in the men's locker rooms, and no male lifeguards to replace the missing TP. Ben did get a t-shirt after his second race that he legitimately earned after yesterday's blazing 1,500. I wish I could say the weather cleared up, but alas, it was cold and rainy all day.

After the morning session, we went to a bagel shop downtown that Lori and Ben found last year. Lunch was delicious, and we bought some bagels to bring home with us. Ben's throat was hurting a little, but not exactly sore, so I we bought some ibuprofen and sparkling water from an Albertson's. Back at the hotel, we relaxed, played cribbage, and went to the pool. We debated whether to go back for the evening session because Ben wasn't swimming. But, he was an alternate, and he wanted to cheer his teammates.

The weather did improve a bit, but Ben's throat still hurt and now he thought it was sore. I went to a nearby grocery store to buy him Cepacols and marveled at a beer selection we just don't get in Utah. The meet ended somewhat early, and after briefly stopping back at the hotel, we headed downtown to meet some other families for dinner at a great Mexican restaurant. I had the chimicangas and they tasted like La Fuente in Milwaukee. I bought Ben ice cream afterward and a little shop near the restaurant, and we called it a night.

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