Amazing Part 2
"Packing for 2 hemispheres is tough," Auggie announced as he sat amongst various garments on the bed.
"I know, at least we know we can sleep together so we don't need any serious sleepwear, even if it's cold. You can keep me warm," she leaned over and gave him a kiss.
"Annie, you have to keep your competitive nature in check, we can't allow your desire to win this thing to blow our covers too early on, we can't spook Gwen," Auggie voiced the only true concern he had about the entire mission.
"I know, but we can easily explain our language skills and I will down play it in public, but when no one is looking I am asking the locals for tips," she clarified.
"It isn't just the language skills, people will notice I can't read a map. Now I know you can handle logistics and directions on your own and you can look at a map once and keep it in your head, but that is not a skill most 'normal' people have."
"OK, OK, I'll drive us around in circles a few times," she agreed.
"This is really going to be something," he shook his head and went back to packing.
She reached for the long-sleeved tee he had in his hand and tossed it on her pile.
"I like that one," she smiled as she slid herself onto his lap.
"We should just pack all of my clothes and then you can pick and choose from my wardrobe, just don't leave the blind guy in a mismatched outfit, too predictable," he grinned.
"Right now I want to get you out of this outfit," she worked the knot on his tie which was already pretty loose.
"We have to leave here in approximately 10 hours," he warned but did not actually interfere with her efforts.
"OK, then this needs to be workday efficient and not weekend leisurely," she instructed as she pushed him back on the mattress.
***555***
"Go time you two," Barber relayed, "be safe and have fun and bring us back an asset."
"Thanks Eric!" Annie hung up and stowed the phone in the glove box of the company car they were leaving in Denver.
A van picked them up from long term parking at the Denver airport and brought them to the starting point at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Annie and Auggie knew nothing about the other teams, but Annie did a quick assessment, there were 7 other teams present, all ages and races and gender combinations. Looked like it might make for some interesting conversation.
Annie and Auggie caused a little bit of a stir upon arrival, a blind racer was not expected by the other teams. Gwen and her staff knew about Auggie of course, but the other teams were abuzz.
"I think you are going to be a celebrity," she whispered in his ear.
"You know how I love attention," he grimaced.
"You must be Annie and Auggie, Gwen Masterson, welcome," the woman's smile was even more genuine in person and her handshake firm and she made eye contact with both Annie and Auggie.
"We are, nice to meet you Gwen, we are so excited," Annie replied honestly.
"We're waiting on one more team and we will get the introductions over with, feel free to grab a seat and hang out."
Annie led Auggie to a large flat rock where they sat and Annie gave him a sit rep.
"One team of two young guys, one of two older women, 3 other couples that look like couples and one couple I hope are father/daughter and not romantically involved and two older men with serious nautical tattoos, possibly Navy," Annie reported and munched on almonds from her pack.
"Any look like counter-intelligence?" he whispered in her ear and covered it by kissing her.
"No," she laughed and kissed him back.
The final pair, two young women in full make-up arrived and Gwen hollered for everyone to come closer and leave their packs behind. A team of guys started organizing the bags and depositing bright green envelopes on the top.
"Hello everyone and welcome to World Race, I am Gwen and I will be with you for the next 28 days along with a team of associates who you hopefully will never have to see," she went on about emergency numbers, airline ticket procedures , contact info and what not as Annie continued to look around, she and Auggie were the third team from Gwen's left.
"I am going to ask you all to introduce yourselves, where you're from, anything interesting or unique about you and why you are here today," she pointed to the first team, the younger men.
"I am Brian and this is Gary, we're from Boston. I'm a lawyer (I'm a dentist Gary added) and neither of us have ever been outside of the United States," Brian explained.
"While this is going to be a challenge for us from a Race perspective we are both so excited to see the World this way," Gary smiled.
"Excellent, next," Gwen smiled and indicated a man and woman.
"I am Brett and this is Cathy, we're from Mississippi. I am also a dentist, so Gary and I will have something in common. Cathy raised our 4 kids, the youngest is in high school now. We spend a lot of time hiking and fishing, we are good outdoors and we saw the Race as a chance to grow closer now that the kids are almost gone," Brett answered and Cathy smiled dutifully at his side.
Annie and Auggie were next.
"I'm Annie and this is Auggie," Annie began and Auggie waved. "We are from Washington DC, we both work for the Smithsonian, I get to travel a lot for work, but wanted to do some exploring with Auggie here," she squeezed his arm and smiled.
"I…am blind," Auggie smiled. "I lost my sight while serving in Iraq. Annie and I have worked together for over 3 years now and have been dating a little over 6 months, we know each other very well, but this is going to be a real interesting 28 days."
"Awesome, next," Gwen moved along to another couple.
"I am Ed and this is Molly, we are from Texas and we are divorced. We decided to take this trip to see if maybe we should not be divorced anymore," Ed smiled.
"I speak four languages," Molly smiled, "I really hope we go to a few of the places where I can try out my language skills."
Auggie squeezed Annie's hand at that, Molly's four languages were certainly impressive, but Annie could converse in 12 and Auggie 6, and they could both understand numerous others.
Next was Gloria and Marion, retired sisters from Ohio looking for adventure after Gloria's husband died.
Also, Rick and Emily the questionably aged couple who did turn out to be father and daughter from Idaho bonding before Emily gets married.
Rhonda and Mike from New York were both in the World Trade Center on 9/11 and survived and have taken an epic vacation every year since.
Tom and Warren were in fact retired Navy, reuniting after having not seen each other for over 10 years.
And finally, Danielle and Kendall from Miami just thought this sounded like a blast so they asked for it as a college graduation gift.
"Well it seems we have quite a group for this Race, we hope you will all make it to the end and learn a lot about the world and each other along the way. When I say go your first clue is sitting on top of your packs, there are marked cars in the parking lot, you will get in your cars and head to the airport for your first destination. Good luck, be safe, go!"
TBC