U.S. Olympic Trial tickets on sale

We're staying at the Comfort Suites in Council Bluffs, just three miles and a Miss River bridge cossing away from the pool. Got this tip from Susan von der Lippe & it turned out to be a pretty good choice. Not Anna Lea's low price, but under $100...

As the event approaches, we'll have to organize some workouts and maybe some meals. I suspect that our Fearless Kitty-Leader, Mr. Copeland, will be there. Rumor has it that he knows one of the competitors... ;) Anna Lea

Mel, Thanks for the motel suggestion. It made me get off my butt and make a reservation at the Comfort Suites in Council Bluffs where you and Grace will be staying. I'm paying slightly over $100 (with 2 per room). Did you get some sort of geezer rate? According to Mapquest, it's only 2.6 miles from the Qwest Center. The other Comfort Suites on Bedford is over 16 miles away. I checked out the Hilton right next to the Center but, of course, it was sold out. See you Sept. 9 at Highlands Ranch? Rich

Mel, Thanks for the motel suggestion. It made me get off my butt and make a reservation at the Comfort Suites in Council Bluffs where you and Grace will be staying. I'm paying slightly over $100 (with 2 per room). Did you get some sort of geezer rate? According to Mapquest, it's only 2.6 miles from the Qwest Center. The other Comfort Suites on Bedford is over 16 miles away. I checked out the Hilton right next to the Center but, of course, it was sold out. See you Sept. 9 at Highlands Ranch? Rich Hi Rich, we probably got the over 50 rate. The interesting thing is that Susan told me that she got her room for about $80 a night. By the time we made the reservation (at Mission Viejo) it was already higher. So they must be smelling us coming and raising the rates as time goes on. As for Highlands Ranch, we'll be in Denver that day for Grace to do a run. I may see if we can get by for a couple of events after she is done running. However, it is billed as Colorado Masters vs UW and I'm now swimming for Arizona. I'll email Matt and see what he will allow. Otherwise, we are planning to do the Kevin Nash memorial meet at the end of October.

Are the hotels in the area close enough to walk to the venue easily? For those of us who need to fly in, and are too young to rent a car? Morgan Morgan, you may want to find a motel where some other USMS swimmers are staying (check Rich Abrahams post re the Hilton) and just see about bumming a ride. I'm sure that we or Rich could accomodate you if you can get a room at the Council Bluffs motel where we are staying. It also might be possible to find a way for someone you know just to pick you up and drop you off at whatever motel....

Try the Pink Poodle Steakhouse, just over the river in Crescent, IA. And yes, I'll be there! Thanks, Rob. We'll try it.

Are the hotels in the area close enough to walk to the venue easily? For those of us who need to fly in, and are too young:p to rent a car? Morgan

Still trying to figure the whole thing out logistically....if I do go I can stay at my dad's over in Craig....not to far from Omaha....would like to take my son and let him see what a really big meet is like!!!!

I grew up in Nebraska & graduated from Univ. of Nebr for my undergraduate. Omaha is actually a really fun place with lots of fun bars, restaurants, etc. I'm not sure about Omaha's pools but Lincoln has the Bob Devaney sports center pool, which I got to swim it extensively in '83 and '84 for swimming camp. I remember that the gutters were enormous, and the lane lines were triple lines. No waves in that pool. I'm not sure if a master's team works out at the bob devaney pool but if so I would think it's worth the trip from Omaha because it's such a great pool. I would like to swim there again someday.

I did a little research and there is a masters team in Lincoln but they swim at the campus rec center not the bob devaney sports center. Too bad.