For me, the remarkable thing about randonneuring is the generosity one experiences, both from fellow riders, from organizers, and from the people along the road. I am not as experienced as some on this list, but I have had the good fortune of finishing five rides of 1200K or more--PBP in 2011, LEL and Super Brevet Scandinaivia in 2013, and the Cascade 1200K and Ronde Alienor d'Aquitaine in 2014. When I go into one of these rides, I figure that it is down to me to finish, and any help I receive along the way is an occasion for gratitude. Like others, I find food and drink plentiful on PBP--I would say one needs to exercise greater care going up mountain passes in Washington State or France, or in the Swedish countryside. Yes, toilet conditions on PBP controls can be trying, but that's only because so many riders are passing through--the good thing is that most French towns have public toilets near the church or the mayor's office. And I actually quite like the ambiance of PBP controls. When I arrived in Tinteniac in on the return in 2011, Sophie Matter was being interviewed with great flair by a local radio announcer, and the whole town seemed to have entered a state of unrestrained jubilation. The inefficiency of PBP controls is only a problem if you are trying to finish in a certain time, or if your time bank is running low. My answer to that problem is to try to keep enough time in the bank so that you don't have to worry about standing in line to fill your water bottle, but don't try to set a course record. Finding a happy middle ground makes PBP an entirely enjoyable experience.