Heading out

Rhythm and Booms

The fireworks display last night was amazing. It's the biggest one in the midwest and we got to view it from George and Juliaann's boat!

Since it conflicted with the opening flag ceremony, we took along friends who wouldn't be too heartbroken over missing it. So, off we went with Carlos and Rosemary Leach and John and Jack White (the Georgia twins, whose wives are tending to family business back home).

Juliaann had fabulous food for us and it was a wonderful evening enjoyed by all. Even McKenzie, their Yorkiepoo, had a fun time.

Madison Meanderings

It's been a little bit cooler, although windy. Tonight WAS to have been the BIG fireworks display - Rhythm and Booms, but the weather interfered. A thunderstorm is predicted and we do not want to be on the lake in George's boat if and when that happens. Plan B: tomorrow night.

So far we've hugged a few hundred of our nearest and dearest friends and probably have a few more to go.

Last night we dined with Carlos and Rosemary and they and Jim and Vickie were scheduled to go with us to George's and Juliaann's.

Our big job as Host to Host chairpeople is more or less done. We're not in Bozeman anymore.

Last year was a piece of cake compared to this year. No one in Madison wanted to step up to the plate and find matches for our people. All that work for nothing, except we did get to come in early (and hang out with George and Juliaann), we get to go to the chairmen's luncheon, Larry got a hat and bolo tie holder, and we met some really nice Airstreamers who are very understanding.

Wednesday night we went to a concert on the square (state capitol grounds) with George and Juliaann and their daughter, Megan. About 10,000 others joined us as well. It was wonderful to see everyone enjoying classical and "high pop" music together in a beautiful setting.

Madison is a beautiful city, located on an isthmus between two lakes (and surrounding those lakes). It's the third most bicycle friendly city and has lots of things to do, places to go, and people to see. We're told it's a different story in the winter, but they do their best to make up for it in the summer.

The rally officially starts tomorrow and it's pretty much downhill from then on for us. We quilters get two whole days to hang out together and sew. Works for me!

We plan to head out early on the fourth for Ohio. Our arrival date is July 8 in St. Andrew's by the Sea in New Brunswick and we don't want to miss our lobster dinner. Can't wait for our next adventure.

Hot and Humid in Madison

Since we've been here, we have: toured the Epic Center, the Capital Brewery, state capitol, Trek bicycle factory, several wonderful quilt shops (me only), Dairy Barn ice cream store, pickle factory, and other places I can't remember at the moment. Oh, yes, the Arena Cheese Factory.

We have been hugging all our old friends, made a few new ones, had Fathers' Day brunch at the Orpheum Theatre with the Electrical Crew. That was Larry's second part-time job.

Our main responsibility was the Host to Host Program. How that will turn out remains to be seen. Things just didn't fall into place in Madison the way they did in Bozeman last year. We'll have fun, no matter what, though.

The Madison people are very friendly, but the service organizations are somewhat flaky.

We've had some pretty spectacular storms and now it's their hottest day of the season so far. Ninety degree temps are rare, but we've got them. Add the humidity factor and it's a bit miserable. We mop our foreheads a lot!

The best part is getting to know our Madison Warren cousins, George and Juliaanne. There is something to be said for genetics, that's for sure! Some of the similarities are uncanny.

We'll be leaving here on July 4, heading for our Viking Trail rendezvous in St. Andrew by the Sea, New Brunswick.

On Wisconsin

We have been in the thick of things since last Thursday. Our official parking site is yellow, but we just tell people to look for lightpole 35. We're right next to it! So far we have learned that Madison has great restaurants and great foods, and the city is built around lakes!

George and Julie Warren (Larry's cousin) picked us up for dinner the past two nights and we are having fun getting to know each other. It's interesting to find out what they have in common (probably due to genetics, since it sure isn't environmental!)

Many reunions at the rally site as well. It's always fun to see former caravan friends and reconnect. That's what this is all about, really.

More later. We can now access the building with WiFi, so I'll be able to keep in touch.

On

Wisconsin at Last

We crossed the Mississippi at Dubuque and arrived in Wisconsin on the other side. Our good friends from Houston, Bill and Judy Wilson, are parked right next to us at the Rustic Barn Campground. Tomorrow we head into Madison to be parked at the rally site for the next 3 weeks. Bill and Judy will follow on Friday with their Texas friends, who are all on the water committee.

Airstream Travels - Summer of 2008

Not too eventful so far and that's a good thing.  We had a brief visit with Mom in Meridian, ID, and then spent another whole day getting back to I-80.  Last night was spent in Lyman, WY.

  Today we headed for Cabela's in Sidney, NE.  Only a small glitch in Cheyenne.  The radiator hose came off and the truck overheated, just before we got to the Flying J.  What timing!  Larry put in some fluid and we headed for the Chevy dealership, about a mile away from there.  They kindly fixed it and we drove another two hours to our night's destination.  

Tomorrow morning we'll check out Cabela's before driving to the Omaha area.  We plan to celebrate our 37th anniversary with lunch at DQ.  We're still on schedule to park on Thursday and then the work begins.