Well hello once again. Sorry I waited to write this but life at our house has been hectic. Too many things going on and so little time to do it all.
Judy and I left for Billings on Thursday morning (10 July) via Klamath Falls where we had to sign some papers for our new Subaru. Yes we did take the car but what would you expect....it was new and what if I was lucky enough to win the new bike. I would have to ride it home and Judy could drive the car. We took 140 to Lakeview, 395 to Burns, 20 through Ontario, and spent the night just west of Boise. We stayed on 20 through Mountain Home, Twin falls, Pocatello, and Butte. And then we took 90 to Billings arriving Friday evening, Total 1,250 miles. The car performed excellent but the on-board GPS leaves a little to be desired. The weather was great but we were glad we had air conditioning in the afternoons.
Saturday morning and right across the street from the Billings Hotel was a Cracker Barrel (our favorite) so that’s where we had breakfast. So now what can we do for the rest of the day? Well we decided to drive Approximately 80 miles to visit the site of the Little Big Horn and Custers last stand. After actually seeing the location we can fully understand why the Indians fought so hard to retain such a perfect place to live. They had rolling grass plains, the Yellow River with beautiful tree lined banks for a place to camp. As I slowly become a part of history I enjoy it more each day. (Learning about it, not becoming a part of it.)
Sunday we just washed the bugs off the new car and visited with lots of old friends as they arrived and did some shopping. Sunday evening was the welcome dinner and we had over 1500 (I heard) in attendance.
Monday morning and Jerry wanted us to all go with him to the Flying J for breakfast so Judy and I drove to the KOA campground to meet up with Jerry, Scott & Sharon, Gail & Lillian, Marty & Carmen and Bud & Gariann. After a great breakfast we headed back to the hotel for opening ceremonies, registration and a visit to the vendors.
Monday afternoon we met up with Herb and Leonard, all loaded up in the car and drove to Pompeys Pillar Nat’l Monument to see where Clark (Lewis & Clark) carved his name into a rock proving that the Yellow River was the route he took going west. It was a real climb up 100 steps so I told Herb that I would take his camera and get some pictures for him. Well, on my way back down I ran into Herb coming up the steps. Herb said that he was here and didn’t want to miss anything. He made me feel bad because he made it all the way up and wasn’t breathing any harder than I was. You got to love that guy. Leonard had never seen the Little Big Horn so we drove another 100 miles so he could see it and take pictures. I know Leonard was really thankful and enjoyed the trip.
Tuesday, after breakfast, we drove downtown to visit the many shops and watch the Bow Wow Girls and the Drill Team. I overheard a lady in the crown talking on her cell phone tell someone that she was down town watching the "Pink People" (Bow-Wow Girls). Bruce Keenon was also wearing a pink Bow-Wow shirt so I told him what the lady said and he said that the men’s shirts were ‘Pastel Red". LOL.
We spent Tuesday evening Dinner with Bud & Gariann, Marty & Carmen and Ramon at a great steak house 25 miles out of town in the middle of a cow pasture. The waitress, Tanya, said that she was a 7th & 8th grade teacher and I told her that she would fit right in. She had a fantastic sense of humor and was a cute red head (see photo of her and I on web-site).
Wednesday morning and up at 6 AM, breakfast at 6:30 and then set up for SRC course at 8 AM. We had 25 members participate in the SRC course, eight were on trikes and Karen Padilla (past Region B Co-Director) rode a trike for her very first time, shifted a trike for her very first time and completed the course. Said she wanted to build her confidence so if anything ever happened to Jim she could ride the trike if she had to. Look out Jim, there may be a second trike in the future? Everything would have been great if they hadn’t just seal coated and striped the parking lot that morning. A couple of the SRC instructors were 2" taller on completion of the course. With a little scraping and the use of paint remover provided by the pin striper they were able to clean their shoes.
Thursday was Region games, awards, skits and closing ceremonies.
Friday we had breakfast with friends and said our farewells. Judy and I took the same route home, stopped in Klamath Falls to have the car serviced and arrived back home Saturday afternoon. It was a great trip, lots of fun, a fantastic visit with old friends and I think a great success. Thank You Bruce and Linda Keenon and all the staff for your time and work every year to make Gold Rush a success. Another great memory.