DAY7-8, Racine and Madison, WI *** & ***

MOSQUITOES!

sorry this is late getting to you..I'm getting the hint that there are alot of folks out there checking for updates multiple times per day.. That and strangers coming up to me at shows saying: "you're the Blog Guy..I recognize you from your picture!"

We had a long drive from Belding, MI to Racine. The weather was fine but the roads are a challenge--especially going through the Chicago area. The Loop is a real treat in a circus caravan! I heard lots of complaints from the sleeping passengers about the rough ride but we got through to Racine in about nine hours. Pulled in in daylight and slept until it was time to go to the show.
The show site was a real mess of traffic and we got blocked into a neighborhood with the trucks and unloaded on the street. On the field, the mosquitoes were thick. It had rained a lot and they were swarming. The state bird of Wisconsin must be the mosquito! The bites are just now healing up.

The next day, we headed about three hours up the road to Madison and the big stadium. For many of the corps rookies, it was their first time in a big stadium and I think a few were star struck. It is a pretty intimidating venue and a great college campus. We were very close to the tunnel entrance and the show went well but not spectacular.

We have been in a continuous pattern of rain every day with clear bright mornings and thunderstorms building in the PM. It rained VERY hard at Madison housing site--West HS, which reminded me of the movie Dead Poets Society. Very old classic architecture, wood floors and wood moldings everywhere. It hailed and the wind blew over the practice tower for the third time this season. But it cleared and the show went as scheduled and the weather was wonderful.




We left Madison for the return trip to New England with a layover day again in Van Buren, OH. This was another 400Mile plus trip so took another 9 hours for the trucks. We got into Van Buren at about 10:00AM Eastern time. The kids got a little extra time in Van Buren.

Next time...

Curt