Sunday, May 26 Micah snuck out early on race morning (for a 5-mile walk) and shot this pano of the racetrack before the chaos erupted. It was another two hours before the rest of our crew began to stir. I would not be going into the track this year – 40 years ended my career from the stands! From bed I listened as the pace picked up and Tom, Micah, Caleb and Halie began to stir; across the way John, Suzie, and Tim were likewise preparing. Carie arrived to buddy-up with John for an in-field ticket, Tom and Micah had new seats in turn one beneath Caleb and Halie, and Suzie and Tim claimed our old seats in the top of Turn 2. I was up and out in plenty of time to get pictures of everything leading up to departure. After Tim and Suzie had time to reach their seats, I strolled up to the front of our parking lot, called Suzie on the phone, and told her to look for me and WAVE. A bit about the weather: we had been plagued with rain and storms all week, and the prediction for race day was more of the same. In fact, there was very little hope that the race would be able to run today. All eyes were on the radar . . . as those storms magically drifted north of the Speedway, leaving the track high and dry (if a bit hot and humid) all day long! I have to admit that I missed seeing, hearing, and feeling all of the pre-race pageantry from the top of turn two . . . but, Alan took a Segway stroll over from camp Bremer to visit me at the start of the race! We sat outside and listened on the radio as the count-down began and the engines revved up and the cars roared past for the first time. We walked up to 16th street for pictures of the fly-over – spectacular as always – and then Alan left and I retreated inside where I followed the race. Because I wasn’t over at the race I wasn’t in place to get pictures inside the speedway -- or of the race itself. For this I relied on Caleb and Halie – who took good pictures from their incredible seats. What a great race it was . . . my pick (Simon Pagenaud) won, and I received $1 from each of my family! They were all back in the camping compound within 45 minutes of the race end to pay up! Allowing a little time to rest and refresh, Caleb, Halie and Micah took off for home as the traffic eased up. John, Suzie, Tim, Tom and I enjoyed an after-race cookout of hamburgers followed by a flurry of packing up, and then a relaxing evening sitting out and talking post-race-talk. In the morning it was all over and we hooked up and headed for home -- with plans for the 2020 race already forming in our minds! We had a good 10 days at home to revamp our rig for a 7-week trip to the west coast. Check back to follow our progress from Van Wert to Idaho,Oregon and Washington State as our focus!
1 Comment
Suzie
5/31/2019 07:13:25 am
I love waiting to read the adventures from start to finish, and see all of your wonderful pictures! What a fabulous time, and I look forward to the next one! Fav pics? Micah’s early morning shot and Halie and Caleb sleeping! One shows the grandeur and excitement, the other a cozy reality of busy days! Great job as always, Ella!!
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October 2021
We don’t go camping any more . . . we go ‘streamin’ ! The “SIlvermine and His” is our 2018 25' Airstream Serenity with Salsa interior and front twin beds., and ‘streamin’ is the name we use to describe our adventures. Stream along as we document everything from weekend trips to longer summer excursions and full-blown vacations. You know what they say: if you’re not in an Airstream – you’re just camping!
Tom & Ella Brown |