travel

Cloudy and cool today at Florida Flywheel

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Tractor ready to start the pull

Tractor ready to start the pull

Today was cool and cloudy at the January Florida Flywheelers Antique Engine Club show. The lack of sunshine did not damper the activities. The crowds were moderate, at least those crowds that made it back to the aisle where we have our vendor spot. (We are set up in Row 70, spot 34, near to the tractor pull track.)

The digital reading in real time of the distanace the tractor has pulled. otice the sign on the sled: Antique, 5500 pound max tractor

The digital reading in real time of the distance the tractor has pulled. Notice the sign on the sled: Antique, 5500 pound max. tractor weight

Speaking of tractor pulls, I went over to the track this afternoon for the heavy weight antique tractor pull. Wow, was I impressed with the track and the way they operate the pulls. The track has digital readouts in realtime showing how far each tractor is pulling the sled. (The sled is a piece of machinery that the competition tractor pulls: the sled increases the weight as it is pulled along.)

The crowd watching the tractor pulls. There is another digital sign in the distance at the end of the track.

The crowd watching the tractor pulls. There is another digital sign in the distance at the end of the track.

The track offers plenty of seating for spectators, and of course lots of folks simply park their golf carts next to the track to watch. The track itself was in excellent shape. The rainfall a couple of days ago seemed to have helped by keeping the dust down. It was pretty cool to see a line of the old antique tractors waiting their turn to compete in the pulling contest.

My thoughts after returning to Indiana

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We don't see this in Indiana

We don’t see this in Indiana

Sher and I just got back from a fairly quick trip from Seattle to Indiana. We had spent the last three months in the Pacific Northwest, but were wanting to return to Indiana and family for the holiday season. It had been an intersting time, including our trip out to Seattle (mostly on I-90) and the return trip (mostly on I-80).

The trip back to Indiana took us down through Oregon on I-5. We then hooked up to I-80 south of Yuba City, California. Then it was across Nevada, the Utah panhandle, across southern Wyoming, then through Nebraska and on into Iowa, Missouri, finally across Illinois to pick up I-74 to Indiana.

Some musings of mine when we got back home again in Indiana: the Hoosier farm fields seemed so small compared to the ones out West. Where Indiana fields are measured in acres, the open ranges across Wyoming and Nebraska would be measured in sections. A corn stubble field with a few cattle in Indiana would seem like merely strays when compared to the scores of cattle out west. It was also different when you looked out and did not see any mountains, buttes, or foothills.

Another thing about Indiana: no laws saying that you have to have chains with you like Oregon and other states out west. And I really noticed that things look small in the midwest compared to the big sky you see not only in Montana but other states as well.

It is good to be back “home” for a while, but we are looking forward to our next journey.

 

Made some money at the Annie Oakley Festival

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One EZ-UP tent, the hideout behind, we paid for one vendor spot.

One EZ-UP display tent, the Hideout behind: we paid for one vendor spot.

Our first festival after we went full time in our RV was the Annie Oakley Festival

Showing the electric and water hook-ups. We could have set up another canopy behind the front one.

Showing the electric and water hook-ups. We could have set up another canopy behind the front one.

in Greenville Ohio. Planning on making some money, we had reserved a vendor spot at this event long before we knew when our house would sell. As it turned out, we closed on the sale of the house on a Tuesday and traveled right to the festival grounds that night! The festival ran Friday through Sunday.

 

 

 

The festival was held at the York Woods, home to an antique steam engine and tractor facility about 12 miles north of Greenville. We fit into one 20′ wide vendor spot because the depth allowed the trailer to be backed in with our canopy as the picture shows.

"Buffalo Bill Cody" put on quite a show and had a nice collection of artifacts on display.

“Buffalo Bill Cody” put on quite a show and had a nice collection of artifacts on display.

We had a great time at this festival. The group running the show was terrific, and the folks who owned the property were also most accommodating.There were several live singing groups, bull whip demonstrations, and the Festival Queen was crowned due to her winning the shooting contest! There was even a fellow portraying Buffalo Bill at the festival.

Our sales were very good as our necklaces were well received. We only paid for booth rental and camping was a mere $10 a night. We will be going back next year, as this is one of our favorite festivals.