I had planned to write my blog, answer all my fan mail, and be a domestic goddess for the week off between the rain-delayed Reading event and our return. As it is, I am sitting as Sand Mountain in a folding chair, with my computer, writing my blog. I can probably safely say that I am one of the more creative bloggers for NHRA with respect to locations of writing.

Gary and our friend Jim are sitting at the bottom of competition hill while Debbie and I are watching from roughly 1,000 yards away. We will go for a ride once I finish my blog. In order to bring you up to the point of me sitting at Sand Mountain, I have to begin back in Reading.

As you know, we rained out in Reading, but what you may not know is that our motor coach, along with many other team motor homes, were stuck in the mud. It actually started as grass but as the rain continued it quickly saturated the ground what was solid when they parked us, became very mushy and unsteady, to the point where rigs were sinking where they had parked. It is true we did not get to see any racing that weekend, however there was still motorized entertainment. We watched as one motor home after another attempted to leave the mush for more solid footing. There was a couple that, with the help of a towrope and 4-wheel vehicle pulling them, were able to get out of the mud. Most however were unsuccessful and had to be towed out by either a wrecker or a tractor.

Our motor home, with a trailer attached, was one of the ones that paid the $300 to be pulled out by the wrecker.

The rain had stopped by Saturday evening, and Sunday turned out to be a beautiful day. I know we could not have raced due to the inability to park anyone, but if we had been able to, it would have been a perfect race day. We had to take some pictures of the bike for a video game that will be coming out, so we used the Sunday sun to complete that task. Debbie and I also took advantage of the time by laundering everything. I am normally not around to help Debbie with that task. While we were at the local laundromat, I was making our last-minute adjusted travel plans. With the rainout, we had to reschedule not only our flights but also some event logistics that we had planned. I was able to talk Gary into coming home for the week.

Our adjusted travel schedule had us leaving on Tuesday from Philadelphia and returning the following week for the race. I would then be able to go to the office for about five days before returning to Pennsylvania. I could also spend some time on the weekend paying attention to my house and Gary working on the shop.

In the past, the Philadelphia airport has not been my favorite. In fact, I have been traveling with the transporter to the Reading race just to avoid the airport. This time there was no avoiding it. Our plane was late leaving Philadelphia, and, subsequently, we missed our connecting flight from Salt Lake City to Reno. It was the last flight of the night, so we had to stay overnight in another hotel and head for home the following morning. Yeah! We arrived the next day in Reno at 9 a.m., which allowed me to go to the office and Gary to have a half day to play on his quad.

Now to the weekend, where I had intended to write my blog, respond to all my fan mail, and work around my house. Our friends, Penny and Ron, called and asked us to go to Street Vibrations with them on Saturday. It is similar to Sturgis, however it takes place in Reno. We rode the Fat Boy (with heritage fenders) about 250 miles around northern Nevada on Saturday. Today, Gary had planned to spend the day playing on the quads. So that is the story as to why I am sitting in the sun and the base of competition hill, writing my blog.

Well, time to go ride …