Our scheduled departure from Iowa for Indiana was 3 a.m. Knowing my cousin, Beth, I made certain to be ready a little ahead of time. At 2:40 a.m., my cell phone rang with the message that they were almost there. We loaded into her minivan and were headed down the road by 2:51 a.m.. I knew I was in trouble when Beth was pleased to be getting an earlier start and declared she might possibly allow an extra minute at our bathroom break since we were so prompt. My husband will be happy to know there is someone even stricter than he about making potty stops. Thank goodness Bev requested the first stop. By the time we had made our third stop only four and a half hours into the trip, Beth began telling us she had only stopped twice on her 12 hour trip from Colorado to Iowa. (I’ve decided I won’t be drinking any liquid for the remainder of our time on the road.) Thank goodness Baby Brad began to cry and Beth decided to stop to let him out and run around. There’s no way I would’ve pinched him so that he cried…really!!
We checked into our hotel about noon and went to the track. The food and merchandise vendors outside the track were as plentiful as the drunken race-goers. The houses up and down the street leading up to the track area proudly display checkered flags and Indianapolis Motor Speedway banners. The residents are friendly and cheerfully selling reserved parking spots in front of their beautifully manicured yards.
Back at the hotel we regroup and walk downtown to see if we can catch a glimpse of the celebrities being interviewed on the red carpet before they attend the Snakepit Ball at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. On the way, we stop in the Hyatt Hotel for a ride up and down the glass elevator. Many race-goers are dressed to the nines to go to the red carpet event—quite the contrast from the crowd we saw at the track earlier. At the mention of celebrities, Mary is hopeful that a Jo Bro will show—but, no such luck. Dancing with the Stars celebs Derek Huff, Mario Lopez, and Helio Castroneves are the only ones we get to see.
Sixteen of us have supper at Chammp’s and walk back to the hotel for a swim and to get to bed early before race day. We’re hoping the weather holds so the race can be completed on Sunday. (We have to leave for Disney Monday morning!)
We checked into our hotel about noon and went to the track. The food and merchandise vendors outside the track were as plentiful as the drunken race-goers. The houses up and down the street leading up to the track area proudly display checkered flags and Indianapolis Motor Speedway banners. The residents are friendly and cheerfully selling reserved parking spots in front of their beautifully manicured yards.
Back at the hotel we regroup and walk downtown to see if we can catch a glimpse of the celebrities being interviewed on the red carpet before they attend the Snakepit Ball at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. On the way, we stop in the Hyatt Hotel for a ride up and down the glass elevator. Many race-goers are dressed to the nines to go to the red carpet event—quite the contrast from the crowd we saw at the track earlier. At the mention of celebrities, Mary is hopeful that a Jo Bro will show—but, no such luck. Dancing with the Stars celebs Derek Huff, Mario Lopez, and Helio Castroneves are the only ones we get to see.
Sixteen of us have supper at Chammp’s and walk back to the hotel for a swim and to get to bed early before race day. We’re hoping the weather holds so the race can be completed on Sunday. (We have to leave for Disney Monday morning!)
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