Road Trip to Maham

Last Thursday Gage, Miranda and I sat out on our first real road trip. Allen was participating in Metal Maham in Oregon Illinois (the nations largest demolition derby). We left Miranda's house in Parsons around 8:30 a.m. Thursday. Had a picnic in Plattsburg, MO for lunch. And arrived in Dixon Illinois around 8:00 p.m. We were making really good timing on our road trip till we got to the Mississippi river. Closed?? Yes...the Mississippi river was closed! The detour added another hour onto our trip! Does the state of Illinois realize an hour with a 3 year old in the backseat could be a MAJOR problem! Anyways, after stopping at a liquor store and asking directions on how to get back on the right track we finally arrived at our destination. It was really nice getting in that morning and having turn by turn directions all the way to the hotel. And when we arrived at the hotel she said "You have now arrived at your destination". YEAH! The only problem we had the whole day was detouring around the closed bridge. Navigation lady doesn't understand detours!

Gage made the whole entire trip with out a melt down or anything! We made 3 15 minute bathroom breaks and one lunch stop on the way out there. I admit, everytime we stopped it was because I was ready not Gage'srequest! On the way home we followed Allen and his crew. They stopped a lot more for fuel so he had more stetch breaks on the way home.

There were 120 cars in Allen's class. He had to be inspected at 9:00 a.m. Friday morning. Their rules are very strict and if you don't follow their rules you don't run. They have you line up and when it's your turn they put your car up on a lift and take camera's and look in the frame, and look over it with a fine tooth comb. After the inspection he had his stick and lined up for the derby.
Rain. That's all I can say. It rained...and rained...and rained. It rained when the derby started Friday evening which was around 6:00 p.m. I think it finally quit about 10:00 p.m. that night. The mud was about 1/2 way up the wheels and cars couldn't get around very well. The first heat took 1 hour 45 minutes. Allen was in the second heat which still took around 1hour 30 min. They took top 4 cars to the finals. Just for making it to the finals you are guaranteed $500.00. He placed 5th! Once he was out the show was over ;(.

Saturday it was hot and muggy. Allen ran the consilation #1 and had a good time but didn't make it to the feature.

I had made Gage some signs and a shirt that had a picture of Allen's car on it with Winters across the back. Saturday afternoon while everyone was waiting for the finals I took Gage around and he asked some of the driver's to sign his shirt. He was so excited that people could write on his shirt.