Day 2--Tuesday, April 24, 2012, 236 Miles and 9 Hours

We left Missoula at 8:40 this mornong in cooler weather, but mostly sunny. The scenery was variable but always beautiful. We drove through many spectacular valleys with colorful and intriguing rock formations. In Helena we stopped for a visit with Charles Russell's paintings at the Montana Historical Society Museum. They are so great! We birded Benton Lake Wildlife Refuge north of Great Falls, following a 9 mile loop drive in just under 4 hours! We found a life bird for both of us in a Blue-winged Teal. No doubt about thar one! Among the 28 species we found on the refuge were: Hudsonian Godwit, Willet, Long-billed Curlew, Black-necked Stilt, and many Avocets, Eared Grebes and Forster Terns. Also in plentiful supply were very large mosquitoes which invaded our car when we opened the window to hear the birds. Being in the midst of so many twittering, honking, quacking birds was amazing. The Meadowlarks sounded as if they were in the car with us, too. Sofie the good dog proves a patient traveller. She got a long walk along the Missouri River with Paul this evening. Today our eyes were on: Pink, red, yellow, black, purple and orange rocks. Birds aplenty. Charlie Russell paintings and our first Blue-winged Teal.

A birder at Benton Lake Wildlife Refuge, Montana

Eyes on Our 2010 Road Trip

April 22, 2010
We are gathering ourselves and our stuff to launch our big trip tomorrow. Car is packed to the brim, saving a nice space for Sofie the dog, our travelling companion.
Tomorrow we are heading Eastward.

Today our eyes are on:
Sunshine two days in a row!
Fresh cookies out of the oven!
Maps and many birding field guides!

Statistical Summary

My Statistics:

5152 air miles

2066 miles driven

a gazillion miles walked

1407 photos taken

3 weeks away from home

9 hamburgers consumed

24 diet cokes kept me going

one pair of shoes mostly worn out

hundreds of horses admired

hundreds of visitors from foreign lands greeted

hundreds of athletes cheered on

a fair amount of $$$ pumped into the economy

one adventure of a lifetime!!!

WEG Statistics:


507,022 attendees

16,800 feet of bike barricade

8 miles of linear fencing

396 temporary structures

70 temporary power generators

59 miles of electrical cable

20,000 temporary seats

more than 11,000 signs placed around the park
500 flags

30,000 feet of extension cord

632 athletes

752 horses

58 countries

More than 100,000 servings of Kentucky Ale brand beers poured

1,734 Maker’s Mark bottles dipped in red wax at the station inside the Kentucky Experience

175,220 pounds of recyclable and compostable materials removed from the park

56 percent of waste diverted from landfills through green initiatives

500 temporary toilet facilities

7.6 million page views to the Games web site from September 25 through October 10

193 countries represented in web site visitors

62,707 school children visited the Games thanks to Alltech

79,802 Facebook fans…and still counting!

6,000 AWESOME volunteers

1.1 million meals served to spectators, staff, athletes and volunteers

112,368 cars parked

326,260 trips to and from the Games taken through the main entry transport mall

16,000 caps, 5,000 walking sticks, and 1,000 saddle pads sold in the merchandise store

11 months-- youngest credentialed person; the son of press officers John and Heather Strassburger

"Eyes on the Weg"
blog by Judy D. Treman
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
www.eyesontheweg.blogspot.com

October 13, Home at Last!

My husband, my dog and I arrived home from the airport shortly before 1 a.m. this morning. We are all glad to be together again. Though it was the grandest possible adventure, it is good to be home.

 I've had time to reflect on a great experience the WEG was. All of the recruiting information for volunteers talked about volunteers being WEG heroes. They emphasized that the games wouldn't have been able to go on without our help. Indeed, the volunteers I saw went about their jobs whole-heartedly.

Looking back, I see there are many heroes:
The people of Kentucky who had a dream and made it happen.  Just a month before the games the organizing committee ran short on money. They were given donations in the millions by the sponsors and individuals to keep it going forward. We heard one man gave a million dollars and asked that school kids be allowed to take in the games; we saw hundreds of busloads of thousands of schoolchildren who saw a different piece of life thanks to his generosity.


Over 1/2 million horse lovers throughout the world who came to support the games and watch their heroes in action.  I met a couple from Germany who decided to make it a vacation out of it. He pulled out a book of $4500 worth of tickets they had purchased. He was one of many like him.

All the people behind the scenes that have been working, some for 4 years, to insure success.  I chatted with the ladies in charge of decorating the jumps with plantings and flowers. Hordes of them worked in the wee hours to add color and beauty to the scene. Hundreds of people cordoning a path daily to guide cars to the parking lot, energetically waving us on and smiling.

All the people I met, spectators, volunteers, Kentuckians, visitors from foreign countries as well as the states who constantly went out of their way to be cheerful, pleasant, helpful and full of good will.

Athletes from all over the world who came to live their passion and try to make their dreams come true.  Sis chatted with a 92 year old woman who was one of the first women to ride in dressage years ago before women did it. She dressed like a man and won! 

The beautiful and wonderful horses who showed intelligence, courage, power and heart in the way they willingly partnered with their humans to be the best they could be.  One of the jumping horses was so excited it took halfway around the arena for the rider to begin to slow him down. He was raring to go! A dressage horse had so much personality and loved showing off. He knew he was hot stuff and so did the crowd who gave him a very deserved standing ovation!

     All in all, it was a thrill to be a part of so many, trying so hard, to make the games a sucess.

     I hope my blog has let you see the WEG through my eyes. May all your trails be happy ones!

Two volunteer sisters--shoppers too!

October 12, East to West to East

     I Left Danville and drove 2 hours to Harrisburg; one hour wait; flight to Chicago; 1 and 1/2 hour wait; flight to Seattle; 5 hour wait. Next I will fly to Pasco; one hour drive to home; arrive early tomorrow. It makes a very long day.

     Today my eyes are blurred!

October 11, A Rest Day

My bags are packed for the big schlep home to Washington tomorrow via Chicago and Seattle. I seem to have accumulated lots of stuff. 

Misty Pennsylvania morn and brother-in-law's retirement gift

Today we have enjoyed watching previously taped NBC coverage of the WEG as well as finding video of our favorite parts on YouTube. We also have a complete set of WEG coverage by the Lexington Herald-Leader newspaper. This paper did an outstanding job with both photos and articles. We still can't get enough of our trip of a lifetime!

Kudos to volunteers

     An e-mail came thanking us volunteers from the CEO of the WEG:

Hello, everyone!
     As we enter the final days of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, I can tell all of you, with absolute confidence, that one of the most important and long-lasting legacies that will come from these Games is the unbelievably positive media reports and spectator comments we have received regarding our volunteer team. Across the board, the message has been that the friendliness, hospitality, efficiency and professionalism of our volunteers is unrivaled anywhere in the world.

     As we have known all along, you would be, and have been, the face of this event and I cannot begin to express my appreciation for your dedication and hard work.

     On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of the World Games Foundation, the people of Lexington and all of Kentucky, and from me, personally, thank you for making the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games the incredible success it has been.  
    
     Without you, none of this would have been possible and I can only hope that your experience has been worth all that you have given.

You are the best!

Kind regards,

Jamie Link, CEO
World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc

Day 16, Last day of WEG

We are at the Pennsylvania sister's. Real pancakes for breakfast. With strawberries! Steak, baked potato and FRESH GREEN BEANS for dinner last night. Real food!

Sis's asthma/sinus is improving but she still has a very impressive cough. Her husband and dog were elated to have her home once again.

Last night I enjoyed watching a slide show on my iPad of my 1400 photos taken in the last 2 weeks. The memories come flooding back.

Our view of the WEG today is on the computer and recorded NBC coverage. I highly recommend the following for interesting newspaper articles:

http://www.kentucky.com/weg/

And:

http://www.alltechfeigames.com/results

You can go to different dates for more stories.

It is really cool to watch the cross country on tv a week after we watched it in person. I can tell you everything is bigger and more awesome in real life! I'm sure if I watched it enough times I could find us in the crowd.

The closing ceremony is at 4 pm today and ticket prices have been slashed from $80 to $30. It will have many dignitaries, the committee from Normandy which will host the games in 4 years and an hour of Lyle Lovett.

The visitor count is over 500,000 for the WEG. Ticket sales were less than expected, and many thought if the prices had been less the sales would have been higher.

The venue beautifully handled the games. The only complaints were sore feet from the vast distances between the different arenas. Our estimates of 7 to 11 miles per day seem to be the norm.

The organizers worked hard each day to correct any problems. For instance, new picnic tables appeared each day to accommodate the crowds. They also added more direction signs and people movers each day.

Any way you look at it, however, the games have been a colossal success. We are very proud and happy to have been a part of it.

In my mind's eye I see:

Visions of horses, athletes, horses, volunteers, horses, trade show, horses, miles of walking, horses and the stadium, flags flying, in the setting sun



An interesting story about a blind rider

http://www.kentucky.com/2010/10/09/1472216/eblen-blind-competitors-reining.html

Day 15, To the Pennsylvania sister's

Today we continue our drive to Pennsylvania, slightly worse for the wear. Sis is feeling better, but we are both a bit tired and anxious to be home. Just when we needed reviving, we found Olivia's Restaurant a mile off the WV freeway. It looked brand new, though they said they had been open 3 years. It was our salvation. Vegetables! Sis had crab and vegetable soup--wonderful. I had eggplant Parmesan and a crab cake. They were superb, and no hamburgers in sight. Bravo!



Fall Color

 At last we safely made the 407 mile drive from Mink Shoals, West Virginia to sis's home in Pennsylvania. Her husband's comment after greeting us, "You both look wiped!" Apparently it is a lot of work to have so much fun!

We have two days to find and sort all our stuff in the car and reorganize it for my trip home Tuesday. Reviewing the clothes I packed vs. the clothes I wore, all five t-shirts from home were entirely unnecessary. I purchased several WEG t-shirts and wore them instead. The extra pair of nicer shoes were not comfortable enough for all the walking.

We really have had the adventure of a lifetime!!!

Day 14, Driving to Pennsylvania

We are over-nighting once again in Mink Shoals, West Virginia. The Pennsylvania sister's asthma and sinus trouble have made her mostly ill. I drove 180 miles and she requested to stop for the night. It is 3 pm and we can both use the rest. We have 400 miles left to her house.

It was quite a project to get all our stuff corralled and transported to the car, and we were quite worn out last night. So we decided we had seen all our eyes could take in and walked as far as our feet could carry us, and headed for home this am.


It took close to two hours to find our way to a freeway. The roads through the horse farm country are narrow and winding. We felt at times we were going in circles. However, our trusty gps eventually headed us northeast.

Kentucky has greened up a bit since we came two weeks ago, thanks to the rain we endured while volunteering. There are a few beautiful red and yellow trees among the green ones, the first hint of fall color.

I had a terrible nightmare last night in which I was trying to run a bed & breakfast that was not yet ready for guests, and yet the guests were there. Does that sound familiar?

I will be flying back to Washington on Tuesday.

When I Close My Eyes I See:

All the spectacular, wonderful, strange, curious, exciting, peculiar, funny, sweet, frightening, colorful, cold, hot, breezy and funky things I have seen in the past two weeks.

My Eyes Are Full!!!

Day 13, Last Look at the WEG

Two ex-volunteers! A day in the park!

On our free day we arrived at the park at about 11 am and walked the extremely long distance to the Driving Arena to find out the driving event was just finished. We talked with a spectator who was a regional driving champion, and so found out more about how the driving competition proceeds. Because of the high cost of transporting the teams of horses and the necessary buggies, there were not many driving contestants from other countries--only about 25 entrants in all. Therefore, each session of the competition doesn't last very long.

So we schlepped the very, very far distance to the vaulting competition at the new Alltech Indoor Arena. Although we were allowed admission with our volunteer credentials, there were no empty seats. We waited in line for a hot dog lunch and then stood and ate while watching. After a bit we left, as our energy was fading and we still had much to see.

  A quick look at the Vaulting competition, with very steady beautiful horses

Then we happened upon a hunter jumper exhibition by 5 of the top riders in the country. This was a major find as sis does hunter jumping and was thrilled to see them all in action. In fact, all five signed the bill of her volunteer cap, making a nice keepsake.

The next highlight of the day was to visit the Kentucky Horse Park Parade of Champions. We saw 10-year-old Funny Cide and 20-year-old Cigar (winner of 16 races in a row) in person. Both famous and successful racehorses are in retirement here at the Kentucky Horse Park. We decided retirement is pretty good for them. They both had real presence and a kingly manner. The California Cowgirls also enjoyed seeing them.

  

 

Our eyes are getting full, and our joints and feet wearing down. The three 11-hour working days before today took a toll on our energy. However, we still had more to see. We visited the Kentucky Experience,

  

and the Alltech Pavillion.

Four years ago Alltech agreed to pay $10 million to be a major sponsor of the WEG in Lexington. It is a huge company which has a bourbon distillery and a huge equine nutrition and health business. Their exhibit is extensive and shows, among other features, a sling devised to immobilize a horse while it recovers from injury. Also, a lifesize glass horse hangs from the ceiling, and much more. 

We made a quick pass through the humongous trade show  and the Visitor's Center for more bourbon balls. It will take a long time to process all the wonderful things we have seen.

We have seen many styles of dress.

Mini-skirt and high heels do not mix with all the walking. She rode in a golf cart.

Volunteer with many countries' pins on her hat. Most wore them on their lanyards.



Kentucky Horse Park Mounted Policeman



We had Japanese food for dinner!!!! Yesterday we found out there is a Toyota plant in Georgetown, a suburb of Lexington. It was the best meal we have had since we came 2 weeks ago.

Today My Eyes Were On:

A peek at driving and vaulting

Riding in a shuttle from the park to the car! (We still walked 14,000 steps) We have mostly watched other people ride the shuttles and golf carts.

A band playing the blues for the crowd in the horse park

Crowds in the gift shops

Japanese food for dinner!!!!

Day 12, Team Show Jumping Final

Original volunteer shift schedule 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm, revised to 11:30 am to 10:30 pm!
We reported somewhat fresh for duty at 11:30. We even shopped a bit first. Coming mid-day we did not wear our many layers of clothes, but carried them instead knowing we would need them before the long night was over. We checked tickets with our regular crew of Bob, Kay, Rae, sis and me. Tickets for the evening event allowed entry, so we checked tickets but did not scan them.

Today I got to be the team leader for a few short minutes. Notice my badge of authority--the two-way radio on my belt.

It was very interesting to watch the plantsmen add flowers to the marathon obstacle. A big bunch of them worked very hard to make it attractive. If we had more energy we would have liked to help them.
  

  

Lunch in the usual spot, and often with folks speaking languages we can not identify. Space at the tables is limited, so everyone sits together. All are very friendly.

The check-out line in the food tent is usually much busier than this!



From 3 to 5 pm we had a break but had run short on energy at the same time the weather began to deteriorate. We found an empty plastic photographers tent and actually rested on our coats on the ground. Sis was beginning to be choked with asthma. Soon the blowing dust was too much.

Wandering around to try to find a dust-free zone, we found the volunteer break tent. We were very disappointed to find it was only a plastic roof over 5 folding chairs (quite dusty from no use). Further amenities were a water cooler and a sign naming the sponsors. They might have done better for their "WEG heroes" as they referred to us.

All day a sharp breeze blew dust around and mingled with the smell of a gas generator at our gate. By the time we were excused at 9 p.m., sis's asthma was kicking up so she opted to head for home rather than watch the end of the jumping. She was ill, and we were both worn out and disappointed to miss the end. By the time we arrived back at the B & B, the results of the team competition were posted on-line. Gold medal to Germany, Silver to France and Bronze to Belgium.

We are through volunteering now, so will take in more of the park tomorrow on our own. The volunteer credentials give us entry to the Horse Park as well as access to many more places than we would otherwise have, plus free parking (instead of $20) per day. The special access certainly allows me better positions for my photo-taking.

Today My Eyes Were On:

Our reward for working 8 shifts, a green luggage handle wrap. Mine had a WEG pin on it; sis's did not. We had received a different pin after our 4th shift, too. We heard rumors of a potholder being the award for 12 shifts. We decided not to try for it.

Pins of many nations decorate the lanyards holding credentials of the most enterprising people. So far sis traded her red lanyard for a beautiful British one, and was given a pin by an Irish fellow. I have made no coups, although sis gave me a pin someone gave her.

A Chinese family enjoying the park together

A four-in-hand driving team (team of 4 horses)

Vaulting competition on the big screen while we ate lunch


Many mostly worn-out volunteers!