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
Monday, October 11, 2010
October 11, A Rest Day
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
Sunday, October 10, 2010
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:
And:
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
Saturday, October 9, 2010
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!
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!
Fall Color
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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!!!
Friday, October 8, 2010
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!!!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
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 have seen many styles of dress.
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| Mini-skirt and high heels do not mix with all the walking. She rode in a golf cart. |
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| Volunteer with many countries' pins on her hat. Most wore them on their lanyards. |
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| 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!!!!
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