[AT] Portland

[Ivan]

Farmer ,  Gene Dotson was wagonmaster as usual but he is also the 
camping director now .  Most of the usual 's were there . Gary  Doston , 
Steve Sewell,Tim Brown,Brice,Jeff, Steve Buntram, Leroy , Roger,Tim.  
The engine gang but they do their own thing in the show  . Reggie was 
there But I never saw him .  Mising most noteably,  Spencer  , Herb 
,Dewey,chainsaw Ed ,Vern, Big Dog,as well as a couple others that I cant 
remember names . Its sad but were all ageing  and the younger people 
dont seem to have the interest .  I think Larry Goss drifted thru and 
there was one new face, Chuck .
  We did the usual Wensday night mexican dinner on golf carts . Miss the 
old days of everyone piling onto a equipment trailer being towed by a 
tractor  .  Thursday evening some go over to the show grounds where the 
engine guys hang  , they make homemade ice cream . Friday most go to  
the fish fry at the catholic church.
  We all gather round the fire to discuss things ,isnt that rule carved 
in stone ? .  The show itself didnt do anything spectacular as far as 
being the 50 th that I noticed. They did do special tee shirts and such 
that the club sells and the tractors were arrainged to spell 50 . A 
couple radio and newspaper interviews . The tag sale was up and running 
as usual .The flea market uptown was smaller but the one out across from 
Walmart got much bigger .   No group pictures , no rebuilding someones 
cub at the campground or anything . Didnt have friday breakfast either . 
Somehave found it entertaining to see me pack all my purchases up to go 
home but this year was a off year ,I actually came home with money in my 
wallet .  This year the weather was nice ,not really hot or pouring down 
rain . Ivan


    Since I was unable to get to Portland I was hoping to read a number 
of reports from those who were there. Was anybody besides Dean there? 
:-) I did see a lot of pictures on the Tri-County Facebook page but it 
is always a lot better reading about friends enjoying themselves instead 
of just strangers pictures posted without comment. On a side note, if I 
am feeling better in a week or so are there any shows coming up in east 
central Indiana or west central Ohio in September or October?