Boy Scout Jamboree & Pocono NASCAR Trip!

[DanB]

Today the day has final arrived where Dawn and I start our long planned trip. Although short by some travelers standards, the 11 days on the road will be the longest in our Airstream history.

Our itinerary will take us from Lorain, Ohio to the BSA National Jamboree at Fort AP Hill Virgina. We will then proceed to Pocono Raceway for the NASCAR rally before heading home.

Our duty at the Jambo is to lead the Space Exploration Merit Badge Booth. This is a 800 square foot tented booth, plus additional outside space. We will be teaching the subject as well as helping the scouts build 2,000 Estes kits. I have a staff of 12 coming in from exotic locales such as Colorado and Denmark.

Right now two travel trailers are sitting in Ohio looking normal. An interior inspection of the trailers and TVs is quite a surprise though. Just about every available inch is taken up by supplies, models, and displays. The lead Dodge pickup even has a real space shuttle main landing gear tire in its bed (STS112)! At least I was smart enough to pack the light stuff in the Safari. I let the SOB carry the heavy stuff.

I intend on posting pictures if possible. To all the current and former Scouts & Scouters: See you at the Hill!

[crispyboy]

Sounds like a neat trip with all the kids.
This morning on the 6:00 am news they were showing the kids loading buses and heading out. They stated that there are only a few selected kids who get to attend. They are anticipating 40,000 kids at the Jamboree!

[Rhonda]

Have fun Dan and Dawn! I hope the ride is not too hard for Dawn. Sounds like you have a very busy but fun 11 days planned! Can't wait for pictures and stories.

[64airstream]

Dan and Dawn,

Enjoy the trip. I'll stop down at Space Ex and say Hi! See you Monday or Tuesday.

Roy

[Ike T]

Dan,

Enjoy the trip. The Jamborees are mighty fun. I have many fond memories of the 1985 Jamboree, including patch swapping, getting dirty, and surviving the hurricane that paid us a visit.

Tim

[DanB]

I finally have WIFI! Of course it's back at the campground.....

At the Jamboree, various cell companies have erected towers on site fo phone use, but ATT has exclusive permision to set up camp wide WIFI. Guess what happens when 40,000 scouts and staf tries to log on?

Anyway, the trip down from Ohio was interesting. Friday night we departed close to on time to get 3-4 hours of driving done. After 2 hours of 35 mph on the Ohio Tunrpike in a storm we had made it about an hours worth. We decided its best to shpw up late than not at all.

We learned that three Ohio turnpike plazas have full hookup for $15 a night. Huh, who knew?

We quickly remembered it must be Jambo time, as the trip near DC was 105 degrees. I managed to overheat the truck on the capital beltway in a traffic jam. We were able to drive it off the road, but really didn't want to peg the gauge, so we stopped.

We visited a historical site that was the home of the guy who wrote the George Washington Cherry tree story. Interesting little place.

As the trailer was loaded with the displays, our first stop was the jambo site. After full army inspection of us, the truck and the trailer full of rockets (real fun explainging those), we unloaded and headed towards our offsite campground. R&D family campground.

Nice hidden little place, got a 28' limited classic across from me. Also found out the head of security for the jambo is my neighbor. Last night another staff member checked in. He was a Boy Scout chosen to spend three months in Antartica in 1990. Cool guy.

ANyways, I'm back to work!

[loudruff]

Sounds like fun, Dan! Hope you took lots of pictures to share.
We are headed for Pocono on Wed. a.m. See you there on Thursday.

[GCinSC2]

Be Prepared.

Enjoy the Jamboree, I hear from our resident SM at work that this is the last year at AP Hill, he mentioned it is going to WV on BSA land next, any confirmations.

I still have Green Bar Bill's signature on one of my books somewhere.

Safe travels.

[DanB]

The 2013 jambo is supposed to be located at a new BSA high adventure base called the Summit in WV. The land has already been aquired, and planning has been going on for about 18 months at least.

So as to "be prepared", the BSA has signed a leeter of understanding with the Army and AP Hill to have the option of returning here in 2013.

As I'm in the architecture proffesion, sometimes I see beyond what many people see. Although three years seems like a long time, many of my "small" projects take that long. Although no "buildings" will be built right now on site, an inferstructure capable of supporting 40,000 people needs designed and constructed.

This includes all roads (bus service runs all day), water, sanitary, POWER, communications and security. Note that I did not even mention yet the program areas such as the arena (60,000 seats), midways, and various other big stuff.

Lot's of work, not much time, and dwindling money.

My bet, see ya back here in 2013.

Back to my update: the scouts showed up at 9am and we had a full booth till about 4:30. Pretty good first day, over 60 kids started the merit badge and 21 completed. Last jamboree we had 405 complete, but this year more badges are offered so we probably will be lower.

First thing in the morning, Roy (64 Airstream) from Pennsylvania showed up. He is having a great time. Its always great to see a familure freindly face, exspecially Roy!

Today with regret Dawn and I leave the Jambo. An unfortunate human resource error in my office really caused a kink in our planning. I won't put the story in writing, but will be happy to voice an opinion regarding the subject at the next campfire

We head north today towards NASCAR land (Poconos). Dawn is a HUGE fan and I really looking forward to seeing her have the time of her life. She needs a vacation right now!

[GCinSC2]

DanB,

It takes a special guy or gal to devote the time and energy to supporting a volunteer based organization like the BSA. You don't get paychecks that you can cash at the bank, but you often have paychecks that don't have an expiration date or limit to the amount.

A tip of the campain hat and blink of the AS lights to all who stand for the BSA, it holds MANY fond memories for me.

I still have my Tote N Chip card INTACT, no corners missing!

Do a good turn daily.

Dan, I could find Lorain w/o a map, grew up in Cuyahoga County.

[DanB]

Here are a few pics.

Who can name the guy in the pic holding the sharpie?

[64airstream]

Dan and Dawn,

Great seeing you guys yesterday. Temperature creeping back up into the mid 90's with a heat index of 102 today. The first Arena Show was a success this morning.

I agree there's a lot to do in the next 3 years for the Summit to be ready for a Jamboree, but, if you remember the 70's we used a temporary site at Moraine State Park in Pa. All that said, I'm figuring one more Jamboree at the Hill. Although, I spoke with a two members of the 2013 Committee yesterday and they were towing the line and positive about the New River Gorge in 2013.

Is it Scott Carpenter?

Enjoy the race track and the rest of your journey.

Roy

[DanB]

So the answer to the "Who's that guy" is Charles Duke, Apollo moon walker. He seems to be a real nice guy. He took his time with us.

I've got a heck of a story to author about this trip. I'll try my best to get it done, if only for therapeutic purposes. Let's just say it didn't go as planned......