The round trip - Part 1!

It was time to hit the road again! This time for a two week, 2000 mile (15 000 km) trek to Indiana to Michigan, down to North Carolina (through Kentucky and Tennessee) and ending in DC.

Part 1: Gary Indiana, Gary Indiana, Gary Indiana!

We didn't visit Gary, Indiana. Instead, we visited Richmond, home of Earlham college which happens to be the college where Rachel (Hannah's sister) is about to finish uni. Earlham is a quaker, liberal arts college.

Rachel, amongst many other talents, is a fiddler of distinction. She played in a five women string band named the Huntsville Space and Rocket Centre.









Huntsville Space and Rocket Centre - Rachel is third from the left.


Although, they had disbanded, they were rejoining for a wedding to be held the weekend that we were in town. They were hold a rehearsal concert which was the reason for our visit. Richmond is somewhat of a college town although the relationship is always smooth - Indiana is moderately conservative and Earlham is extremely liberal. Being in Richmond, gave Hannah and I an excuse to relive our college days like buying Coors beer for $10 for 30 beers - happy times! Jenifer came up for the concert as well. She also went to Earlham so I dare say that she was reliving her college days too.

We hung out with Rachel's house mates a fair amount, went to the local bar on student night ($4 a pitcher of Bud) and explored the town a fair bit. The concert though was such a highlight!! Rachel is incredibly talented and the band is really fantastic! I'll try and get a sample of their music so that you can listen too.

The following night we attend Rachel's best friend, Lizzy's 21st! It was a classic college party, with cheap beer, loud music, cops arriving, some nameless guy trying to bail out through a window and being caught by the above mentioned cops! Great fun...if you are over 21.




















Jenifer with her face painted at Lizzy's 21st!

We were lucky enough to go to an Obama rally will we were in Indiana. It was great to attend one of Barack's rallies in person. Although we'd heard much of what he was speaking about, Barack is truly a phenomenal and charismatic speaker. The crowd was small at 25,000.

















We asked Barack if he would pose for us during his speech.
















Hannah and Rachel posing back.
















Don't let anyone say that Barack isn't patriotic!




















Need I say more!















We spotted this in Indianapolis after the rally...Fox news having an Obama sticker is like an SABC car having an ANC sticker in 1982!! Hectique!