I left off at arriving in MN. We arrived in Cambridge, MN the day before our shows started in the late afternoon. The town,like many towns, has the new section (Walmart, Menard's, hotels, etc etc) and the old section (Post office, shops, banks, old buildings, cool stuff). Cambridge is small. We drove into town and I noticed the Wlamart, etc on the left we drove right by the fairgrounds on the right. (The kids noticed it.) We checked into the only hotel in town (it was very nice). And since the parking lot was small decided to take the trailer over to the fair right away.
When we arrived we realized that the double event tent they had planned for us was going to be tight. In fact, if we used it we would have to set the stage up outside in fear of bumping our heads on the tent frame and tent itself. Also much of the juggling would have to be cut. Fortune would have it that a marine-life display, which was to be set up in this larger pavilion area called the kennel building overstated their size to the fair and would be a better fit under the event tents. Likewise our show was better suited for the high roof and open conditions of the pavilion. So it was set we had an awesome stage spot. We parked the trailer and the rest would come tomorrow.
The rest that night was the best...maybe because we crashed early. We were up early enough though (we were getting used to the time change by now.) We got tot he fair set up and were ready to perform by midday. All three shows were packed. in fact every show every day was packed. I was told later that over the years they have been trying to find something to draw a crowd to that part of the fairgrounds. With us, I am told, they found it. They were very pleased and we were very pleased with the crowds. The mid-west audience is very different from the Kentucky audience...a bit more reserved. But no one left during any show and like all fairs we do we had a few kids and adults who came to every show! At the Isanti fair we had a chance to try deep fried cheese curd...haven't seen it any any other fair in any other state...too bad...it's good! Deep fried tacos were on the menu as well...mmmmm! Pork chops were another big fair food up here.
The fair came to an end too fast and we had two days to get to New York. I didn't look forward to the 1000+ mile drive but it turned out to be easy and relatively quick. The roads in MN aren't that great (cold winters and a legislature that ignores the infrastructure to make time to pass stupid laws...there is a dragooning "no spanking" law in MN and kids can turn their parents in...the parent gets jail time. Did I mention that I heard more cussing by teens and tweens and saw more disobedient kids in MN than anywhere else? Especially after coming out of KY where kids say "yes, sir. No sir, etc"
We made New Paltz New York just about an hour from the PA-NY border. The area is covered with beautiful hills and rivers and green. Hamlets and villages, as the towns are called out here, dot the highway. We arrived late afternoon so we had another restful night due to an early turn in.
My entries on the blog about NY cover it pretty good. It was an awesome experience. A CT amusement park came out to check us out for the 09 season. We had packed crowds and the manager extended an invitation (much the way the other events did) to come back next year. it would be fabulous if it works out that we can get back there. My humor clicked very well with NY audiences. EVERY SHOW WAS PACKED! Like all the events we had rain, sometimes deluges, and even then we pulled crowds.
Like the other gigs the week flew by and we were on the trek home. It was exhausting...but there was a lot to do at home and I missed my wife. It's over a week since we have been home and we have our next set of mini-tours (Cumulatively called the West Coast tOOur) starting this Sunday. We loose Jim for a few of the shows as he settles into college. Miles starts High school, Amelia starts Kindergarten, and both Amelia and Victor start new schools.
They will miss a few days here and there but they always end up doing quite well.
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