Chapter 31 ...Now we're really getting nowhere...

The faithful reader may recall that when we last spoke, your Captain and his dear posse were in Indiana to have the Beast's brand new air conditioners made to work as they should.  It's been a while, so I'm sure that you are wondering where your  Captain, his posse and the Beast are now located.

For those who guessed "Indiana", you win.  Last Thursday and Friday, the service tech took the beast from us promptly at 6 AM and worked diligently until about 4 PM each day.  Despite having both the A/C manufacturer and the American Coach guys working together, they remain baffled as to the origins of the daily tripping of the A/C breakers...yes, my air conditioners are Day Trippers. ;)  

It has now been one full week of daily 6 AM to 4 PM attention to the Beast.  (Major performance improvements have been made, but we are still not completely correct.)

The factory service center has two client lounges, one of which is dedicated to those of us who travel with pets.  The Westies have for the most part behaved, showing only fleeting instances of WESTITUDE, when other pups enter their lounge...

Factoid:  Captain's talented brother-in- law ( Leslie's older brother) is a symphony conductor.  

Your musically inclined Captain really likes BOTH kinds of music...COUNTRY and WESTERN.  That said, Leslie's maestro bro spends his time with music forms which employ nary a guitar, banjo nor steel pedal slide.  How could this be, you ask...well, they use items called oboes, cellos, violas, and play in groups larger than the entire cast of Hee Haw!!  The sound, while not Willie Nelson, is truly awesome.

Anyway, for the last 28 years, maestro bro (Gary) has been the musical director of the annual Lancaster Music Festival, in Lancaster Ohio.  Each year showcases top 40 talent from all forms of popular music. This year was a double whammy...the very popular country duo, Thompson Square, and the hottest rising star in Nashville, Mo Pitney.  

Given the facts above, our dear Commodorable made the incredibly tough decision to abandon the daily 6 AM relinquishing of our cozy coach and drove the three hours to Lancaster to see her waiting family and to hear and meet the stars of the show.  In doing so, she also left the Captain/puppy daddy in sole control of the largely uncontrollable Westies... 

...beautiful cousin Stephanie (center) posing with Thompson Square.   (And, yes, she really is THAT beautiful)

...from l to r...Todd, rising star Mo Pitney, Stephanie, Gail, and Alex.  

...from l to r...Thompson Square, Leslie, Stephanie, Gail, Alex, Todd, THE HOST AND MAESTRO, Gary,  Janet, Jacob, and Ruby

While there, Leslie ran into one of our acquaintances from the Sunday Services at Stan's Idle Hour in Marco Island...

...Tom and wife Linda spend some Sunday's at Stan's Idle Hour during the winter months...

While Leslie was partying in Lancaster, your Captain  busied himself with learning more about the history and culture of the Decatur/Ft Wayne area.  To wit, the following persons hail from here:

Bill Blass......fashion designer

Carole Lombard....actress

Shelley Long....actress

Dick York....actor

Rod Woodson....NFL Hall of Fame receiver

Stephen King....novelist (King was born in Maine, but moved here with his mother after his sea captain father went out for a pack of cigarettes and never returned.). 

Philo T. Farnsworth....no I didn't make up this cartoon sounding name.  Old Philo was a notable inventor and played a key role in the development of television.  Absent his contributions, we may never have heard the name Kardashian...  Oh well.

I believe that you will find dropping the name Philo T. Farnsworth at the appropriate time in cocktail party conversation will get you an attentive audience every time.

...This is our new friend Philo....

The local area is, to say the least, quaint...

...Leslie checking out a spotless Ford Coupe...

In the background is the Indiana Pancake House.  Note that the omelets here are made with FIVE EGGS! 

Nearby is ...

...Aunt Bee's drive in restaurant, with actual curb service...

Latest news...with approval from the Coleman Air Conditioning folks, your creative Captain has bypassed certain circuits on each of the A/C units resulting no tripped breakers !!!  If this wonderful state of affairs continues unabated for another day or so, we shall bid a fond farewell to Decatur and it's warm hospitality...

From here, we will move toward the Dakotas and the adventures which await...

The next installment will be written either by an elated Captain continuing his discovery of America, or by a disgruntled mariner who hates the Coleman A/C company and all their families, forebears and heirs....