Since our job at this show is to pass out and count ballots for awarding the trophies, Nancy needed some help. Menchu, Cookie and Richard quickly volunteered and made arrangements to take time off from their work at the nursing home. Since all of us could not fit into my regular van, we ended up renting a maxi van for the trip which had seats for 15. Richard and I removed the back seat so we would have more room for our luggage.

We left Polo, Illinois early on the morning of Wednesday, May 29th and did not return until the evening of Sunday, June 9. Here are 16 photos which tell the story behind our trip and vacation. This page contains the first eight photos. At the bottom of this page is a link which you can click to get to the second page and eight more photos.

You can send comments to Menchu, Cookie and Richard at their regular e-mail addresses. You can also send an e-mail to Nancy at her e-mail address which is shown at the bottom of the page.

Don't forget to look for the link at the bottom of this page which will take you to the next page.

Larry

The miracle of modern interstate highways in the United States allowed us to drive more than 800 miles on Wednesday to Tyrone, Georgia near Atlanta. Here, we spent Wednesday evening and night with Tita Irene. Nancy, Tricia and I had visited Tita Irene in March but for the others this was the first time in years that they had seen each other. From left to right: Tita Irene, Menchu, Panjee, Richard, Cookie, little Tricia and Nancy. I was behind the camera. The photo was taken adjacent to the house of Tita Irene.
Driving down to Florida, we got into heavy rain on Mount Eagle, between Nashville and Chattanooga on Wednesday. On Thursday morning we again ran into heavy rain and thunderstorms when we entered Florida. Our original plans were to visit Downtown Disney on Thursday night but we stayed in the hotel because of the heavy rain. On Friday morning, we all walked down the street to Downtown Disney which is a great place for buying souvenirs. Nancy asked me to include this photo because it is one of the few which includes me. Left to Right: Panjee, Nancy, Tricia and Larry.
The actual public Bus Bash and bus display was held at ABC Bus companies in Winter Garden, Florida on Sunday. This photo shows why we need helpers on Sunday to display the trophies, pass out and count the ballots. Behind the table are Richard, Nancy and Cookie. If you look to the right you can see Menchu, Tricia and Panjee. There is also a little girl named Maria whose father owns a bus company from Puerto Rico. They flew to Orlando to participate in the Bus Bash.
This photo was also taken at ABC Companies at Winter Garden, Florida on Sunday, June 2. Nancy was impressed by the fact that ABC Companies went through the trouble and expense to paint a new Van Hool bus (valued at more than $300,000) with special lettering for Bus Bash 2002. Hence, we stopped to take our photo next to the bus. From left to right: Little Tricia, Menchu, Panjee, Cookie, Richard and Nancy.
By late morning on Monday, June 3, we were already at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. After walking up Main Street, we paused for this photo with Cinderella's castle in the background. Left to right: Panjee, Cookie, Nancy, Tricia, Menchu and Richard. Following this we went on several rides including the Adventureland Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, the big boat in Liberty Square, Its a Small World, and three of the kids rides: Peter Pan's Flight, Snow White's Adventures and the new Winnie the Pooh ride which replaces Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.
Those of us not interested in the wilder rides also rode the skyway on Tomorrowland, which used to be called the Wedway People Mover. A few of the group went on other rides. The old submarine ride is gone but the boarding area is used as a meeting place with Disney Characters. Here, Nancy, Tricia, Menchu and Panjee meet with Jafar.
Cinderella's Castle at Walt Disney World is easily one of the most photographed buildings in the world. I waited until dusk to take this photo so you could see how the castle is lit up at night.
We were so hot on Monday that everyone elected to spend Tuesday, June 4, around the hotel and at Downtown Disney. This photo shows Menchu, Tricia, Nancy, Cookie and Panjee with Pooh and Tigger at one of the benches at Downtown Disney.