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From probably Christmas on, I really started keeping a close
eye on the calender. January 25th was coming fast and so was
another Wisconsin trip for us and the Hoosiers. Us this year
meant only four people as Fish and Good Ole had to pull out of
making the trip at the last minute.
We left Friday afternoon around 6:30pm and settled in for the
ride. Bork drove while everyone else played a few hands of
99 (a card game) and crap-out (a dice game) in the back of the van. Just north of Champaign, Boop took over the driving duties.
We arrived in Madison just after midnight, local time.
Ever since our buddy Jork moved to Madison in 1985 we had
talked about going up to visit and see the Hoosiers play the
Badgers. We finally just did it. We've gone every year there
was a game since then. Everyone kind of staggers into Jork's,
picks a spot, and that's home for the next 2 days. It's a good
thing he has a very understanding wife!
This year would be a little different than previous ones. The
game was scheduled for late Sunday afternoon. This meant
staying an extra day. The game was also played in the new home
of the Badgers, Kohl Center. As a bonus, Super Bowl XXXII -
Packers vs Broncos, was on right after the basketball game.
As we pulled into Jork's, I breathed a little sigh of relief.
The last 30-40 miles were accompanied by sleet, ice, and
freezing rain. Good job of driving there, Boop. We soon started
another game of crap-out, chugged a few beers, and enjoyed a house call from Dr. McGillicuddy before calling it a night.
Saturday morning came much too soon and it was up and ready by
9:00am. We caught up with Scud, one of Jork's local friends,
and hit downtown Madison for a while. A few games of billiards
were played out at various local establishments while dollar bills changed hands back and forth. We stopped for steaks on the
way home and grilled out that evening. The steaks were very good,
surpassed only by "Grandma's" own homemade potato salad. What's
that recipe?
Finally catching up with Brain, another of Jork's local friends,
Sunday morning found us at the Cobblestone Inn for breakfast.
This is another tradition and one we're quite proud of. The meal
was, as always, excellent. We then shot a few more games of pool
before making our way to the Kohl Center and let me tell you,
it's one beautiful place. The Hoosiers looked a little sluggish
early but took command in the second half to score the win. I
couldn't help dogging Scud a little after the loss we had up here
last year.
After the game, we hurried to the van so we could get to Jork's
without missing too much of the Super Bowl. We arrived just prior
to the Pack's first score. This had to be one of the best Super
Bowls of all time but the mood turned from festive to stunned
for the Cheeseheads as the Bronco's triumphed. As Scud blubbered,
we partied on...
This year's road trip participants were:
Lucky, Bork, Boop, and Port from Indiana.
Jork, Brain, and Scud from Wisconsin.
Till Next Year,
Lucky
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