First:
Some of you were wondering about media coverage. After waking early on Saturday morning (or was it Friday??), my wife and I were quietly sitting out on the patio sipping java, listening to the birds, and looking forward to the noisy snakes to come later.
We were staying with our good friend, Steph, and her 11 year old son, Matt, at her townhome about a mile north of the Hotels. All of a sudden young Matt explodes out the door yelling "the Cobras are on TV! Hurry, come look!!!" We darn near spilled coffee all over ourselves as we dashed back into the house just in time to catch Ed DV Combs
live on TV, with microphone in hand, and "Elvis" taking off from a parking spot at one of the hotels in a maroon cobra, possibly DV I.
As Ed described the Fling and CF, "Elvis" suddenly reappeared at the opposite end of the parking alley and "squirted" the rear end around a bit as he slithered back up to the film crew. I guess they don't take a make up crew to the live news shoots, Ed. You looked pooped then already and the Fling was just beginning to roll into high gear!
I think this was on a Fox affiliate, 28(?). It was good publicity coverage, although it was about 6:15 am. Anyway, it was a delightful way to start a flingin' day.
Second:
On Sunday, we were facing a logistics problem. I had to be back in Missouri by a decent bedtime to get up at 4:00 am Monday for work. We trailered NAJA to allow our son to go to the Fling. We would be heading west on I-70 but didn't wish to return to the trailer at WalMart so NAJA rode to Deer Creek for the festivities. JerryH drove his truck along with us and as we arrived in the park we were greeted by several of the parking attendants. They were excited to see the first arrival, but seemed concerned and disappointed to see it on a trailer. I truly believe they freaked out thinking they had misunderstood the plan and that all of the Cobras would be arriving "by delivery"!!! I explained I just needed a place to unload, and they obliged, helping in any way they could. After we got NAJA unloaded and the truck and trailer tucked out of the way, Jerry and I jumped in the car. In the words and accent of "the Arnold", I told the attendants "I'll be Back" and we headed to the parking lot exit. The attendant at that end was grinning from ear to ear and rapidly rolling his hand in the universal Cobra sign language translated as
"LITE 'EM UP!" I asked the fellow if there were any law enforcement present and he said "yeah, but they are way back over at the other end of the lot". I looked at Jerry, who is just about to get his FFR on the road, and I could tell by the grin on his face that he was reading my mind! So . . . we QUICKLY "slithered out" and exited stage left! We headed on in to Mt. Sterling to meet the escorted cruise. After the slithering snakes had rolled past, we joined in behind the convoy and arrived back at the park. The attendants must have remembered NAJA. They said they had saved a spot for us and then proceeded to flag us all the way back to the parking spot at the "Employee of the Month" sign!
I think they want all of us, and more of us, back next year, what do you think?
A coupla "Stories"
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