Track Town, USA: I have been shopping for food, preparing food, chopping veggies, baking sweets and getting organized for four days - all for a three-hour tailgate where we were hosting several Olympic athletes before the University of Oregon v University of Colorado football game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
Our fridge was filled with 15 pounds of baked/chopped Yukon potatoes, 16 chopped yellow & green peppers, 6 chopped yellow onions, 4 dozen eggs, pounds of shredded cheddar, vats of salsa, mounds of chopped jalapenos, cilantro and green onion along with gallons of OJ, champagne, vodka, Bloody Mary concoctions, coffee, 75 bison meatballs in BBQ sauce, pounds of fresh fruit and baskets of freshly-baked pastries.Don't forget the six pounds of bacon Steve and Mary offered.
Woody set up his impressive outdoor kitchen and sauteed the taters, peppers and onions and scrambled eggs. Our guests filled their plates and then headed over to the buffet table and added whichever topping they enjoy.Our three families were hosting local track & field athletes who had competed in the 2012 Olympic games in London. The athletes were being introduced between the first-and-second quarters during the football game.
DT and I bought USA-colored M&M's at the M&M shop in Las Vegas last weekend. We also purchased red & white M&M's for our non-American guests - Canadian Olympian, Heptathlete Brianne Theisen and Kenyan-flag-colored candies for 10000m silver medalist Sally Kipyego. A very international Olympic tailgate!
Of course, The World's Greatest Athlete, 2012 London Olympic Decathlon Gold Medalist and Decathlon World Record Holder, Ashton Eaton, came to our tailgate! We were also honored to host his lovely fiancé, Brianne. Both athletes are University of Oregon alums and have remained in Track Town, USA to train. Mr. Eaton is a native Oregonian! The kids will be married this summer - right before the World Championships in Moscow.At this time, we plan to be in Moscow next August.
Some of the athletes posed in front of the BIG O! The weather was most miserable. Cold. Rain. We were happy they stopped by our party before heading into the stadium to be introduced to the crowd.
Of course, I pushed my way into the photo. (Hey, it's my RV!)During half-time, Kenyan Sally Kipyego, silver medalist in the women's 10000m (and 4th in the women's 5000m) came by to see me. She had her silver medal, as the athletes were asked to wear their medals during the introduction.
What a gorgeous piece of hardware! The medal is as big as a burger, and not a puny McDonald's burger - this piece of silver was huge and was quite heavy. (Sally cannot weight 100 pounds.) I snapped this photo as the medal was posed on my kitchen counter!An Olympic medalist and her medal have been in our RV!
Just your basic, everyday tailgate party.
The game was a blow out. Ridiculous. Still undefeated, the Ducks have a big game next weekend at USC in Los Angeles.
Until my next update, I remain, your awed correspondent.
RV PARK: Eugene Premier RV Resort. Our home-away-from-home. At exit 199 on I-5 in Oregon. Full-service paved pull-through sites. Free wifi, fitness center. Pool and spa, in season. Very convenient to local RV services. About $40 per night.