On Friday, September 2, 2011, I went with Debbie and Jakob to the large annual SantaCalGonDays festival in Independence, Missouri to visit friends and Debbie's family. Here are some photos, including a few train pictures of Amtrak at the historic Truman depot. Of course, it rained too (rain seems to follow me around). I had a great time with great people, great food, great crafts and lots of good chatting amongst friends.


Jakob and Debbie after we ate at a good barbecue place in Fayetteville, Arkansas on the way to Independence.


At the festival at 5:33 p.m.


This festival is in tribute to the 3 major trail rides done in the 1800s, including the Oregon Tail. All 3 of the trails converged here.




Janet and Jakob.




Janet, Bonnie and Debbie.








You can see the Moon crescent above the tents to the left.






This skeleton was on a car that was promoting a haunting festival.






I bought this white hat with a blue ribbon.


News cameras at the kettle corn place.


Main and Truman Rd.


Here's the Harry Truman historic depot in Independence, still serving passengers with 4 Amtrak trains a day.






Closeup of a pretty moth at the Truman depot. Moth or butterfly?


The Kansas City-bound train arrived at 2:29 p.m. on Saturday, September 3, 2011.  It's called the Missouri River Runner, which runs between St Louis and Kansas City every day.

To see a movie I made of this train arriving, click on this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dgIPTCZIP0

To see a movie I made of the train leaving, WITH lightning and thunder, click on this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp7ybHM0jv8


The sun came out where I was standing, making for a stark, black and stormy background. It was 2:15 p.m., and the vendors downtown were scrambling to secure their tents.


This was taken from the depot and shows a church spiral structure.  This is the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS) Temple 1. It was built in 1992 and is 360 feet high. The sun was shining on this interesting building.


Back to the festival at 4:47 p.m.


Debbie and Bonnie through the looking-glass.


Shortly after I took this, the wheelchair started rolling down the hill, but everything turned out ok.


At 7:22 p.m. the red sun began peeking through the clouds.


Me with a twinkling lighted hat.


Turn out the lights...the party's over. Reminds me of the song "Those Were the Days-We Thought They'd Never End."


Raining again at 9:43 p.m.


Saw this little 1957 car in the parking lot. It's a BMW.


Sorry for the out of focus info sheet, but you can read some things.


Debbie, Jakob and Ted at breakfast on Sunday morning, September 4. We left right after this.


Janet, David, Debbie, Jakob and Ted.


Walking back to the tent.


Ready to leave in my Pontiac Vibe at 9:06 a.m. We made it back home at 3:15 p.m.

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