[Previous entry: "The EightWheels.com Forum Is Back -- Plus a Guestbook"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Niagara Falls Tour"]

06/15/2004 Archived Entry: "University of Akron, Ohio"

I had a very interesting weekend, driving for a group to the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, to attend the annual Founder's Day conference for Alcoholics Anonymous. It was a two-coach move, and we basically had to drop the group on Friday and pick them up Sunday for the return trip, plus an interesting twist Sunday morning: one of the annual events of the AA conference is a pilgrimage early Sunday morning to the graveside of Dr. Bob, the founder of AA, at a large cemetery just outside Akron. I've driven for weddings, funerals, and just about everything else, but this was my first time driving coach in what was, essentially, a parade!

The procession began with almost 1,000 motorcycles, followed by ten motorcoaches, then cars and a few other vehicles. Police had the route blocked off all the way through Akron so we didn't have to worry about red lights, stop signs, or other traffic; hundreds of residents lined the route to wave as we passed. The photo above shows the final destination at the graveside, with just a few of the motorcycles and part of the crowd of a couple of thousand people gathered for the graveside service. I had the opportunity to attend my first AA meeting (four of them, actually -- two on the trip out, two on the trip back) -- that is, if you can call it attending when I was driving while the meeting was being held behind me! Another one of those unique opportunities we have as motorcoach drivers. It was a great group to drive for, and I admire what all of them have done to straighten out their lives.