June 23 Thunderstorms Oshkosh Style

A quiet, relaxing day got real exciting when the volunteers started circulating at 2PM with a warning of a SEVERE thunderstorm with 80 mph winds due to hit us at 3PM. We had been sitting outside reading and enjoying a gentle breeze and cooler temperatures but could see the darkening clouds in the distance.

At first we did not get too concerned until we saw the midwesterners taking their tents down and taking refuge in their cars. Then we decided to pull in all our awnings, slides with awnings and even put the bike back into the trailer...using different method to avoid redamaging that tank.

The storms here are really different from at home...they hit so fast and furious here...one minute no wind, the next minute (precisely at 3PM by the way) the trees are going sideways. The wind and rain blew so hard sideways that it resembled being in a really big carwash! The news reported later that in fact we did have 70 mph winds and there was resulting damage in some areas. But not here, we were fine and there were no tents flying through the air because of the excellent advance warning we received and how everyone took it very seriously.

We spent the rest of the afternoon visiting with some really nice people from Florida who are in the motorhome next to us. We told storm stories, travel stories and shared craft projects...lots of fun...now we are looking forward to Monday which will be the official opening of the airshow and lots more excitement in the sky and on the ground.