Occasional Musings by Kevin Russell
August 22, 2024 – St. Ignace, Michigan Yay! I am in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. After a long and winding road trip from Vermont, I have reached my destination for the third phase of my summer tour. I am at the Little Bear Sports Center in St. Ignace, Michigan, the hub of activities for the North Country Trail Association Annual (NCTA) Celebration. If … Continue Reading →
August 12, 2024 – Grand Haven, Michigan Yup, I’m on another lark in Michigan. I left the drum corps world behind yesterday and headed north from Indianapolis on US Route 31. My first stop for a walk and some cultural heritage was South Bend, Indiana. This is where the Studebaker Brothers forged an auto empire from the humble beginnings of blacksmithing and carriage making. … Continue Reading →
August 11, 2024 – Indianapolis, Indiana This is sort of a reprise of the DCI Finals 2024 blog. It is a place to record my reflections on the events of the past few days and months following DCI shows. I will run the numbers when I return home, but last night was my 14th show of the 2024 season. I traveled to nine states … Continue Reading →
August 10, 2024 – Indianapolis, Indiana This is it, the final drum corps show of the year. Tonight, the final twelve drum corps will compete in the World Championship performance at Lucas Oil Stadium based on their placement from the semi-finals. Last night was another incredible night for drum corps. Every corps seemed to notch up the volume and intensity. Bluecoats remained in the … Continue Reading →
August 8, 2024 – Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana I am in the clubhouse in the oil can, Lucas Oil Stadium. This cavernous structure is the home of the Drum Corps International (DCI) Championships. Over 35 drum and bugle corps from across the country converged here to compete for high honors among their peers. Thousands of fans, alumni, and family members took their seats … Continue Reading →
August 7, 2024 – Indianapolis, Indiana I have comfortably settled into my new home away from home for the next few nights. It is a hotel across Missouri Avenue from Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the DCI World Championships, which start with preliminary finals on Thursday. The long and not-so-winding road across Central Ohio into Central Indiana was adventurous. Not having a plan can … Continue Reading →
August, 6, 2024 – Canton, Ohio Yesterday morning, the six unaffiliated drum corps fans departed central Pennsylvania for Canton, Ohio, one more leg of our journey to the DCI World Championships in Indianapolis this week. The Ohio Valley is west of the Appalachian Mountains. Travelers heading westward through Pennsylvania have endured the long slog up and down the rolling topography and steady climb up, … Continue Reading →
August 4, 2024 – Victory Brewing Company, Downingtown, Pennsylvania I’m finally catching up with you on Allentown Saturday while enjoying a nice ale and lunch at the Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, with my co-traveler, Chuck. We are now two wild and crazy guys traversing the landscape in the Silver Bullet. This is a break from my usual solo touring when the only … Continue Reading →
August 2, 2024 – Easton, Pennsylvania By the grace of the road angels, I have completed most of my journey to Allentown this morning. I left Lawrence, MA late in the evening after the show. A cat nap at the service area broke up the nocturnal travel after blurry eyes and a nodding head signaled a rest. Being ahead of my schedule this morning, … Continue Reading →
July 31, 2024 – Burlington, Vermont I am sitting comfortably in the Volvo dealership in Burlington, Vermont. The storied Silver Bullet, my aging XC70, is in the shop for a last-minute repair before I embark on my auto tour of DCI competitions today. It will be ready for another drum corps sojourn with a new wheel bearing and new Goodyear Assurance Comfort tires. It … Continue Reading →