SATURDAY

Had a late breakfast and then went to watch the motorcycle drill teams perform at the local airport carpark. The riders put on a very clever display, but it was hard to see all the action as there were no stands. I took a wander out into the car park and got some photos of some of the more unusual sights.
                                      

We back to the Carolina First Center for another look and left Greg there to shop for a couple of hours while Sue, Jasmin and I went back to the hotel to do some washing.
                      

Later we had a meal and then went into the city to see some of the entertainment put on for us at the Bi-Lo Centre (the local entertainment centre). There was a good band playing but the heavy rain from a thunderstorm must have put a lot of people off as the crowd was poor. (Nearly everyone is riding bikes and the weather conditions were ordinary.) We stayed auntil the end and enjoyed the music.

SUNDAY

Our last day here in beautiful Greenville and we headed back to the main centre for the presentation of some awards. We were very pleased to be awarded a plaque for the Interntional Long Distance Couple (they gave us two plaques naturally). There were also a couple from Kapunda in South Australia and a bloke from Melbourne nominated but we won with a distance of 11,636 miles!
                                                  

Greg went to a maintenance seminar while the three of us had a decent coffee at Starbucks and did a bit of shopping - everything here is open on Sunday!
The Closing Ceremony and raffle prize drawings were at 2:15pm in the Bi-Lo Centre and there was a good crowd there, naturally, because you had to be present to win a prize including the Goldwing in the main raffle.
There was the same great band playing (The Crawfish Band!) and there was quite a party happening. When they did the ceremony part they had all sorts of people stand up and be acknowledged including war veterans, police and firemen as well as all the GWRRA officials - they also had International guests stand up and the four of us plus a handful of others got a rowsing reception from the crowd - it was great!!!!
During the raffle draws I was one number off winning a magnificent bike trailer - b*****!!! We didn't win anything but it was a great way to end Wing-Ding 30 and we have had such a great time here.
                                                   

Where ever we have been Americans have been so hospitable, from the ordinary man in the street to shop assistants and everyone else, but the GWRRA members have been something else. Where ever we went people would stop us and want to talk or shake hands or just say "welcome to the USA". I have wallet full of business cards from people who said we could stay with them or call them if we had trouble - we have been just so impressed with their friendship - it has been a real eye-opener! One guy in particular - Vernon Dudley - has sought us out each day to make sure everything is going well!!!
                                                

We have been looking forward to this event for so long and it has certainly left us with memories we will never forget.
Tomorrow we head off for the Smoky Mountain National Park and are looking forward to seeing this very popular tourist attraction.