The American Drift 2011

Day 1 we’ll be starting at 3am from Madison, Wisconsin and traveling through Chicago (ACK!) and down to Lafayette, Indiana for the first stop. According to Jeremy (the person doing the mapping and times) I should be able to do that in 4 hours.

To be fair, I think he just forgot there’s a time difference and labeled leave at 3amCDT, arrive at 8am EDT..thinking 5 hours when in reality it’s 4.  So I’ll just leave an hour earlier..which is better for making it through Chicago rush hour which starts at about 5am and lasts until midnight..ahem.

After picking up some equipment and getting last minute instructions and tips from last year’s driver, I’ll head south through first BORING scenery and then the Smokies. I”m hoping for some good weather and great views to keep me happy…eventually I’ll be in Northern Georgia by…10pm? 11? do I hear midnight?

At any rate…it will be a good trip. Meeting many rabbit people and seeing a huge chunk of the country (as it flies by the car window) Right now I’m concentrating on setting up my GPS map, and getting my personal stuff ready to go.

So..what do you think? I suppose I’ll need more than 1 pair of undies and socks, eh?   I could solve the problem all together and not WEAR clothes….

After years of going into decline, the American Rabbit was brought back from the edge of extinction by some dedicated rabbit breeders. During the next years the rabbits survived in pockets around the country. A few years ago people started talking about getting some diversity in the gene pools. in 2009, Jeremy Cowan decided to jump in his car and “spread the wealth” so to speak. Rabbits went all across the country and others returned. The next year it got bigger…3 loops (eastern half of the country, western half, then eastern half again) with 2 drivers..10,000 miles and 130 or so rabbits.

This year, economy in decline and fuel prices through the roof, the route is longer (12,000 miles) but slightly fewer rabbits making the trip. So longer drives, but fewer stops, making it about 2 weeks in length. However, we have many NEW rabbit breeders this year who are requesting Americans and THAT is very very exciting. We are trying only younger animals this year…8 weeks old to a few months. Hoping they can transition more easily from the cold of up North, to the heat of the South and West.

and so…THAT is what “The Drift” is. spreading diversity. I hope to keep this blog going every day, but more likely it will be every other day. Hoping for pictures of people with their new rabbits, maybe a couple of landmarks as we go.