A LOOK BACK 10 YEARS AGO THIS VERY DAY, WASH-IN 2001 MINNEAPOLIS, MN, ROBERT'S BASEMENT & HOUSE

[appnut]

Yes, August 17, 2001. International Wash-in, held in Minneapolis, MN. Three glorious days from Friday eveing the 17th through Suday the 19th (well actually only 2 days for me thanks to weather delays). We invaded Robert's house and baement. Anywhere from 30-50 people (it seemed like) at any given time. Share your reflections here as well as photographs, memories, anything else. Washing, fellowship, food, merriment,. And such a grand time!!! Even Mall of America. And Sunday afternoon after all had wound down, Sears was never the same with the invasion of 15 to 20 or more washer boys to scope out the BRAND NEW, just showing up in the showrooms at Sears, the Kenmore He3T. I'd never seen such a sight either in Robert's basement or us trapsing through Sears--we actually had to go to at least two stores, if not 3 to find the machines we wanted to see. Complete with Chestermikeuk Arming the Hettie.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Wow, ten years.  I know I have pictures around here somewhere.  I'll have to look for them.  Thanks Bob for posting this.

 

Question, which members attended the original "convention" and are still posting on aw.org?

 

[tomturbomatic]

We were able to board planes without showing anyone our privates and could carry our own food and water with us. Within a few weeks, the world we had so taken for granted was gone forever.

 

[foraloysius]

I was there too. The world has indeed changed since then. Little did we know. Ofcourse we had a lot of fun! I remember loads of laundry, great food, the first time we met eachother and couldn't stop talking and do loads of laundry.

 

[DADoES]

 

 

[DADoES]

 

 

[DADoES]

 
HE3t new on the market.

 

[lovestowash]

Good times were had by all...

Indeed!...

Thanks Bob for commemorating the anniversary...

I was fortunate to make good friendships during that outing...

Not to mention the vintage laundromat in the basement...

And I particularly remember that kitchy, dark restaurant where we dined one night...it was like a step back in time...

Thanks Robert for sharing your passion...

 

George

 

[foraloysius]

Kitchy, dark restaurant

Oh yes, I remember that. And the woman at the piano who looked like Fran Fine's grandmother!

 

[DADoES]

 
Calypso was also new at the time (there's a Catalyst peeping from the right).

 

[DADoES]

 

 

[Unimatic1140]

Yay, I found my pictures, all of the captions are from 2001!

http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/00ShowCollectionGETD.cgi?photoshow=001%20of%20Dreams.jpg&dir=/COLLECTIONS/_CONVENTION-01

 

[tomturbomatic]

Louis, your description of the piano player is priceless. I don't even remember the piano. I remember we got separated from the "procession" on the way, but Greg got us there. We were hungry, so we ordered our food as soon as our butts hit the seats.

 

[foraloysius]

Tom,

I only saw her when we left the restaurant. I rememember too that we drove there with Greg and you and I sat at the same table. Also with Steve and Rhiney IIRC.

 

[tlee618]

Thank you Bob for bringing this to our attention.  For me it was not only a wonderful experience but it has brought so many wonderful friendships into my life.  Robert, we can never thank you enough for making this possible.  

 

Terry

 

[combo52]

FRIST WASHIN

 Great memories Robert would it be possible to archive all the wash-ins so people can see them from time to time?

 

[jetcone]

OMG i can't believe it was 10 years

already! Wow that was fun!

I think I have lost my polka albums since, but I'll check when I go back.

 

 

 

[gansky1]

Who's that with the long hair??

Great memories - that was a super weekend! 

 

[peterh770]

Hush you

What a great time that was, many of us meeting for the first time after years of thinking we were alone...!!!