One of my Things To Do Before I Die
For many years I wanted to attend KansasFest, the annual gathering of vintage Apple computer enthusiasts. Year after year I’d have some business or personal engagement that precluded my attendance, until finally in July of 2007 the stars aligned and I found myself headed south for a week of vintage tech talk.
To heighten the sense of occasion (and adventure) of my first KansasFest, I decided to make the trek from Toronto to Kansas City on a Vespa: 1,000 miles each way, mostly on Interstates, on a vehicle with 12″ wheels and a 9 litre gas tank.
KansasFest 2007 took place from July 17 to 22 in Kansas City, Missouri. It’s billed as “summer camp for geeks,” and that’s a very appropriate description, but for me it felt more like being back in a university dorm. This is in no small part because it’s held in a university dorm. But in addition to the locale, the “vibe” is also much like my days back in Saugeen-Maitland Hall (”The Zoo”) at the University of Western Ontario: late nights, cafeteria food, endless friendly banter, cram sessions, note taking, idea sharing, etc.
The entire trip was a complete delight. It was everything I’d hoped it would be, and the people I met there were all incredibly interesting and fun to be around. One word that sprang to mind repeatedly during my first KansasFest is “camaraderie.”
I’d definitely do it all again.
KansasFest 2007 Photos:
