Rachel, Chris, Guadalupe, David, Alison, Laura, Torey, Adam, John, Victoria, and Crystal: WE DID IT! For the past twelve months, we have worked together, along with our Wienermobile vehicles, to spread miles of smiles across America. We have visited small towns in big states, big cities in small states, driven on major highways and back roads, over mountains and through tunnels, creating lasting memories both for ourselves and the people we have met. We’ve slept in countless hotels, sat in hundreds of restaurants, and talked to many reporters.

To Class 23: Enjoy the journey. We are passing the torch onto you!

All smiles from Class 22!

Each year, the Kraft Food truck drivers from the Northeast region compete in a precision course in Frederick, Maryland. Driving their massive machines, they must stop within 15 feet of a line, weeve between cones, reverse carefully, etc. With their families cheering them on and bragging rights for a year at stake, the pressure was definitely on.

Dijon John and I had the chance to get behind the wheel of one of these massive rigs. I look like I fit right in, right?

In Dayton, Ohio, Sam’s Club not only loves Oscar Mayer hot dogs, but they encourage adopting dogs in need as well! While BOLOGNA was in the parking lot during a Saturday this spring, the Wienermobile shared the spotlight with a few adorable dogs who were looking for a home. Local volunteers were grilling up a storm and handing out cookies, with proceeds going to the Children’s Miracle Network. We were so thrilled we could pair up with a few great organizations to help the local community!

Thanks to all of the folks working the event with us.

Everyone was excited to get their Oscar Mayer hot dogs!

Each year, the Chenango Valley State Park host their Annual Kids Fishing Day, with hundreds of local kids and their parents from the Binghamton, New York, area bring their rods and bait to catch what they can in the lake. The children learned how to fly tie and cast, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation was on hand to promote fishing. BOLOGNA was a part of the action for the first time this year, and it was a big hit!

Getting into the fishing around the lake!David and Robert of Binghamton show off the fish they found!

BOLOGNA, Dijon John, and I took a special drive through the craziness that is New Jersey traffic to a massive Air Force Base surrounded by peaceful, quiet farmland. Once we opened the door of the Wienermobile, though, we knew it was not going to be a quiet afternoon, as it was Kids Day! Between the festivities going on inside the gym, the face painting and Rock Band outside, and the delicious hot dogs being grilled behind the Wienermobile, it truly was fun for all!

Everyone is waiting in line for those Jumbo Beef Franks!Who wants some hot dogs?!

Since the Wienermobile vehicles are frequently visited by kids and tweens, we feel we are fairly well-versed on the latest trends that hit the stores and malls for children and teenagers. Whether it is a particular style of shirt or the must-have shoes of the season, BOLOGNA has seen it all.

For Spring 2010, it has come to our attention that Silly Bandz are all the rage. These bracelets come in all kinds of designs and colors, from a yellow giraffe to the outline of the word “rock.” When John and I saw two adorable girls in New Jersey with hot dog Silly Bandz, we knew it was a special moment.

Thank you to Amanda and Brittany for sporting the latest trend to BOLOGNA!How cool are these Silly Bandz?

As Hotdoggers, we often get asked the question, “What’s it like to drive that thing?” Our answer, in one way or another, is that it truly is a BLAST. I found myself asking the same question to someone else, however, when Dijon John and I took a trip to Boston. While on the city’s Duck Tour, we were given the option of actually driving the duck ourselves while cruising the Charles River. We were even given stickers that said, “We drove the Duck!” Unfortunately, Hot dog Fans, we cannot give you the same opportunity with the Wienermobile. If only it could float!

John behind the wheel of a duck, not a hotdog! All smiles from behind the wheel!

Every year, Lehigh University, located about an hour north of Philadelphia in Bethlehem, PA, puts on a community event on the center of their campus called Spring Fling. Community members from around the area decend upon campus for a fair-like atmosphere completely run by the students, including free food and beverages, face painting, a moonbounce, segway rides, and more. BOLOGNA was honored to be a part of the fun!

Can you spot the Wienermobile amongst the fun?A sign at the center of campus

As Hotdoggers, some of our favorite memories in our year-long stint with the Wienermobile vehicles come on drive days, making it from one city to another. None of us can imagine what the ‘Doggers from the 80s and 90s did without Global Positioning Systems. Reading maps? Who does that in 2010? Not Dijon John, and certainly not MmmK.

While driving from Central Connecticut to Upstate New York, BOLOGNA’s GPS was showing us four different states at once: Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. I had never seen such a thing!

I-90 West taking us through Massachusetts, with many states close by!

Dijon John and I hadn’t been in Lake Placid for more than two hours before we had placed our buns on the back of a snowmobile. If you have visited BOLOGNA and the Northeast Team in the past few months, you have probably heard one of us say the Wienermobile is “like a sled dog,” and we get “many smiles per gallon.” This couldn’t be closer to the truth while we both enjoyed our very first ride on the back of two snowmobiles in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York. To say we were “hauling buns” may be an understatement.

Loving the mountains from the eyes of a sled dog!

Unlike the Wienermobile, there wasn't a GPS telling us where to go, so we used these signs on the trail to navigate our way through the mountains.