Spur of the moment, after a few emails and a long day at work, the plan was set. Hit the road in the morning, twitter stalk as many attendees as possible on the way there. We find a decent vantage and approach the first recognizable face.
With a smile and only in the hopes of learning from what they were working on, for our mutual benefit.
The following series of event were simple, yet exhilarating. Humbling and inspiring. We were invited, first from one person to meet another, until I found the person in charge. Kyle Burgess was busily reorganizing after what appeared to have been a productive day. Obvious to me immediately how she became the driving force behind this thing. After a brief chat she tentatively invited me to meet the rest of the crowd.
The next few hours were worth the entire trip. I met some amazing people, learned very interesting things about them, about their work, and about why we can be optimists. Finally we warmed them up enough, we were invited to be their guests for the last day and final presentations!!