Our fearless Road Captain, John, started out at the beginning of the Vietnam Vets Memorial Run, Saturday, March 13 in Perryton. You can read about Day 1 & 2 on the linked website.
Carlton, Steve & I met on Monday and started our journey to meet up with the group in Junction. The day was beautiful, warm & sunny. We stopped for a late lunch in Kerrville and headed back out. The farther north we went, the colder & cloudier it got. Brrrr. No rain yet. Ooops - should have stopped to put on rain gear. A few sprinkles just outside of Junction.
We arrived in Junction just as the main group was coming in from the north. Hmmm, they all had rain gear & big jackets. Met up at the courthouse about 5 p.m. Windy, cold. Brrrr again. During a somewhat long ceremony, sprinkles turned into a light rain. We still had to ride to the motel. Just as we mounted up, the sky opened up. Oh, look, the 3 of us STILL don't have rain gear on. DUH. Soaked & cold we check into motel. Change clothes. Thankfully, church buses arrive to take us to the Methodist Church for dinner. Coffee anyone?
Back to the motel for a nice hot bath. It was Steve's & my anniversary and he walked to a convenience store to score a bottle of wine. What a guy!!!! No further info available. :-P
The next morning we muster at 7:30 for departure. Oh yes! Its freezing with a light rain. Look! Carlton, Kathy & Steve were smart enough to put on rain gear. A very busy day with lots of stops.
First stop was the Frio Canyon Motorcycle Shop for breakfast & shopping! Yay! Shopping. The breakfast was amazing. The Leakey Chamber of Commerce out did themselves. Steve & I purchase FrogTogs. They may not be stylish, but at this point waterproof & warm win out.
Next stop, Ulvalde. The County Judge aranged a reception with hot coffee (thank you, thank you).
On to Crystal City. This is the birthplace of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. Great lunch (see below for plastic knives). A State Representative presented the proclamattion that State Highway 83 is the Official Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.
Quick ride to Carrizo Springs for a ceremony at the Veterans Park. This was supposed to be about a 20 minute stop. Um, no. Lots of speakers, songs, etc. But their hearts are definitely in the right place. Thanks Carrizo Springs. You made most of us tear up!
Mount up and on to Laredo. A few more riders joined us on this leg. We headed into Texas Tourist Bureau on I-35 to meet up with our police escort. Quick stop at Laredo Harley for - you guessed it - SHOPPING!
On to our motels. Oopps. Yep. Steve & Kathy got lost. Sigh. But, in our defense, John (love 'ya buddy) told us the motel was the Ambassador. Nope. Americas Inn. No wonder we couldn't find it. Phone call to John. Ohhhh, okay right name. Thankfully Laredo PD guided us back to motel. We barely had time to check in, get out of rain gear, and head to Holiday Inn for meet up with the main group.
John. YOU ROCK! He held up the group for us. Yeah, yeah I know. We always seem to be last.
Headed out to the American Legion Post 59. These guys are awesome! A huge welcome, steak dinner & entertainment. We had a great time.
The next morning everyone headed out for Brownsville, the last leg of the trip. Steve & I headed home.
So, you're asking, what's up with the plastic knives & broken shifters.
Most of you know that Carlton is a chef. Can cook his way around all of us. The Saturday before the trip he catered a dinner for 100+ people, making beef tips. This required cutting lots of beef. Sorry, Carolton. Love 'ya buddy. Lunch in Carrizo Springs (which was awesome, by the way), Carlton manages to cut himself WITH A PLASTIC KNIFE. Heh. Like I said, love 'ya buddy.
Broken shifter? That's all on Steve & I. We are cruising north of Laredo and just as we hit the border patrol checkpoint (north), the shifter on the Glide breaks. Great. Long way to walk home.
We are "gliding" in (not in the correct lane/line) with border patrol agents/dogs heading our way. Uh oh. "Hey guys, we're broke!" They were great. Even supplied a hammer. What Harley owner doesn't have a hammer?!?!?! Fixed, off we go.
Just south of Lytle, it breaks again! For crying out loud! Luckily we were at an exit. Pull off and dozens of cars/trucks pass us and wave. What???? "Oh, hi. Yep, we're broke down but don't stop. Nah. No problem. That's just my husband crawling under the bike for his health." grrrrr Finally a very nice young man stops and lends us.....wait for it....a HAMMER! Steve fixes shifter. We go into town, stop and get hammer. Almost home. About a mile to go. Run out of gas. Of course! Luckily right at our exit. Hi there, Valero!
All in all, this was a great trip. We met some incredible people, ate some very yummy food & were awed by the reception in each town. Supporters met the group along the road with flags & salutes. Very touching.
As an added bonus, the Texas Legislature named Highway 83 the "official" Vietnam Veterans Highway. Kudos to you Texas!
Next year we plan on making the entire trip. Hope more of you join us.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Looking back....looking forward
In the three months since there was an update to the blog, our group has been busy!
The Jellystone Campground weekend trip was a bit of a rain-out, but with roaring campfires, great bbq, s'mores & adult beverages, we managed to stay warm and have a great time. Not much riding other than the brave souls who rode there and back. The cabins were outstanding. Well, except for the BooBoo cabin with no bathroom! Steve wasn't too happy about Kathy's 2 a.m. trips to the bathroom facilities. Bet next time he springs for a cabin with a bathroom.
We had a good turnout for the Texas Honor Ride to Ft. Sam. The weather cooperated, food was great (catered by Bill Miller's BBQ) and we were honored to meet some brave wounded warriors.
Chilly start to our volunteer day at the Rock 'n Roll Marathon. Breakfast plans for our choice of a nice, warm sit-down was dashed when the restaurant was closed. But, breakfast tacos in the parking lot saved the day! We had a great time passing out t-shirts to the runners. One of our own (Sparrow) and Kathy's son (Bill) both ran the race.
A fair turnout for the Veteran's Day ride to the Ft. Sam Cemetary & a moving ceremony. Afterwards, free lunch at Appleby's!
Sunday ride to the Three Sister's area was very, very chilly. It warmed up pretty quick and the ride was beautiful!
16 bikes (!) & 3 cars turned out for the ride to Gourmet Burger (OMG yum!) to meet with some of the wounded warriors and buy their lunch. What a great day! Thanks much to everyone who participated.
We also did a volunteer day at the Convention Center to help with the annual Holiday Dinner.
Our annual Christmas Party was held at a beautiful community center on Ft. Sam. Wowzers, that place was awesome! The party was great fun, the food out-of-this-world, and Gayle & company? The best party planners ever! She did an incredible job with the games and gifts this year. Gayle - you ROCK!
Congrats to our new officers! We look forward to 2010 being our best year ever. More rides, more participation and more members.
Lastly - to all troops stationed away from their families this holiday season - we wish for your safe return home. Thank you for your service, honor & bravery!
The Jellystone Campground weekend trip was a bit of a rain-out, but with roaring campfires, great bbq, s'mores & adult beverages, we managed to stay warm and have a great time. Not much riding other than the brave souls who rode there and back. The cabins were outstanding. Well, except for the BooBoo cabin with no bathroom! Steve wasn't too happy about Kathy's 2 a.m. trips to the bathroom facilities. Bet next time he springs for a cabin with a bathroom.
We had a good turnout for the Texas Honor Ride to Ft. Sam. The weather cooperated, food was great (catered by Bill Miller's BBQ) and we were honored to meet some brave wounded warriors.
Chilly start to our volunteer day at the Rock 'n Roll Marathon. Breakfast plans for our choice of a nice, warm sit-down was dashed when the restaurant was closed. But, breakfast tacos in the parking lot saved the day! We had a great time passing out t-shirts to the runners. One of our own (Sparrow) and Kathy's son (Bill) both ran the race.
A fair turnout for the Veteran's Day ride to the Ft. Sam Cemetary & a moving ceremony. Afterwards, free lunch at Appleby's!
Sunday ride to the Three Sister's area was very, very chilly. It warmed up pretty quick and the ride was beautiful!
16 bikes (!) & 3 cars turned out for the ride to Gourmet Burger (OMG yum!) to meet with some of the wounded warriors and buy their lunch. What a great day! Thanks much to everyone who participated.
We also did a volunteer day at the Convention Center to help with the annual Holiday Dinner.
Our annual Christmas Party was held at a beautiful community center on Ft. Sam. Wowzers, that place was awesome! The party was great fun, the food out-of-this-world, and Gayle & company? The best party planners ever! She did an incredible job with the games and gifts this year. Gayle - you ROCK!
Congrats to our new officers! We look forward to 2010 being our best year ever. More rides, more participation and more members.
Lastly - to all troops stationed away from their families this holiday season - we wish for your safe return home. Thank you for your service, honor & bravery!
Friday, October 9, 2009
Bit of a late start...
So it was kick stand up at 1:00. Rain delay. 3:00 p.m. and we are off to the Jellystone Campground for the Columbus Day weekend. Riding on Saturday (or Sunday) weather permitting - bbq - and just some good times with the group.
Will update on return.
Will update on return.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Larry's Birthday Bike
Last night was our monthly bike club meeting and the Treasurer's (Larry) birthday. Of course we had to take a ride downtown to celebrate not only his birthday but his brand new Harley Ultra Glide. Stopped at The Ticket Sports Bar. While we were sitting and talking old-fart-retired-military crap, this odd dude dressed in a cowboy hat and sneakers came up and intro'd himself. Rickey Paul! Yes, he uses his first and middle name. Seems he works for "the government" but can't tell us more 'cuz its classified. Yeah right. More about him later.
As the "leader of the pack," Larry drove up on the sidewalk and all 7 bikes followed (duh - what were we thinking?). But hey, it was Wednesday night, not many people strolling around downtown. Only stayed about 45 minutes. Walking out and up pulls a police cruiser. Oh great. Seems some sergeant called in that 8 bikes were parked on the sidewalk (not blocking a damn thing) and, yep, we all got tickets. Nice. Ticket Sports bar. The irony.
Now, lets reintroduce Rickey Paul! Out he strolls and gets in the face of one of the cops. Oh, not good Rickey Paul. Says to the cop that he "works for the government" and that he knows all of us. Huh? Okay Rickey Paul, whatever. Cop says back off. Words are said. Rickey Paul backs off a bit. All tickets are written.
Happy birthday Larry!
Everyone mounts up. Uh oh. Larry's bike won't start. Cops are still there. Now what? Not easy to push a big 'ol Harley down the street to kick start. 30 minutes later - bike finally starts, but not running right. Cops still there, but have started bs'ing. Seems one of them is retired AF and they both ride. Stories start swirling around. "Hey, you were a medic too?" And one of the cops suggested that good 'ol Rickey Paul might be a serial killer since they tend to use both names. Creepy.
A call is made to the club Prez (Butch) to bring his trailer and load up Larry's birthday bike. We wait. And wait some more. An hour later seems Butch's trailer lights are screwed up and he can't come. Sigh. That took you an hour, Butch?
More bs'ing with the cops. Its now 11:30 and I wanna go home already! Give one of the cops a card from our club. He's retired military and can join.
More bs'ing. Larry's bike decides to start! Yay! We can go home! Mount up.
Cop says - "Oh, those little yellow pieces of paper I gave you? Tear them up."
Hooray! Birthday salvaged.
Lesson learned? Don't follow Larry!
Steve & Kathy Cora
As the "leader of the pack," Larry drove up on the sidewalk and all 7 bikes followed (duh - what were we thinking?). But hey, it was Wednesday night, not many people strolling around downtown. Only stayed about 45 minutes. Walking out and up pulls a police cruiser. Oh great. Seems some sergeant called in that 8 bikes were parked on the sidewalk (not blocking a damn thing) and, yep, we all got tickets. Nice. Ticket Sports bar. The irony.
Now, lets reintroduce Rickey Paul! Out he strolls and gets in the face of one of the cops. Oh, not good Rickey Paul. Says to the cop that he "works for the government" and that he knows all of us. Huh? Okay Rickey Paul, whatever. Cop says back off. Words are said. Rickey Paul backs off a bit. All tickets are written.
Happy birthday Larry!
Everyone mounts up. Uh oh. Larry's bike won't start. Cops are still there. Now what? Not easy to push a big 'ol Harley down the street to kick start. 30 minutes later - bike finally starts, but not running right. Cops still there, but have started bs'ing. Seems one of them is retired AF and they both ride. Stories start swirling around. "Hey, you were a medic too?" And one of the cops suggested that good 'ol Rickey Paul might be a serial killer since they tend to use both names. Creepy.
A call is made to the club Prez (Butch) to bring his trailer and load up Larry's birthday bike. We wait. And wait some more. An hour later seems Butch's trailer lights are screwed up and he can't come. Sigh. That took you an hour, Butch?
More bs'ing with the cops. Its now 11:30 and I wanna go home already! Give one of the cops a card from our club. He's retired military and can join.
More bs'ing. Larry's bike decides to start! Yay! We can go home! Mount up.
Cop says - "Oh, those little yellow pieces of paper I gave you? Tear them up."
Hooray! Birthday salvaged.
Lesson learned? Don't follow Larry!
Steve & Kathy Cora
Monday, June 8, 2009
Ride for the Troops
Saturday's Ride for the Troops was a great success! Thanks to all the RRer's who came out - 19 bikes in all. I got to see Dawn's new sissy bar - it looks awesome on that bike ;-)
The weather was perfect - cool and beautiful. Kickstands up about 8:30 for the trip out to The Shade Tree in Spring Branch. I'm not sure of the total bikes - but estimate about 100-120. We had a new rider join us, a mom of one of the Wounded Warriors. I'm so sorry I did not catch her name. This was a first group ride for her and she did great! Hopefully she will join us again. (Her son thinks she needs a new bike.) We left in groups in 2 minute intervals, which unfortunately split our group. Took the long-way-'round to Texas Pride in Adkins for BBQ. Yummo!
Steve and I were separated from the group in Gruene (no...we DID NOT run out of gas), I needed to make a pit stop. So, from our group we were the first to arrive at Texas Pride. The ribs were outstanding.
Denny & Dawn made a haul in the raffle drawing. $$ and goods. Rick finally got a red ticket to show up (LOL).
Sure missed Bobby joining us for the ride - we needed to fly our colors.
Some of us are going to the ROT in Austin (Manor) this coming Saturday, 13 May, just for the day. Come join the ride! Meet at the VFW 8 a.m., kickstands up at 8:30.
Of course Wednesday is the usual Mentorship Ride, leaving from the VFW at 6 p.m. Usually heading home by 8-8:15 p.m. All levels of riders are welcome!
Lastly, a BIG shout out to all our troops deployed. Be safe and let us hear from you! Comment to the blog, email one of the officers. We WILL answer back.
A special shout out to Lt. Col. Raymond Topp, deployed in Iraq. If you know him (a SUPER Doc), let him know about the website & blog. Steve & I miss you Doc!
Ride safe everyone....
Steve (2nd Road Lt.) & Kathy Cora
The weather was perfect - cool and beautiful. Kickstands up about 8:30 for the trip out to The Shade Tree in Spring Branch. I'm not sure of the total bikes - but estimate about 100-120. We had a new rider join us, a mom of one of the Wounded Warriors. I'm so sorry I did not catch her name. This was a first group ride for her and she did great! Hopefully she will join us again. (Her son thinks she needs a new bike.) We left in groups in 2 minute intervals, which unfortunately split our group. Took the long-way-'round to Texas Pride in Adkins for BBQ. Yummo!
Steve and I were separated from the group in Gruene (no...we DID NOT run out of gas), I needed to make a pit stop. So, from our group we were the first to arrive at Texas Pride. The ribs were outstanding.
Denny & Dawn made a haul in the raffle drawing. $$ and goods. Rick finally got a red ticket to show up (LOL).
Sure missed Bobby joining us for the ride - we needed to fly our colors.
Some of us are going to the ROT in Austin (Manor) this coming Saturday, 13 May, just for the day. Come join the ride! Meet at the VFW 8 a.m., kickstands up at 8:30.
Of course Wednesday is the usual Mentorship Ride, leaving from the VFW at 6 p.m. Usually heading home by 8-8:15 p.m. All levels of riders are welcome!
Lastly, a BIG shout out to all our troops deployed. Be safe and let us hear from you! Comment to the blog, email one of the officers. We WILL answer back.
A special shout out to Lt. Col. Raymond Topp, deployed in Iraq. If you know him (a SUPER Doc), let him know about the website & blog. Steve & I miss you Doc!
Ride safe everyone....
Steve (2nd Road Lt.) & Kathy Cora
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
