12 April Chapter O Rally
Those of us who rode out to the Chapter 0 Rally in Fredericksburg in April 2007 remember we didn’t quite get there…the forecasted warm and sunny day never materialized, and by the time we were close to Boerne, most of the Rider clothing had become the Co-Rider clothing! We headed to Boerne and lunch and then home!
This year, remembering last year and determined to get to the Rally, everyone showed up at the meeting and pick up points with lots of leather and layers, and it was a good thing! Though the sun did come up and the clouds dissipated, again the weather never really warmed up and it was a perfect day for leather jacket riding! Comfortably cool yet sunny!
Twelve bikes met at the pickup point at 281 and 46. After Ken Jordan gave his safety briefing as the ride captain for this chapter ride, we mounted our bikes only to find one didn’t start…and one had a flat front tire! Of course both bikes were fine during their early morning maintenance check! After a jump start, Mike and Ako Mills headed home escorted by Candy and Charlie Brown who later met up with the chapter at the rally. We always want to make sure everyone gets home safely if there is a safety issue with a bike or its riders! Bert Navin followed Brad and I south to Alamo CycleRider to check out my front tire!
After a quick check of the front tire by Alamo CycleRider in which nothing seemed to be wrong but perhaps a malfunctioning tire check gauge, Brad and I headed back north to join the chapter. After 25 minutes moving through a construction zone on I-10, we managed to check in at the rally just in time for the end of lunch! It was great to see the super turn-out from our fellow chapters and to see all our red chapter shirts eating, greeting, and enjoying the rally!
We could never manage to get everyone in the photos at one time!! I think we have everyone!
With our first rally looming in the fall, it was interesting to see all the Chapter U members present were looking at the Chapter O rally with an eye on what to imitate and how we can improve on what was a very successful rally from the attendance point of view. The Off-Bike games were very fun with a few different from many other rallies. Instead of a winner for each game receiving a prize, all participants were given tickets to put into a jar with a chance to win prizes, and certain levels of “winning” participation in each game were awarded more tickets. Our rally Off-Bike game coordinators Tom and Nancy Byrd and Jack Dowda were sure to check out the action in this area!
Dave Weaver was winning at checkers! Lots of great discussions going on!
Not sure where all the girls were when the guys were talking!
Meanwhile, Connie Jordan, one of our rally Silent Auction coordinators, was perusing the Silent Auction offerings and mechanics of running it. Chapter O did a great job of closing down the Silent Auction early enough to let people pay and leave on time at the end of the rally.
Ken & Connie Jordan John Curtis checking email on his Blackberry!
Big smiles with the tickets! But Chapter U did not win the grand prize this time.
A lot of us just enjoyed the day, the rally, being together and the ride. It was a gorgeous sunny day and Lady Bird Johnson park was a great location for a rally. Though our streak of winning the grand prize was broken at this rally, we certainly had a great time. The ride home wandered back to Blanco with some of the group stopping for DQ, and some of us needing to get home to other commitments! It was a super day. Thanks to Ken and Connie Jordan who planned not only a ride over some new roads for the Chapter but a safe ride for all concerned. It was great to have so many chapter members trained as Road Captains so we could operate safely in two groups which made it easier to move through the Hill Country. Thanks to everyone who attended the Chapter O rally to not only support another GWRRA chapter but to represent our chapter. Again, the day was made most by the people from our chapter who came for not to spend a beautiful day safely riding through the hill country but having FUN together!
Taking a bit of a brake. We really didn't sit the whole time!!!
Parting shot! Ready to head home...
© Copyright 2008 Chapter U, Texas District, Gold Wing Road Riders Association, Inc.