31 January 09 Missions Ride
Pictures by Skip Surre & Mike Mills
The day started off rather cool but as Steve and I got on the bike to head to YOSA at 9:30 AM, it had started to warm up a little. We arrived at YOSA with several bikes already there. We had a total of 13 bikes and 1 car make the journey to the Missions. There was Brad & Jill Severe, Mike Mills, Skip Surre (our leader for the day and his first duty as a Road Captain-great job Skip!), Gary & Melissa Skorman, Guy & Joan Custer, Jose Soto, Juan Busanet & Debbie Perez, Ken & Connie Jordan, Luis & Ida Flores, Court & Diane Van Sickler, Randy McBay, and his daughter Samantha on her bike, Steve & Susan Ochs, and Duke & Chela Thompson in their car. Jack Dowda and Linda Brackeen arrived to wish a safe journey as they were heading off to a train show to celebrate their anniversary.
Skip Surre led us on a wonderful winding ride. We traveled down many roads I
had never experienced before but had heard about. We first arrived at Mission
Espada and waited while a funeral was being held in the chapel. We made
our way to the chapel and had a look around. We then got back on the bikes
and headed to Mission San Juan. We looked around for awhile and everyone
decided they were getting hungry.
We got back on the bikes and headed to the Little Red Barn for a delicious and
filling lunch. Everyone was amazed that the menu is written all over the
walls in between cattle brands. Jack & Linda were able to join us for lunch. We
returned to the bikes with our tummies full and headed to Mission San Jose.
Brad and Jill left us at this point to do some errands.
Mission San Jose was one of the largest Missions on the trail
we saw today. We walked the entire yard and headed to look inside the
Chapel. It is amazing to see these buildings still standing after all
these years. It is hard to imagine life back then.
We got back on the bikes and several of the bikes decided to take their own
route from there. A total of 6 bikes were left and Duke & Chela that headed to
the Chapter's favorite part of a ride, Dairy Queen. No ride is complete without
ice cream. After the tasty treat all but 4 bikes headed in separate directions
toward home or wherever they needed to be. The remainder headed together until
it was time to depart at their exit. It was a very nice day to ride and the
weather warmed up enough that bikers were taking off some of their warm gear to
enjoy the ride. It did get a little windier as we headed home but it was still
nice enough not to be using the electrics.
Once again, Skip you did an awesome job leading this ride today. It really
helped that you had the directions printed out in advance when the two groups
got separated due to traffic or traffic signals driving in San Antonio.
© Copyright 2009 Chapter U, Texas District, Gold Wing Road Riders Association, Inc.