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8 December JHMS Blue Santa Ride T'is the season to be jolly and somehow the Chapter U participation in the annual Joe Harrison Motor Sports Toy Run led to a day of impromptu increasing fun and jollies for our riders and co-riders. Twenty-three Chapter U members, many sporting red Chapter U or holiday shirts, and 13 Goldwings and one four-wheeler showed up bright and early for the first Chapter U ride to participate in Joe Harrison's annual charity event. Two members, Ron and Maria DeLaughter, were unable to attend but sent toys. Way to go Ron and Maria!
Sal Pesta as Santa Bill & Jane Johnson with Dale Goree We were greeted by Santa and Mrs. Claus, our own Sal and Phyllis Pesta. As we registered, drank coffee and ate donuts, lots of opportunities presented themselves to talk to other Goldwing members who weren't currently aware of our Chapter. Not only does participating in an event like this give our members an opportunity to pass along a little to those less fortunate, but it also gives our chapter great visibility to the community! Brad Severe had put a new windshield cover with our chapter logo and information on it, and we had a great photo opportunity! Registration was free, just bring a toy to donate to the Blue Santa Program. Not only do you get a neat pin to commemorate your participation, a $3 off coupon for your meal at Texas Pride, and a warm feeling that a child will receive a toy for Christmas that otherwise they may not get, Joe Harrison Motor Sports donates $10 to the Blue Santa Program for each rider that completes the rally! Joe Harrison has been very generous in donating gift certificates to our chapter and we were glad to be able to reciprocate their generosity to the community in this way
Jill with Dave & Lana Part of the Chapter U at Joe Harrison
Bill & Jane with Guy & Joan Custer Court VanSickler with Mike & Ako Mills
Registration area Another picture of some of Chapter U!
Sal & Phylis Arriving at Texas Pride Bikes at Texas Pride BBQ After greeting, meeting and eating, we saddled up and took off in a long stream of motorcycles headed out to Texas Pride Barbecue for lunch. Of course the ride was led off by Santa and Mrs. Claus on their beautiful red Goldwing. Santa's new fur trim looked great on his outfit Phyllis! It was a beautiful day for a ride and lots of people were fortunate to see the long procession of about 80 bikes streaming down I-35 and 1604. Our Goldwings hung toward the rear and traveled as a group just as we always do, so we could park as a group at Texas Pride. After arriving at Texas Pride Barbecue, we were greeted by Sal and Phyllis warming up the dancing floor by bogeying to oldies but goodies!
Chapter U bikes at Texas Pride BBQ Securing our favorite beverages and barbecue, Chapter U settled down to the hard task of refueling and serious talking and fun! We even had fun bogeying to the music as we emptied our trash (it was that nice of a day!) Soon we had had our fill and talk turned to what we should do for an impromptu ride as the day continued to be bright, sunny and unseasonably warm! Heading off to Gonzalez on the back roads, seven Wings wove through hill and dale we the intent of heading through Seguin.
Sal & Phylis dancing Jill Severe & Guy Custer For a few years, I've had on my list of things to see was the Texas Historical Park of Sebastopol in Seguin. Maybe you have noticed the 2 story white concrete house with the wide 3 sided porch and columns just before you enter downtown Seguin. Brad and I have stopped there several times but it was closed. We quickly asked the other Wings what they thought about stopping at Sebastopol and then having a photo op in front of the world's second largest pecan in downtown Seguin and everyone seemed game for it. So we turned and parked in front of Sebastopol and it was OPEN! Yippee! The outside of the house was swaged in Christmas greenery and wreaths with red bows and I felt like I was on a new Christmas adventure!
Wild expressions in this one! Smiles at Texas pride BBQ!
Lined up in Sebastopol in Seguin We found a tour guide and started in the rear of the house which, by the way, is not connected to the upper floor except through a staircase and a trap door in the upstairs outside porch. Sebastopol was built of limecrete (early form of concrete) in 1854 and was one of the first houses built of limecrete in Texas. We were all very impressed by the small room that showed the original construction of the house, so much so, that it started a round of hilarity as we reminded each other "not to touch the limecrete walls." Somehow the hilarity started in this basement room stayed with us the remainder of our visit to Seguin! We followed the tour guide upstairs into the main room of the house and the back bedrooms. Original furniture from the time period and a collection of vintage tools are on display so we wandered and looked AND picked up free copies of a vintage Sebastopol Kitchen cookbook! The last page of the cookbook is titled "Etiquette 101" which is an excerpt from the local paper dated February 15, 1898. As we read the list of rules for dining etiquette, many of us realized that these were the rules our parents had taught us as grew up...and not practiced very much today. One of our favorites was "Don't use your fork as if it were a pitchfork!" Ok, time for another round of guffaws, grins and smiles!
Inside the Inside the limecrete house Posing on the steps! After some more picture taking, we headed off for the great Seguin pecan in from of the courthouse. Fortunately, no other tourists were blocking the area so we were able to stop and pose with the pecan. At least one of us did more than pose with the pecan...ok Diane, fess up. We thought you were trying to ride it like a bronco! More guffaws, grins and smiles! Someone commented about how "we were going nutty in Seguin!":)
Going nutty in Seguin!! World's largest pecan! After finally getting that out of our system (or so we thought), we headed down to the local DQ; it was a hot enough day to need some ice cream! As we sat outside, we enjoyed the beautiful December weather, and more guffaws, grins and smiles! Some of which were caused by Reynaldo's chocolate dipped cone! I guess you would need to be there as I can't remember all the witty comments and parries flying around the table. As we left Seguin behind, we pondered whether or not our visit to Seguin "had cracked up to what we thought it would be." I think the answer was a resounding "YES!"
What a better way to end the day than at DQ! As we peeled off in different directions on the ride home, I have to say that the day was again more than I thought it would be. The Joe Harrison Toy Run was fun and easy, and it felt good to help the Blue Santas give toys to kids who otherwise may not receive any. Every child needs a toy at Christmas! The friendliness and good-natured feeling between all those who showed up could not be missed, and has become a Chapter U trademark. The feeling of setting off on an unknown adventure and seizing the moment to see and experience something new as a group made it a perfect day. It is surprising how many "locals" have not experienced the great pecan in Seguin but I doubt any of us experienced it the same way Diane Goree did!:) The day ended up a high point and makes me look forward to the next Chapter U ride that features friendly companionship, safe riding, a known destination but always elements of unplanned surprize and fun. Come join the fun...we missed you! Jill Severe
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