14 October 2007 Ride to T-Fest near Killeen

Thanks Tom Byrd for the pictures!!

Chapter U members couldn't have asked for a more gorgeous day to ride up to the annual T-Fest, GWRRA Chapter T's rally in Killeen, TX.  Though a lot of the 10 riders and co-riders started the day in leather, leather and layers of clothes were shed as the heat of the day was 81 degrees and sunny!  The morning was beautiful, and as we headed north, small amounts of fog lingered in the low-lying areas while a full, orange sun rose in the sky.  The 4 bikes and 2 trikes headed north in a leisurely pace, stopping at El Charros in Johnson City for yummy breakfast tacos and a great view of all the passing motorcycles and traffic from the restaurant's covered front porch. 

Heading further north, a quick stop outside Lampasas brought another chance for a needed pit stop and a stretch break.  Pulling in to the T-Fest, we saw an abundance of Gold Wings and people...we had arrived just in time to register, check out the Silent Auction, and eat lunch! 

After a box lunch of Kentucky Fried Chicken, we meeted and greeted lots of folks including 9 Chapter H members from San Antonio and some friends from Chapter O in Austin.  We checked out the Silent Auction some more, played in the Off Bike games, and signed up for the Bike Show.  Chapter U was represented by the trikes of Tom and Nancy Byrd and Jill Severe.  There was plenty of time for Tom and Brad to clean up those trikes...Jill even helped out a bit!  Everyone got tickets for voting in the bike/trike show, for the Grand Prize and door prizes. 

The First Place for the bike show went to a Honda that had been custom painted in memory of a specialist killed in Iraq.  His mom, his son, and his friend who rode the bike were there to talk to people as they admired the bike.  Several other soldiers' dog tags are also painted on the bike in memory of their ultimate sacrifice to this nation.  I think everyone was touched by the commemorative bike and it made the rally a more special memory.  The paint artist was there as well for people to talk to.

Thanks to a lot of voting by co-riders, first place in the trike category went to Jill Severe and Black Pearl!  Black Pearl just got new custom pin-striping by local San Antonio artist Peter McDermott.  Needless to say Chapter U was happy to place in the trike category. 

We had lots of chapter members winning something at this rally.  John Curtis who says he never wins anything, won a door prize as did Tom and Nancy Byrd.  Several members won silent auction bids.  Bill and Jane Johnson won the rider and co-rider awards for riding the farthest distance to the rally.  Diane Goree won a coupon for Quizno's and a round of free putt-putt-golf.  Diane gave the coupon for putt-putt golf to a young boy there who turned out to be the son of the Army Specialist commemorated by the custom painted bike!  That was cool!  And, just like at the Chapter X rally in Corpus Christi, a Chapter U member won the grand prize of a $750 gift certificate to a local motorcycle shop...Jane Johnson!  Nancy Byrd had won the grand prize in Corpus of the digital camera! Chapter U was also the second largest chapter in attendance...just like at Corpus, but this time we were edged by the other chapter in Killeen and we beat Chapter O by one person!

Heading home at 3 pm, we planned a DQ stop in Johnson City.  Someone commented that the day seemed to be chock full of riding and eating...and we enjoyed the cool breezes and DQ ice cream before we headed home for the day and arrived before dark.  The day was great...great weather, great friends and great fun!  Another perfect Chapter U adventure.  We hope to see you join us soon!