Finally! Haven't attended since '19 due to the Wuhan Virus crap .. but .. it's back on for '22. Last week, got a heads up from Dutch whom got info via the Patriot Guard that is was a go this year. Middle of the week, put the invite out there after accepting his and we've got four from our chapter attending; Dutch, Rocky, Swamprat and myself. Put it out on Groups.IO .. only person to chime in was Grumpy whom has attended in the past but can't make this one.
Weather looks a lil iffy early on, but a dry day overall so not too concerned. Head out after 1000 hrs and the ground is wet from earlier. By the time I get to the QT in GVL to meet up with Dutch, it's misting. Top off the tank, don my rain gear and we're off to Farmersville to grab Swamprat. By this time, the misting has stopped so rain gear off for me, especially since the temps are rising. Then onward to Hooters in McKinney for lunch with Rocky joining us. This traffic though; I remember when 380 was a nice ride all the way to McKinney but not anymore. As we approach Princeton, lights .. and more lights. Traffic and more traffic. Dallas is expanding this way with houses and more houses. Sucks. Sooooooooo glad I'm in Greenville. I'm pretty much safe here for another decade or two from this crap. We're running early and before noon, Rocky is waiting for us and we're grabbing lunch with a view.
The MOH has a meetup on the south side of the airport and they close the gates a few hours later to provide for safety briefs, etc so we head out sooner than later. Did I mention this traffic sucks? And the wind! The last two weeks it's been brutal this year. Well, we shoot through the airport taking a shortcut and get there with over a hundred bikes already lined up. They put us in the center with my bike at the front of the group; perfect. Over the next few hours hundreds more will roll in, to include folks from 23-1 and 23-6. Many of them met up north of the airport but we didn't get the memo; ball got dropped somewhere in the communication chain; never made it to my eyes/ears. We've got a few hours to visit with folks and make the best of it. Temps are rising and before we get on those bikes, it'll hit 95 deg. When I started off the morning it was upper 60s, so this is almost a thirty degree swing, and we're parked on blacktop! Good thing is, cold waters are everywhere to be had!
Finally, we get news the MOH bus is near and motors are firing up. We've got about a dozen police cruisers in the mix. About two dozen cops on bikes. Several hundred of us on motorcycles. Soon, we're rolling out onto 4 lanes of traffic with the police escorting and closing off our route for the next fifty miles! This one never fails to put a smile on my face. Every on ramp is blocked off by an officer all the way to Gainsville. As we continue nortward , the news choppers are above us. Overpasses are populated by Patriots of all ages waving hands and flags. More than a few are saluting us, so I return each with a salute. Service roads are littered with cars pulled over with folks yelling.. for miles and miles. The closer we get to Gainsville, the denser the groups. You know the boys in the bus are smiling at all this; I was!
Eventually, we'll pull into Gainesville, parked at a nearby college. After folks get the bikes parked, off to get a patch and/or '22 Chevron for it. Folks are overwhelmed at the vendor spot but they pull it off. Then off to see the Medal of Honor recipients that attended this year, but ... not to be. Last time, we had the opportunity to see/chat, etc with each one. This year, not so much. They've got them locked away doing other things; I'm guessing 'covid' is to blame. Hopefully next year, things will be back to 100% normality?
Well, it's after 1830 hrs and I'm hungry; we all our. So we mount up and head back on Hwy 82, grab a bite, top off the tanks and work our way back. Rocky peels off on '75, we head to '69. Swamprat peels off a few miles later headed due South and Dutch and I continue towards GVL. He'll eventually peel off leaving me for the next few miles. Twenty minutes later, Home Sweet Home.
Great day, but damned I'm beat. On the bike around 1000 hrs, off it after 2100 hrs... eleven hours of good times. Between the wind, sunburn and miles.. I'm beat!
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