East Texas Biker: RVR '23

REGION 5 RALLY

Man .. been planning this one for 11 months... as soon as I caught wind of dates .. blocked the calendar. Hotel locations? Reservations made in La Vernia. Location change? New reservations in Floresville. Had put this out there on GIO eleven months ago. Crickets. Put it out there to my local guys I ride with "Senor Rebels" ... only Chief could make the ride. So, Friday morning we're headed out. Weather forecast says possible rain, but we won't feel a drop over the next few days.....

KRUSH

Two Lanes, Day One

We decide to head south on two laners to enjoy a stress free ride. I broke one of my own rules and didn't 'plan' out the route and keep it on my gas tank with roads/turns. I simply put La Vernia in the GPS and told it to avoid highways. For the next several hours we were going down roads I'd never heard of before, but I could see on the GPS screen it made sense. But... La Vernia? Yeah.. I messed that one up. They are close together, but ... when we were south of Austin it was messing with my GPS directions... To add a lil fuel to the fire.... it got HOT. Was in the upper 70s when we left, but 1/2 there was up to 99. By the time we'd roll in it had been 103/104 for over an hour. WTF? Last few stops I was pouring a water over my head for every one I chugged. But, we survived..... Checked in, showered up, cooled down ... and we're off

We headed to Bike Night which is closer to La Vernia/San Antonio at Texas Pride BBQ. This place was awesome, reminding me of Strokers with the way they integrate bike parking in the mix. Nice and cool in the shade, BBQ wasn't too bad, beers were ice cold , bartenders were cute and served them up with comments (working them tips!). Saw Skrape right off the bat, few other folks from 6-1 we keep running into, headed over to 23-25s table and picked up some challenge coins and a Region 5 etched knife ... and enjoyed the evening. But, couple hours later we snuck out and headed back (about 25 min ride). Grabbed a 12 pack on the way back to the hotel .. and .. pulled the plug.

Morning is quickly upon us and headed over the event center. You could swipe in the night before or here at the entrance. We're soon gobbling breakfast burritos, the meeting is under way at 0900, patch in ceremony for a full member and an aux. Then, 99% of the place emptied out, mounted bike and headed to a local Veterans home and Boomers for a drive by. Boomer was in an awful bike accident a few weeks back and is laid up. I don't know any details beyond the fact someone did a U turn on him in the middle of a 2 lane country road and took him out. Broken wrists, ribs .. lots of broken ribs... lacerated liver .. etc. Brutal. So, about 200(?) bikes rolled out and headed out of town. Got to admit riding through both the Veterans home and Boomers neighborhood teared me up. Boomer was able to get out in the street as we roared by him showing our love and respect. Then, we're back to Floresville. Most headed back to the Event Center; may ass was back to the hotel to get out of the heat and throw down a few cold ones. Later on that afternoon, back to the Event Center to visit with folks, won a bottle of bourbon via the raffle, didn't win the cool AR15, got some ink on my forearm... then ...back to the hotel. Grabbed the remaining twelve pack, headed down stairs and drank a few with my brothers down there.

We're determined to beat the heat so alarm set for 0500, leg over the bike at 0600 and we're rolling. Since it's a Sunday morning (less traffic) make the decision to take the fastest route. We're soon on 130 (tollway) where the speed limit is posted at 85, and we're rolling a notch under 90. Hour later, sucking gas, feeling up and ..... rolling. Temps are still in the 80s and this ain't as brutal as the trip down. We jump onto Hwy 34 at Italy and .... less traffic and BS. By the time we roll into the driveways a lil past 1130 hrs, temps are low 90s, and we put a lil over 800 miles on the last 60 hrs or so.

Next up ..... .TX State in a few weeks down in Killeen (Ft Hood)!