Home Page
|
BMW MOA #12
BMW RA #287 |
|
| STORIES | ||
| Back to Stories Menu | ||
|
A Few Words on This Year's Rally
by Robert Stallones When I arrived at Lady Bird Johnson Park early Friday afternoon it didn't take me long to spot Jim Janssen and his GS. I pulled in near his tent, unloaded my gear, and set up camp. We were lucky to have a couple of really nice guys camping near us and we all stuck together during most of the rally. After spending some time sitting in our Kermit chairs and getting to know each other, we spread out to visit the many other people that were showing up. Story continued below... 
The rest of Friday was taken up with more visiting, a few beer and ice runs, and dinner at the rally site. The GS ride was scheduled to leave at 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning, so we got up early and rode into Fredericksburg for a large greasy breakfast at Denny's. When we got back to the rally it was time for the GS ride, and after a brief overview of the ride a total of fourteen riders took off. It was all going smoothly and the group was staying together when we stopped in Tarpley. After a short break we all headed out again and when I looked back at the dirt and rock parking lot I saw that one of the GS's was on its side. Jim and I stopped to make sure the guy got back up, and then we tried to catch up to the main group. Unfortunately, we were concentrating on catching up and missed the small road we were supposed to turn on. The next thing we knew we were in Hondo! Well, so much for our GS ride. But we ended up riding through some beautiful areas and really enjoyed our ride anyway. 
While we were on an isolated two lane road Jim passed me and made a motion with his hand. At first I thought that he might have been flippin' me off for riding too slow, but then he pulled off of the road and into the grass. Dang, his back tire was going flat. As we were plugging the tire and airing it up a couple in a Toyota 4-Runner and a group of bicyclists stopped to see if we needed any help. However, none of our fellow motorcyclists that passed by even slowed down. When the tire was repaired we rode into Leakey for some Mexican food. Not long after we got our food the rest of GS group showed up. They told us stories of dodging suicidal deer and falling in the river during the river crossings. The scratched up bikes and wet clothes pointed out which riders has the most fun. After riding all day I definitely needed a shower, but while unpacking my camping gear I realized that I forgot to take a towel. Therefore, we stopped at H.E.B. so the other guys could get drinks and I could get a towel. The only towels that they had were small dishtowels with blue and pink flowers on them. Oh well, they would have to work, but I made sure that no one saw me drying off with little flowered towels. 
I had to destroy evidence of the flower towels so I threw them away before heading to the pavilion to look at all of the bikes in the bike show and wait for dinner to be ready. It seemed that everyone there had a great time throughout the rally. The perfect weather and friendly people boosted everyone's spirits as they rode around on the fantastic roads. I enjoyed visiting with old friends and making new ones, and I am already looking forward to next year's rally. 
|
||
| Back to Stories Menu | ||
|
Copyright © 2005-2008 BMW Club of Houston, Ltd. and respective authors and contributors. All rights reserved. This material is for personal use only. Republication and redissemination, including posting to news groups, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of the BMW Club of Houston, Ltd.
Disclaimer: The BMW Club of Houston links to external Web sites and eMail addresses that help us perform our mission-"The BMW Club of Houston connects the BMW motorcycle community in the Greater Houston area and around the state." Links to external Web sites and eMail addresses do not imply any official endorsement of the opinions or ideas or activities expressed therein, nor guarantee the validity of the information provided. Links to external Web sites and eMail addresses are in no way an endorsement of any vendor’s products or services. Web site created and maintained by FYI-Media, 713.892.8394 |
||