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Thank God It’s Spring
[TGIS Photo Album]
Third Annual Rally Always
Somewhere Along The Texas Forest Trail
This is the time when East Texas
abounds with flowering dogwood trees that seem to sneak and flit among
the forests of pines and hardwoods. Wisteria blossoms dangle like
bunches of blue grapes from twisted vines and azaleas blaze like coats
of many colors from the yards of businesses and even those of the most
lowly of homesteads.
The rains and cool weather on Friday April 4th
did not deter 44 avid motorcyclistas from breaking the bonds of the DFW
asylum and streaking eastward via varied asphalt ribbons
in order to congregate at Lake O the Pines Lodge located along FM
729, west of Johnson Creek on the north side of Lake O the Pines. Some
folks trailered their bikes, others rode two-up and some wives drove
while husbands cycled….whatever it took to keep families together. Of
course there were a significant number of solo pilots, including Paul
Lange mounted on his feminine attractor, side-car hack. Rod’s probably
had second thoughts about the wisdom of selling the thing to Paul….but
Rod is married after all.
The turn out over-taxed the Lodge so a few members
had to stay in a bed & breakfast in Jefferson. No
problem, since the main gathering was only 12 miles away. Our numbers
necessitated splitting up for most meals but good places abound in the
area. The Steaks at 5 D
Cattle Company in Avinger attracted many of our group for dinner both
Friday and Saturday nights. Others of us dropped in for fresh catfish
dinners and jalapeno hushpuppies at Big Pines Lodge on
Caddo Lake
(Texas’ only natural
lake). Arriving before 6:45
on Saturday night allowed 30 of us to be seated within 10 minutes of
arrival, rather than the usual 30 to 40 minute wait. Great views of the
lake with attendant cypress trees and Spanish moss eases the pain of
waiting, however, and the panorama can also be enjoyed from the main
dining room.
The Bakery in Jefferson just
wasn’t prepared for our onslaught at Saturday breakfast though we
staggered our arrival times. A few even patronized the small café about
a mile up the road from our Lodge. The food was good both places, though
service was slow. Slow is okay on holiday, no time constraints. It might
seem like all we did was eat and drink once we found our way to east
Texas, but we did finally get on the road
Saturday around 11:00 AM. A couple of fast pods took off following the
main planned route with tangential deviations along the way and we all
met…yes…for lunch in Atlanta.
Can’t say much about the food but the parking lot was huge and the
service great. One of the waitpersons ran out to the bikes after we’d
paid the bill and wanted to take a picture of Louise on her bike for her
husband who had admired my wife during lunch. (Of course Louise ‘fessed
up that she was a passenger but we persuaded her to climb on Big Bird
and pose). Now that’s a pretty bizarre occurrence. I wonder where that
photograph will be displayed?
We arrived back in Jefferson
around 3:30 PM, plenty of time remaining for those who
wanted to shop, visit the vintage motocross races or simply sit on
stools at the local soda
fountain and regroup with a rootbeer float. I can’t
disclose the route we followed on Saturday because I’ve promised some of
the more ruthless attendees that I will keep it relatively secret on
pain of some unmentioned but inferred uncomfortable consequences.
Saturday night was another of those “sittin’ on the
porch with friends and family just visitin’ and drinkin’” events like
Friday night had been until everyone got sleepy and wandered off
peacefully. Sunday morning we all left about like we’d come, different
times, different routes home, but closer friends and family than before.
By the way, everyone pray for Matt Conte who leaves for a stint in
Iraq
soon.
That’s it from my perspective where all of you are
way above average.
Don Mills – Tourmeister
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