Another great Lone Star Birds Rally!!

[ronmarabito2002]

Well written report Mike. Thanks.

R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mbulriss" <mbulriss@...> wrote:
>
> We got back a few hours ago from the Lone Star Birds Rally at Rayford
> Crossing north of Houston, TX. We took the back roads home and
> enjoyed the ride through the countryside. Got 5.5 mpg with the Texas
> Minivan even taking the scenic route both ways with many hills and
> stop lights.
>
> We had 17 owners at the rally with 16 Birds in attendance. We had one
> second-timer couple and two first-timers at the event. Of course, the
> true test is if they come back!
>
> This was the 33rd 'official' LSB rally since 2001. We really had a
> good time. Thanks go out to Steve and Pat Gureasko for organizing it.
> The hyperactive Rick Archie kept going from coach to coach looking
> for something to work on. He really wanted to use the portable
> sawz-all on Bim Burt's planned dump valve modification, but Bim
> decided to re-think the entire plan, so Rick had to move on to other
> projects. One non-working step was upgraded to instantly knee-cap
> anyone that got close to it. Last I heard, he was backing it off some
> so as not to cripple unsuspecting visitors to that coach.
>
> Several attendees showed up with 'new-to-them' Birds, out for their
> first rally under current ownership. In our case, we got to show off
> our new LCD TV installation in the Texas Minivan, which was done just
> in time to go to the rally.
>
> Friday evening was baked potato night. Saturday potluck breakfast was
> great. Saturday night chili night had some great entries to choose
> from. Due to a hotly contested near 6-hour game of 'train' dominos,
> which I won (yeah!), I didn't get to try but two of them, but Clyde
> Schumman's I-grew-it, I-killed-it, and I-cooked-it, was pretty tasty
> organic beef chili, and Rosie Archie's venison chili was mighty tasty
> also (I guess the venison qualified as organic also!). Sunday mornings
> get-together was quite interesting and may result in a couple of new
> coach names. Smile when you see the new "Pole Dancer" nameplate!
>
> The ride home resulted in an opportunity to set a new elapsed time
> record in changing fuel filters. Many thanks to the able pit crew of
> Clyde Schumman, who was changing the filters faster than I could find
> them in the bays. Thanks also to Tony Holtermann, who tried to circle
> back to see what we were doing, but we then met him and passed him
> going the wrong way after our record-setting pit stop. We were
> already back under way before he could get off the next exit and turn
> back!
>
> All in all, a fine time was had. Your next opportunity to join us is
> in April in San Antonio, TX with Eric and Mary Ann Johnson hosting.
> Last year they featured a Mariachi band and unlimited margaritas! Joe
> Losh and I tested the no limit theory and decided it was just fine!
> Don't miss this one!
>
> If your regional area does not have an active rally agenda, why not
> start one? As one relatively new returning attendee put it, "Boy you
> guys know how to have fun. You eat constantly, laugh a lot, and even
> know something about Birds. What more could you ask for in order to
> keep returning?" Well put indeed!
>
> Attend a Bird Rally soon!
>
> Mike Bulriss
> 1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
> San Antonio, TX
>