Another great Lone Star Birds Rally!!

[mbulriss]

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