Texas Bus Roundup Report

[Dreamscape]

Greetings Bus Nuts,

So far the weather has not affected us yet! It's supposed to reach us sometime tomorrow, we'll see. It's just been hot and muggy here this year. I think next year will be in October or early November, as my wife had suggested for this year. But oh no, I had to have it close to the same dates as last year. 

We have had a pretty show up so far, more coming today. I will post a more detailed count another time. One couple were told to evacuate Orange, so they came here. They have had there MCI 9 for three weeks, they also own three 4104's. So this has been a new learning curve for them. Another couple had just sold their house and have been converting an H340 Prevost for the past three years, fulltiming now. They have the neatest hitch for carrying their scooter and two bikes.

We are having a big breakfast this morning and BBQ tonight, same guy who did it last year. Have had lots of food so far, at least nobody will be hungry.

Big John and Blu brought tons of chili. They compete in Chili Cookoffs, and know what they're talking about. Great stuff!


Here's hoping for Ike to slow down to give us more time for more fun.

Paul

PS.........I will post some photos at a later time, sorry guys! Internet connection a little slow here.

[Frank @ TX]

Hey Paul,
I know you'll have a great time and Ike is heading East now.
Frank

[Bob Gil]

Yes but they are seeing rain I am sure they were seeing it off and on yesterday when I was there.

They have a nice place to get out of the rain not too far from the parking and a good restroom close too.

I wish i could have been there today myself.

Bob

[Dreamscape]

It has been cloudy here all day, raining now this evening. Heard Ike's center was in Texarkana. The wind has not been too bad, thankfully. We all enjoyed a great breakfast this morning and had the BBQ this evening, great food was had by all. I'm sure I have gained a few pounds. 

We sure missed several people that said they would be here today, I'm sure the weather played a big part in them changing plans.

Christy Hicks supplied us with more brownies for dessert this year. Although I don't have a story to go along with that like I did last year. 

All in all we had a pretty good turn out considering Ike's appearance.

We sat around the fire pit that Big John and Blu brought, which was a nice touch. We had to go through quite a lot to gain approval, but one of the Park Rangers is an RV'er so he really pushed for the approval with his boss. All the Park Rangers and other personnel were so accommodating. I would recommend this spot to anyone who wants a place to park for a few days to a week.

Well tomorrow we break camp and head out to our various destinations. It has gone so fast after waiting so long for this to take place.  Everyone has already made plans to attend again next year. Hopefully the weather will be cooler and we will miss the hurricane season.

It has been a pleasure to have met so many new Bus Nuts and make lasting friendships, after all this is what it's all about. Of course we throw in a few buses too!

Yesterday we all gathered around Bob Gilbert's Eagle. He was worried that he might have diesel in his oil. So we got out a paper towel and put a couple of drops on it and waited for the halo to appear, which it did not. Then Randy Davidson with his Prevost H340 thought he better look at his, so we did. No diesel was found but Bob is still concerned as he has had the problem in the past.

Bob had just installed a 10 speed Road Ranger in their Eagle 10 a couple of days before, so this was it's maiden voyage. He did a remarkable job on the installation. Which gave me an idea for our Eagle when our manual 4 speed or clutch expires.

One couple hopefully will have their Flxible ready for next year. George Fields has had his bus since 1983 and had taken it apart and rebuilding it. It will be a hotrod for sure, what a talented guy he is.

It has been a very laid back easy going time. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone.

I will be posting photos at a later time and let you know when. The link for viewing will be the webshots link at the bottom of my signature.

Thank You to everyone for such a great time,

Paul

[makemineatwostroke]

 Dreamscape ;that halo trick on a paper towel doesn't allways work with the new ULSD he needs to take a sample may save him some money

[rwc]

Just made it home from TBR. Very heavy rain coming through Dallas but none after that and completely dry roads after WACO going South. My first bus rally made as Willbe now called Frito man for some reason??? Great group of people at rally> Some really good buses to look at even the works in progress. Now if I can just get that Kitchen pass.

[Christyhicks]

Well, we finally drug ourselves away from the rally, leaving around 12:30 this afternoon, headed back north.  We had SUCH a great time!

Thanks to Paul for spearheading the rally, and to Mike and Sonny for all they did. . . to to Paul's wife, Becky, who is just the sweetest little thing. . . don't know HOW Paul managed to latch onto her , but we're sure glad he did!  Oh, and Big John and Blu . . . can't forget about them. . .they are REALLY unforgettable !  Such kind and generous people, and real characters!

We had such a great time visiting with everyone. . .we're sure glad we didn't let that little rain shower try to scare us away! 

I hate to break it to you guys. . . makes me sooooo sad to say this . . . but WE HAD NO PROBLEMS. . . NO "ADVENTURES", everything just went smooth!  I don't understand it!   Everything that was supposed to run, did, and everything that wasn't supposed to run, didn't.   How boring.   Oh well, there's always next time .  Christy Hicks

[Busted Knuckle]

Well, we finally drug ourselves away from the rally, leaving around 12:30 this afternoon, headed back north.  We had SUCH a great time!

Thanks to Paul for spearheading the rally, and to Mike and Sonny for all they did. . . to to Paul's wife, Becky, who is just the sweetest little thing. . . don't know HOW Paul managed to latch onto her , but we're sure glad he did!  Oh, and Big John and Blu . . . can't forget about them. . .they are REALLY unforgettable !  Such kind and generous people, and real characters!

We had such a great time visiting with everyone. . .we're sure glad we didn't let that little rain shower try to scare us away! 

I hate to break it to you guys. . . makes me sooooo sad to say this . . . but WE HAD NO PROBLEMS. . . NO "ADVENTURES", everything just went smooth!  I don't understand it!   Everything that was supposed to run, did, and everything that wasn't supposed to run, didn't.   How boring.   Oh well, there's always next time .  Christy Hicks

But are ya home yet? LOL! Sorry not trying to creat troubles, but you do know ho it go's!    BK 

[Christyhicks]

HAHAHAH, trust me, I sure THOUGHT about it before I went ahead and sent that post,  .  Then, to play it safe, I waited till now, when I'm sitting home on my couch, feet up, fresh out of the shower, to chant, "I MADE IT HOME WITHOUT A SCRATCH!
Christy

[Dreamscape]

Hello All,

Hey Christy, we made it home without any adventures to write about too! How about that! It was sure good to see you and Larry again, thanks for making the trip. The brownies were great. 

We left around noon and arrived home at 5:30 pm. It was a great trip both ways! Diesel at the Walmart in Sherman was 3.77 on Thurs. and 3.89 today, much better than I had expected after the threat of Ike.

Becky and I had such a wonderful time with everyone that made it. Big John and Blu provided us with chili and great company. They sure livened up everything, even learned a new game called chicken!

John and Tami headed out for Orange this morning. They were under the mandatory evacuation and came up to visit us at TBR. I sure hope everything is OK for them at home.

Randy and Sue were going to stay tonight and head out for Illinois in the morning. What a great couple and great hosts to let us all see the project on their Prevost that they completed.

Kenneth with his Flxible had a visitor, the four legged kind. He had quite a story to share with everyone. He had a trail of sugar all over the inside of his coach, along with a partially eaten banana the critter left behind.

Bob and Sandi came in their Eagle 10. Fist time meeting them, what great people. Got some great interior ideas for ours from them. Bob did some great wood work.

Chuck came in this MCI9 again and provided us with his special chicken, yes Chuck it was great! Thanks for bringing that and providing us with your presence. I hope all your family stuff goes well for you.

Rod, the wannabe, came in a trailer. He brought the Frito's for the chili that Big John and Blu made. It was great to meet you, I hope you find your coach soon so you can get to work and bring it next year.

Sherman and Diana, friends of Chuck, dropped by Saturday and Sherman came this morning. They have a beautiful MCI9, hopefully they will bring it next year. Great to meet you too!

Also meet a couple that were at the park, they have an MCI 8. They are members of the "other" board. I invited them to keep a look out for the dates for next year. Very nice couple.

And as always, Thanks to Sonnie and Mike for their help. It is always a pleasure to have them in the group, I always learn something from them. You otta hear Sonnie's Eagle Cat Power fire up, what a powerful sound, looks pretty good too!

Becky and I wish to thank each and every one who attended and made this such a terrific time! It's great meeting new bus nuts and reacquainting with folk we had met last year.

I hope everyone makes it home safe and sound.

For those who missed it for one reason or another, there will be another one next year. Probably in October. So block off that month NOW. I will post the dates in the future, so keep watching for it.

God Bless and Happy Trails,

Paul