What a great turnout for this annual event! No less
than fifteen vehicles took part this year (twelve ¼ -tons of various sorts,
one ¾ –ton, one 2½ -ton, and one 5-ton), with members coming from as far
away as Corpus Christi.
The day began with the usual drill of gathering in the
TxDoT parking lot, then moving up to the bridge for staging. On the bridge
we had time for a good visit before the parade began at 11am. Meanwhile,
the weather changed from a very chilly morning to sunny and cool, pretty
much ideal parade weather.
More or less on time, the cannon fired and we were
off. With this many vehicles, we drove in a close staggered column of
two’s, which looked very impressive. The TAVV marched ahead of us carrying
their large US flag. Around the mid-point of the parade, a reporter from TV
News Channel 8 asked to climb onto the driver’s step of the 5-ton, where she
conducted a short rolling interview despite the high noise level of that
vehicle.
Once we reached the Capitol and turned off of Congress,
most of the TAVV members climbed aboard the 5-ton for a welcome ride back to
the TxDoT parking lot. Many remembered those trucks being a lot easier to
get aboard in their youth, and they were appreciative of the boarding ladder
available now.
Back at the parking lot everyone packed up their
vehicles and gear and headed for home. Several members met up at Hills Café
for a well-earned lunch and some more visiting before they too headed off to
stable their vehicles.
Another great
parade in the club history book.