March 3, 2007
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.
