LONE STAR RALLY 2020 - Unofficial

This is one we've been attending almost every year since 2009.  It's sort of a no-brainer for us once we bought a home on the Island, hence our attendance every year.  I remember when COVID popped up and some douche that lives downtown tried to derail it.  Once I researched him a lil' bit, became obvious he's a 'bike hater' and dislikes the bikes, the noise .. the rally.  But ...  eventually ..  he and other's got their way.  The Rally was canceled... officially.  However, many never canceled their reservations.  Many like ourselves were always headed that way for that weekend.   

As it turns out the City of Galveston is expecting THOUSANDS to roll in based on Hotel Occupancy/Reservations.  They are going to shut down the Strand for us in anticipation of the crowds. However, ZERO temp permits for vendors.   So, it'll change things up no doubt, but I think in someways.. for the better?   Allows all the local shops on the  Strand to sell alcohol and keep the revenue local. All the bars and restaurants are open.  Sounds like a great time to me!

As I type this paragraph we are headed down next Thursday the 5th of NOV headed to our home down there.  Myself, Brothers Dick, Donnie and Jim ...on bikes. All Indian Motorcycles.  Girls roll in separately in cages depending on their work schedules.  Our Cajun family rolls in on Thursday as well; Rodney and Charlotte.  The icing on the cake is ... weather is supposed to rock!  Lower 60s at night, mid 70s during the day ... fingers are crossed!

It's Monday morning and I'm giddy like a lil kid.  Weather is going to rock! Looks like tens of thousands are forecasted to roll in for the weekend. Time to start packing up and getting ready. Donnie comes in Wednesday nite.  Need to pack up a few pistols/ammo for the miles on the bike.  Pack up an AR or two with ammo for the cage mama is driving down.  Election is tomorrow and god knows what is going to go down the next few days/weeks?  But .. I'm ready for an awesome weekend with friends.  We're down on the count. Originally had a full house.  Few folks couldn't get time off.  Few have family situations they have to deal with.  So, now we're down to 3 couples and 1/2 a couple ; seven of us rolling in Thursday via cages and bikes. Rozzie ain't going to make it.  Cajuns ain't going to make it. 

Tuesday ...    AR15 packed, grabbed my 9mm ammo/magazines for my Hellcat.  SUV is washed for mama' whom is leaving tomorrow. Need to get some things together for my Indian Vintage Chief- Sugar B' .   Almost time ....

Thursday is here.  Brother Dick, Double D' and Jimmy roll up and we're off at 0800, headed south.  Weather has me a notch concerned, but after a few hours sun is breaking out of the clouds and we're up to 70 deg as we roll down Hwy 19.  We're taking a 2 lane path to the east of the Island, coming in on the Ferry.  Turns out to be about an hour longer (more if you count the stops to BS and fuel), but well worth it.  When we roll in early afternoon, Lucy has the coolers ready and everything setup thanks to some help from Mark H., friend and handyman.  We're soon popping cold ones, then back on the bikes headed to the Brickhouse for some grub down off the seawall.  Lots of bikes near The Spot, but ... not as many as I'd expected.  On the way home we run down The Strand real quick .. same thing. Not many bikes. We've seen a LOT headed this way .. but.. they aren't out n' about.  Back home to enjoy and evening with friends and the sounds of the Ocean.  Holly soon rolls up and we've got everybody ready to go.

 Time to Ride!   Today, we're headed West to Freeport.  It's a short 70 mile roundtrip ride to a fav' of ours; Dorado's Dive Club.  This is the third year in a row we've headed that direction.  Food is always awesome, and it's a change up seeing the barge traffic rolling by.  There and back you get some good view of the Gulf since you're fairly close to the beach at some points.  Before they built the dunes, the sand would cover parts of the road. When we head back to pass by the house and continue on down to The Strand.  Turns out they have not blocked it all off, so we find some parking a 1/2 block off the main drag, back 'em in and upstairs to the Playground Patio bar for some cold ones.  We're sitting on the outside portion BSing when we see Galveston's parking police making headway towards our bike. I'm scrambling to get our bikes registered for the parking via a phone app and just barely pull it off.  Double D though, gets busted. He was the only one to legitimately pay the fee!  Well sort of. Apparently, he's used the wrong app!  Well, after discussing it at length with them.... they let him off .  LOL. After a few, we head over hearsays for some grub, then back home with a stop at Woodys.  Been a long day but we eventually get back to the house to connect up with Peanut; he's missed us.  Or .. maybe he was just hungry and needed to hike a leg.  Either way... we're home for the evening.

Saturday; it's a lazy day.  We'll make it over to Watermans for a few hours for Margaritas and some good grub .. but no riding otherwise.  Sun is out, it's out last day so we spend it at the house with some yard games, margaritas, music and some grilling in the evening.  Perfect weekend day....

Sunday ..already?   Crashed a lil early the night before after pushing hard for several days.  Up and at em'!   Head over to the rental house for some quick maintained.  Then, back to the Beach House to start putting things away.  With 4 guys moving things takes only a few minutes.  Folks are washing the 'salt' off their bikes, loading up ... and its time.  We decide to roll back quickly this time; straight up I-45.  It's a Sunday, least busy day of the week going through Houston.  Still, feels busy but I've seen it crazy and this aint' bad. We're soon past the Woodlands and rolling 85mph all the way home, all 4 bikes riding tight.  Next thing you know I pull up, we head out from some grub and margaritas and... it's time to pull the plug. Where the hell did the weekend go!

Couple of thoughts.  I'd expected this to be thousands of bikes.  Not even close. But, there were bikes everywhere up and down the roads and at several watering holes.  Otherwise, seemed like a normal busy weekend of all vehicles.  The weather rocked. All businesses were open.  No complaints.  Would I do it again? Of course.. but..   just sort of expected it to feel 'more like a rally?' ...

 Until Next Year .. LSR 2021!