| This was a quick parade on a Sunday afternoon that
was well attended by participants and our club. The American
Legion was holding their National Convention in San Antonio and we
were invited to bring vehicles.
Many members from our club arrived at Ft. Sam Houston with
their vehicles where we unloaded them and then were asked to stage
the trailers in another lot. The heat of the day was
beginning to build so most were not happy campers about
this. We moved the trailers and returned to the staging area
where we were given instructions on who to follow and who we would
be carrying as distinguished guests.
From Ft. Sam Houston, we were part of a 90 vehicle M-998
(Hummer) group. We left the post and got on Interstates 35
then 37 and weaseled our way downtown for another staging
area. Several of our San Antonio members were already there
and had staked out the only shade tree in the parking lot.
We waited and waited then finally the parade was about to begin.
We all hopped in our vehicles and I had Angail, the Distinguished Navy
Guest riding with me. She was from NAS Jacksonville and was
a Weather Specialist. While on the parade route, she did
make mention of the building Cumulus clouds and if the heat
continued, there would be some serious rain coming.
The parade was short, winding it's way through a few streets of
downtown San Antonio. As we approached the Review Stand,
they started talking about my guest. At that point, I
stopped and she got out. A quick trip back to Ft. Sam was uneventful
except for having to drive the Interstate again in a 50 year old
vehicle.
We loaded up the jeeps and parted ways. Three of us
headed North to Austin stopping at Dorsett's 221 truck stop for
dinner. As we were leaving, the clouds were black and
blue. It was an ominous site that I had to enter.
About 10 minutes later, the heavens opened up and I could only
manage 25mph on the road it was so difficult to see due to the
rain. And the lightening - what a show!
I got home and donned the rain jacket then unloaded the jeep to
the garage. The rain and lightening continued for about 90
minutes then moved on. As it turns out, I received
4.625" of rain in that 90 minutes or so... Needless to
say, the jeep was still drying out for several days. |
