With chilly temperatures and clear skies, the Lonestar MVPA again proved we have what it takes to pull off a great showing.  Our group started meeting at the TXDOT parking lot off Riverside Dr. about 7:30am.  By 7:45, JH was there with his M35A2 and Richard J to help him out.  John S arrived with his M35A2 and M105A2 trailer and we knew we would have no problem with capacity at that point.  Rounding out the quarter-tons included John K and his MB, Tim W and his MB, me and my M38A1/M416 combo, Toby C and his newly completed M170 Frontline Ambulance, Rick H and his M38A1, and Danny K and his M151A2/M416 combo.  Also in attendance were Claude V and Bill B.

At 8:00am, we moved our vehicles over to the Austin American Statesman (AAS) lot where we met up with Pack 395.  This year was a bit different in that we would stage without a number.  In addition, we also carried members of Pack 395, Crew 634 and Pack 55.  A few kids and parents mounted up at this time and about 8:30, we made our way onto the Congress Ave. bridge.  

By now, the sun was up full force and the temperature warming up nicely.  The bridge began to full up with attendees and so did our vehicle commitments.  We had a grand time on the bridge with all the kids.  Our Fund Raiser kick-off also went well in that Tim sold 28 of our newly acquired .50cal inert rounds.  Tim and I determined $3.00 was a fair price and all it took was one sale and the news about 'the bullet man' (aka: Tim) was all over the bridge.  The sales were brisk netting the club greater than 50% return on the initial investment in a bit under two hours.  As Tim said "...this is the Girl Scout cookie for our club".

At 9:45am with everyone loaded, we headed up Congress Ave to the Capitol.  Of importance is to note that we carried everyone that wanted to ride.  There were a few adults with strollers that chose to walk...  We made our way up Congress Ave., did the parade wave, honked our horns and generally had a great time with the kids and adults of the various groups.