Today was yet another successful parade for our local historic military vehicle club.  We had 15 vehicles present and the line-up was most impressive with representation from WWII through current, and quarter-ton 'crunchies' through the massive 5-ton.

As usual, we decided to meet at the TxDOT parking lot sometime before 9:30am which was our scheduled stage time.  What a grand time in the parking lot and we hadn't even made it to the bridge yet.  In attendance were Danny with his M151A2/M416 combo he brought out of mothballs, Toby and his MB, Fred and his NAVY CJ, Chuck and Connie in their MB, me with the M38A1, the Hoffers with their GPW, Herb with his GPW, Tim with his slat-grill MB and dog, John K with his MB and two girls, Glen V with his ARMY CJ2A, Ward with his slat-grill, Jeff McD and ? with Jeff's MB, Madison and his wife in the M37, Jeff L with his M35A2, and Rory with two (David & Caitlin) of his three in tow and the M813 five-ton.  Whew!  Also joining in was Claude.

Promptly at 9:30 we headed to stage on the bridge.  Our line-up took about 1/3 of the bridge length!  The old Ford Model A club couldn't hold a candle to us this year nor could the Miata club.  This had to be a first for us.  We milled around and I went to Starbucks and brought back a gallon 'jug' for the group as the wind was blowing but it was clear.  In short order, the temps climbed and we were asked to move a hundred yards or so North which we all did.

Before we departed for the start of the parade, Rory brought us all together and made an announcement.  Yesterday was his daughter Caitlen's birthday and he proclaimed 'every year we have a parade in her honor'.  Hopefully sometime this year she'll start driving the 'Mog to events.

The usual groups were there again including the steers that are ridden, the Shriners, multiple high-school marching bands, the renaissance people, LCRA and a few other groups tossed in for good measure.  Overall, my impression was there weren't a lot of entries this year in spite of the good weather.

As we made our way up Congress Ave. there were a fair number of people lining both sides of the road.  We ran in a somewhat staggered  formation with a few of us not falling in in any particular order.  It was kind of nice that way instead of a 'clinical' look to us.  At the Capitol, we made the turn and then headed back to TxDot.  At our monthly meeting, Toby had brought up the possibility of having lunch afterwards.  Hills Cafe was selected and a bunch of us headed the 5 miles South.

At Hills, we had me, Herb, Rory and his two kids, Jeff L, Claude, both Hoffers and Toby.  After some great food and even better conversation, we decided to call it a day and head our separate ways.

Yep, what a great day to spend on a birthday party or two!