Hill Country here we come!



Main band and beer tent at Jefferson rally after crazy wind!

DATELINE GRAY COMPOUND, HONDO, TEXAS --- After the Grays left south out of Smithville to go home (great rally), we headed north to Jefferson, Texas to the 2nd Annual Route 49 Bike Rally. Met up with friends Rick and Susan, leather dealers from Oklahoma and had an interesting weekend.

We ate like champs due to Rick and their smoker, who housed Mr. Tasty Ham for many wonderful hours. The event site, its bands, free vendor dinner and hot showers were great but Mama Nature got ugly. We made the nut but it was crazy watching the main event tent destroyed and sideways rain. First rally I'd been to in months where several vendors stayed til Monday because wind was too fierce to break down Sunday. Only knock on door was folks looking for tools to pluck DVDs out of old players. Thoroughfare was hunkered in....hell - the four of us sat inside and ate ham and watched westerns for hours.

We camped in Ennis, TX at a nice lake the next night and have now landed home. There were four of us who rode back to the compound because of an amazingly generous and comforting offer from Rick and Susan that is helping me heal. Their beautiful 10-year-old border collie Lucy joined Ding, Thumper and I for the smooth return back to south Texas. She naps when we drive and wants belly rubbings and vittles often. She rides perfectly with Thumper but passes on playing ball in favor of exploring the gated compound and resting and relaxing on the grass on these current mild spring days. She will live, talk (she does a little) and vend with us for a spell but will likely have to summer in Oklahoma while I'm on East Coast and in Sturgis. Susan's email address calls her the "zookeeper" because she has rescued and cared for many, many animals over the years. 

Ding's gotta another bum knee - as in no miniscus left so we've started the doc process so he can get his knee "jello shot" likes he's had for the other. Bone on bone pain - taking all of us at compound to keep him down with movies and Chinese food until the VA appointment arrives.

Bob came home Tuesday - Billy Gray carried her to my spot at the compound in a beautiful oak box with her actual full name: Roberta Calliope Pixie Dude Wolcott the First - also known as Bob the Dog - with a perfect picture of her on the side. I cried and then took her inside the BFT and tucked her away for now. She's a Texas, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona dog - but also a wonderluster chick who traveled the country. I'll wait for the times when it feels right to celebrate her more in certain ways - ya know? Each day is tough but Thumper and Ding and now Lucy have been so loving....

Headed to Hill Country next week or so. Bandera and Boerne (pronounced Bernie) are hoppin riding areas...Damn thankful to be alive, breathing and have great family and friends....

Cheers from Hol, Ding, Thumper, Bob and now Lucy Lu.....O' Lucy

Ding at '49 Biker Rally with two customers!

Rick in his chef's hat and Susan his pretty bride!
Chocolate chip pancakes and bacon!

Basket 'o eggs with candy at last rally - flamingos took care of everything!