39th Annual GRIT Rally (Guzzi Riders in Texas) - Sept 29 - Oct 1, 2023

[Beaver]

The 39th Annual Guzzi Riders in Texas GRIT Rally will be Friday, Sept 29 - Sun Oct 1 with the main event being on Sun Oct 1. 

It will be held at my house near Lindale, TX again: 15093 County Road 431 aka Jim Hogg Road.  It is at the corner of Jim Hogg Road and County Road 474.  Cost is $0.00 and all meals starting Fri supper thru Sunday lunch are included.  Ken Hand will be making his famous breakfast breads as usual for Sunday morning so come hungry! Sunday's spaghetti lunch will begin at 11:30 and door prizes and awards will be given during lunch.  If you enjoy the rally, drop some money into the donation bucket to help keep it going.

Tents and motor homes/campers are welcome.  I do not have any water, sewer or electric hookups for campers though.

Almost all of Texas is in a burn ban right now, so no campfires are allowed. 

The weather is supposed to be cooling down by then!  Already earlier this week nights were mid 60's and highs were low 90's!  I had to bring out my heavy winter coat, but then the temps jumped back up to about 350 degrees.

There are several routes to ride to check out east Texas!  You can visit the salt museum in Grand Saline or you can even go to New York or London from here! Routes range from 30 to 120 miles so you can choose how much you want to ride.  If you want to hang out here, there's also plenty to do. Check out all the bikes, visit with old friends, play games and eat.

You can set up a tent, reserve a bed in the main house, or a futon in the "dance studio". You can also bring your own cot and set it up in the house or dance studio if it's too hot outside. 

You are welcome to come before Friday and stay after Sunday if you want, but you'll be on your own as far as food goes.  Come on your bike, come in your car, bring your kids and your non Guzzi friends.  Everyone is welcome. This is a family event.

I do not have a computer at my house and my phone is not "smart" but I will check a computer at least once a day.  You may call or text me at 903.316.7720 with any questions and leave a message including your name and phone number!  Hope to see you here!

Beaver
Georganne Foster
903.316.7720

A few pictures from last year:

[SmithSwede]

Hey Beaver.   Is there a typo in your post?  It says the cost is $0.0 with all meals included. 

That would be one HUMDINGER of a deal if the cost is zero dollars!

[bigbikerrick]

People like "Beaver" and "Tex" is what makes being a Guzzi rider such a wonderful thing.
Rick D.

[LaMojo]

Hi Beaver! Haven’t been to a rally in awhile. Thanks for keeping Italy Rally going.  Planning to arrive late Saturday and bringing a gift to add to the door prizes.
See you.

[Tom]

Good to see the announcement.  I planning to be there by way of Phoenix with Richard & Faye plus my former neighbor from Dodge City area.   

[Beaver]

Hi Beaver! Haven’t been to a rally in awhile. Thanks for keeping Italy Rally going.  Planning to arrive late Saturday and bringing a gift to add to the door prizes.
See you.

Great!  Lookin' forward to seeing you again!  It's been forever! 

Beeve

[Beaver]

Good to see the announcement.  I planning to be there by way of Phoenix with Richard & Faye plus my former neighbor from Dodge City area.   

Hey Tom, so glad you can make it this year!  Stay cool! 

Just a few years ago, we set the record for the COLDEST day ever in Lindale, TX during one of the GRIT rallies.  Temps never left the 40's and all the northerners were complaining about how cold it was!  Maybe it will do that again this year! 

Beaver

[Beaver]

Hey Beaver.   Is there a typo in your post?  It says the cost is $0.0 with all meals included. 

That would be one HUMDINGER of a deal if the cost is zero dollars!

I'm sorry I had to double the cost of the rally, but with the economy like it is, well, you know.  I will cover the $0.00 rally entrance fee for anyone who wants to come but can't afford that.  Does that sound like a better deal?  I haven't seen any snakes flying around this year, so hopefully I won't be interrogated and possibly jailed again!

Hope to see you here!

Beaver

[Beaver]

It's almost GRIT Rally time!  Just 3 1/2 more weeks!  Friday, Sept 29 - Sun Oct 1.   

The weather should be cooler by then, but if it's too hot for you to camp, I have spare bedrooms in the house and futons and cots in the air conditioned dance studio.  Call to reserve a bed or futon or cot. 903.316.7720.  Remember, I live in the dinosaur ages, so please leave your name and number if you call or text so I can return your call/text.  (Info may not show up on my phone!)  You can also bring your own cot to set up inside. 

Come spend the weekend so you can visit with old friends see all the bikes, and explore East Texas following one of the routes I have mapped out.  If you can't make it Friday or Saturday, the main event is still on Sunday.

Hope to see you here!

Beaver, Georganne "Ann"
903.316.7720

[SmithSwede]

I sent you a Western Union telegram. STOP
Look forward to attending. STOP
Hope no snakes.  STOP

[Gusable]

I will be attending and bring at least one person. Hopefully with my california 1100 ( but it needs a battery)

[Tom]

It's almost GRIT Rally time!  Just 3 1/2 more weeks!  Friday, Sept 29 - Sun Oct 1.   

The weather should be cooler by then, but if it's too hot for you to camp, I have spare bedrooms in the house and futons and cots in the air conditioned dance studio.  Call to reserve a bed or futon or cot. 903.316.7720.  Remember, I live in the dinosaur ages, so please leave your name and number if you call or text so I can return your call/text.  (Info may not show up on my phone!)  You can also bring your own cot to set up inside. 

Come spend the weekend so you can visit with old friends see all the bikes, and explore East Texas following one of the routes I have mapped out.  If you can't make it Friday or Saturday, the main event is still on Sunday.

Hope to see you here!

Hey Georgeanne!

I coming in with Richard & Faye from Phoenix and Tracy from Meade, Ks.  I'll bring some stuff for door prizes.

Tom in Kona

Beaver, Georganne "Ann"
903.316.7720

[Beaver]

I will be attending and bring at least one person. Hopefully with my california 1100 ( but it needs a battery)

Great!  See you soon!  Go buy a battery!

[Beaver]

Thanks for bringing some door prizes, Tom!  See ya in a few weeks!

Georganne

[Beaver]

Great news!  Our triple digit temps are coming to an end this week!  Yeah.  Later next week, highs might be in the lower 80's and lows in upper 60's!  We are getting there!  Yeah!  Even if we get rain, we'll still be in a burn ban, but that's ok!

Beaver

[Beaver]

I sent you a Western Union telegram. STOP
Look forward to attending. STOP
Hope no snakes.  STOP

Got the telegram!  At least you didn't send a Morse Code message!  .-.. --- .-..       https://morsecode.world/international/translator.html#Text%20to%20Morse

[kmartin]

Bad news, my wife’s car got really beat up in a hail storm north of Austin last night and is undriveable. She’s had to cancel her trip to Nebraska.

Good news, since she’ll be home, I can come to the rally this weekend after all

Keith

[Beaver]

Bad news, my wife’s car got really beat up in a hail storm north of Austin last night and is undriveable. She’s had to cancel her trip to Nebraska.

Good news, since she’ll be home, I can come to the rally this weekend after all

Keith

Sorry to hear about your wife's car.  We got some rain, no hail, but 60 - 70 mph winds.  Some areas of Lindale lost electricity.  Glad you'll be able to make it to the rally now.  Bring your wife with you!

Beaver

[Beaver]

Mmmmm, can you smell it?  Ken Hand has finished baking his delicious dessert/breakfast breads!  Here's the last of the bunch.  Just follow your nose to the rally this coming weekend.  Only a few days away now!  Any questions?  Call me.  903.316.7720.  Be sure and leave a message with your name and number so I can call you back.  Randy Tefft, we'll think of you as we're eating our favorite, the banana split bread.  I would bring you a loaf, but I don't think it would make it all the way to Keene.





Beaver

[Tom]

Can't wait.  We're in Gallup.

Tom/Faye/Richard

[SmithSwede]

Is Ken making crudités ? 

When you ride your motorcycle for a few hours, I’m telling you a fellow can work up quite an appetite for some crudités.

[Texas Turnip]

Is Ken making crudités ? 

When you ride your motorcycle for a few hours, I’m telling you a fellow can work up quite an appetite for some crudités.
[/quote
Do you want a charcuterie board with that? And Mad Dog 20/20 wine?
Tex

[SmithSwede]

A man of my rarified breeding and exquisite taste would prefer Thunderbird. 

[Tom]

How's about MD 20/20?   

[SmithSwede]

Somebody needs to start posting pics. 

[CharlieW]

The 23 GRIT rally was a hot one this year, with temps in the high 90's
Several early arrivals on Friday numbered 10. Anne and her helpers made up a nice dinner Friday evening, with breakfast Saturday morning . Several more riders rode in and out throughout the day.
One of the Long Distance Riders Randy Tefft was unable to attend this year due to a Bad medical Problem (There was talk of Surgical Amputation above the Knee!!) Fortunately Randy received Great Medical care and he is in Recovery with both Legs 
Sunday was a bit of a Family reunion for Anne,her long forgotten cousin "Darrel" out on Early Release from prison made a Surprise Visit.
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Sunday morning we were treated to Ken Hands famous Sweet Breads




 
The temps were a bit cooler  Low 90's and about 45 people had our Free Spaghetti Lunch.


















 Anne and helpers Mel, Fay and Deb served up lunch about noon and the Awards and 50/50 were finished up by 1:30.
 Thanks for a good time and hope to see all next year
 CharlieW

 More Pics
https://ibb.co/album/ScyGQg

[PJPR01]

Great to see the turnout...sorry to have missed it this year, but we toasted from home!

[Tom]

Recap.  I finally got my cell phone the other day.  It had to go by surface from Phoenix.  Took almost a month to get to Kona.  While going west out of Lindale.  We stopped in Post, TX and got a room.  A storm system came in from the SW and dropped a lot of rain.  Temps dropped and we had about 6" of water in the parking lot.  We were SW of Lubbock and in the morning there was golf ball hail falling from the sky and flood advisories for the region.

We delayed our departure till about 10A instead of the 7A time.  Good thing too.  380 w was flooded in a number of places.  Somewhere east of Roswell, NM I got a voicemail from my wife.  Her car was stolen over-night.  "But wait there's more."

I'm starting a separate thread on the stolen vehicle.