HOw about a report on the Houston Ride for Kids...

[LemonDrop]

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[SideCar]

Here's my ad hoc comments, followed by the official report.

Wanderer, Dave from Frisco and I had a great ride down back roads to Humble and avoided all but a few minutes of rain. Saw a huge power station off Hwy 39 that I never knew was there.  Good food in (dang. wish I could remember. maybe Normangee?). Wanderer bought girl scout cookies for everyone in the place! 

Lunch was followed by more backroads riding and then by an even larger dinner with friends in Humble. 

Big crowd there on Sunday morning and we got to see some Valk friends we already knew and met some new ones.  Good to see a lot of Valk metal in the parking lot. 

I got to ride escort for a 12 year old tumor patient named Kaitlyn and her mother.  It was a privilege.  Not a raindrop in sight during the ride or on our ride back to DFW (through Woody's BBQ in Centerville).

Enough from me, here's the official report. Check those numbers out!!!!!!!!!

Jeff, Dave, Rocketman Mark and others can chime in with their thoughts.

Houston Ride for Kids® tops $300,000 for PBTF
 
Leon, 10, is one of the many local brain tumor survivors who enjoyed the Houston Ride for Kids.

More than a thousand motorcyclists and supporters at the 17th annual Houston Ride for Kids raised $300,438 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation yesterday.

Seventeen local brain tumor survivors led the ride with a police escort from a new start point, the civic center in Humble. Motorcyclists toured the countryside around Lake Houston before returning for the Celebration of Life program.

Several Ride for Kids "stars" spoke during the program, including 5-year-olds Javier and Delaney and Jordan, 12.

PBTF scholarship recipient Darla, 21, thanked the fundraisers by saying, "There is a light at the end of the tunnel. I wouldn't be here without you. Please continue to do what you do."

Dr. Johannes Wolff of M.D. Anderson and Dr. Murali Chintagumpala of Texas Children's Hospital told the crowd that researchers deeply appreciate motorcyclists' fundraising for Ride for Kids.

The event recognized the top fundraisers in three categories, including:

Individual: Lynn & Ann Perrin, Katy, Texas, $17,005
Chapter/club: Hou-Tex HOG Chapter 5075, Houston, $57,568
Motorcycle business: Northwest Honda, Houston, $107,909
Terry Sims of Deer Park, Texas, won the drawing for a new Honda motorcycle.

A huge thank-you went to the event’s hardworking volunteers and task force members, led this year by Ronnie Lunsford, Steve and Judy Ferguson, Dave and Petie Lebanowski, and Joyce Cormier.

[Rocketman]

The short version:
It was a great time.

The not-quite-so-short version:
Stephanie and I weren't able to stay for much of the program after the ride, as we were limited by babysitter issues, but the parts we were there for were great.  We've made this ride three out of four years that we've been in the area for, and will be back next year, too.
Two years ago, Stephanie's grandmother came for the program afterword, and hitched a ride in a sidecar (thanks, Gary!).  She still talks about that ride, and seeing that many motorcycles in one place.  Stephanie called her from the parking lot Sunday, and told her we were there.

I don't know how many folks were there last weekend, and I didn't see that in Gary's write-up (can you fill that in, Gary or Jeff?).  There were a whole lot, though.  The most impressive thing about the ride is at the turn-around, and seeing how many riders you pass going the other way.  The next most impressive thing is how cheery everyone on the side of the road is.  Either they know why we're there, or they're on Valium, because I don't think I'd be happily waving to the big line of bikers that blocked off my route home for 10 minutes(?).

It was good to see some old friends, and meet some new ones.

Mark

[Wanderer]

Good times all the way around and lots of "feel good moments" for sure! The Girl Scout cookies where lemon flavor, JeannieBaby!

Lots of Valks.

Got to meet Kiwi...

Thanks for volunteering, Dennis! Volunteering is always a good thang!

I hope a bunch of you will try to make the Louisiana ride as well as the DFW event! ~Jeff

[Spoiler]

It was great to have you guys down for the Houston RFK and thanks for helping make the ride a GREAT success. I’m looking forward to coming up in October for the Dallas RFK Ride Safe and Good Luck.

[HayHauler]

It sure was good to meet Gary, Dave, (Mark and Stephanie formally), and Wanderer.  It was a good ride and no rain in site.  Glad to hear that all of you made it home safely!!  Thanks for coming down to Houston for the Ride!

http://s610.photobucket.com/albums/tt185/HayHauler1/2009HoustonRideForTheKids/

Here are the pictures my wife took during the ride.  Also some pics of bikes, trikes, and of course, sidecars at the ride....

Hay 
Jimmy

[LemonDrop]

Thanks for the report...  Sounds like a great ride, and certainly a good amount raised.  It is good to see some familiar faces from the Houston area like Spoiler and Kiwi there helping.  Maybe some day I will be able to make it.

[SideCar]

Some good shots, Jimmy. Good to meet you guys.

[Wanderer]

Thanks for the report...  Sounds like a great ride, and certainly a good amount raised.  It is good to see some familiar faces from the Houston area like Spoiler and Kiwi there helping.  Maybe some day I will be able to make it.

Frank took on extra "hosting duties" as bartender and chauffeur Saturday evening. Thanks for the hospitality, Frankie!

[Disco]

It was great to get out of town, go for a 600 mile ride, hang out with friends and other great folks, meet new friends, associate faces with names, and do it all for a great cause. 

Just a little mist early Saturday and rain for the last 4-5 miles before we got to the hotel. 

We found a couple of roads we're anxious to ride / ride again.  75 from Conroe to Huntsville had some nice moments between the towns, but between Huntsville & Centerville was really nice.  164? looked great as we crossed it on 39.  BLTs, Burger, Onion Rings in Normangee and a nice bbq meal and a very warm reception at Woody's Smokehouse in Centerville (a great place for the DFW & Houston folks to meet sometime...) 

[HayHauler]

It was great to get out of town, go for a 600 mile ride, hang out with friends and other great folks, meet new friends, associate faces with names, and do it all for a great cause. 

Just a little mist early Saturday and rain for the last 4-5 miles before we got to the hotel. 

We found a couple of roads we're anxious to ride / ride again.  75 from Conroe to Huntsville had some nice moments between the towns, but between Huntsville & Centerville was really nice.  164? looked great as we crossed it on 39.  BLTs, Burger, Onion Rings in Normangee and a nice bbq meal and a very warm reception at Woody's Smokehouse in Centerville (a great place for the DFW & Houston folks to meet sometime...) 

Man, Woody's is my favorite place to stop on the way to Dallas!  Great idea to ride and meet at Woody's on the East side of the highway.  Ride, eat BBQ, ride some more, then ride home...  might ride some of the roads you mentioned above, like 164, or 75?

Hay 

[Rocketman]

Woody's Smokehouse in Centerville (a great place for the DFW & Houston folks to meet sometime...) 

Sounds like a plan.  We'll do that some time after Kerrville.