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Pics are from top to bottom, click on a pic for a larger pic and then again, text for a pic is under the pic.
We had a distinguished visitor and I thought I'd get down to Santa Clara AL Post 564 and take some pics. Well, as always, my timing wasn't all that great! The escort team did a fine job and the scoots were already there when I rolled in. Great job!
Al (Maddog) Cook, our ALR District 13 VP was walking out in the parking lot and gave me a shout, said I was 45# and then Slickjohn came in for 46#. Nice group of scoots!
More scoots, and I cut the front end off my Sweet Ruby, sigh....
Looks like the right amount of cooks in the kitchen! GBG
The Honor Guard getting ready.
Guest table all set up...
And lots of folks here to welcome our Commander! Great on Ya!
More folks, the entire room was filled up!
I found some of my ALR District 13 friends, on the left. Mike G, and on the left Gary R, and Hardass behind him.
If you ever meet Hardass, ask about his 'nic, as in all of us, there is a story. And we all earned 'um! GBG All great folks! Think Hardass is from District 28.
Gary and Hardass held my legs straight on lane 4 of 680 and Berryessa while I was waiting for an ambulance ride to ICU on 1/12/8, following a welcome home PGR mission ... but that's another story... sigh.
Pics are from top to bottom, click on a pic fir a larger pic then do it again, text for a pic is under the pic.
(11/14 UPDATE - just added 2 pics at the very bottom of the Cranky dude! GBG)
09 Parade: http://alrblogseries.blogspot.com/2009/11/alrpgr-san-jose-2009-vets-parade.html
08 Parade: http://alrpgrsanjose08veteransday.blogspot.com/Guess I didn't do '06 and '07 blogs, sigh...
It was a great day for a GREAT celebration of Veterans Day parade in San Jose! The turn out was fantastic, must of been 80+ scoots and by golly, we all made noise!
It was a crowd pleaser and we were first in line! Outstanding and thanks to all that rode!!!
I get there late as I'm apt to do.... standing around isn't my thing.... The two folks on the left were headed to give me a hug and Brian wanted to tell me turn off my $*%#)$ lights! 
Buzz with the red shirt is getting better after a scoot fall down, happens to the best of us.. right time, wrong place, BTDT, sigh. Glad you are doing great!
Out Rep Zoe's car, nice T bird!
OK, lots of nice T birds!!! GBG
Headin' for the head and took a shot of the rest of the folks practicing and warming up.
Well now we have the Vet line!!! Very appropriate!
And the old...
So here is ALR / PGR and what a showing! Fantastic! Sweet Ruby in front, of course!
Just a lot of bikes... When I rode in 06, we had 4 scoots, and the crowd loved us! We've gotten better count over the years!
The bright sun played "heck" with my camera, dark shadows and very bright sun... I fixed the pics best as I could, sorry...
My friend Roy C next to Jeanette J and Shirley B.
Here we get a show from Jigger and squeeze, Sr moment on the name, sigh...
Now here on the left is Cheryl and Audie... Great friends and fellow Dist 13 riders. Great to see them, its been too long! Missed them last Sunday at Menlo Park, they had the mizzeries... We had a car show for the vets and did some visiting....http://alrblogseries.blogspot.com/2010/11/alr-stars-and-stripes-and-cars-and.html
Brian and Cas. Cas is our go to guy for trips to San Jose airport for PGR missions. He works in security and helps us with our scoot staging, and it is VERY much appreciated! He runs that Valk MANY miles and has fun, believe he said he has 120K on 'er! Great on Ya!
Trying to get the scope of the scoots, Mark Z in front talking to Hy L, who organized the car show in Menlo Park on Sunday! Thank you my friend!
My friend Roy C next to his scoot... The blinding back light got me again... sigh.
Ca PGR State Ride Captain Rich B sittin' on his scoot.
This scoot had great lighting, you can see a bit, the blues off the front fender, etc.
Just shooting all the scoots...
My friend and fellow ALR Dist 13 rider / PGR / WWR, Slickjohn he's a rider! 
Here is Jeanettes grand daughter wearing her helmet.. A real cutie! GBG
The Pipers warming up! Love the bags!
We're getting our say once from Brian about the ride, there were sooooo many folks, it took 3 shots to get them all in. Bunker, second from right, our ALR Dist 13 Prez... 
You will notice that District 13 ALR was well represented.... I'm one also...
I know this guy, he's Uncle Sam. I was in an escort for his son on a welcome home.
Hey Jake!!!! Looky who showed up!!! Eric and Gorgeous!!! GBG I had a GREAT hug!!!! Eat your heart out!!! Hope all is great in your life! He's traveling for a while...
The race is on! Har, but we're on our way!
OK, we stopped, and I took a pic of Slickjohn, Mike A. Mark Z. and Susan A behind me.
NOW we're moving, notice the feet down, normal parade routine... but the crowd loves the noise and attention and waves!
A bit of a shot from the tip of Hy's hack on the left.
Slickjohn, having a ball, I swear he was almost doing burnouts and making a lot of noise.... except for that !*)%!#)*$ squeaky horn of his, it sound like its breathing helium! 
You know the drill, feet down, how else could I take a pic?
Nice line of scoots.
Lots of folks showed up and we had a great time, and I hope they did. I saw a sign along the way, Bataan Death March Survivor. I stopped and rendered a salute, and held it 'til his went down. It was an honor. God Bless!I hope all enjoyed this years parade as much as I did! I loved the participation! Well beyond any other years, and great!
Hey!!! The Cranky dude!! GBG
I just received 2 pics from a friend and fellow ALR District 13 rider. I don't normally get pics of me in an event. Thank Ya Sandy R. for the pics!!!
Pics are from top to bottom, click on a pic for a larger pic - then click again, text for a pic is under the pic.
The title says it all!!! Vets, cars and.... -1- bike! GBG OK, rain happened and it didn't look too bad from my place, but as I crank a bicycle, I know the good weather sites...
I knew what was ahead, hey, put on the gear and behind all that plastic, not too bad.... just don't stop! Not bad on the way to Menlo Park VA, got some rain there, and a bunch more on the way back, but dressed for it and didn't get a drop on ME! GBG Cleaning Ruby for the Vets Parade on 11/11 was a bit tougher... sigh.
This is year 2 of the event, Went last year and had a fantastic time visiting with some folks that had a bit of wrinkle in there lives, and some day, it could be me, I'm a VA member too. As the saying goes, "But for the Grace of God... there go I".
Last year: http://alrblogseries.blogspot.com/2009/11/alr-pgr-menlo-park-va-run.html
The assistants were fabulous again this year, they make you feel so welcome it's just fun to be there, and it really is! Once you get to visiting with the Vets, well it's just natural conversation. And both they and I appreciated it!
I got to drive inside a building again!!! This twice in 2 years!!! They laid out the "carpet" for me! GBGSo I got to the staging place and one of last years assistants came over and said "I got this text from Audie, he won't be here!"! Well in my best of John Wayne voices, I said !)$*!#_$^&*T!#$)!#$% GBG Audie called me and we chatted.
Audie and Cheryl had gotten the mizzeries and had to stay home, good on 'um for having the sense, speaking of sense... that's why I was there! GBG Just kidding!
So of the 4 scoots that were supposed to be there, you see above those that showed up! I was a bit apprehensive about going in all by my lonesome, but I've learned from my PGR riding... one of us makes a difference, NEVER forget that!! I've ridden alone before and I'll do it any time!
And it did! I had a great time visiting! As Sweet Ruby was staged in the building, folks could come out a few at a time and we could chat, ask / answer questions, and they were entertained and loved it!!! They were actually amazed to come thru the doors and see a scoot, as gorgeous as Ruby, sitting in the hallway! Very amazed! Maybe I found some new riders for us!
The amazing part is... I spent over an hour there, and it was a blink of an eye, the guard that stayed with me - required - was an Iraq vet, and he was a great part of the visit and for the guests. Many good conversations. It was an honor to be there, we say it often and it's always meant.
The staff brought out towels to dry Ruby off so the folks could sit on 'er and we could get some pics. I'll update this blog when I get some pics from the VA, I can't take pics of folks for privacy reasons, and glad to respect them! Asking for the best for their future!
After our visit in the lock down... (Ya see that description always worries me, I'm afraid they won't let me out! GBG) I went over to the main meeting area for lunch, and it was great, well I got invited to park under the tent as it was coming down pretty good. Sounded good to me!
The Boy Scout Honor Guard was getting ready to set the colors.
Just shooting around the meeting area....
The table in the back was filled with gifts for the Vets. While we are there we are given tickets to pass out. It's a way for the Vets to win gifts and more important, a chance for us to talk and interact with them.
If you can imaging being in a place, and not having outside visitors, after a while you'd like to see some folks too. That's why I go! God Bless 'um and asking the best for their future!
Hy Libby, the organizer, and I sat with a vet and he builds cars. He had some pics of 'um, and WOW did he have a bunch of great ol' muscle cars!!! Gorgeous!
Please, for you and our Vets, think about this ride next year. Come in a cage if needed, the Vets love visiting with you! And you can thank them for their service!
