Bat Tunnel/ Luckenbach Drive

[George Briscoe]

:yes: :yes: Just a reminder! The BAT CAVE/ LUCKENBACH run is this Saturday! Check out the calendar for details. Hope to see ya there!:banana: :beer:

[chess]

new guy here. :beer:

I was hoping to make the run tomorrow. Any fear of being rained out? I'm thinking a cloudy afternoon drive might be nice, but I don't want to show up and find out it's cancelled.

I'd also like to join up tomorrow and will bring a check for my dues...for those it may concern.

Looking forward to the run.

-chess

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/12/web/588000-588999/588997_37_full.jpg

[Ike]

Hey Chess,

I hope to make it, and look forward to seeing you there!!! Your car is looking great. One piece at a time (that's what I keep saying) :D

Later,

Isaac

[George Briscoe]

The RUN IS ON, The RUN IS ON!!!!!!! There's a 30% chance of showers, but I doubt that there will be enough to cause any problems.

SEE YA THERE!!!!!

George :thumbsup:

[chess]

Originally posted by George Briscoe
The RUN IS ON, The RUN IS ON!!!!!!! There's a 30% chance of showers, but I doubt that there will be enough to cause any problems.

SEE YA THERE!!!!!

George :thumbsup:

Looks like 100% from here. Hopefully it will pass in the next few hours...or at least by tonight.

Either way, I'll be there unless informed otherwise. I'm not on any call lists yet, so if there's a cancellation, could someone please give me a jingle?

392-8018

Otherwise, I'll assume we're good to go. Thanks.

-chess

[George Briscoe]

:) As of 3:45 PM Saturday, the radar is showing that what light showers were in the Hill Country are dissipating. Everything looks good to go! :thumbsup:

[cmoremaz]

Well, now I know what it feels like to be Alfred. As all of the Batmen and Batwomen go screaming out of the Bat Cave, good ol' Alfred gets to clean up the skidmarks, turn on the exhaust fans and wonder what it would be like to actually leave the Bat Cave in a snazzy car. So, once again I must depend on the generosity of others to relate to me the activities pursued on the Bat Run! I hope that George or someone will give us an update. Don't forget to give the pictures to Luther, if there are pictures. I did get to remove the radiator from "Seymour" today, so half the battle has been fought. However, due to extenuating circumstances, I am back in the seat of power determining who gets their gas and who doesn't with a mere flick of my finger. Sometimes I scare myself with how much power I can actually unleash! Why, a mere hiccup could cause a big explosion. kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk, oops I took a little nap there. That's not good. Oh, well, this night shift stuff is almost over and I'll be able to get back to the land of the living. Somebody tell me something...please!!!

[lbader]

Digital Pics of the run (and video) are being transmitted to Luther as I type. (And once George gets the disposable processed, there should be more...)

The run was great! Not only did we have a good group of Miatae, but we also had a collection of Coopers (and a single BMW) running along with us. (Though it was a little strange having the procession lead by George's 4-door Volvo, "The Blue Brick"...)

The bats emerged about 7:55pm and continued to emerge for about 20-25 minutes.

I'd give details about the run into Lukenbach and subsequent adventures, but George and the gang abandoned Chris & Amanda (guests) and my daughter & I (this being my first club run and her 13th birthday). -- I guess that what we get for paying admission and heading down the trail vice sitting in the "cheap seats"...

- L

[George Briscoe]

The Bat Cave drive was GREAT! We didn't get a single drop of rain on us and the temperature was lower than expected. Eighteen cars showed up: ten Miatas, six MINI Coopers, my old autocross friend Joel Martin in his BMW M Roadster and I led the way in my Volvo 'brick', which wasn't all that slow, as I turned off my A/C, kept busy shifting the 5-speed at 5500 RPM and testing the limits of my brand new Yokohama AVID H4S tires. Those things REALLY stick!!!! (I HIGHLY recommend them and the price is right, too!)

Due to the rains earlier in the day, I expected the bats to emerge early, so we took the same route as last year to get to the tunnel quickly. Leon Springs through Bergheim, a rest stop in Kendalia (where the lady working in the little store recognized the MINIs as the cars from "the Italian Job"). A good fling through the twisties going west on 475 through Sisterdale to the Old No. 9 Road, where we got into the narrower, tighter twisties. We had a pretty clear run up to that point, but then we fell behind a slow moving Honda Element SUV (Slow, Ugly Vehicle). I kept dropping back to get some room to charge through the curves, then would catch up, drop back, etc,etc...

We arrived at the Old Tunnel just after 7:30 and the bats began to emerge just 15 minutes later. Due to the weather, they were all trying to get out as soon as possible, so many of them emerged from the north end of the tunnel and flew south right over us. This continued while the main emergence began from the south end. Several members of our group paid the $5 to get to watch from the lower platform, which is just a few feet from the bats. The rest of us watched for free from the upper platform. The weather helped us, as there was a much smaller crowd than last year and we all had a good view. A couple of red-tailed hawks were raiding the streams of bats. The "food chain" at work!

Just before the lovely sunset, the three million bats finished their show and many of our group decided to head home (including one MINI from Austin) and the rest of us took the back way to Luckenbach, where we hung out and visited, listened to the musicians under the old oak tree, enjoyed the cool evening air and just had a pleasant time.

Thank you to all who participated and for those who couldn't, I hope you can join us next year!

-George Briscoe

[George Briscoe]

Sorry we lost you! I hollered down to the lower platform that "the car clubs are leaving", sent Jimbo back down there to look and we waited fifteen minutes after the emergence quit before we left for Luckenbach. So many other folks had already left to go home that we thought we had everybody. :huh: Sorry. Once people get to know you and recognize you as part of the group, that shouldn't be a problem. Thanks for joining us and please keep coming out! :)

[lbader]

George -

Not to worry. You might have bellowed or sent Jimbo about the time we wandered down the trail to get a better look at the tunnel. (FYI: wet bat guano is a bit "ripe"...) -- I had my handy Texas map and plotted a quick route back to Comfort.

The four of use stopped at Dairy Queen for dessert and then darted down I-10 back into town.

Chris and Amanda had a blast and are looking forward to joining us again sometime. (They won't be at the monthly meeting due to a trip to Vegas $$$ )

Cheers!

- L

[George Briscoe]

Yes, Dairy Queen beats wet bat guano EVERY time! :yes:

[wardsweb]

Pictures and video are now online. Thanks to Lawrence for sending me the pics. Check it out.

http://www.bluebonnetmiata.org/gallery/080704.html

[George Briscoe]

EXCELLENT pics and video!!! :thumbsup: Thanks! The MINI group says they enjoyed it and they look forward to joining up with us again!

P.S: That wasn't just any Bimmer, that is an M Roadster: 240 HP!

[George Briscoe]

Please wish your daughter a belated Happy Birthday from all of us! I didn't realize that. I still remember my 13th birthday... 30 years ago! No, wait... that doesn't add up with my "permanently 39 years old plan"... hmmm... That's a BIG deal to a kid. She's a real TEENAGER now. So... which brand of 12 gauge did you buy, "Pop"? (Don't feel strange, I have a friend who picked out his 12 gauge when his daughter turned two, so don't feel over-protective!) (And now for fun with "Smilies"): Make her sign a :deal: to be an :angel:, not :cool:, so that you don't :sob: and :whack:, and :arg:... you want to be :D and :) , or, at the very least, :rolleyes: ...

I'm having WAY too much fun with these "Smilies", aren't I?

See ya!

G :^)>

[lbader]

George -

Thanks for the sentiment. I'll make sure she reads the post...

As to the firearms, I'm more of a long rifle kind of guy. (Lettered on the rifle team in High School...)

Besides, I find it more intimidating for the young men to let them know my favorite sparring partner was a 6'4", 250 lbs Marine. (And then smile...) ;-)

- L

[wardsweb]

I'm getting ready to live the life of protective father with my 19 year old daughter moving back from France. So, this makes a nice impression. Especially when you say, "check this out" and hit the button on the laser site. Also, just happen to mention something about shooting expert at 250 yards with iron sites. Gee, isn't that like two and a half football fields? :D

[lbader]

Luther -

I can see where the H&K would get their attention. But sometimes the understated also has an effect.

For example, just as you enter the front room of my house, you see my books cases, a Lay-Z-Boy and a reading table. Imagine if you would, the psychological impact of nothing more than a Bible and a Model-1911 .45 sitting on said table. -- Nothing spoken, but everything said... ;)

- L

[wardsweb]

I see your point and Love It ! My 1911A1 stands out too, because it's nickle plated with pearl hand grips. Will set off nice against the black bible. SSAAAAWWEEEEEEEEET :lmao:

[George Briscoe]

PEARL grips???? Patton had IVORY grips. Do you remember what he said about pearl grips? :lmao: "Only a :cool: in a New Orleans whoohaahouse would have a pistol with pearl grips!" (Gen. Patton's words have been highly edited for a PG audience.) :D

See ya at the BBQ run tonight!

Cheers! :beer:

[wardsweb]

I can feel the love. Can I get a group hug? :hug:

[George Briscoe]

Yes, you can get a group hug... in that house in New Orleans... if you have enough money... ;)

[wardsweb]

You are soooooo bad. :D