Spring Rally 2016 - Part Two - Last three days.

Saturday, 2 April 2016

Saturday morning we caravanned to the Rusk Depot of the Texas State Railroad.  Learned that the railroad was initially developed to efficiently transport charcoal needed to run the furnace at the penitentiary.  They produced steel. 

Thankfully Karen and Dave Jacobs were able to make the train trip.

The train departed at 11:00 am after everyone had a chance to tour the steam locomotive if the wanted to see it.  The one and a half hour trip was mostly through piney forest.  The train system when it is not transporting passengers serves as s short line operator.   We saw some of the oil cars that are part of this business on sidings along the route. 

We passed the Palestine to Rusk train on our way to Palestine.  After an hour layover in Palestine where we ate bag lunches that we brought we returned to Rusk.  Arriving around 3:00 pm.

Unfortunately the dogwoods bloomed early this year so we did not see as many in bloom as we hoped to see. 

For dinner we gathered in the Rally room at the KOA campground. We had another round of the Taco  Soup and other leftovers and some fresh salads. 

Games and visiting continued in the Rally room while some returned to their rigs to watch some final four NCAA basketball or other activities. 

Sunday 3 April 2016

We had our traditional pancake breakfast at 8:30 am.   As usual Bruce Horton cooked the pancakes.  Dan, Gene, Dan and others helped with preparing breakfast. 

Eight of us attended the 10:00 am church service of the "Branded by Christ Cowboy Church."  An interesting sermon on a divided church taken from First Corinthians.  Part of the message following the cowboy theme was for the herd to stick together and provide support for each other.   An interesting service with many sporting cowboy hats.  They made a point that the "herd" should welcome all visitors and newcomers and praise the Lord for bringing them to the service. 

Those from Chapter 10 attending the service went to the local Pizza Hut for their pizza buffet lunch.   We were warned that going to Jacksonville where there was a better selection of restaurants was not a good idea because the restaurants would probably we filled with the rednecks attending the"mudder" events and we might not be able to get a table.  I saw a number of ATVs on trailers with special tires designed for mud and the vehicles were heavily covered in mud.

In the evening some joined around a camp fire for visiting.

Monday, 4 April 2016

Following donuts for breakfast those that had not departed early said their goodbyes and left the campground. 

Next Chapter 10 Lunch

The next Chapter 10 lunch will be Friday, 13 May at 1 pm. The location is still to be determined.