Tender Smokehouse, here we come! (Photo by Stan Brein)
Stan Brein
How quickly the cool weather is upon us! We have seemingly gone from late summer/early fall to “where’s my heavy jacket?” so quickly. Makes the 101-degree days of August seem like a distant memory. Not! Halloween decorations have been put up, and the Thanksgiving orange, yellow, and browns abound. The holiday lights are being hoisted and lighted on every street. It’s time for a brisk ride for some food, friends, family, and fun!
Nov. 8 had us going back to Celina for the second time in as many months. The Tender Smokehouse was the destination, right on the square. Seven of us headed out on Wednesday morning, traveling east under the guidance of Ride Captain Keith Breiner. The restaurant was highly touted, and the food did not disappoint. Everyone was pleased with their meal, and the service and atmosphere were inviting. Certainly worth the ride.
Speaking of the ride, the backroads route planned by Keith gave us another opportunity to see the development taking place in that area. If you travel Hwy. 380 to McKinney from Denton, you know about the retail explosion and the traffic. Oh, the traffic! Traveling the roads north of 380 helps you understand why this is so. At every turn there seems to be another subdivision in some stage of development. It also made for some interesting road and riding conditions! Take a drive there. You will see why both Denton and Collin Counties are consistently among the fastest growing counties in the country.
By the time you read this, we will have completed the Coats for Kids Ride on Nov. 25. The coats are piling up in my den, and organizations and individuals at the Ranch have again been generous in their donations. I’ll have a report and pictures next month.
We held our club’s Holiday Party at Salerno’s Italian Restaurant in Highland Village on Nov. 30. Like all groups, we celebrated the season with good food and drink and stories and pictures about the year’s adventures. It was also an opportunity to support the families in Denton who could use a boost by collecting and distributing gift cards to help with the holidays.
The board has been busy planning the year’s rides, trips, events, and activities. First up will be the annual safety meeting on Feb. 20, 2024. Mike Conley has done a great job of crafting an interesting and informative session. Every rider looks forward to the next ride, and we want everyone to safely be there to enjoy it!
We feel fortunate to have the lifestyle we do at Robson Ranch. We are especially blessed to enjoy with friends a hobby/sport that we are passionate about. We wish all of you a joyous holiday season and a Happy New Year. See you in 2024!
See you on the road!
Beware of cagers, and keep the rubber side down!