We left NIRVC in Dallas with all the slides fixed and headed to Fredericksburg for the AIM rally in the hill and wine country of Texas.
AIM rallies are the best as they always provides excellent venues, yummy food, fun excursions, top notched entertainment and the people who attend have always been fun.
The rally was held at The Vineyards of Fredericksburg RV park outside of Fredericksburg. Not a bad place with gravel pads, large gathering indoor area and some cute themed cabins.
We arrived early with Sheila and Alan Godfrey so we headed over to a local winery called the das Peach Haus.
Pretty venue but not so great wines. We did not get the original roasted raspberry chipotle sauce either (look at the picture). Still in search of some good wine, we headed down the street and arrived at the Bingham Vineyard:
Much better wines! It was good to be back in a tasting room and actually being able to sit and taste different wines. We had some snacks and bought some bottles. Definitely a good place!
Over the next few days there was a local balloon fest that we went to to listen to some music, eat some grub, see the balloons and visit with friends who were also attending the Rally.
We had a grand time tasting the different food trucks and taking pictures:
Since Stan and Lynne and Carl and Denise left me to hang on for one ride, I decided that I wanted a ride by myself and tried to oust Katrina the next time. One of the best parts was running into Pam Mercer and Kirt Warner, whom we met at Myakka River Motorcoach Resort last year and visited when we were in Kerrville, Texas earlier this year. They were volunteering at the festival! It is a small world after all!
The Godfrey’s and us had some time to explore Fredericksburg and since it was getting close to Christmas, the town was really decked out!
What a quaint town! The shops were a bit touristy for me, but fun to walk the town, eat and stop in the various wine tasting rooms and breweries. We will definitely be back here.
For the “official” AIM Rally Kick-off (USO themed), they rented an airplane hanger and provided delicious food and an orchestra for dancing, complete with swing lessons:
It is so much fun catching up with ”old” friends like the Godfrey’s, Brown’s, Gardipee’s, Reed’s, Borel’s and with Angie from NIRVC. It was especially nice seeing the Browns:
I missed that guy!
At AIM Rallies, they usually provide time for crafts and this one was no different. Katrina was able to make some Christmas cookies (amazing frostings!) and a winter themed knickknack:
I didn’t try the knickknack, but the cookies were delicious!
Since it was Stan’s birthday while we were at the rally, a few of us (Brown’s, Busse’s, Godfrey’s, Gardipee’s, Reed’s, Borel’s and DarylAnn’s sister) got together to celebrate with a intimate dinner all by ourselves in a refurbed barn:
Happy Birthday, Stan!
For an excursion one night, we headed downtown to the Rockbox Theater to hear a dueling pianos show. It was nice sitting in the amphitheater listening to them:
The next day we loaded into buses and hit a number of wineries in the area. There were three different buses going to nine different places, so depending on which bus one got on determined which winery you got to try. Our first stop was the Texas Heritage Vineyard:
The place had pretty good wine and a great vista out the back door. Good place for sipping some wine with our friends, Bob and Sue Payette.
Next up was a place called Safari Winery. They imported wines from around the world as well as local vintages.
Beautiful place! Our driver sat with us and told us some stories regarding the area. Since we could get some of these wines elsewhere, we did not purchase any there.
The last stop on our tour was the Wine Garage. Half winery and half vehicle museum. Check it out:
I don’t remember how good/bad the wines were, but the venue with the old cars and trucks was excellent! I remember those Stingray bicycles! Even the bathroom designations were interesting:
I laughed when I saw them, and then even harder when I read the words in the ()’s. Just in case someone couldn’t figure it out.
My favorite excursion happened the next evening when we went to hear some country music and eat at the famous dance hall in Luckenbach, TX. Now, we didn’t go with Waylon, Willie or the boys, but we did go with the entire AIM gang. I’ve wanted to go there ever since I heard the song and when we got there I was so surprised at how small the entire town is. Just a few buildings; including the dance hall, a saloon and a souvenir shop.
The BBQ was good and the band even better:
What a great way to end another wonderful AIM Rally!
Parting is always such sweet sorrow, but the next morning everyone started to head out and onto their next stop and adventure. Ours was heading towards our new home at the Myakka River Motorcoach Resort in Port Charlotte, FL. It would take us a few days of traveling to get there….
0 Comments