UPDATE --the INSIDE SCOOP So, we had a long trip ahead of us, but what changed out plans was 10 inches of rain in 4 hours. Rte 35 North and South ( North of Denton) was closed for flash floods from 4:30 am -- 7:45 am. We sat ... we sat ... and luckily we did not run out of gas or have any other situation. After the roads opened, we stopped at a truck stops. All needed bathrooms and I know we will not eat until at least 2 pm. While at the stop, I laid out the options to the bus drivers. Again, Mark Evans and the Wynne drivers have been awesome and the Cadet volunteers are the best ever. Indeed this was already a difficult trip and the weather stop made it one for the history books. SO ... Its 10:30 am and we are on the buses. We are heading to Austin where the future radars say .... the rain will lift North by 2 pm. We will rehearse from 3 pm -- 5 pm; eat and pack, and hopefully perform in Round Rock where we are on at 9:33 pm. We do have driver issues but we were able to call the company and get permission for a CDL driver or two we have to drive the Wynne buses to the show this evening, This will allow the drivers to sleep, and those who need to stay off the clock can do so. Luckily, from Manor, Texas to Round Rock, Texas is a short run. Our other option, with the understanding of Dan Acheson of DCI and the assistance of Gerry Miller, the band director at Wakeland HS ( and the Principal of Wakeland) ... was to go to Wakeland, withdraw from the show in Round Rock, and let the drivers do what they had to do. The Cadets would have been in rain all day so we would have shuttled to laundry, cleaned the buses, had a classroom learning session, and waited 8 hours for the bus drivers to sleep. This was not the first choice but reality was coming into play. We did not want to drive on if the drivers felt we were being careless. In fact, while I am typing here, it is pouring and we are moving at 30 miles per hour. What I know is the further South we get the better the weather will be .. so we are pushing South. We even looked at getting in the Denton show ... but, that city is in the heart of this Summer Rainstorm so Dan was not too sure what would happen there, I will say ... one of the more interesting mornings of my director career As always ... hoping I made the correct decision. What I do know is that with the help and support of the entire team, I made the decision and we are on our way, Happy Thursday .... Join the Maroon and Gold at cadets.org Hop
Posted on: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 14:47:21 +0000
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