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ON THE ROAD WITH THE RODE RIGS
by Dennis Conrad
MASA 2018 is history the Rigs had a expected high in the mid 90’s and high Back home again after the beach we had
great time getting to the beach and at the humidity. We all went out to the parade after parade all the way through the
beach. We stopped at Colonial convention center and prepared our rigs first weekend in December. We paraded at
Williamsburg on the way down and did for the parade and when the time came the Shrine Circus, Shaler’s Home Coming,
a brief tour of the Village of Colonial we were ready to put a show for Virginia Mt Pleasant Glass Festival, Evans City,
Williamsburg and eat dinner at one of Beach like none they had very seen Harrison City, Ligonier, Lower Burrell,
the old colonial taverns called Cristiana before. When the rigs took over Christmas parades in Tarentum
Campbell’s Tavern. That night we went Atlantic Ave that’s what we did we put Brackenridge, Etna, Glassport, Harrison
on a walking ghost tour of the village on a show that they are still talking Township and Homestead just to name a
and wouldn’t you know it we didn’t see about. The death-defying maneuvers few. In between parades we are also getting
or hear any ghosts or spirits. All in all, were nothing less then spectacle with ready for the Children’s Christmas party at
we had a good time in Williamsburg Tom’s double tanker and John’s bubble the Shrine Center on Sunday December 9.
thanks to Don & Debbie Green for machine Covering Atlantic Ave with Also, in December on Saturday the 8th is
showing us the sights. bubbles and my four-legged friend our Rode Rigs Christmas dinner/party in the
Wednesday morning, we headed popping up out from under the cover unit’s room at the Shrine center.
down to Virginia Beach and man was it on my dump trailer. To say we were a I would like to take this time to Thank all
hot and humid we spent a lot of time in hit is an understatement, but when the the members and their ladies of the Rode
the pool. Thursday morning, we were dust cleared and the final scores were Rigs for another Great Year. We participated
out on the drill and obstacle courses in the Rigs came out on top again with in 28 parades and 6 events this year we
helping to set them up for Friday’s our Seventh straight First Place Trophy donated $4,000 to Erie Gives Day, we gave
competitions we were sweating our at the Mid Atlantic Shrine Association donations to the potentate’s special project
Kiester’s off. Convention parade for 2018. Saturday fund, Kennywood family picnic, Children’s
Friday finally came and when the dust night found us out celebrating at the Christmas party just to name a few and it
had settled and the results were in and Beach Pub for our unit dinner. A special was all because of your hard work and
final for MASA 2018 your Rode Rigs thanks goes out to Don Green for driving dedication Thank You John & Vickie, Beav
came out on top again. We practiced one of our new Jeeps in the parade as a & Peg, Don & Gloria, Wrench & Sarah, Rob
long and hard and it paid off. Friday’s lead vehicle and to former Rode Rigger & Kim, Tom & Debbie, Larry & Debbie,
competitions belonged to the Rigs we Jesse Stoltz for driving one of our trucks. Odie & Mary Lou, Joe & Annette and Jack
won First Place in the obstacle course I would also like to thank Wrench and & Margaret and Bob.
with Joe setting the fastest time & John Beav for letting us take their vehicles As great of a year that we had we also lost
setting second fastest time. In the Drill down to the beach for the parade some dear members of the Rode Rigs family
competition for the first time ever competition on Saturday that helped Allan Collins and Rose Plata.
attempted by any unit the Rigs did our put us over the top. We had a great time
routine with our trailers on. The again this year at the beach and look
spectators loved it, but the judges only forward to going again next year
awarded us a Second-Place finish in the hopefully with the whole unit.
Drill. For the second year in a row the
Rigs won Total Over-All High Point for
the Mini 18-Wheeler Division in the
Friday competitions. Friday night we all
just relaxed waiting for Saturday’s
parade competition hoping that we
could bring home our seventh victory in
a row. Saturday morning came and boy Rigs on the Boardwalk, Virginia Beach
it was hotter then ever at 8am it was
already in the high 80’s with an Rigs Eating at Cristiana Campbell’s Tavern (Continued on page 44)
The Voice of Syria December 2018 34
