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Once again this week marks the annual road trip north for the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band as they travel from Aggieland for the A&M vs. OU football game in Norman. Theywill travel in 10 buses and arrive early to practice on the OU Band practice field.  I must say this is the best marching band in the nation.  The precision of the march with the stirring patriotic music is unparalleled in any university’s marching band.

The band forms at the north end of the stadium, the announcer Col. Jay Brewer announces “Now forming at the north end of Owen Field the nationally famous Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band” Whoops! are heard from the Aggies.  Then the drum major steps out and shouts “Recall Step Off On Hullabaloo” you know you are about to witness a drill like none other, the War Hymn is sounded and the band steps off.  Whoop!  The drill ends with the famous block T.

For those that can’t attend here is a video I located on Vimeo.

Enjoy!

[caption id="attachment_911" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="OU Practice Field Pre-Game Practice"][/caption]

I have a little adventure to tell you about.  Hayden Groendyke and I have been scheduled to travel down to Huatulco, MX to take part in a race, the La Carrera Panamericana (to view the official site for MX), from the southern part of Mexico to Texas.  As time drew near for the race and for us to depart, a sudden change in plans came about and one of the participants was unable to attend the race so I went from being the photographer to Co-Piloto (more on what that is later).

This first blog is of our pre-race stay before we left for the rally race across Mexico.  We were guests in the home of  Guillermo & Rocio Berriochoa (a long time family friends of Hayden’s) at Villa SaBah for three days before the big race began.  They were very gracious and generous hosts.  The accommodations were rough and we had to bear with what we had to deal with, just kidding.  The food was fabulous every day, even the Cricket Tacos (yes, crickets as in bugs).  Of course we had to get a massage the day before the race began, so the tables were set up just above the cliff behind the pool.  Oh the life of a race car driver….

Just down the hill from their home they own a B&B named Villas FaSol which has 15 rooms and is in the same gated community with a private beach and food to die for (see photos below) which I highly recommend for anyone to visit.  The food was prepared there and brought up to the house every day.

Wow, what a way to start a race!!!!

Enjoy!

[caption id="attachment_885" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Mr. Berriochoa-Our most gracious host & sponsor"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_886" align="aligncenter" width="610" caption="Hayden Groendyke (Piloto) and me (Copiloto)"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_887" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Sunrise from Villa SaBah"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_888" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="What can I say...."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_889" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Inside looking Out"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_890" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="The backyard view-Pacific style"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_891" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="The view from the infinity pool"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_892" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Breakfast"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_893" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Soon to be lunch...yummy!"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_894" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Cricket Tacos"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_895" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Dinner-bacon wrapped shrimp"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_897" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Dessert"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_898" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="The view from the massage table"][/caption]