As expected, St Paddy's day (literally) dawned as we assembled at 8:00AM for the drive to Erin, TN's big parade. Attendees included The Bonds, McCrarys, Bumbaloughs, Appelmans, Massieus, Brian Adamo, Lindy Stitch, Andy Adams, Jamie Rose, and Mike King. Unfortunately our event organizer Mike King was suffering 2-or-more MGB "morning (mourning?)" maladies that meant he was bailing out on the drive and Mike Long took the helm with his '37 Riley Kestrel Saloon. The Riley strained a bit to keep the modern tinsÍ plugs unfouled along the route and we paused briefly in Van Leer to meet the Broomes. Literally....HAT"S OFF..... to the crazies with their tops down on this 40 degree morning drive!

The little town of Erin attracts "way too many" people to this parade, and the town is bulging with folks along the entire mile-or-so of parade route. We had to jostle for position with other vehicle clubs (VW, Model A, Mustang, Miata, John Deere, customs, etc), cute queens on floats, hay wagons w/all manner of displays, fire trucks....you get the picture! We added lots of thrown candy to masses of gathered (and decorated!) children along the parade path.

The organizers provided great post-parade parking spot so we could peruse the street fair goods and have corned beef & cabbage at the lovely, but dry(!!!), Erin Irish Caf?. Of course, Carol Long had to meet St. Pat hisself and tease with the Wee PeopleÍs float before leaving the green!

All seemed well until the Massieu's E-Type developed some electrical malady (possibly a contagious bug from Mike King's MGB?) and an apparent dead short sidelined the car on its way home. The valiant old Riley took pity on poor Anne Massieu (along with Prince Albert the teeny Bulldog) and loaded them aboard for a trip home to Franklin while Mike spent a lovely evening waiting w/Brian Adamo for AAA!

A fun day! Even the Massieus derived some pleasure from the day and Mike says the alternator repairs are "underway"! Y'all should have been there!

The April drive plan is UNDERWAY!