Today at the Texas Alliance Rally was sort of an "on your own" day, an opportunity to explore the town of Mineola and do what you wanted to. We took care of some tasks here, make some phone calls, and enjoyed conversation with our friend Bill Martin, Co-Owner of Alliance Vice President of Customer Service. We first met Bill in 2020 shortly after Alliance started manufacturing RV's. We purchased our Alliance fifth wheel in Feb 2020 and took delivery in March. Bill and his family have became part of our family. Bill Martin is an outstanding leader, a wonderful person and one of the main reason why Alliance has been so successful.
Later we headed over to visit with the Blue Compass folks and walk through their demo units they have on display. Doreen asked me to take pictures of the front caps since they have changed with the new models. She embroiders the Alliance logos on dish towels and hands them out as we run into Ally's in campgrounds and has also provided some at the Rally's for bingo prizes.
One of their newer coaches is on display here, a 395DS (dual suite) which has two bedrooms plus an overhead loft! Doreen and I don't need that much room but it is a great floorplan!
Looking into the rear bedroom, bathroom and loft above
Looking forward with the livingroom on the left, kitchen
and up the stairs the main bedroom and bathroom
The front bedroom and bathroom
We finished up looking at the new coaches and then headed downtown to explore Mineola. This town is relatively small with a population of just over 5000 residents, but they have a great selection of stores and shops, and a proud history. They have decorated the town with several murals.
We did not have time to stop at the history museum today, but they also have a railroad museum and a long history with three railroads here. They are an Amtrak stop now. Along with downtown area you can see railroad influence.
We cruised the downtown area and then stopped at East Texas Burger Company for lunch. They offered a variety of burgers, fish and other sandwiches. Doreen got a burger and I ordered a chicken fried steak sandwich. Lunch was really good and the staff was very friendly. I have to remind myself we are in the south, so when you order iced tea you have to specify "sweetened" or "unsweetened"!
Doreen knocking out a few tunes before lunch!
After lunch we walked around downtown and did some window shopping before heading back to the campground.
A nice Veteran's Memorial
The cool old First National Bank building from 1912 which served as the bank until 1965.
Typical downtown small town which is in Texas
but could easily be in Iowa. They all look similar!
Back at the campground we did a bit of cleaning inside, I washed the front cap outside to get the bug splatter off, and then has some dinner which was also on our own tonight. After dinner is was square dancing time. We went over early to help with rearranging the tables and chairs to make room of the square dancers. While we were there we met another Alliance owner and his wife from Delaware. They both served in the Air National Guard and they both knew the Delaware Wing and State Command Chiefs I went to Command Chief school with in 2007! Small world.
So the stage was set so to speak, and the square dancing commenced. I had flashbacks to when I was in the 5th grade and square danced in grade school! What a hoot! Everyone seemed to have a great time!
A few of the participants bailed after the first round, so our leader Bill Martin stepped in and "lead from the front"!! What a guy!
Tomorrow we have a full schedule of events and it should be a great time!
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