Today we have temps plummeting, snow coming down (hey, Midwest in November, go figure) and tomorrow’s commute will undoubtedly prove challenging. But, yesterday, Sunday 10 November, we had severe clear and a high in the mid-60s, perfect for the annual drive down to Chester to raise funds for a vet’s group.

And what a turnout! Twenty-plus cars, nearly 30 people, plenty of Triumphs but also the usual assortment of other, more-than-welcome vehicles and drivers. The list included several MX-5s, an Infiniti (!), Volvo PV544 and a ’66 Chevy Impala coupe. It made for quite a procession as we worked our way between the bottoms and the bluffs, south from Columbia, IL. There were a couple of missed turns on the drive down but the group recovered and generally, we’ve received rave reviews from those who took part.

As a bonus, after lunch at Reid’s Harvest House in Chester, several participants crossed back into Missouri and made a stop at the full-size replica of the Vietnam War Memorial. Built by a local resident, the memorial is impressive and all agreed – particularly our older veterans – that it was well worth the stop. We’ll make the memorial a regular checkpoint on future Veterans Runs.