‘jeep jaunt’ Rolled Through The Rain

The 10th Annual 'jeep jaunt' didn't let a little weather slow it down, it rolled through the rain.

The final numbers are not in yet; we'll know the number of participants, vehicles and dollars raised later this week.

Not enough thanks can go to the staff at Celebrity Theatres for accommodating our registration and ticket sales process inside the theater.  This is the first 'jeep jaunt' where we had inclement weather, and the Celebrity staff gladly opened two screens (as they call them) to allow us to set up our registration tables.  The members of Church Acadiana were, as usual, gracious and welcoming, allowing the Jeepers to invade their day again.

The rain brought with it concerns about safety, so after conferring with Lafayette Parish sheriff's deputies and officers with the Broussard Police Department, we decided to cancel the convoy to Cypress Bayou Casino Hotel.  Rather, the law enforcement officials had the idea of letting us leave the theater in "waves" of 12 - 20 vehicles at a time.  This way, cross-traffic wasn't inconvenienced, but we were still able to get out in plenty of time to make it to the casino.

Once at the casino, the Pavillion staff had prepared an awesome meal in a room ready to make money for the American Lung Association.  The cypress bar that was built by the Louisiana Jeepers for auction was set up on the right side of the stage, and the Jeep that Sterling Automotive donated to the event was on the left side of the stage.

Participants came from as far away as Lake Charles, Hammond, Houma/Thibodeaux, Ohio and Minnesota.  Louisiana Jeepers, Feaux by Feaux, NOLA, Bayou State Land Cruisers, Southwest Louisiana Jeep Association, Seven Slot Society, Bon Temps Jeeps, All Jacked Up Jeepers - several Jeep Clubs were represented.

Door prizes were given away, auction items were sold, bellies were full, friends were made, someone won a new Jeep, and money was donated to the American Lung Association.  And the Saints won.

How much did it rain yesterday?  Today, the Louisiana State Fire Marshall lifted the state-wide burn ban - that's how much it rained!

My family looks forward to the 'jeep jaunt' each year. Yes, it's a lot of work, but it's also a lot of time we get to spend together.  It's this that we think would make Mom really happy.