Festival Poker Run riders brave storms during 3-hour jaunt Saturday morning

Participants in Saturday’s Frog Festival Poker Run gave a whole new meaning to the term “storm troopers.”
Barely 30 minutes into the 3-hour, 114-mile course, the rain began to fall. Less than a half hour later the tail lights of the vehicle in front were barely visible as the shower turned into a driving thunderstorm.
Clint Morgan, chairman, said he saw — and felt — small hail.
But no one turned around. A couple pulled off the road to don rain gear (too little, too late), but everyone made it through the storm and to the first stop on the run, Basile.
Two motorcycles dropped out of the event in Basile.
“It was a little rough there for a while,” Morgan said when the group had returned to the Frog Festival Pavilion, from which they had departed that morning.
With numbers obviously diminished by the weather forecast, eight motorcycles and the same number of Jeeps left Rayne at about 9:30 a.m.
The route took the riders as far west as Basile and as far north as Barber Spur.
The second leg, from Basile to Barber Spur, was overcast and there were a couple of drizzles, but the sun came out for the last leg and riders returned to Rayne in high spirits.
As is tradition in a poker run, riders drew cards upon their return and the best “poker hands” were presented cash prizes.
First prize of $150 went to Sheila Istre; second prize of $100 to Willie Dronet; and third prize of $50 to Rick Cormier.
A 50/50 drawing was held and a number of door prizes donated by B&M Auto Sound and 4X4 were given away.