Boy Scouts from around Texas converged in Austin today for the annual Report to State Parade. As usual, the parade formed on the Congress Avenue Bridge and headed straight up to the Texas State Capitol. Today’s parade was shorter than usual, lasting only about one hour. Spectators were sparse, but there were several thousand participants in the parade itself.

Our new governor, Greg Abbott, was a Boy Scout (his troop marched in last month’s Inauguration Parade), but I did not see him on the reviewing stand at the Stephen F. Austin hotel. In past years, we would sometimes see former governor (and Eagle Scout) Rick Perry there. After the parade ended, selected boys met with state officials for their “report to state”, so perhaps our current governor was waiting up at the Capitol building.

Here’s a look at this year’s parade…

Members of UT’s Alpha Phi Omega demonstrated the running of the Texas flag.

Troop 1 from Wichita Falls is the second oldest continuously-chartered troop in the state.

I’ve seen this troop in previous parades and wondered how the adult leaders can maintain order—and keep their sanity—inside that bus.

This was a cute idea: pinewood derby races with shopping carts.

This little Cub didn’t really need that paddle.

As usual, some groups rode in military vehicles.

This adult leader (in the center) demonstrated how to survive troop campouts.

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