The 12th Annual TCC Finishers Reunion and the Aftermath

Once again, as we have so many times in the past, we, the finishers of the Texas County Challenge (along with anyone who wished to partake with us), gathered to remember our feats and induct new members into our sacred band. Adorned in our traditional blue shirts (though I also saw a pink one), we shook hands, traded hugs, and talked of glories past, present, and future. We communed with the knowledge that we had completed a challenge that was the envy of cachers all over the United States, possibly the world. Every state has a county challenge (except Vermont, as far as I can tell). But nobody celebrates completing Nebraska. Nobody celebrates completing Maine. Nobody celebrates completing Georgia or California or Illinois. But every year we remember that we have finished what many others would consider impossible.

Technically, depending on how you count it, one could argue that this Event was actually the second annual instead of the twelfth. The Reunion was first begun by Pathfinder33, and he ran it every year for ten years and then decided to call it quits. The TXGA took over as host because it had become so popular, but Pathfinder33 still informally helps out since he’s done this before. This time, he lent his voice to announce the arrival of the blue ammo can that is the physical embodiment of the Texas County Challenge, brought to Floresville by friend of the site Razorbackgirl. Once she cracked it open, she began to call up the new victims prospective members, those who had completed the task and awaited the chance to sign the log. One by one, in the order they finished, they were called up …

… and, placing their names and words in the logbook, became raised and ennobled. Other honorees were in attendance—an elite cadre inside the sacred band. There were a few sporting red shirts, denoting completion of the Texas Two-Step. While I never aspired to that goal, I will at some point complete it since I’m taking my daughter around Texas so she can join both orders. But it’ll be a while before that happens. Ultimately, all that mattered was that we ate, drank, and laughed until after the sun went down.

The next morning, after a good night’s rest, the girls and I packed up our stuff to begin the great trek back to Austin. But not before some final frolicking. We attended the traditional Sunday morning CITO. The breakfast Event had a bit of a hitch to it (the venue didn’t open that morning), but the CITO and accompanying Goober Games went on as planned! The girls and I didn’t catch all of it, but we did arrive in time to watch a bunch of blindfolded people groping and grasping for Easter eggs, so I’ll call that a win.

Once the games were done, the winners of the Individual Challenge were announced, and they received medals and adulation from the assembled crowd. Then, the winner of the Team Challenge was announced.

It was the vile and most insidious North team! Congratulations! And we’ll get them next time!

And then came the moment we had all been waiting for: it was time for the Central Texas Rep to announce where the next Challenge would be in 2026. I stood with bated breath, waiting to hear where we would be going next year …

… and then I remembered that’s me!

So I got up on a table and rambled on for a minute (there’s a video out there if you are so inclined) and then let everyone know where they would be going.

Taylor, Texas! Pi Day 2026! Be there or be an equilateral rectangle! LET’S DO THIS!!!