bbinkley A.K.A. Big Gulp is coming to MI chigan

“I'll see ya there in Michigan. Can You guys show me what a soda pop is?”

“Let me be the first to say WOOHOOO! I'm glad you're going to make it! I'd be more than happy to bring along a POP for you to try! LOL! (Just be careful of those cheese curd thingys......I heard they squeek! lmao!)

I'll be sure to have the tents and poles all set for you too.

Looking forward to meeting you!”

“Cool - you're coming to the hike next weekend? Wow, what a group it will be!”

“I'm surprized he's not headin' to Montana...LOL!”

“What we've got going is going to be better than that thing out west!”

“OH YEAH! Hey! Let's get a current roll call! I know I'm going.... Smiley girl...do you know the names of the rest? Just how many of us will be out there? Sounds like this thing is going to be HUGE! hehe!”

“calm down, breath slowly. If you start to feel light headed, breath in and out of a paper bag.”

“roflmao @ pathman.....!

I'm fine! I'm just wanting to know how many peoples I'm getting to meet on this 'palooza! This trip will go down in my history books for later years and I want to be able to say that I remember each and every one from it. (small grin)....”

“coyote13 - I think there's a pretty complete list of attendees on the Walkindude thread.

W/ bblinkey, we're somewhere in the neighborhood of 18/19.”

“Tarbull, is your dad and/or brother coming?”

“Good morning everyone”

“I've about got my plans solid...just have to run everything by my boss....i think i will fly into detroit either tuesday night or wednesday morning. I will visit with a potential client(kmart) on wednesday. And hopefully i can somehow hook up with the group that will be camping on thursday. THen I am flying out on monday morning at 7:00 am and be bACK in time for my monday morning sales meeting...sounds like a plan...i just need to execute it and work out all the logistics...so, going to talk to boss and then call the airlines to book my flights.”

“Morning! Did you book a flight?”

“bblinky - Glad you are able to join this. This is turning out to be one hell of a shing dig!”

“I'M FIXING TO IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES. I have to call and set up my meetings in detroit and make sure that they can meet with me. I'm sure they will since I don't come up north much. Are you going too?”

“it sounds like it will be a blast. can't wait”

“Yeah, I actually posted that mere seconds after you posted your plans. Sorry. If you need a pick up from the airport/ a couch to crash on you are welcome bbinkley. Tarabull already asked if we'd (Birch and I) be able to help collect you and it shouldn't be a problem as long as you don't arrive between 2 and 4 pm. We live the closest to Detroit Metro. And of course we're going on the trip!”

“I can help collect people as well. Just holler.”

“YOU PEOPLE ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!
Got approval from my boss to leave out of town tuesday night or wednesday morning. WOOOOHOOOOO!! Now I have to call kmart to see if I can set an appointment with them for Wednesday...Then it's off to book the flights...Thanks SAS and Smiley..i will definately need your help.”

“if it helps I live minutes from MBS airport (Midland, Bay CIty, Saginaw)”

“Boss approved time off and the business/hiking trip. And I just set an appointment with a company that i've been trying to get their account. I love it when a plan comes together. now to call the airlines...thanks le subtil”

“OKay I got my flights booked. It's definate. I will be in michigan. If anyone can help with a ride and a place to crash that would be great. If not I can get a rental car and a hotel. Or if somebody has 2 trees in there backyard I can set up my hennessy hammock.lol. Here's the details. I will fly into the detroit metro airport on Tuesday at 7:55 pm. I have to be in Troy(approx 24 miles away) on wednesday to meet with kmart. Then I am free for whatever the rest of the trip. Go with the flow. Then I fly out on Monday morning at 7:00 am. Any help would be greatly appreciated. (i'll carry your pack or something for you). Look forward to seeing all of you in michigan”

“I might be able to help witha ride up to the hike. I live in Ferndale, which is just north of Detroit. I will be leaving Thursday afternoonish. Let me know how this could help you. I will double check my end to make sure that I'm not forgetting something.”

“thanks laqtis. I will know more as everything unrolls. SAS and birch offered to help as well as smileygirl. I'm really looking forward to this trip. Also, I found out that I can't pack fuel on the plane. Is there a REI around detroit?”

“Yes, in Troy. Just off of I-75 on 16 mile (don't laugh, but the exit for 16 mile is exit 69 and 16 mile is really called Big Beaver. I kid you not!)”

“Sorry, bad info. You should get off at the Rodchester exit, which is just before Big Beaver.....”

“That's great!!! That's where my appointment is on Wednesday on exit 69 ..it's five miles off the interstate. Perfect. It's getting better and better.”

“bbinkley, there's an REI where Birch/Sass and I live too.

are you renting a car to get to Troy on Wednesday?”

“I'm not sure if I should mention this or not, but
there is a buyer from K-mart on this board...”

“Bbinkley, email us and we'll see what we can do. I don't think there'd be any problems collecting you, dropping you back off at the airport Monday, and you are welcome to the couch, but I'm not sure about getting you to Troy and back. There is an REI within 10 minutes from our house, along with the one in Troy. Troy is about a 40-50 minute drive from here.Maybe Q or Tarabull could get you from here for the ride up to the trailhead. We can't leave until Friday afternoon. Anyhoo...drop us an email and Birch and I will figure out what we can do for you. BTW, how do you feel about dogs?”

“Thank God that he is going to Michigan. We are getting sick of hiking with him. Besides, the sheriff is looking for him anyway. By the way, he is not Big Gulp. He is TunaBoy. FG, I knew we should have eaten that little dog when we had the chance!!”

“So, what, you guys don't like bbinkley? You're shipping him off to us? I'm not sure I want to hike with him! LOL!”

“okay talk about me when i'm gone to lunch..i see..not here to defend myself..taking your shots huh dodder?”

“What city are you in? I hear that troy is only 24 miles from airport. Is that true?”

“Yeah, i guess that is prolly right. I'm not in a direct route from Troy to the airport. I'd still bet its more than 30 minutes, though.”

“i'm looking at a map and tring to route my course. i'll probably need to rent a car wednesday. which city is it that the tree of you live in? i know that there are 2 REI stores in mich. 1 is in troy and the other I'm not sure,...i think it starts with a n..”

“northville?

we don't all live in the same place. you'll see once you get here, you'll never realize you're driving into a new city, they all blend together. but none of us live more than 10 minutes apart.”

“how far from northville to troy?

thanks smiley. do you have instant message? if so that would be easier. my email address is brandonbinkley@hotmail.com

thanks for all the help”

“REI is in Northville. I just might have had something break my way. I might be able to come and get you from the Sass/birch household and take you up with me on Thursday. Will post more details after confirmation.

Just for the record: I live 1/2 norht of the city limit of Detroit. Far enough away to not be in the city, but close enough to still hear the gunshots from deep in " 'da hood".”

“that's funny laqtis--do i need to pack a bullet proof vest?

are you going up on thursday with tara and family?”

“Tara and family are driving seperate from Q. Birch and I live in Livonia, Tarabull is further north, and smileygirl is in the middle.”

“Hopefully, I will be on my way up there by, 2:00 at the latest. I'm trying to get up there as soon as I can so I can make sure that we have enough spots for everyone coming up Thursday night.”

“gotcha sassafras. thanks...i finally looked at a map and see how far everything is. you guys are within 10 to 20 minutes from each other i believe..and about 20 minutes from troy correct?”

“How much family is coming with Tara? Just curious. Is Binra coming?”

“i think her , her brother, her dad and a friend. i just got off the phone with her a minute ago.”

“tara said i could ride with her or maybe with you up there on thursday. is that ok with you?”

“bbinkey - Not a problem to ride with me. I have plebty of room. Just need to work out the details.”

“cool...thanks..i have a map showing how far apart everybody lives. you guy don't live too far apart from each other. i've about got all my plans worked out.”

“got my flights booked and i have a rental car from tuesday night to wednesday night....now all i need is 2 trees to hang my hammock and i'll be in good shape.”

“So we add one more to the mix!!!

This is going to be one he!! of a hike!

8)”