Loser and Cluck Expedition, Volume VII

“Loser (Geobeet) and Cluck (Creek Dancer) did a weekend car camping trip along North River in the George Washington National Forest in Virginia.

Loser arrived at North River Shores about 1 p.m. Friday and set out to put up the Tarp Mahal Lodge and Conference Center. He no sooner got it up than a gust of wind collapsed part of it. From that point on, it never got all the way up. Gust repeatedly dropped it.

After fighting the wind for an hour and a half, Loser finally admitted defeat, but not entirely.

He pitched a smaller tarp sloping away from the prevailing winds in a lean-to fashion, then closed off the sides and front. Although smaller, it would theoretically hold up to the wind better, and in the final analysis, proved warmer than the larger Tarp Mahal would have been.

The new array was promptly dubbed Tarp Knox by Cluck after high winds all night rattled the bejabbers out of the shelter, but it held.

Loser thought it looked like a hobo shanty.

Cluck arrived at 4:59 p.m., a minute earlier than her 5 p.m. ETA.

After dinner, the Corps of Dishevelment relaxed and Loser unwound from the stress of fighting the wind.

On Saturday, after a hearty breakfast, the Corps set off for Reddish Knob in the Old New Geomobile. Reddish Knob stands 4,300-some feet high and from the cleared summit there is a 360-degree view of the Shenandoah Valley and the entire Ridge and Valley province of West Virginia. The peaks of Shenandoah National Park, Massanutten Mountain, Big House Mountain near Lexington, Spruce Knob, and Dolly Sods are all visibile from this peak.

Unfortunately, the photographs did not turn out. Nor did the video Loser attempted.

The Corps then set off to the local store to get some needed items. It was the first day of hunting season, and hunters were thick along the Forest Service roads. It was a veritable tent city, and some of the elaborate tarp shelters had Loser salivating. One party was camped in a camoflage school bus. The deer would have had a hard time figuring that one out, no doubt.

Back at camp, the Corps dined on Cluck's outstanding 15-bean stew (after taking Beano tabs).

That evening, Loser's friend Bluetick and Bluetick's brother joined the corps for steak dinner and other goodies, as well as fine wine, beer, and scotch.

There were at least 15 discussions going on at any one time on a myriad number of subjects. Some of the discussions may have made sense, but who would know?

Next day the Corps broke camp. As the final things were being put into the Old New Geomobile, it started to rain. The corps had just snatched another dry tarp weekend. God screwed up again, and the Corps suspected that a heavenly inquiry to find the culprit angels is already underway.

The Corps of Discovery will resume operations in March. It has been an eventful and interesting year for them - hopefully promising many more.

Such pix as turned out will be posted later, or tomorrow.”

“Sounds like you escaped some potential hazards, but made it through anyway. Nothing that the beer and scotch wouldn't takke care of, I bet. How is dear old Cluck anyway?”

“She's doing just fine. It was not easy on either of us when the time came to split.”

“What, no rain???

That just ain't right!”

“I know TT. The rain angels are obviously going to lose their halos over this.”

“they are tempting God...


glad you both had a good time. even if it rains all weekend, you are together and thats what counts. make your own sunshine :)




ok you can go ralph now...”

“I thought the ralphing was just for aero.”

“they are tempting God...


glad you both had a good time. even if it rains all weekend, you are together and thats what counts. make your own sunshine :)




ok you can go ralph now...”

“Geobeet never fails to surprise me with his unusual and interesting haunts. The drive to North River took me through a beautiful valley and along several forest service roads that lead into George Washington National Forest. The blaze orange garb worn by passersby in camouflage pick-up trucks suggested open hunting season to me. By the time I reached the campsite, the sun was down, the wind was howling and the temperature was dropping.

Thankfully, Geo had built the Tarp Knox. As we dined inside the shelter on pork chops and salad, we could hear the wind howling down the holler. When the wind reached our spot on the river, the walls of the shelter sucked in around us. We felt like Jonah inside the stomach of the whale as the creature inhaled and exhaled. The wind rattled the shelter all night, but we were warm an cozy.

The next day, Geo suggested that we take a morning ride up to Reddish Knob to take in the view. As we drove up the mountain roads, we listened to the new Emmy Lou Harris album. Even though all the fall leaves were down, the surrounding landscape was gorgeous. We climbed up the mountain and found our way to a very steep and narrow section of the road. We drove around a final skinny bend and were suddenly planted on top of Reddish Knob. To my surprise, the 360 degree of the area was more spectacular than the views from Spruce Knob, Mary's Rock or Spy Rock, in my opinion. We soaked up the view until the cold and wind started to chill our cores.

The evening visit around a warm campfire was delightful. The many discussions between the Mad Dog University professors left me wondering which conversations were based in fact, and which were fabricated from their bizarre imaginations.

As I drove home, I thought back to the 2003 Corps of Dishevelment trips: a day hike in the Shenandoah National Park, backpacking in St. Mary's Wilderness, hiking and camping during Spring on Dolly Sods, a couple of camping trips at Seneca Shadows Campground, Camp Roosevelt, Stuart Campground, and North River.

What an amazing year of discovery!”

“Cluck, I have to agree with you about the views from Reddish Knob. This year, I've visited all the ones you mentioned, and it's easy to find yourself just staring with open mouth and big eyes.

Nice report. It happens to be my neck of the woods.”