Hey Crazy Mike!!!

“WK, yeah, I'm coming from Columbus. It's a straight shot from Columbus to Indianapolis. So if you've got directions from I-70 or Indianapolis that would be very awesome.”

“Directions to Charles Deam

Take I-70 in towards Indianapolis.
Get onto 465 south and take that to 37 south. 37 will take you towards Martinsville and Bloomington.

Follow 37 south until you hit Bloomington. Get off at 45 heading into Bloomington. Its like the 3rd exit.

Take 45 thru the city until it hits 46. 46 is just past a White Castle. The White CAstle will be on your left hand side.

You want to turn left on 46.

Take 46 about 1 or 2 miles until you see 446. Take a right on 446. You will be on this road for at least a half an hour. After you cross over the lake and head back up a hill, be on the look our for a left hand turn you will be making. There is a sign pointing out the turn.

Mike may be able to give you better directions.

Let me know if any of this doesn't make sense.”

“WK, those directions are great. I did a Mapquest to Bloomington and it takes the same route you just told me. Then I looked on an interactive map and saw where 46 and 446 are. The trailhead is just across the lake?

Now which trail are we hiking and which way on that trail are we hiking? We're gonna leave Columbus at 7am, so we should be there by 11:30pm putting us a half hour to an hour behind the group. What time does CMB get home?”

“BTW, my newbie friend just gave the "I'm in for sure." So Vicsaw, you won't be the only first timer there. Which reminds me...I need to clean my pots.”

“I am home call me.


8)


1-219-932-4030”

“You have your answer”

“Yep, I'm there. You'll be there WK? We need to get my friend a trail name this weekend.”

“Good, Dub,
Then your friend and I can bungle around together making fools of ourselves. Don't laugh too loud at us. I am giddy with excitement. I just set up my new sweet tent in the yard and played with my new pack.”

“What kind of tent and pack did you buy? The newb thats coming with me is carrying my old gear which is heavier, ehehe. I'll be nice though and not make him carry the cast iron frying pan ;-)”

“We will all have a good time!


Thats what makeing new friends and backpacking is all about.

8)”

“I just got a very nice tax refund so I spent some cash while I had it.

I bought the Ula P2 pack, Big Agnes 1 SL tent, and a Wiggy's ultralight 20 degree bag. Those three things together weigh 10, 1.”

“Cool, not a bad weight for a newb. You did some homework! I think my big three were around 16lbs when I started.”

“I paid attention to the newbie advice and researched for a few months.

Next question, there are outlets for me to plug in my curling iron; right?”

“Yeah, don't forget your hair dryer!”

“I'm sure you all will have a great trip! Wish I could be there - I'll be driving my kids halfway to MA to spend spring break with their dad.
On Monday I'm going on the Low Gap Trail in Morgan Monroe - any advise?
Hey, Crazy Mike - did you get my email? I think I resolved the glitch...”

“Yep, I'm there. You'll be there WK? We need to get my friend a trail name this weekend."
Dub
05:10:06 PM
03/23/04


Believe that! I wouldn't miss it.

I got my trail name on my first hike with Crazy Mike.”

“I hope someone is good at making up trail names because I suck at it. We might have to get vicsaw a new one too, maybe "curling iron" or "hairdryer"? ;-)”

“Holy Catfish!
You guys have got vicsaw coned into hiking with y'all?

Poor little 'Girly Girl'. ;-)

Y'all be gentle with her!
She sure won't be a backpacking virgin after THIS trip! ;-)

vicsaw - Please stay far away from that Dub dude and Crazy Mike! Stick close to Wounded Knee, he's a cool dude, except for that commie hat he wears. ;-)”

“Y'all be gentle with her! She sure won't be a backpacking virgin after THIS trip! ;-)
StoveStomper

Yep yep yep, deflowering is a speciality of mine. I am always gentle with it.”

“Rolling on the floor lauging!!!!

It will be to warm for that hat this weekend. Too bad, it is a cool hat!

Yikes Dub!”

“I'm getting scared now. I haven't been deflowered in years!”

“He said it, not me.”

“I'm so glad WoundedKnee is going on this trip. I feel safe with him. And I know his wife.”

“Hey now, the Dub is a harmless nice guy who likes to joke around.”

“Aw, Dubby,

Looking forward to meeting you. I'm bringing you a treat.”

“A treat! Cool! I can't wait to get out this weekend. I really need a break from life.”

“A treat?


Oh oooo!!!!!


8p”

“I bet they are Dog Biscuits for you 'Dogs'. ;-)

How you ever eatten a dog biscuit? They aren't bad, kinda hard till you chew them up.”

“What kinda treat you thinkin bout Mike?

Bacon Ring?”

“WK, way to early in the morning for that! No treat for you!

Oh please don't tell vicsaw the 'Bacon Ring Story'. ;-)”

“that I really don't want to know the Bacon Ring story.

As a newbie, I always heed advice.”

“vicsaw - smart lady!

After Free24 begged to know what it was about. I finially wrote her an email and told her the story. Rather than screaming and running far away, she is now gonna marry CMB! ;-)”

“How you ever eatten a dog biscuit? They aren't bad, kinda hard till you chew them up."
StoveStomper

Dog biscuits suck! I've tried a couple different flavor and to me they all taste the same. I don't see why dogs like them. I will say that the Biljack liver treats have the strongest taste and are very gross.

What kinda treat you thinkin bout Mike?

Bacon Ring?"
Wounded Knee


LMAO!!!!!!!!”

“We should have some fun this weekend Dub!”

“That guy I was gonna bring this weekend just called today, the day we were gonna pack, and said he had some things "come up" and couldn't go this weekend. His g/f, my friend, told him he had to go cause she neede a break from him. Wait until I call her!

On a happier note...I got my new gear today. Tikka Plus and Prolite 4 R. The Prolite is defineately not as nice as the LE, but it is a full pound lighter. I think I'll like it for 3 season use. It does pack down way smaller than the LE.

On a bad note, my solo tent (SD Ultralight year) is leaking bad so I can't take it until I seal it up. I wasn't planning on doing that today but I might just do it so I don't have to carry the 2-man tent.”

“Where in this area are we going? What trail(s)? I wanted to look it up ahead of time.”

“We are meeting at the Fire Tower trailhead and hiking the Sycamore Loop.”

“Thanks, Dub, I deleted the original email.”

“It wasn't in the original email ;-) I called CMB and asked.”

“You're so smart, Dub.”

“Lets hike!!!!!!!


8)”

“We are only hiking the Sycamore Loop? That looks like 6 miles?

Is that right or am I stupid?”

“Yeah, six miles...but I'm sure CMB has some good dayhikes scheduled for us ;-) I wanna make it over to the "Hays" trail and get my picture by a sign since that is my last name.”

“Its 8 total but I think we can do some bushwacking down by the lake.


8)”

“i will prolly take a shortcut trail due to my knee :( so I will be hiking only a little with you all.”

“At least I have people scheduled to go at least 11 miles over 2 days at Yellow River. Sheesh, Mikey, almost like car camping! LOL!!!”

“Cool.”

“See WK, I knew CMB wouldn't make us stop with a 6 mile loop. If we're gonna do some birdwatching I should bring my binoculars right?

And on another note...is anyone gonna be in the park LATE tonight? One of my good friends is going away for awhile and we're having him a party...but I was thinking about leaving it a lil early and doing some night driving and some night hiking instead of getting up really early. Anyone gonna be around?”

“Yo! You got any nearby trips planned this weekend? Let me know.”

“I think bit is right.
Free has him in a hole in the basement and won't let him out.”