Red River Rondevu

“To get to the martins fork trailhead: take I-75 to lexington, then go east on I-64. after about 10-15 minutes, take the mountain parkway. get off the mountain parkway at slade (exit 33) (make sure to get your park pass at either one of the gas stations here). take highway 15 north (towards stanton). after a few minutes, turn right onto highway 77. after several minutes, youll go through the nada tunnel, after which the road starts winding steeply downhill. after it levels off, youll see the parking lot for the trailhead on the left. the trail is just before the parking lot, on the right.
last edited: 2/01/07 9:00:11 PM”

“its just a 2 or 3 minute walk in to the campsite. there will be a stream crossing, then the second of two trail junctions, a small bridge, and then the campsite”

“Hey guys.
Check out the Food Find thread.
Jimmy san's cake in a pot worked GREAT!”

“Bass*turds.


Have fun. Watch out for flying logs too. You esp Chili. You can't afford to lose another foot. And just in case you were wondering the lodge doesn't serve lunch until 12:30, dinner until 5 and breakfast is over at 10:00 on the dot.”

“Hey chili!
Crash is trying to call your cell but it says out of service.
They are changing the trailhead because of heavy snow.
Call them!”

“Chili's comin'? Hell I'll carry your ass to camp! I'm on the road about 11 and should get there about 2-3.”

“Post where y'all are changing to, Nigal.
Crash called my cell asking for chili's cell number. I don't have it.”

“I'll call chili and let him know what's going on.”

“Crap, I have an old number.”

“Crash must have that same old number.”

“I called his house and left a message.”

“Nigal, chili, and crash. For such a small group, there will be some fantastic stories come out of this. A fifth won't be enough for those 3.”

“Crash called me too. I don't have Chili's new or old number. Where's Nurse Goodbody when we need her?!”

“..and she was just saying that she was "always" on here. ;-)”

“Maybe Chili is Nurse Goodbody?!”

“No. ;-)
Nurse Goodbody is way better looking. ;-)”

“ok.ok.i am here.. you have to call him at home. Although he isnt there right now. But he is meeting me for lunch. email me your phone number and I will tell him to call you...”

“Call Crash's cell, but if he's out of cell coverage (He's on the road) he said "strong possibility of starting at the Gray's (Sp?) Arch trailhead". He said to go down that trail about 1/4 mile and go straight thru the junction.”

“If I feel better tomorrow morning, I will drive up there.”

“Wonder if chili made it up there?”

“who's on first?
Good grief these three are gonna be wanderin around the entire Daniel Boone NF lookin fer each other... LMAO!

Look out Crash! Nigal may try the old "shared body heat" trick! LOL!”

“Had a great time! weather.com said it got down to 21 Friday night (9 degrees with the windchill). it got up to 36 with the sun but the wind was howling all weekend making the high around 26. We must have burned a half cord of firewood. LOL! Thanks for making it down Crash. It was great to finally get to hang out with ya.”

“I take it that means chili wasn't able to make it.”

“no chili

hey nige! thanks for jinxing me! my car took a nosedive on the interstate. thankfully, it was just a flat tire”

“Glad you guys found each other.”

“at the Blue Oyster Bar.”

“Wish I coulda been there. The temps sounds pretty good. Any luck finding dry firewood?”

“we found the motherlode”

“Damn Crash, you have the worst luck with cars on trips. Hope your tire can be plugged rather than shelling out for a new tire.

One good thing about chili not making it, I ate his home made Twinkie around the campfire Saturday night.

There was a TON of fire wood around. Nice barkless, seasoned pine at that.”

“Did you buy the twinkies at the Slade station?! Those are to die for!”

“Pictures?”

“yea, nigal. pictures?”

“My ankle bothere me all weekend and I decided I better not push it until I see the doctor this week.”

“Yeah those are the ones Sass. The Payday bars are killer too.

Friday:

Got to Gray’s Arch TH about 3Pm and Crash was already all set up. The wind was blowing constantly at the camp site. Colder than a witch’s teet! We started up the fire and cooked some chicken and then huddled around the fire all evening. Did I say ‘huddled’? I mean standing in the fire. Literally! I looked down at one point and Crash’s foot was on fire. I said, “Dude, boots on fire…”. Crash lets out a whoop and starts jumping around trying to put his foot out. His boot grip thingy had caught on fire and sadly was destroyed. He later had a big coal on his pants he had to pat out as well as nearly melting his toe. I finally told him he should just throw is ass in the middle of the fire and be done with it. LOL!

We went to bed (separately mind you) about 9 or 930. It was frickin’ freezing! I was in my zero degree down bag with my 30 degree hiking quilt over that with down booties on and was still cold.

Saturday:

Got out of bed about 930am and directly ran around cutting and gathering fire wood just to warm up. We had a leisurely breakfast and then headed to the Auxier TH for a six mile day hike up to Courthouse Rock and back. It was crystal clear and the sky was so blue. The temps warmed up a little but the wind was ever present. We ran into a nice guy from Lexington who was hiking with his little bulldog Hank. So we shared the hike up to Courthouse Rock. Hank was an awesome little trail dog. He was loving the cold and he climbed and jumped like a champ. He also humped Crash’s leg at every chance. Every time Crash came to a stop Hank was on his leg going to town. I told Crash he should change his trail name to Sugar Legs. LOL!

Crash was so excited about the Super Bowl he never missed an opportunity to check the echo off the cliffs we came to by standing on top and yelling, “WOO! GO COLTS!!” at the top of his lungs.

When we got done with the hike we got water and gathered more wood and started the fire. In the early evening it felt even colder but later in the night the clouds came in with some snow and it wasn’t so cold. We spent the evening standing in the fire some more and having cocktails.

Crash Bang (AKA Kenny)



Cold sun through the trees



Haystack Rock



Courthouse Rock in the background



Crash looking across gorge to Double Arch



View from camp



Hank the Trail Tank (AKA Leghumper)

”

“I was sorry ya didn't make it Chili but I understand. I'll get to hike with ya some day soon. Your Twinkie was wonderful btw. LOL!”

“LOL
Thanks for the TR and pics.”

“well, since nigal broke our pact by telling everybody about bulldog sex, then i guess im not obligated to keep secret that NIGAL STARTED THE CAMPFIRE WITH COLEMAN FUEL!”

“Brrrrrrrrr.....

I was at home with my fire place roaring, consuming multiple cups of spiced apple cider spiked with apple jack, and watching movies.

Regardless of the cold, I'm sure you both had fun.”

“Is Crash trying to give sacco a run on being the bulldog sex expert? ;-)”

“Sooooo ,
Crash caught himself on fire huh??? That’s so unlike him!!! LOL
Man, That at least four times that I can think of.
See ya later.
Randall”

“then i guess im not obligated to keep secret that NIGAL STARTED THE CAMPFIRE WITH COLEMAN FUEL!

Ha! Prove it! I have pictures of Hank in post leg coital satisfaction. Do you have photographic evidence of me using coleman's fuel? No? didn't think so. LOL!

Actually I was beginning to get a complex because he liked you so much but didn't give my legs a second look. I was thinking, "What's so special about Crash's legs? I've got nice legs. And besides, I'm all ready for him because I have gaitors on.".”

“LMAO!”

“LMAO!!! Glad you guys had a good time. Nothing wrong with coleman fuel Nige. I have used it for many many a much needed blast of heat on a cold night. LOL! I love coleman fuel!
Sugar legs eh? Oh, you are gonna hear about it next weekend Crash! LOL!”

“I pride myself on my fire building abilities and I hardly EVER have to use Colemans but the wind was just too much to get anything going that wouldn't blow out.”

“Dude!!
Send me the above menetioned pic of Crash and Tank. I'll pay ya for it!! I think I'll make me a new tee shirt, lol
Heres the address if your intrested.
rroettger@clcillinois.edu
See ya later.
Randall”

“Sugar Legs
LMAO!!!!”