Mother's Day Weekend at the Gorge V 2008

“I don't mind hauling water at all. That gets my vote, with Koomer ridge being a close second.”

“i'm up for what ever...since this will be our first trip with the youngin i would like to be close (within 1/4 mile) to our car and somewhat away from the other tents so he can get to sleep but we can camp anywhere, doesn't necessarily have to be with the rest of the group

i'm pitching it to my mom tonight to see if she will watch our daughter”

“Well if we go to Koomer and run out of room Thrifty can use oen of the alternate sites, or possibly one of the sites Just up the road a short distance.”

“If the place Sticks mentioned is the one I'm thinking of it should be large enough for everyone and plenty of room to spread out. As far as where, I don't care, just let me know where to go and I'll be there. Wherever it will be, someone will need to get there early.”

“I think Stomper and crew are planning on going.”

“I'm game for wherever you all chose. Carrying in water isn't a big deal, esp if we head out for daytrips, etc.”

“exactly. What's 5 or 6 or even 10 gallons of water when it's in the trunk of my car? nothin.”

“I just got of the phone with the John Swift's CG. I asked him if he had water there. He said there was a spring nearby. Turns out he was referring to the spring near Nada Tunnel. That water is great, but if I'm paying for a site in a campground, then I don't want to have to haul water in. (Am I a snob or what?) He offered us a group rate of $3/person/day.

I'd rather pay $0 if it's an option. So let's go with the campground Sticks mentioned. I know it's on the road you take to go to Gray's Arch. I will look up more explicit directions later and post here as well as on the trip page.”

“sounds good to me.
I can spend that money on glow sticks, and water guns instead. ;)”

“Or gas money. ;)”

“That too!
Hey Ruby, how's John doing? I haven't heard anything lately.”

“As of late last week he is finally home for good. He has had surgery and is recovering nicely. Soon he will start radiation and immunotherapy hopefully. The Army has their own special way of making it extremely difficult to get that stuff done. Sigh.... But it's so great to have him home again, especially being pregnant. We are getting used to living together as a family again.”

“There are several campsites off to the left of Tunnel Ridge Road heading to Grays ARch. I stopped at looked at #4 one time. There is a porta john and parking lot. You walk through a meadow a short distance to a wooded camping area. It was pretty nice, secluded and would be more quiet than Koomer Ridge.

My husband, Fifthmaster, may join us! He's into car camping and will bring his "portable kitchen". I think he's ready to meet all these "internet people" I've been talking about. Yall be on your best behavior! Not! jk”

“I'm with Stomper. The parking area marked #4 has a nice area to camp at. I think that's the one Sticks is talking about, but not sure. Again, would need to bring water. Might want to bring firewood as well, just to be on the safe side.”

“The site Sticks referred to is #2.

"I suggest checking out primitive camping area #2 just past Grays Arch. Has a privy, nice parking lot and a large area for camping. Plenty of trees for tarp rigging, etc.

Except for a squatters camp a couple of years ago I very seldom see it used.

I use it just about every time I go there now.�
sticks
4:32:11 AM
2/22/08"


I haven't looked at a map yet, but I will when I find my map. Where'd I put it?”

“#2 should be fine. I don't know how big it is but any overflow can go to 3 or 4. How much does it cost to show up at Koomer Ridge and just take a shower?”

“Nothing if you sneak in. ;)”

“I am @ work now but I took a picture of the new name and number they have given this site. They have given all the primitive camping areas on tunnel road a name along with the number.

I will post it tonight.”

“Fort Ancient camping area #2





”

“I've missed this trip three years in a row due to weddings and guess why I'm missing this year...yep, a wedding. Oh well, it's better than those friends who have their weddings on Memorial or Labor Day, I mean come on, we only get a few three day weekends a year, that doesn't mean everyone wants to spend it at your wedding! Next year I'll try to come and bring my kid.”

“so has the campsite been decided?”

“I think there's a password we have to know before we get told where the campsite is. lol j/k”

“Yes. Well, I know where it is. I just don't know what it's called. I think Sticks called it #2.

I know I can find it. But can I get the rest of you there? Here's my best directions:

Take 15 east (running parallel more or less to Bert T. Combs Mtn. Parkway) out of Slade. Take your first left (you'll go a few miles) onto Rt. 39. Now go past the parking lot on your right which services Gray's Arch, Rought Trail, Pinch-Em Tight & Sheltowee Trace. Continue on a ways (can't remember how far). Our primitive camping area will be on the left. There is a parking lot and a privy, but no water. Maybe whoever gets there early can put out a TT sign of some sort. I'll see what I can do about that.”

“I think Birch and I are hoping to get down there Thursday night or early Friday morning. We could tie a bandana or something, providing we can find the place. ;)”

““Fort Ancient camping area #2

You will go past Grays Arch parking, next parking lot on left is Archaic, next comes the stone walled scenic view/photography pull off, next lot on left about 30-50 yards”

“is this a pullupthecar&unloadallthejunk site or park&haulsomaybedontbringtoooomuchjunk?”

“is this a pullupthecar&unloadallthejunk site or park&haulsomaybedontbringtoooomuchjunk?”
hel

This is a dispersed primitive camping area open to first come. If someone with enough junk to spread around it is possible to claim the area immediately off the parking lot by the privy. The weekend I took the picture I posted there was one cabin tent set up.

I feel if someone shows up on Friday mid-afternoon this area could be claimed.”

“Jon and I and the boys will be coming down on Thursday. We probably won't get there until very late. We'll have a large cabin tent and maybe a smaller one as well. Probably between us and Birch and Sass we can adequately spread our stuff around.


Sticks, thanks for the directions clarification!”

“I can't wait! =D”

“hee hee, number two

thanks for the info...we'll be coming down saturday morning”

“This is a great picture of Nigal from last year's bean bag toss tournament:


last edited: 4/10/08 8:00:42 AM”

“Oh Your gonna be so banned fer that one there!!
See ya later.
Randall”

“please note: that is not me in the pic above.

It could be UPLuver though...”

“We know it couldn't possibly be Captain Jack since there's no pizza box.”

“Hey there. I hope to make this trip. I will arrive on friday.
Stokly and a couple of her daughters will be there fri afternoon.
I AM NOT playing corn tosss with that person LOL.
will be a fun time. Lookin forward to seein ya all. Stories to tell and the likes. Yo bear!”

“I'm in, plus wife, 2 year old son and maybe 10 year old nephew. We'll most likely be coming down on Saturday morning.”

“I have updated the trips page with the campground info as follows:

APRIL 21 UPDATE

CAMPSITE INFO: Fort Ancient Camping Area #2

Take 15 east (running parallel more or less to Bert T. Combs Mtn. Parkway) out of Slade. Take your first left (you'll go a few miles) onto Rt. 39. Now go past the parking lot on your right which services Gray's Arch, Rough Trail, Pinch-Em Tight & Sheltowee Trace. Next parking lot on left is Archaic, next comes the stone walled scenic view/photography pull off, next lot on left about 30-50 yards is Fort Ancient.”

“Kid headcount update:

Captain Jack: 9G, 6G, 4G
Ruby: 13B, 8B
Helinka: 12B, 11B, 11B
Windigrrl: 13B, 12G, 11G
HPM & Treebait: 5G
Birch and Sass: 7G
Bigpoppa: 8G, 7G
Stokely: 8G
Thriftyhiker: 10B, 2B”

“does max get a prize for being the youngest? ;)”

“Sure! How about a glow stick?”

“kids want to leave when i come home from work at 1am. so my plan is to get to the detriot border by 4am, planning for 4-6hrs of "interview" time(keep fingers crossed) and hopefully we'll be down to the mound area in ohio by supper(i told the kids we should see the serpent mount along the way). probably going to sleep in that area thursday night and arive in kentucky friday late morning. who else is planning on a thursday arrival?
the boys are starting to count the days!
last edited: 4/21/08 9:42:57 AM”

“Something came up, so now I'm out. You'll have a good time.”

“hel, if we can we will arrive late thurs...”

“you left out Luke aka Sky Walker 14B

I didn't know that Thrifty has a 10 yr old.”

“It looks like my stats are changing. G11, maybe a B12 and my 20 yr old son. He's great with the kids. His cousins think he's it.”

“I didn't know that Thrifty has a 10 yr old.�
stomper
9:40:26 PM

it's my nephew, and he's only a maybe right now...my oldest is not quite two”

“When the count got up to 30 I was going to bail but now that the number are a bit more reasonable I'm probably back in. That and my wife gave me hell. So Thrifty, what kind of beer do you want me to bring for you?”

“LOL, you know how these things go...20%-40% will bail before the actual trip...hell, i might even be one of them ;)

i believe the bet was for something unique to your area

HEY NIGAL!!
�care to make this weeks bengals/colts game more interesting?...how bout a little wager?...the looser sends the winner a 6 pack of brew that is unique to the loser's home town...we'll have to check into the legality of shipping beer across state lines though, it may have to wait till we hook up some time�
thriftyhiker
11:53:50 AM
11/16/05”

“OK, what do you like then? IPA, red lager, porter, golden lager?”

“i like my beer like i like my women...dark, bitter, and cold
last edited: 4/22/08 6:39:28 AM”