Yeah, I guess I'm an incurable planner as well as a glutton for punishment. Here I haven't recovered yet and I'm already brainstorming for what we should do next. But Kama Con was just so much fun!
I don't know if people would actually be willing to commit to a get together where they'd have to take 5 days off, but we could try to do it over a holiday weekend like the 4th of July where we'd already have 3 days and then just tacking an extra day or two on either end.
I think we could find some place with camping and cabins in the mountains somewhere and make it a crystal city even if it only lasts for a couple of days.
AJ
[ August 17, 2004, 04:18 PM: Message edited by: BannaOj ]
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Like a retreat! So cool!
But rivka already offered California.....
decisions, decisions!
I like the mountains idea though.
Farmgirl
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Next summer? Maybe in May?
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
hmm, I wonder how much more expensive CA would be than Chicago. If we camped at the beach rather than doing a hotel, it would be pretty cheap, and I've got access to lots of camping equipment out there.
The problem with me and California is that I have gazillions of friends out there and I'd never get to see them all and they would be mad if I didn't visit especially if I went out there for "internet friends".
Yosemite rocks too.
AJ
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
The other problem is that we would need enough people with enough camping equipment that were able to drive, to accomodate people that would be flying in. Though if we could find a place with cheap cabins it might help. And the airport runs for camping would be far more difficult I think. Or the flying people would just have to allow a lot of leeway on either side of their trip.
AJ
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
We have cabins and suchlike out here too, I hear. But someone else is probably better to plan it than me, anyway, if we go this route. The closest to camping I've been was summer camp when I was a teen.
If we do this, I would come (and I think I probably really could manage it). Most likely with the kids.
4th of July weekend is when my son's Cub Scout troop has their annual campout, though.
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
::thwap:: AJ! You should be relaxing!
However, what you propose is interesting. My wife (and Thomas) love camping, so it would be a pretty easy sell. Hmm....
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
There is a place I was thinking of rivka that is owned by the forest service in the San Jacinto Mts, that I stayed in once with a church function. It was like a huge hunting lodge but without the hunting a humongus great room and smaller rooms off to the side. I think there was a kitchen. Don't think it was that expensive, but I suspect we went in the off season from whatever their tourist season was.
AJ
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
<-- geographically impaired
Um, is that in California somewhere? Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :
Hmmm... I'm not a very good outdoors person....
=(
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
My family owns a log cabin in the catskill mountains...
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
What about one of the state parks in Utah?
I'm dying to get out that way again (although I'm sure it is because of a certain gentleman I would love to see again.....)
If we go outdoors/campy -- definately I will be bringing the whole family, not just Ivygirl
Farmgirl
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Paul, that would be amazing...
Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :
But I've always wanted to learn how to spear a fish, set a trap, clean & prep food, etc...
(Could we hire a "guide" to teach us stuff?)
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Neither am I, Suneun, but I'm willing to go anyway. I would hope lots of "not-outdoorsy" people would come, so I won't be so outnumbered! Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Oooh, Catskills! How big a cabin, Paul? And any rentable other ones adjacent?
If we did the Catskills, I could squeeze in a trip to NYC (and NJ, and Monsey, and . . . ) before and/or after.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
I could teach you dabbler (well, okay I'm not too good at the spearing-the-fish thing, but the rest of it, I could)
FG
Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :
I can handle the dirt and no-showers-esque things okay, it's the bugs that make me go all haywire.
It's too hard to try and plan this for late Sept/early Oct, isn't it? Still nice weather in lots of areas.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
I think she's originally thinking of 2005 (next year). And I would imagine we would have to plan it for the time of year when university is not in session....
FG
Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :
Oh well =)
Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
quote:::thwap:: AJ! You should be relaxing!
Tick,
I think this IS AJ's way of relaxing. Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I need showers. I counted, and in the course of four days of KamaCon, I took seven showers. Every time we went into the city or wandered around outside, I took a shower.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
*tries to imagine Josh or Russell in a cabin without wireless Internet access*
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
I'm already taking time off during the upcoming school year because of my trip to Israel.
I can't see taking off more than another day or so this academic year. So I'm voting for summer of 2005.
Or maybe late January/early February when I have a week off for winter break, but that would rule out the Catskills and most other places.
(Yes, it is all about me. Thanks for noticing! )
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
hhmmm *gears in brain spinning* (you might be able to see the smoke coming out of my ears).
I don't know what "clump" I'm in anymore. The Indiana clump has grown huge and it seems like there is starting to be an Ohio clump.
There are enough of us midwesterners that it might be easier to try the camping as a "test run" before doing the logistics for 40-50 people. And then we could be more flexible. Plus it would give us an excuse to get together before next year.
Don't get me wrong I would love to see EVERYBODY again, and if someone really wanted to fly in I'm sure we could work something out. But it is a matter of scale too. The more informal get togethers of the Wisconsin-Illinois people have always been fun and the Cincinatti signing trip last year, was far more painless as far as planning goes than this was. It really helps when people have their own vehicles.
The Californians have a strong enough clump that I think they could pull off a large gathering if they pulled together, but one of the problems is getting people to come. They are geographically isolated from everyone east of the Rockies. This means the train and greyhound options far more limiting and plane tickets in general more expensive. Unfortunately, none of us have millions to give away, so money is always going to be one of the major limiting factors.
AJ
(Though between Tom and I we did make $20 on Kama Con which went to Kama for spending money)
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
quote:I need showers. I counted, and in the course of four days of KamaCon, I took seven showers. Every time we went into the city or wandered around outside, I took a shower.
LOL. I'm particular about trying to get clean also, but I won't do more than a shower/bath a day unless I do something drastic that requires it. I would definitely be in at least a trailer or cabin, as I don't like sleeping on the ground.
[ August 17, 2004, 03:00 PM: Message edited by: TheTick ]
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
April 2005 in Iowa?
Oh wait, that's all about me. And Bob, of course.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
"Every time we went into the city or wandered around outside, I took a shower."
This explains so much. I was WONDERING why you didn't smell like the rest of us, Katie.
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
The cabin can sleep six privately, and another 4 in publicish areas ( 3 bedrooms, and a living room with 2 beds and a fold out couch). It also has a small, not very functional kitchen, and there is a campground 5 minute drive away (ok, 10, because it takes 5 minutes to go up the driveway at our cabin).
With ANY luck, next year we would open up the pool at the cabin, though this may not happen as the place is currently somewhat out of use, since my grandmother died and my grandfather no long is capable of taking care of it. Me and my brother will inherit when he dies, but neither of us has the economic capability of caring for the place yet, so its been somewhat out of use the last 4 years.
Ooooh, cool! I don't care where it is at all. I'm just excited because I get to come! Jes promised!
YAY!
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
rivka, the San Jacinto Mountains are the mountains across the Palm Springs Valley from the San Bernadinos. Read The Lonesome Gods by Louis L'Amour and you will have a much better appreciation for the area.
AJ
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
I'm not very outdoorsy, but who cares? This would be the best thing ever!
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
Have I mentioned that I absolutly adore AJ?
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
if you want to have an indiana, ohio, kentucky, illinois camping experience you should come down near bloomington. We have lots of cheap campgrounds around the lake or at brown county state park. Plus both of those are close enough to bloomington, with stores and hotels if needed. I am sure stryker could give you some more info about local camping.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
That's awesome Paul!
Stupid question -- catskills are in New York State? Is that right?
FG
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Hmmm. Paul, would there be room to pitch tents outside at the cabin itself. If we did this as a test run, I'm guessing there would be more than 10 people. The people who absolutely abhor sleeping on the ground could take the inside slots and the rest of us could be outside. Is there a firepit on the property or not?
How far of a drive is it from Chicago to the Catskills anyway?
AJ
Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :
oh thanks for reminding me, I need a better air mattress. I have a camping air pad but it's too thin to be comfortable (I can still feel all the rocks). I think it's only .75 inches thick. They're like $50 though.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
breyerchic, how flat is the bloomington area. For being in the outdoors my minimum requirement is rolling hills or bluffs that I can at least pretend are mountains.
AJ
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
The Bloomington area is the only part of Indiana that is not appallingly flat.
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
^ What he said.
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
not flat at all, I don't know elevations or anything, but fairly decent woody hills, certain places are deffinatly better than others, I would reccomend Lake Monroe (most of the camp grounds are about 15 minutes from down town, or IU campus) or Brown County State Park (about a half hour away from same places). Just no skinny dipping in the lake, or the DNR guys will get you (ask stryker and allegra about that one)
edit- Or just what tom D said.
[ August 17, 2004, 03:24 PM: Message edited by: breyerchic04 ]
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Turkey Run State Park, in central western Indiana, is also pretty decent and has some cool, wooded ravines.
Again, though, while the hiking is nice and relatively hilly, we're not talking actual mountain thingies. When someone from Indiana says "relatively hilly," what they mean is that a ball, when dropped, will roll a bit. Posted by ak (Member # 90) on :
I'm so up for this. Pitching a tent outside too will probably be a real luxury for me by then. Because it will be green. Under 100 degrees F. And there will be plenty of water around. Showers every day. No sand fleas or sandstorms. Sounds like the Ritz Carlton to me!
If there's any way I can get home for this one I absolutely will. I can't bear being apart from you guys that much longer! Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
How fun!!
Mmmm.. camping... As for sleeping on the ground, we just take turns. One night we are inside, the next outside.
And yah, I need to shower at least once a day too. Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
hmm the St Louis area has what I would formerly have called foothills, but are definitely taller than "might roll a bit". Where are the nearest mountains? Canada?
AJ
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
There are some hills/valleys not far from me. It ends up being centrally located to most NE and Central jatraqueros...which is to say none of them other than the Tick clan are very close. It's also chock full of wineries for those so inclined.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Grand Teton National Park. (Lots of beautifyl, rugged mountains.)
Oregon coast . . . (lots of beautiful, craggy rocks and caves)
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
Is there going to be another WenchCon this winter? Just curious.
Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
Brown Co. and Turkey Run State Parks are great. However, I'm not quite sure how I feel about camping with an infant. I might be persuaded, though *grin* I love to camp. The Dells, actually, are great, too. i'm pretty partial to Devil's Lake State Park.
Geez, typing with one hand is too slow for y'all! Tom beat me to it!
[ August 17, 2004, 03:46 PM: Message edited by: Christy ]
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
they are real hills. there is a bike race in october(?) called the hilly hundred held here.
these are according to Mapquest so I don't garuntee them Chicago IL to Bloomington IN 4 hours ten minutes St Louis MO to Bloomington IN 3 hours 59 minutes Louisville KY to Bloomington IN 2 hours 2 minutes It is also about an hour from Indianapolis. so pretty centrally located to the centrally located. But I would love to go other places that I didn't have to fly to go to.
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
I've never been to turkey run but have heard it is nice. Christy we could find a house for sophie to stay at (plus or minus you) hehe.
Posted by Allegra (Member # 6773) on :
It would be soooo cool if it was in Bloomington. I would travel but the lack of flexibility in my schedule prevents me from going very far.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
If we’re staying at a lodge or someplace where we have to do our own cooking I’ll volunteer for menu planning/kitchen manager. For a group of 20 or more I can probably manage to come in at around $2-$3 /person per meal. (And remember, I’m a snooty gourmet type chef – I’m not talking hot dogs and macaroni here.)
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
May I throw in a word for northern Minnesota? Nice hills, many, beautiful lakes, resorts with scattered small cabins and large central lodges for games and meals... Western WI wouldn't be bad, either. If we got enough people we could probably rent out an entire small to medium sized resort.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
How about instead of WenchCon we celebrate Groundhog Day in Woodstock (where the movie was filmed)? I realize it will probably be kind of touristy, I just thought I'd throw that out there.
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
mmmm...hot dogs and macaroni.
Posted by Rappin' Ronnie Reagan (Member # 5626) on :
I'm also one of those people who needs to stay clean, so a cabin rather than tents would be great.
I live right next to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and I'm sure there are lots of cabins and the scenery is beautiful, if you want to consider that.
And now I have to run to pay my school fees before it becomes late enough that there's a late fee. I shouldn't be posting... (I'm sorry Josh! I'll talk to you later.)
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Oooh! There's White Sands! We can sleep on the bare white dirt of a past nuclear test site! And we can enjoy the real nature, meaning the stink bugs!
Posted by Allegra (Member # 6773) on :
I have heard that White Sands is gorgeous. My brother went there once and didn't stop talking about it for weeks
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Hmmm Tennessee might be a possibility. Steve's family lives in western Tennesee out in the middle of nowhere. It is like 1.5 hours past Louisville, KY.
We couldn't stay with them but that part of the country sure is pretty.
AJ
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
I actually like White Sands but I wouldn't suggest other people go there, esp in the fall.
And I'll eat pretty much anything, Dana. I like it all.
*throws is vote for anywhere near Louisville, especially*
[ August 17, 2004, 04:09 PM: Message edited by: PSI Teleport ]
Posted by Space Opera (Member # 6504) on :
Anywhere near Louisville is great.
space opera
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
To answer the questions:
Yes, there is room to pitch tents. As I said, there's also a camp ground nearby, I think they have some cabins there (will check this weekend when I'm at the cabin).
Showers are sometimes problematic, as the cabin is fed by a small resevoir, and if there is no rain, water flow is slow. I generally don't shower if I'm there for less then three nights, although its possible there would be plenty of water for some people to shower (though definetely not 10 or more people every day).
The cabin is right in the heart of the catskills, about a two hour drive from NYC, and there is a bus that goes up from NYC to the nearby town.
Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :
Paul, is there a hotel nearby (like 10-15 minutes)? We could always rent a nice room there and have shower-trips.
Posted by Architraz Warden (Member # 4285) on :
Well, I'd be fairly interested in this. I'm guessing in a year I can accommodate two or three days off from my job. Being hourly, I don't see why they should care THAT much.
But, in all honesty, if this event isn't west of the Continental Divide, I don't really see myself attending. Anytime I consider going east, I think about all my friends scattered across that part of the country, and how I mentioned I'd visit them if I was ever any closer than Texas. Besides, I STILL haven't made a Shinda and I'm only four hours away. I do have a host of areas I'd suggest, but I think it's already going to be hard enough to select one, so I won't add to the ever-growing list at the moment.
Any other Jatraquera or Jatraquero feel as dedicated as AJ and want to work on a twin event out here in the West? I'd volunteer, and I'm sure I'd get everything worked out, but my laissez-faire approach to life is not conductive to organizing events for others. They tend to stress out when I do.
I'll keep an eye on this thread, and see which way it goes.
Feyd Baron, DoC
Edit, just because
[ August 17, 2004, 11:51 PM: Message edited by: Architraz Warden ]
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
Dabbler- Yes, there are several nearby hotels.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
I'm bumping this from WAY back when, even though I'm sure Paul forgot about it -- but I haven't!
My kids and I were actually planning this as of the turn of the year.
But now, due to April's BobnDanaCon, and the DallasCon in May and my week in Washington D.C. in May for Police Week -- I don't think I will have enough vacation days left for the outing in the Catskill mountains.
So Paul, if you are still going to have it, I'm sorry that we can't be there (my sons are most disappointed, as they are going on any of these OTHER things with me).
Farmgirl
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
I forgot about it... but yeah there are enough big get togethers I think this year (and I'm not planning any of them YAY!) Maybe next year...
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
But someone else is probably better to plan it than me, anyway, if we go this route. The closest to camping I've been was summer camp when I was a teen.![[Blushing]](graemlins/blushing.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
I'll talk to you later.)