Thanksgiving Day 11/24/2016

Nope, not a River Day post, but I'd like to say that I'm very thankful today to be part of a great group of people that I count as true friends, something that's not too common these days:

Jay Harper
Ted Hemmelgarn
Tim Harper
Pat Conway

Happy Thanksgiving and Long Live the Rivertarian Party!

River Day 11/21/2016

This is the first River Day post since the Fall Camping Trip, and the first trip to the river for me since well before the camping trip.  It was good getting together at the camp this week, but once again there's been a lot of change going on. (I'm really starting to hate saying that.)  We had decent weather this week, even though it was pretty cool and windy - temp was in the upper 30s and we felt it early on, since we no longer have a wind-break around the fire area.  Tim, Jay, Ted, Pat and I all made it down.  Freddy joined in for a while to catch up.


Jay had told me about it from his last visit, but this was the 1st I'd seen the new construction going on.  We're not sure if it's for an episode of Tiny House Nation, or the remnants of a bad divorce.  Either way, it appears that someone is putting together a small camp structure.  The lot it's being built on has been a matter of dispute by the guy that owns the lot next to it.  As you can see from the pic, I guess he no longer cares what's going on at the river, because he's trying to unload his property as well.  No telling what kind of replacement will end up in his place.

Pat brought down several pallets for the fire, and Freddy brought us a load of old boards he's collected.  With the other stuff we gathered up, there was no shortage of burning material.

We took a little look around another recently vacated property behind the camp, just to check out the conditions.  It's amazing how some people will live, and the conditions under which they'll do it.  Nothing a one gallon can of kerosene couldn't correct.

As usual, we had a great River Day celebration, and I for one always enjoy getting together with fellow Rivertarians.

Happy River Day!

Best fire on the river!

Fall Camping Trip: October 26-30, 2016

Another annual fall camping has successfully come and gone.  This year's trip was back at Sherwood Lake in Greenbrier County, WV.  We were once again at the camping loop on the lake shore.  It's been 6 years since we've camped at the lake, and it felt a little like coming home. 

We had a good sized group of campers for the duration: Jay, Tim, Ted, Pat, Damon, Timmy, Todd and myself (Mark).  Scott also came up for one night, but couldn't spend the whole time like the rest of us did.  We had 4 campers taking up 3 sites, a little bit of food, a couple of cold beverages, and some firewood to make what I'm sure was the best fire in the National Forest.

The weather was better than good: temps in the day time ranging from 55 to 70.  Nights got down to the 40s and 30s.  There was only one day of rain, and that wasn't enough to discourage us from enjoying this end of season extravaganza. 

I won't bore everyone with the details of our time there, but I am posting a good number of photos.  I hope they capture the spirit of the week.  Thanks to Ted for contributing some pics also!

Needless to say, we all missed David again, and I kept expecting to see him every time I turned around.  It was a very nostalgic time for me, as I'm sure it was for some of the other "old timers" in the group that got to enjoy this time with him in the past.

Enjoy the pictures!
(scroll all the way down for a surprise video!)

River Day 10/24/2016

Since we're down to the last few days before the fall camping trip, we'd stayed closer to home again this week.  We had considered going on down to the river, but with final preparations for the trip still being made, we opted to gather in town.  Work issues and camper problems were both the deciding factors.  Tim, Pat, Jay, Ted and I all made it for this week's celebration.

It was a beautiful afternoon; sunny with temps in the 60s.  Despite our location, I did get to watch Jay build a little fire in his back yard.  It was only leaves, but hey, a fire is a fire.

We didn't get into any projects to speak of - most of the talk was about the rest of the week.  I did take just a couple of 
photos, but I promise there'll be plenty more when we return from Sherwood. 

No river but still a great River Day!

Sherwood Supplies

River Day 10/17/2016

It was a later River Day for me this week, so I'm thankful the celebration was held much closer to home.  On the same street even!  Jay, Ted and I got together at Jay's place for an evening of fellowship and projects.  Can't beat that for a Monday evening.

Jay and Ted had gotten started a little earlier than I was able to (didn't think I was going to make it at all), and they had the first project done before I joined them.  We've been working on some "furniture" for a few weeks now, but usually during our Friday evening Happy Hour, or Prayer Meeting, whichever you prefer.  Anyway, Ted wanted some modifications on his, and I think he's got it done to his satisfaction. 

Jay had another project he wanted us to take a shot at, and after some experimentation, some head scratching, and some spare parts, he now has a functioning doorbell ringer in the shop.  And we didn't even break the working one on the main floor of the house!  This little project took a good bit of brain power, and I'm surprised it didn't negate the adult beverages that were consumed during the process.  Here is a perfect example of how a little perseverance pays off.

Parts from 1972

 

We didn't see the river this week, and we had no fire (although Jay wanted one) but it was still a great celebration of National River Day.






Finished product

 

Ted Travel Snack Pack

River Day 10/10/2016

River Day was held at the river again this week, and this time we had the Rivertarian Party well represented: Pat, Jay, Tim, Ted and myself.  The weather was perfect for the holiday, even though it was about 10 degrees cooler than last week.  I think the temp was somewhere around 62 - no shorts and t-shirts, but instead jeans and long sleeves were the order of the day.  Gettin' to be that time of year! (Personally, I'm looking forward to cold and snow).

Freddy came down to visit with us for a while, to get us caught up on the goings-on at the river.  You know, stuff like rodents, family, neighbors, and even a bit of politics (it is an election year, after all).  He even brought us a nice load of old boards to burn, strapped to the back of his 4-wheeler.  With the cooler air, it was much appreciated.  We did collect a bit while we were there, but a ready made pile is always nice.

While Jay, Ted and I were scrounging up some firewood, we noticed the remains of someone's paddle boat washed up below the camp.  I can honestly say that after all the years we've spent at the river, this was a first.  We've had toys, bench grinders, containers of every shape and size, pieces of yard furniture, clothing, feminine hygiene products, you name it.  Now we can officially add watercraft.  But I think you can see from the picture, it's far from being seaworthy.

Always glad to be able celebrate River Day!

River Day 10/03/2016

 

If there's a single word we can use to sum up the last 12 months, I think it would be "change".  We've seen many over the last year, and some of them have affected National River Day, including one this week.

After being moved from Beckley to the river, undergoing flood damage, tree damage, being moved, and being modified, the (once) tin building at the camp is gone.  Except for a piece of glass or two on the ground, there isn't a trace it was even there.  Every part of it has been removed.  The camp itself has taken on  different look with it's absence.  Over the last 12-15 years it housed tools, bait, supplies, wet Rivertarians, and numerous crock-pots of dinner.  The whole idea of National River Day was conceived of and begun in that old outbuilding.  Sad to see it gone.

This week Jay, Ted, Pat and I made it down for a pleasant (as usual) River Day celebration.  Temps were in the low 70's, and the sky was mostly overcast. 

The river was up and muddy this week, probably due to some rains upriver that affected the Greenbrier.  It looked pretty good for fishing, but no one bothered trying.

We had a nice fire going (thanks Jay and Ted!) and there was (is) plenty of burning material around.  We hung around the fire pit most of the time, and had a short visit from Freddy.  Everyone is getting ready for the fall camping trip (Sherwood this year) so a lot of the conversation was about preparations for the annual event.  Not to sound too melancholy about it, but it would be nice to be planning with our fallen brother again.  He will be missed again this year.