Who: Munchkin, Radar, Chunkie, Mayor

Site: Camp Alpha

Menu: Grilled Chicken, taters, slaw, chuck roast, bacon, sausage, bisquits & gravy.

Weather: 90s day, 70s nights.

Summary: Radar arrived 7pm. Munchkin, Rooster, & Chunkie already here. Finished setting up and planned kayak trip for Friday. Mayor and I did coon watch till 2am. We did a 4 hour kayak trip to Sutton’s Bluff Friday. We took the Kayak shuttle bus (Radar’s streatch van) and left it at the Bluff earlier for a ride back to camp after the float trip. Left camp at 1pm and arrived at Bluff at 5pm. Decided that 6″ more water would be ideal and should do this in May each year for higher stream flows. I saw a 6 foot long cottonmouth swim between my legs during kayak trip. (Actually it was only 2 feet long and a harmless brown water snake.) It really didn’t swim between my legs, but the last sentence makes a better tale. After the float and a good supper prepared by the Mayor, we retired a little earlier than usual. – Radar

Munchkin came over from the lake through Sam A. Baker park and arrived about 11am Thu. Gathered firewood and policed area waiting for camp mates to arrive. Bettered my buddy, Chunkie in one regard this trip. I was first to draw blood from knife cut. Group arrived about 5pm.  Friday we made a fine float and took several good pics. Two kayak teams assigned – blue team and yellow team. Rooster alerted by me of hearing water gurgling from his inflatable kayak. Chunkie allowed that I couldn’t hear gurgling. Turned out to be a leak. Just made it to take out at Sutton Bluff before #3 chamber deflated. Limo ride back to camp in S&D luxury kayak haulers streatch van. Float time 4 hours with beer breaks and body surfing by some.  Chunkie broke trail on one bad overhang. Looked like he had been in a gang fight when he emerged on other side. First trip for battery fan in tent. – Munchkin

Radar & Munchkin pretty well summarize this trip. All activities rate 12 on a 10 scale. Radar fixed breakfasts which equal Justin Wilson’s fine cusine. Several action pics taken on float trip. Grilled chuck roast and Radar’s taters & onions with Mayor’s slaw for supper Sat. I was not feeling well Sat morning, but after several pork chops in a can ordered by Munchkin, I felt much better. Much discussion about having a full moon Fri night. Mayor allows the full moon will be Sat night & will be a blue moon. Suppose we will find out later. – Chunkie

Research later determined Sat was, indeed, a blue moon. (Second full moon in calander month).

Who: Munchkin, Mayor, Radar, Bumble Bee, Duke

Site: Bravo – Alpha – Bravo

Menu: Bologna stick, Polish sausage, Taco soup, West Fork pot roast.

Weather: Clear 68/28 Thu. 78/36 Fri. 80/38 Sat. Light wind.

Summary: Munchkin arrived first about 4pm Thu.  After setting up camp heard Mayor & Radar pulling up. The silly bxxtards waved, circled toward Camp Charlie & headed out to Alpha. Daylight fading. Walked down road thinking I’d head them off before they made it out to road. Saw them up on Alpha road already. Ran hollering and waving to get their attention. Too much effort for an old man. Retreated to camp and hopped on scooter and made for Alpha. Told them I was here first & I wasn’t changing camps. – Munchkin

Now… the rest of the story. Munchkin had said he was coming up Friday, so Rooster & Radar thought someone else beat us to the campsite. Therefore we were going to Alpha as second choice to wait for Munchkin to arrive tomorrow. All was settled and we encamped at Bravo. Mini Luau Thu night till about 2am.

Friday made early wood run. Made calls from lookout and left Chunkie a voice mail at work. Bumble Bee and Duke arrived about 6pm. Taco soup for supper. Bed 11:30pm. Someone has cut about three trees around Bravo site. Will hurt shade eventually.

Saturday big breakfast. First bisquits in Radar’s new propane camp oven. Bumble Bee fished – no luck. West Fork pot roast in double roastpan over campfire for supper. Great day. – Rooster

Radar took a quick bath in river Sat am. Rooster went in knee deep, froze out and took pan bath. Radar went mushroom hunting but had same luck as Lee’s fishing trip.  Thought I should mention coyotes this trip. Heard two different packs several times. Sometimes only 200 yards, or so, from camp. – Munchkin

My first addition to the journal but far from my 1st trip. Make it a point to fish every time I come up. Fish aren’t anything like they used to be, but I still enjoy the solitude. Saw the biggest grey squirrel I’ve ever seen in my life. I’ve seen more squirrels this trip (six or eight) than I’ve seen around here in a long time. Now if they would just go round up the goggle eyes. – Bumble Bee

Sunday morning note: Radar birthday (64) today. Got up and found a honey bun with a lit eight hour candle and a styrofoam cup with “Happy Birthday” written on side. Also solved quart jar mystery. I found a jar half full of something inside my sleeping bag when setting up Thursday. Everyone trying to figure out why I had a quart jar of something in my sleeping bag. This morning I remembered a buddy giving me a jar of honey during deer season last year. I forgot about it and it turned into greasy looking sugar mass over winter months. Also need to mention a birthday present from Munchkin. A small viewing stone. Some people would call it a rock.

Who: Munchkin, Chunkie, Mayor, Radar, Tucker

Site: Camp Alpha

Menu: Ham hocks & beans, burgers, spuds, coleslaw, beef steak, rabbit, pork steak.

Weather: Highs 80s, low 50s. Perfect.  Touch of fall in air.

Summary: Chunkie and Munchkin arrived 2pm Wed with chuckwagon. Rooster 5pm Wed. Radar 6pm Thursday. Chunkie brought jogging suit for first time. Decided Mayor had been right telling him for years how great they were for camp attire. Installed picture window (cut down high weeds) for senic arm chair view of river. Munchkin & Chunkie fished early am Thu. Snorkleing and mountain biking filled Thursday with frequent beer breaks. Radar brought new camp stove on legs. Chunkie broke it in with breakfast Friday morning. All decided that the stove would be added to the permanent chuck wagon arsenal. Kayaking Friday to cave. Swimming & liquid refreshments. Luau Friday night where Rooster came very close to crossing over for first time. Did not quite get there.

Munchkin went home early Sat am. Others relaxed and enjoyed perfect weather Sat. Great trip!

Who: Rooster, Chunkie, Munchkin, Radar

Site: Camp Bravo

Menu: Chuck roast, fried rabbit, biscuits & gravy, deer sausage, snacks.

Weather: Thu 90/62 hot. Fri. 80/60 fine. Sat 80/58

Summary: Munchkin saw his third bobcat coming in. Hadn’t been in camp 20 min before Chunkie drew his obglitory bloody injury. Document on film. Rain Thu night. Beer going down “smooth as a mountain stream.” A fine time was had by all. Chunkie dragging somewhat Friday. Declared he is giving up drinking beer forever (right!!).

Friday Rooster, Radar, & Munchkin spent midday kayaking from Bravo to Cook’s Cave. Made plans to go to Emminence & float Jacks Fork someday. Munchkin left Sat morning to pick up his Harley Sportster that he is certain to win in promotional drawing at Cape dealership. Radar battled with box turtle when unloading fire wood from truck. Turttle 2  – Radar 0.

Chunkie stayed on wagon one day. He is back on beer. Made kayak trip at low water bridge Sat. Sat around fire Sat night drinking coffee & icewater. Up early Sun. All went to bed by 11pm every night of trip.  Imagine that!!!

Who: Chunkie, Radar, Rooster, Munchkin

Site: Camp Bravo

Menu: Breakfast – Fried squirrel & rabbit, taters, gravy, biscuits. Lunch – Hunters’ stew. Supper – Red beans & rice, Polish sausage, roasted rabbit, fried bologna. Steak for Chunkie & Radar Thursday night. Snacks- Pork chop in a can all weekend.

Weather: Thu – scattered showers & three hour storm during night. Fri – sunny & warm with one shower. Sat – 43 and cloudy am. Warm & windy pm. Sunday wake up 22 degrees.

Summary: Chunkie arrived 4pm Thu & put up tent  in rain.  Radar arrived 5:30pm. Rain stopped. Rooster came in at noon Fri as rain started again. Heavy one hour downpour. Munchkin arrived 1:30pm after having flat tire on way. Chunkie & Radar had problems installing frame on chuckwagon. Radar broke in a new cot-tent from Cabelas this trip.

Ceremonial gin & black cherry toast after supper Fri. Munchkin brought CD of Mayor’s favorite – Mitch Ryder that he found on Amazon.com. Coon watch till 2am Sat morning. 52 deg at bedtime. Cool & windy Sat am. Deep fried squirrel & rabbit, taters, bisquits & gravy for breakfast. Munchkin & Chunkie not hitting on all cylinders this am. Chunkie cut thumb cutting up squirrel. Grilled Mountain Rabbit, tater chunks, and Grizzley Gravy for supper.

Munchkin packed up and left in middle of the night – very early Sun morning. Radar had to pull out about 9am to meet delivery at store.  Chunkie and Rooster hung around till about noon.

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