River Valley Christmas Party Planning (Dec 10)

[GN YAKN]

Hey Everyone,

Dave Thomas is just weeks away from completing his degee and graduating. So, as you can imagine, he is covered up. Let's step up and take the planning for our annual Christmas party off of his shoulders!

Date is set for Saturday December 10 at Ron Robbins place on the Mulberry! Read on for details........

[GN YAKN]

[GN YAKN]

Ron Robbins has agreed to host the party on Saturday December 10 at his place. I like to call it the Mothership... come see why!

Bike ride on local trails around 4:00. Dinner round 7:00, potluck with an ample supply of MEAT provided that will most likely be BBQ'ed Brazilian Style. Take your blood pressure meds early!

Potluck sides, deserts, cetra cetra and BYOB. We'll have plenty of spots to camp at our place, a few beds inside and the barn for overnighters if you want to avoid trouble getting home!

Who knows, maybe there will be water on Saturday and/or Sunday!

Have a Very Merry White(water) Christmas!

[GN YAKN]

Hard to compete with the Piney Creeks Chapter on party longevity, but, the RV party will be the 17th annual gathering. Began in 1995 the year we took the best float in the Christmas Parade and then had Chris Cameron knock our socks off with a power trio.

Chris was maybe 17 and came with his folks in a coat and tie and proceeded to pin our ears back with his guitar playing skills! What a night!

[Michele Jackson]

Sounds great Dave! Thanks for taking the initiative on this. Will the party be indoors or out? I haven't been to Ron's in a while so I'm not sure exactly where we'll be gathering.

[GN YAKN]

Outdoors but under roof, with fire place!!!

It's the freekin Mothership!

Bring your bikes and let's go for a ride early in the evening. We've got new trails to ride!

[Sasquatch]

So is it the 10th or the 17th? And are we a bike club now? I think there is water to paddle

[Owl]

...And are we a bike club now?...

LOL @ 'squatch.

[terrirox]

So December 10th...What time? And I could use some directions or an address. I'll be bringing a side dish of some sort.

This is my first canoe club christmas party...so what can I expect? Do I need to bring a gift for a gift exchange of some sort?

Also S'Mores for the fire you mentioned would be a great addition!!!

Peace

[BHK Okie]

I'm new but I'm old ! I don't know anyone here , I don't think , but I'm a new member and I have a bike and a kayak and I LOVE parties . Give me some directions and you can all laugh at how much I don't know about any of this .

[GN YAKN]

Our 17th Annual Christmas party will be held on December 10th.

Location is part of the challenge. Get out your GPS! I'll ask Ron to check my directions and clarify any bad info, but, you'll need to head towards the hills. N35.34.9600' W094.00.9461'

Take I-40 east to exit 24 or Hwy 215. Go north on 215 about 4 miles until you cross Mill Creek. Look for the road on the right (east side) just past the bridge, Wilson Lane. Turn east or right on Wilson and stay on it for a couple of miles to Ron's place on the right. We'll put up some surveyor's tape flagging to assist. But you stay on this road crossing creeks, winding up hills, passing saw mills, etc. 4wd is not mandatory but you probably won't want to drive your Posrhee!

Dinner is potluck and we're shooting for 7:00. We will be outside but under a roof with a fireplace for warmth and at least one other fire to stand around outside! Camping is recommended so you don't have to drive home. Bring camp chairs.

We have a White Elephant Crazy Santa Gift Exchange that is the hilite of the evening. You can spend money if you want, or not! Something paddling related is always good. Something you can ingest is good also!

And, yes, due to the recent drought we have kept our keen senses of balance honed by rolling around on bicycles! If there is water we can always paddle and there are several local options. If no water, we spin!

If there is water and someone wants to try and put together a short trip the local options are Little Mill Creek, Spirit's Creek, Hurricane Creek out of Shore's Lake and the Mulberry in order of wishful thinking!

You can get all the peddling you want in a couple of hours so plan on biking around 3 - 5 or so if there's no water. Class II+ peddling! Headlamps or bike lights are a good idea. (To clarify, this is off-road mountain biking, challenge by choice, we usually make it back with everybody, but no guarantees, bring flares & sat phones if you've got em!)

Folks are welcome to camp locally. We can host folks at our place as well. We like to say we are family friendly. (You may want to listen to Robert Earl Keen's family Christmas song to make sure which family!)

If you are a picker, please bring your axe! We'll spark up the PA. Other details will be determined right there on the spot. But let us know if you have other questions and we'll make up an answer if we can!

We are a fun-loving big open family of folks that enjoy the outdoors and getting together to eat and sing!

[BHK Okie]

Sounds great ! I'll plan on being there . Im a little slow , what's the White Elephant Crazy Santa exchange ? It will be me and my 15 yr old son . He's got 3 questions - will we ride ? will we paddle ? will there be girls ? Before we get there he'll have one more , it will have something to do with food .

[GN YAKN]

White Elephant = used paddling gear, used camping gear, regifted item, minimal cost. Should be useful, funny, cheap! You can buy something if you want but don't expect to return with something of equal value. Be Creative!

Crazy Santa = Draw a number, take turns picking a gift, open the gift and show everyone, or.........when it's your turn you can steal someone else's gift, they can pick another gift, or steal a third party's gift. No immediate take backs and a gift is "locked" after it has been selected and then stolen 3 times. You never know what you will leave with until the dust finally settles!

Boating = good possibility if there is adequate water. Degree of difficulty is always subject to change but probably class I or II. Weather is another factor that is hard to predict. Might be cold!

Biking = always a possibility unless it is raining. Degree of difficulty probably class II. Mostly slow uphill slog followed by fast downhill WHEEEE! Mileage is up to you. 4 - 8 miles most likely. Roughly 2 hrs.

Girls? There are usually a handful of young folks of varying ages. You never know for sure who is going to show! Maybe folks will start fessing up, soon, on the message board.

Food? = Our potluck dinners are legendary!!!!

[Sasquatch]

If we do paddle I opt for Sartins run. And will we ever see the retun of the TAZ CLOCK?

[Dr. Steve Yaney]

I'm Owl's campaign manager and I want to remind everyone to Vote for Brad!!!!! Now everyone can attend the party and relax without the nomination worry!!!! You rule Brad!!