TX GTG Oct 31 2012 - Canyon lake

[ellenw]

Birdie - Thanks for the suggestions and the offer. Unfortunately I have a Gift of the Magi situation, as do a lot of us here: If I retire early to RV more, I won't be able to afford to pay for an RV. LOL! Sort of a Catch-22, yes? My time will come. In the meantime, some serious research and thinking. I'm realizing how much fun I'm having on this new journey. I sure hope the destination (actually owning and doing) is just as much fun! Scary but exciting thoughts!

[Birdie]

Charlotte, I'll help you with locations on the way to CC for the Green Jay and the Aud OREO if you make it over.

[VickieP]

I realized that there is only about 3 weeks before we leave for The Texas Trip. Birdie & Colleen, is there any type of schedule yet? I think Wimberly was mentioned, what about potluck meals? Is the Bingo game planned for this gtg? If so, I'll need to pick something up for that. Anything else in the plans yet?

[longdog2]

We are planning on putting together a more detailed schedule once Birdie gets back here. Thought we had plenty of time since it is more than 6 weeks away. I'm sure we will have others who have not yet made reservations.

Wimberly Trade Days is on the list for Saturday. I think we will have something lined up for Halloween since there will be quite a few already there. There will definitely be some potlucks for dinners and maybe a throwdown or two for breakfast. Probably an eat out or two. The Pink FlaminGoes usually play Bingo one night so we are hoping Pat will bring her Bingo accutrements so a bingo prize will be in order. Hope this helps until we get a little closer to the actual event. We won't know about campfires until close to the event. Right now fires are definitely banned due to the dry weather. Yes, we did get three inches of rain last night because I had the carpets cleaned yesterday but that is not enough to take the ban off. Some of the ladies will probably want to do the Canyon gorge hike as well.

In any case, come prepared for fun.

[sharon]

Ummm...Doofus....just how long is it gonna take you to get from Louisiana to Texas????

[Redwahine]

Anyone headed to or from the TX gtg and would like a rest stop overnight or ?? our drive way is available. It is very long and wide with a 2 acre fenced yard. We are in a small, still country area just a mile off the 290 headed NW out of Houston toward Austin. I think we are about 4 hrs from the gtg.

[VickieP]

Ummm...Doofus....just how long is it gonna take you to get from Louisiana to Texas????

Nobody asked for comments from the peanut gallery! Actually we're leaving early because we're doing a tour through Texas, up to visit friends in Bowie and sightseeing along the way up and back down to the GTG.

[Sandersmr]

Colleen - is it a total burn ban, or just open fires? We have so many different levels of burn bans in TX and I have seen them all, I think. Last year, even with a burn ban, Brazos Bend allowed charcoal fires - which we found out when we got there and didn't have any. I also have gas stove and grill that's usually allowed even with a burn ban.

[mitch5252]

Colleen - is it a total burn ban, or just open fires? We have so many different levels of burn bans in TX and I have seen them all, I think. Last year, even with a burn ban, Brazos Bend allowed charcoal fires - which we found out when we got there and didn't have any. I also have gas stove and grill that's usually allowed even with a burn ban.

http://swf67.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/canyon/

"CLOSEABLE GRILLS ONLY"

Bummer...I wanted to bring my DO, too! Let's hope the ban is lifted before we get there!

[Sandersmr]

Mitch - we have a Lil Smokey Joe - I may bring that. It's closeable, whether I can actually close it with my 12" is debatable, but I know that I can with my 8 and 10"

[longdog2]

Thanks Mitch. Last year it was a complete burn ban. No fires of any kind including wood, charcoal, and gas. As Mitch has already answered, this year they decided to allow covered grills. Don't take this as a final response however. Things could easily change between now and then depending on whether or not we continue to get enough rain. We will just have to keep an eye on things.

I had my carpets cleaned on Thursday so it started raining late that afternoon and rained all night. It was dry Friday and Saturday but started again this morning about 6:30AM and is just now letting up. Had I known that carpet cleaning (you must have dogs) was far more reliable rain dance than merely washing the car, I would have done it long ago. We have gotten enough rain that I will be chasing dogs from now until the ground is completely dried out again so that I don't end up with muddy footprints everywhere.

[Sandersmr]

Oh Colleen - we have muddy pawprints everywhere as well. First night, we let the dogs in and Jazz immediately jumped up on the bed that I had considerately turned down for Mark... <sigh>

[longdog2]

As long as they allow closeable grills, the park actual has a pedestal barrel type grill with lid at each site in addition to the fire ring. Last year you couldn't even use a gas camp stove so some tenters came and had no way to cook food; however, if you live around here, your concern has to be more with the fire danger. Like I said, we will wait and see.

[mitch5252]

..

I just got off the phone with Potter's Creek Park and the burn ban was lifted about TWO MINUTES AGO!!! YEAH!!!!

So, Maggie, bring on that DO and teach, teach, teach...



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[Sandersmr]

..

I just got off the phone with Potter's Creek Park and the burn ban was lifted about TWO MINUTES AGO!!! YEAH!!!!

So, Maggie, bring on that DO and teach, teach, teach...



..

Hey -I'm really a novice at this stuff. I just have a couple of things I do well. BUT I'm going to the National DOG (Dutch Oven Gathering) 2 weeks before I get to the TX GTG and hope to learn some new tips and tricks.