Well, we have completed another installment of our Labor Day Campfest in the Land Before Time at the Cot-Taj-Mahal. It is safe to say that even with the minor “Hurrican” that we experienced, everyone had a wonderful time..!!
Friday Campfest events kicked off with cooler bleaching, tent pitching, and ghetto chair installation. There was random hooping (even though hooping is strictly forbidden). New for this year, we had the capturing of the dreaded Regal Moth Pupae. Friday’s campfire festivities went late into the night with the consumption of many liquid refreshments.
Campfest Saturday…
On Saturday the first flotilla got off to a late start. Still, we managed to finish strong at the take out in just over 4 hours. The water was warm the day was sunny and hot and the “Parents” were in attendance. This was the largest flotilla to date and the river level went up a foot after everyone got in. Saturday evening we tried playing “Chinese Whispers” around a very large campfire ring. We couldn’t seem to make it all the way around but it was hilarious none the less. Saturday night was mostly subdued because of the revelry on Friday and the day spent on the river in the hot sun.
Campfest Sunday…
Campfest Sunday brought about second river flotilla, this time with none of those pesky “Parents”. After dropping the young adults, i.e. kids, at the put in, the pesky “Parents” sat in their beach chairs in the river planning future vacations out west and at the shore. The day was slightly cooler than Saturday. The flotilla made it to the take out in just under 4 hours. Upon their arrival we learned that the official USGS water level gauge reading for the Juniata River was, “It’s only ASS DEEP, It’s only ASS DEEP”. That was probably a good level because one of our intrepid floaters lost his prescription sunglasses. He had to call upon the assistance of Jacques “Ed” Cousteau who, after a short time scanning the river, submerged himself “ASS DEEP” and came up with the glasses.
Very soon after the flotilla take out it began to pour and shortly after that “Hurrican Erin” hit us full force. The rest of the evening was spent huddled together underneath the pavilion in the throes of Hurrican Erin. The special Hurrican Erin events included: raising a tent over the fire pit with aluminum poles in a lightning storm, cigar smoking, a lightning strike, duct tape rain suit competition, wine guzzling, first aid foot bandage competition and an interpretive dance of all the weekend highlights.
Campfest Monday…
All good things must come to an end and so on Monday we all broke camp, broke wind, and said our goodbyes. Robrandi and I would like to thank everyone for attending and contributing. We really do love all you guys…!!! So until next year remember, “There’s a train a comin and it’s draggin a wheel”..!!
Thankx to my Guest Photographers, Dave Grooms, Sandi Schadt and Jessica Crowley. They graciously let me re-post their content. The still images from Jessica Crowley were captured from her video. The complete video can be seen here: Labor Day Campfest 2011 by Jessica Crowley
