Windy City Winter Hang -Jan 4,5,6

[BananaHammock]

It was a great event this weekend at the I&M Canal! A group hang at its finest!

3F593E86-DB35-4073-AC63-06F496BF81F2.jpg

Friends gathered to chat outside and inside our new warming shelter, funded by all who attended which was really amazing.

B23727C6-D37C-4B1C-9E50-F72DD75BDE4D.jpg

On Friday, Magic paddler, The Godfather, and myself arrived with a half face cord of wood at the parking lot where we were met by the park rangers on duty. A big shout out to ranger Dan for letting us load up all of the wood onto the park’s truck to be hauled out to our campsite 3 miles away. It was a lifesaver. The Godfather and I jumped on our bikes and rode our trailers toward the shelter. It really warmed up this weekend reaching 50* F!! That’s 50 degrees warmer than last year. The trail turned muddy fast and it was like riding on a beach. Miserable


We met up with Grumspiff at the campsite and went to work on the shelter. I volunteered to be the brave soul that would climb the roof

3870EECB-10E8-46BD-B087-C9C2B56B802B.jpeg BCC56A20-BAAE-4433-B3A4-46B16B4D3B30.jpg

As the sun settled down, it was beautiful on the water even with the passing barges.
ED8FB183-DEA1-4527-BB3F-60E405165F7E.jpeg

Inside, we started the fire and cooked steak and moose sliders.
D44E3B58-AC0B-445F-9764-32472D70C625.jpeg

The temps dropped to about 30 and I slept warm in my Faux Baffle CDT UQ. Thanks for the wonderful design HF DIYers! The next morning we were met early by Goobie carrying his trademark Kringles from O&H Bakery. All day more and more trickled in.
8E511FB5-8356-4983-832F-481703273CAD.jpg. And even though all couldn’t stay, it was great to see you. Once we hit the afternoon, we rode the El Niño temps with barbacoa and pork carnitas which I ate at least 4 of each if not 5. Mmmm!! Delicioso!

Then Just Bill from Towns-End Outdoors (thisgearsforyou.com) showed up and showed off lots of innovative bridge designs and let us all try them out. FYI I spent the night in the Big Guy with an Arrowhead Equipment UQ and stayed warm with no tarp on.

The gang all got together for the group shot right before dark...
E6C2F047-6C18-4DB7-BA59-0FBD553A57BC.jpg
6BD42800-6D9C-4EBC-A651-4249BC5AD459.jpg

And then the party got started as many reached for fine craft drinks and distilled beverages and gathered ‘round for general chit chat, comradeship, and the History of the World told by Just Bill.

Sat night had a humidity of 110% it seemed because everything was wet, cans were strewn, and bridge hammock gear was scattered all around in Just a Mess. It was obvious that we met the goal of creating good times!

After eating 5lbs of bacon on Saturday, you’d think no one was ready to eat breakfast but I barely got my hands in there before another Kringle vanished.

Gradually, everyone broke down, packed up, and disassembled the shelter so we could all say our goodbyes. We cleaned up and made the trek out.

I am now home in the comfort of pajama pants and a robe surrounded by family but I am still smiling over the wonderful, warm, winter weekend and all the great people that made it happen. Can’t wait to do it again!

154AAC15-9A5C-4291-8457-D5732D501CF6.jpg
07044EBF-4B9C-4C55-9747-44966FFE1AFE.jpg
06D9BFBA-E58C-47D1-9D85-C0BC711D0AD3.jpg
6D155BC4-D03B-4492-805B-0923720A2C7D.jpg

[markglist]

It was a great event this weekend at the I&M Canal! A group hang at its finest!

3F593E86-DB35-4073-AC63-06F496BF81F2.jpg

Friends gathered to chat outside and inside our new warming shelter, funded by all who attended which was really amazing.

B23727C6-D37C-4B1C-9E50-F72DD75BDE4D.jpg

On Friday, Magic paddler, The Godfather, and myself arrived with a half face cord of wood at the parking lot where we were met by the park rangers on duty. A big shout out to ranger Dan for letting us load up all of the wood onto the park’s truck to be hauled out to our campsite 3 miles away. It was a lifesaver. The Godfather and I jumped on our bikes and rode our trailers toward the shelter. It really warmed up this weekend reaching 50* F!! That’s 50 degrees warmer than last year. The trail turned muddy fast and it was like riding on a beach. Miserable


We met up with Grumspiff at the campsite and went to work on the shelter. I volunteered to be the brave soul that would climb the roof

3870EECB-10E8-46BD-B087-C9C2B56B802B.jpeg BCC56A20-BAAE-4433-B3A4-46B16B4D3B30.jpg

As the sun settled down, it was beautiful on the water even with the passing barges.
ED8FB183-DEA1-4527-BB3F-60E405165F7E.jpeg

Inside, we started the fire and cooked steak and moose sliders.
D44E3B58-AC0B-445F-9764-32472D70C625.jpeg

The temps dropped to about 30 and I slept warm in my Faux Baffle CDT UQ. Thanks for the wonderful design HF DIYers! The next morning we were met early by Goobie carrying his trademark Kringles from O&H Bakery. All day more and more trickled in.
8E511FB5-8356-4983-832F-481703273CAD.jpg. And even though all couldn’t stay, it was great to see you. Once we hit the afternoon, we rode the El Niño temps with barbacoa and pork carnitas which I ate at least 4 of each if not 5. Mmmm!! Delicioso!

Then Just Bill from Towns-End Outdoors (thisgearsforyou.com) showed up and showed off lots of innovative bridge designs and let us all try them out. FYI I spent the night in the Big Guy with an Arrowhead Equipment UQ and stayed warm with no tarp on.

The gang all got together for the group shot right before dark...
E6C2F047-6C18-4DB7-BA59-0FBD553A57BC.jpg
6BD42800-6D9C-4EBC-A651-4249BC5AD459.jpg

And then the party got started as many reached for fine craft drinks and distilled beverages and gathered ‘round for general chit chat, comradeship, and the History of the World told by Just Bill.

Sat night had a humidity of 110% it seemed because everything was wet, cans were strewn, and bridge hammock gear was scattered all around in Just a Mess. It was obvious that we met the goal of creating good times!

After eating 5lbs of bacon on Saturday, you’d think no one was ready to eat breakfast but I barely got my hands in there before another Kringle vanished.

Gradually, everyone broke down, packed up, and disassembled the shelter so we could all say our goodbyes. We cleaned up and made the trek out.

I am now home in the comfort of pajama pants and a robe surrounded by family but I am still smiling over the wonderful, warm, winter weekend and all the great people that made it happen. Can’t wait to do it again!

154AAC15-9A5C-4291-8457-D5732D501CF6.jpg
07044EBF-4B9C-4C55-9747-44966FFE1AFE.jpg
06D9BFBA-E58C-47D1-9D85-C0BC711D0AD3.jpg
6D155BC4-D03B-4492-805B-0923720A2C7D.jpg

[markglist]

ya did a great job spearheading the trip, thanks BH

[rweb82]

It was a great time hanging with all of you again this year! It's great seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones. I look forward to the next outing!

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[Karla "with a k"]

Great trip report, BananaHammock! However, there wasn't any mention about the raccoons....

[goobie]

The raccoons have learned to stay away when The Godfather is in attendance!


A huge Thank You to the BananaHammock for doing all the work to make this one happen, and The Godfather for "making a few tacos". We all ate extremely well, as is customary with this group.

[Just Bill]

A good time on Saturday fer sure... perhaps not so much the next day fer ol Bill's craft filled noggin.

I'll have to let myself out of the sweat shop more often so I don't have a year's worth of conversation to squeeze into a night.
First thing my wife asked was if I let anyone else talk. Second she asked was if anyone else got to have any beer before I drank it.

Thanks for all the good feedback on the bridges... and fer a good time around the fire away from them.

[Armadillo Hanger]

It was really awesome coming out and meeting all the great hangers and getting a tour of the different gear. Thanks so much for making my daughter feel welcome no matter how shy she was being. She told me she really enjoyed it and had some ideas for things she is going to want and also want to do. You are all awesome.

PS She told me to say that she hopes the M&M Cashew bars were enjoyed by all.

[rweb82]

I sure enjoyed the M&M and cashew bars!

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[goobie]

It was really awesome coming out and meeting all the great hangers and getting a tour of the different gear. Thanks so much for making my daughter feel welcome no matter how shy she was being. She told me she really enjoyed it and had some ideas for things she is going to want and also want to do. You are all awesome.

PS She told me to say that she hopes the M&M Cashew bars were enjoyed by all.

I'm not sure if they were enjoyed by all.....I had 3 or 4......

It was great to meet you both, hope to see the 2 of you spending the night at a hang soon. Glad to hear she had fun!