HangsGiving 2019
As I’m sitting here unpacking and going over the pictures from this past weekend. I’m thankful for the 60+ hearty souls that joined us at the table on Saturday. I arrived just after dark on Thursday to more people than I expected on the first night. I caught the end of dinner which was tasty. Stories were shared and good times were had around the campfire. Closer to midnight most of those in attendance went to the top of the mountain to catch an expected meteor storm. With the clouds rolling in it was more like a meteor sprinkle, but each one of us saw something pretty in the night sky and re returned back down to the campfire to round in the evening.
Friday morning dawned on more bacon, eggs, sausage gravy,m and biscuits than I believe I’ve seen in camp before. The sun was bright and spirits were high as old friendships were renewed and new ones made. AS the morning wanned the BattleHorse Knives came out and even though Adam and Alicia were sorely missed their spirits were with the knives as we examined and drooled over them. Mike and Rocky brought out the tools of the trade and made primitive fire every which way they could think of. Jerry Dehart went over all the edibles and nutritional goodness that the forest can provide. I gave a poor discussion about backpacking. More people continued to arrive and hammocks were hung. New faces were pouring into the campsite. Every which way I turned a new face needed gear, wanted help, and had questions about their setups. I was in hog heaven. Dinner was Rocky’s award-winning Chili and Don Kemp graced us with a most worthy substitute to Barry’s Gumbo albeit with Okra… More campfire warmth to finish off the night.
Saturday the big busy day started off with coffee and magically for me a Bojangles Chicken Biscuit appeared out of nowhere, Thanks, Thomas! Throughout the day visions of raffle tickets danced in our heads. The tour of hammocks started and while we were getting acquainted with the each setup the sky started to cry on us. We knew that the rest of the day would either be raining or threatening to do so. So we donned our wet weather gear and acted like it didn’t much matter. The gearage sale started and some nice things were laid out for trade and bidding on. FOOD, what a thanksgiving without some good eats. It takes one heck of a kitchen to feed 60+ people and to do so in the woods, in the rain, is a monumental task. Rocky ran the kitchen like a Michelin rated chef and I don’t believe the food Network could have pulled off better! Jeff Long and others got to work and whipped up some of the best homestyle recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation that you just can’t describe how authentic and tasty they turned out! Whoever made that Green bean casserole… send me the recipe! Ticket sales and more tickets sales at $2500 we would shave Mike’s head, then as revenge for my teasing, he pulled me into the bet so at $4000 I would lose my lovely locks. Fourtanetly, for my hair we fell short of that amount, but $3450 is way more than Mike, Moose, and I ever dreamed possible. I love how this community comes together for a good cause and a good time. Post dinner we started pulling raffle items from hidey holes and arranging them as needed. Note to self 3 picnic tables aren’t enough we could have used 5! I started off the raffle and after the 1st hour and getting every their fill of shoelaces. My knees could stand for much more so I took a break and turned it over to Mike to bring us home. Towards the end, I ran off to grab the clippers and let everyone have their fun watching Mike get the years taken off his face. Wouldn’t you know it about 10 minutes after we finished the bottom fell out of the sky an heavy rain carried on into the night lulling us to some of the best sleep I’ve had in the forest.
Sunday dawned clear and bright. More coffee, sausage, and eggs to start the morning. Meagen and Ben introduced us to Aerial Yoga and the largest hammock I’ve ever seen! Oh, and another chicken biscuit for yours truly! At some point overnight Avery with Outdoorsman Outfitters snuck into camp and was showing off his stitchwork and other good hammock discussions. After much lollygagging and clean up we drove down to the rangers station and stunned the Park Superintendant with our large donation. WE finally got everything cleaned up and ready to move out about 4 in the afternoon. Thanks, everyone for attending and while I hope to see everyone next year. I really hope to see everyone in February for the Heartthrob hang!1
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