It was a great event this weekend at the I&M Canal! A group hang at its finest!
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Friends gathered to chat outside and inside our new warming shelter, funded by all who attended which was really amazing.
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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
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As the sun settled down, it was beautiful on the water even with the passing barges.
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Inside, we started the fire and cooked steak and moose sliders.
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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.
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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...
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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!
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