Cooler by the Lake VIII (April 24 -27, 2014)

[Gary and Cheri]

What we have often done in the past and will probably do again at this year's event goes like this:

Those of us who are coming on Thursday have often gone into town to a local restaurant to try the local cuisine.

Friday night we have an informal wine and cheese get together. Usually nothing is planned but most people bring something to drink and something to share like cheese, chips or the super ambitious who make something special. If you came on Thursday or early on Friday it is a great day to hike the dunes as others are just arriving.

Saturday morning and Saturday evening has always been a signup type of meal. In the past tearhead (Pat) has started a signup about a month or so before the event. I am hoping she will do so again. For breakfast she has posted a list of items that we will need for a good meal and people signup for the item/s that they feel comfortable bringing or preparing. In the evening we have a lot of people who like to experiment with cooking in dutch ovens.(not a requirement) and we ask that you sign up what you feel comfortable making to share. We do this so that not everybody brings beans or a desert. Although I personally really like beans and desert. We try to make people aware of what others are bringing/making so that each can decide what they feel is missing from a well rounded camping supper.

You mentioned popcorn. If Grant and Diane signup they usually bring a very nice popcorn machine.

Saturday between breakfast and supper is on your own. Some have gone geocaching together others have gone antiquing or hiking. Some hang around and take a nap or read a book. We often have people who suggest an activity and are willing to organize it. Say something if you have a suggestion. We have no firm rules and are open to trying new things.

Sunday will see people packing up and leaving fairly early. By noon most will be gone so that they can relax at home a little bit before the week starts for them again. I usually walk the dunes again.

Also, we share the cost of the shelter. It is a $100 per day. We have 17 trailers already to the cost per day is about $6. The shelter is really nice. We have it reserved for only Saturday but often the park will give us the keys Friday night. DWE (Dennis and Cheryl) have been a great help with this in the past as they are local and volunteers at the park.

If the weather cooperates we should have an awesome time. This event has always been a great way to start the camping season.

You can see some of the pictures from last year here; viewtopic.php?f=1&t=53816&start=150

Gary

[Wi urban camo]

Wow, what a nice job providing an informational write-up. Count me in for bringing a dish to pass. I guess we can figure that out once we get closer to the April camping date.

I have never gone geocaching................sounds like fun.

[Zollinger]

Any spots left? Scott mentioned this morning that he needs something to look foward to. Cooler Near The Lake was mentioned. Going to take a look on-line to see whats available. If nothing else we only live 10 miles away we can stop in.

[gdpipkorn]

I wanted to sleep on my zero-gravity camp chair in the bedroom the other night. I said "It would be like camping in winter". Diane said "No".
We are now booked on site 22.
I just logged on for the first time since November. Lots of stuff going on this winter. For the month of December, only four days did not require my time at work. And it won't quit!
I cannot wait! Looking forward to meeting so many new attendees.
I am pretty sure a popcorn machine for the weekend will not be a problem too.
Grant

[Gary and Cheri]

Grant,

You just put us over last year's number (not counting those that came but did not pre-register). We are now 18 trailers. And with Bob's traditional home made beer we now have our traditional pop corn too.

Dawn,

We have missed you and it is time you return to give everyone tours of that great trailer of your. Lots of sites that are right next to us still open and some are right in the middle of us. Pick one and join the fun. If I remember correctly you were once on 003. That is still open. 011 and 014 are right in the middle of us.

Sure looking forward to the camping season starting.

Gary

[BrwBier]

I am open to suggestions as to what kind of beer most people would want. I still have time to make almost anything.
Brwbier AKA BOB

[Gary and Cheri]

I personally like a Harp or Fosters, but that is a little pedestrian. A good Bock is traditional in the spring. They used to come out at Easter and Cooler is only a week after Easter this year. Whatever you make Bob will be great. Really liked the stuff you had at Camp Inn Camp outt.

Gary

[pigcooker]

COLD!!!
Doug

[gdpipkorn]

Our son made an English Pale Ale one time. That was very pleasant. Or the recipe from CICO last fall.

[OuttaHand]

I've been busy with other "stuff" and haven't been on this site too much, but I thought P'd better check in and see how plans are shaping up for CNTL this year.

Put Annette & Kevon down for site 11

I made our reservations for Thur - Sun. I'm hoping Annette can get off work for at least a half day on Thursday and we can get up there fairly early.
There was talk of going into town for Thursday's evening meal. We'd love to get in on that. Sheboygan has the BEST steak sandwiches. If you haven't had one, they're very difficult to describe. Of course, lots of other good food available on the near south side, also.

Also -- I'd love to get a group together for some geocaching. I haven't checked recently, but there has to be some more good caches on the south side of Sheboygan.

And lastly -- has the food sign-up thread started? I'm thinking my dutch oven chili again.

[Gary and Cheri]

Great to hear from you again Kevon and I for one would be up for some more geocaching. Food signup will not be until roughly a month before the event.

A few years back we attended the IRG (International Redwoods Gathering) in California. One of the things they did which I certainly enjoyed was a horse shoe tournament. I have a set that I could bring along that has only seen 3 or four times of use in the past several years.

Rules are as follows:

1. $1.00 entry fee with winner take all.
2. Women will throw with a slight distance advantage (I'm thinking 5 feet). Stakes are 40 feet apart.
3. Unlimited practice but if a pairing come to play they have priority.
4. See me (at the event) and I collect entry and establish initial pairings.
5. Win you go on, lose and you get to watch.
6. Matches are to be played whenever it is convenient for both competitors. Make your own arrangements. Competition for those who are already there starts Friday morning with no more signup after 9:00 PM on Friday night.
7. Any shoe must be within one horseshoe-width (measured across the outside of the open end of the shoe) of the stake to be considered for points. (Official rules call for 6 inches max).
8. The closest shoe to the stake gets 1 point.
9. If you have two shoes closer than any of your opponent's, you get 2 points.
10. Ringers are worth 3 points each and must completely encircle the stake so the ends can be touched with a straight-edge without touching the stake.
11. If you have the closest shoe and a ringer, it's 4 points.
12. If your opponent throws a ringer on top of yours, they cancel and no points are scored.
13 Leaners are worth 1 point and are considered closer than any adjacent shoe except ringers.
14. Highest score after throwing 20 shoes wins. In the event of a tie after 20 shoe we go to sudden death. Winner of next complete round wins.
Hopefully the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME can be played at 4:30 to 5:00 on Saturday afternoon.

Gary

We are 19

[OuttaHand]

I haven't pitched a horseshoe in . . . forever! But it sounds great!

[BrwBier]

Doug, sorry, the beer will be cold but not COLD. That is meant only to freeze your taste buds so you can't tell how bad the beer is. As luck would have it I have enough of the very beer we had at the CICO last fall. So that will be the beer for the weekend.
Brwbier

[pigcooker]

I missed CICO last year Bob, so this cold beer will be new to me. I am sure it was, and will be, very good.

Thanks, Doug

[dwe]

Hello all

I haven't been on the forum for a long time. Y es I will get the keys on Friday night.
Cheryl and I may have a different camper by the time cooler is here.
No promises if it will get warm by April. The way its been going it may be above 0.

Dennis