Central Texas Gathering, Inks Lake State Park, Nov 16-18th

[Cindy]

You know, the reason that we have so many camp outs in the metroplex is that somebody plans them. It takes planning to make it happen and some amount of worry. I know for the Cedar Hill gathering, I worry if we can get close together, where to camp, how soon can I get there to greet everyone, where will we eat and will there be enough food and enough tables. Will the people who need close to the toilet be able to get there - lots of planning.
Dave and I have said all along "You plan it and we will come." So, there you go. A challenge: You plan it and we will come!
Trust me, it takes a little more than setting a date to get 10+ campers together in any park.
Kudos to Linda who plans Beaverbend , Madjack for LCG , Pat for Petite John , and Todah for the Christmas gathering at Ray Roberts.
Who will be the planner for a Thankgiving gathering. Again, You plan it we will come.

[Dooner]

I just voted for Nov 16-18, but Dec 7-9 would be good too. Those are the two best dates for me to make it all three days.

I've got a table that is about 2x8 that I can bring to set food on for pot luck dinners. I'll be glad to bring extra of what is needed. Just let me know.

I've never been there before, but I have been looking at the park map. It seems to have a few good rounded areas where we can keep our wagons in a circle. Maybe some suggestions of the best spot from someone that has been there before.

Do we need to elect a chairman for this. And then maybe split up some responsibilities. Or if someone has the planning experience could volunteer. I don't want to be chairman, but I will be glad to help out with things.
I think we can make this a great gathering.

[Cindy]

Guys, understand that I am on some good pain meds right now from the surgery.
Its not really a chairman type of thing but it could be a team effort. Someone needs to be the first there to get the sites. Texas parks are really hard to get people together unless there just isn't anybody at the park.
First, there has to be a date and location. Then, somebody should call the park and ask if they allow preregistered groups to be together [We just found out Cedar Hill does this year] and since it is a winter gathering, what area will be open in the winter - typically they shut down half or more of the park to camping in winter. Then a site is picked that is grouped close to a shower house.
Then, people just have to make reservations. It may show that there are 124 sites available now for the November time but Texas parks fill up fast and if part of the park is closed it is twice as fast.
Somebody from South Texa step up and say, I will set the date, pick the park, call the park and let everyone know what we are doing.

[Coca Cola Teardrop]

Thanks for the Kudos Cindy......It really is time consuming to actually plan a gathering. I started the Beaver's Bend gathering cause Charles and I couldn't make a reservation unless it was for a group of 10 or more. So I invited anyone that wanted to come. It has been great.
We have not been to any other good size gatherings (besides Minden) and if this one is in December I can't wait to make my reservation and kick back and relax.
I will be willing to help do something if need be though........

Cindy, glad you are healing and getting better. Aren't you glad those good pain meds exist?

Linda

[asianflava]

I'll do some investigation to make this happen, I guess I'm proly closest so I'll see what I can do. I can't do anything now because I'm getting ready to start my work week. Nothing gets done while I'm at work because I'm only consious for a couple hours before I have to head back in. I also have to wait till I get back to work to see what my vacation schedule looks like.

I just checked Reserve America and it shows 121 sites available for the Nov16 weekend.

PM me if you have any comments or Ideas.

[Coca Cola Teardrop]

Hey Woody, Thanks for offering to hold a flashlight.
Looks like votes are leaning towards November so you won't need to hold a light for me. Can't do November. Sure was hoping more would lean to December. Oh well. Guess there's always next year

Linda

[caseydog]

If ya'll set up in the dark I'll hold the flashlight for you.


Woody

That time of year, we can make it a contest. Set up with no lights, and we judge the results in the morning.

CD

[Woodyperk6]

Hey Linda you're welcome,
I'm planning on going in nov but I would not mind camping in dec as well. Might be kinda fun, I can't recall ever camping in dec. Any thoughts or suggestions from anyone.


CD,
Do we judge on the best looking or worst looking camp set up in the dark ?


Woody

[switterstx]

I may not have tear yet but I'd love to come and see. All of those sound like great parks. And most of them are relatively close to me!

Cindy, I was curious how you get reserved spaces in a state park? We've tried that in the past and were told "first come, first serve" as long as you have a reservation. I'd love to know how to do this.

Ya'll pick a date and I'll pitch my tent.

Take care,
Tom

[LSmith]

I would vote for the 14-16

[SteveH]

Tom,

As long as people have paid in full, in advance, the first person there in the group can pickup the sites, and choose sites close together.

[Cindy]

Cindy, I was curious how you get reserved spaces in a state park? We've tried that in the past and were told "first come, first serve" as long as you have a reservation. I'd love to know how to do this.

Well, that is the basic problem with Texas State Parks. You cannot reserve a space. The only successful way we have found it to work is for everyone to pay their reservation fee completely and send their name to the person who will get their first. The first person there picks up all the reservations and gets the spaces together. For Cedar Hill, I picked up reservations on Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings. Some parks work better with you than others but the full reservation fee must be paid. Then when you get there, you pay your daily use fee if you don't have a pass and find out where you are.

Does that help?

[lcurrie]

Hi All,

I'll jump in and offer to help organize this.

My father has organized a couple of rallies for his FMCA chapter (larger than average size RVs). He's been kind enough to share his wisdom and some of the documents and checklists they use to organize and prepare for the rallies.

Are you guys interested in me modifying them for our purposes? If so, I'll try to get it done this weekend and post them.

I think they might help us divvy up tasks so that all the responsibility of setting up a rally doesn't fall on one person.

While we're at it, I'll try to put together a 'best practices' for the TD rallies so in the future, they're easier for others as well.

[SteveH]

Lynn,

I had intended to organize this gathering, but I certainly won't turn down help. Thanks for offering.

I thought I'd give the poll one more day to let everyone that is interested time to voice their opinion on the date. Once we decide on the date, the first thing we will need to do is everyone that wants to go, needs to make a reservation. The reservations need to be made as early as possible, because like Cindy says, Texas State Parks fill up early.

After we get a list of the people going, I will contact the park directly and see if they will do anything for us as far as locating us all together, and then work it as necessary from there.

[switterstx]

Cindy,

That's what I thought, thanks. I was hoping you had some super-secret reservation number I didn't know about