Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

We already know Teardroppers's are the bestest people in the world but they are also amazingly adaptive and therein lies the real story of LCGIV.

On the Monday before LCGIV, it became increasingly obvious that Lake Bistineau State Park would be flooded out and closed for our gathering...wattodo wattodo...It looked like the NUCLEAR OPTION (blow everything up and move on) was our only way to go. However, the thought of 60+ campers and 150 folks sitting on a WalMart parking lot in Minden La. was not very appealing...wattodo wattodo...I knew of lake Claiborne State Park as my second choice for the original LCG...BUT...could we actually pick up an entire gathering...a gathering a year in the planning and just move it lock, stock and barrel to another venue...would that venue have room for us...would we be welcome like we are at Lake Bistineau...wooditwork wooditwork...

I started calling folks in charge at 8:30 Tues morn...yes there was room(40+ sites)...yes, we could double up, but first I had to explain, we did not need 50 Amp service for our trailers...now, to get all reservations at Bistineau either transferred to Claiborne or get them canceled so folks could get there money back...more phone calls and an email to the Director of the State Parks and Recreation Dept....more phone calls to the reservation and customer service and finally a phone call FROM the Directors Executive Assistant, asking me "...what can we do to make this right..."...I told him and he said"...we can do that" and within 15min, I had reservations issue a cancellation and refund of everyone's monies from Bistineau...once again, more phone calls to verify and finally around noon thirty, I was able to announce "the Deal" and within a few hours, all available sites at Lake Claiborne had been reserved...but would they come????

YES THEY DID...around 62+ sites and 150 folks showed up for what WAS looking like a totally busted weekend...we adapted, we overcame and turned it into one of the finest parties ever.

Usually, somewhere around this point I give thanks to individuals for their help but this year EVERYONE needs to be thanked for showing up and making do.

To every one who donated time, money or both to helping me cook up one of the finest seafood gumbos ever made(how'd y'all like them shrimp)...THANK YOU.

To the Rayvillian's and their tireless group of helpers for the massive breakfast on Sat/Sun morn...THANK YOU...

To all who brought such fine eats to the potluck...THANK YOU

To Mr. Buck and Scott for leading our invocations...THANK YOU

To Danny/Sussie, Steve/Sherry for allowing us to use your site to host the bonfire party...THANK YOU

To the Starleen's, Cindy, Julie and anyone else who had a hand in the big DANCE...THANK YOU

To Darren(Victor Star), for the trophies and the conversation on the future of the LCG...THANK YOU

To Glen and Mike for deflecting the ire of Ranger SeetPea and "taking one for the team"...THANK YOU

To Queenie Jeanne for the 20#s of rice I forgot(and just being you)...THANK YOU

To Steve Tripp, Jerome Guffy, Big Woody, Lisasweetie for traveling such distances just to be with us...THANK YOU

To my wife, Marlene(AKA, thepoorgirl) for being such a trooper...THANK YOU

To Steve Tripp, TonyJ, Mark&Cindy for the most excellent gifts of "spirits" and to Dave and Cindy for the cool apron and to all who brought me cards and cakes...THANK YOU

To the staff at Lake Claiborne for putting up with us and allowing us to be ourselves...THANK YOU...even Ranger SweetPea deserves a big thank you for all the info she provided me to help with the big move...

To everyone who shared their site and helped their neighbors make this lemon into some mighty fine lemonade...THANK YOU

To the pole dancers(shoulda been there), the folks who costumed up and those who decorated their sites...THANK YOU

Once again, I am truly humbled(really) by all the turnout...for something which started as a my birthday campout and has turned into one of the largest annual gathering in the country, I not only say THANK YOU but congratulations as well for being some of the finest folks in the work and it is my privilege to call all of of y'all...FRIENDS

So, until next year at LCGV...Oct28-Nov1...Lake Bistineau State Park, a party which I am sure will be the biggest and bestest yet. I say THANK YOU ALL and LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS(TEARS) ROULET...AAIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE

madjack

Happy Birthday buddy! We truly would like to thank all of you who posted pictures for those of us who couldn't make it.

We missed you all.

And of course, thank YOU MJ for all the work you did to get us another site. It worked out great.

Since there are a bunch of thank yous being thrown about, Cindi and I have one too. We would like to thank everyone who voted Little Switzerland as the Teardropper's Favorite for LCG4. We are honored and very humbled. We didn't even know there was such an award until a month ago and after arriving and seeing all the competition we never expected to win. It was 15 months of hard work and the award was icing on the cake. We have had a lot of fun with the South Central group and look forward to many more gatherings. Once again we say thank you, so very very much.

Don't ya just love it when a plan (and improvisation) comes together?

Well done everyone.


Scott G.

madjack wrote:
So, until next year at LCGV...Oct 28th-Nov1st...Lake Bistineau State Park,

madjack

Uhhh.... Well I guess you da boss, but if I keep the same schedule as the last 2 years, I'll either be out 2 1/2 weeks or have to split it up into 2 trips. What the hell, 2 1/2 week vacation sounds good to me As long as the party lives on, I'm game

So, when can we book sites for next year?

CD

Sounds like everyone had a lot of fun. I'm glad the rain let up and you did'nt get washed out. I hate I did'nt get to make the gathering, but prior committments had to be taken care of. I live only about an hour away to top it off. Next year I hope me and my Girlfreind can join the fun. When do I need to make reservations ?? from the looks of it soon. We also like to camp and canoe in Arkansas. Any gatherings in the works for that area?? A gathering on the Buffalo River would be awsome when it warms back up. William "Madprinter"

Alan and I would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to Madjack for organizing and "re-organizing" this weekend!! I know it takes alot of work to get this all together, but to do it twice...kudos to you! Also, thanks to the dance crew, firestarters and many bartenders who made this weekend so memorable (or is that "un-memorable"?)

Also, we really appreciate all of you who take the time to answer all of our many questions while we are still in the "design phase" of this journey. We are excited and probably more confused than ever...LOL. We are ready to get started now........

p.s. thanks papa bear and baby bear for making this weekend fun. Here's to good friends !!

caseydog wrote:So, when can we book sites for next year?

CD

Next week, LA State Parks allows reservations 11 months in advance. Looks like we'll have to wait until next month to reserve.

madjack wrote:So, until next year at LCGV...Oct28-Nov1...Lake Bistineau State Park,

madjack

oh my.........you moved it out a weekend next year. It has been the next to last weekend up untill now. Guess I'll be alone again. That's Charles' opening weekend of rifle season.

Linda

...so sorry Linda...we are just moving it back to it's original weekend...HALLOWEEN................

madjack wrote:...so sorry Linda...we are just moving it back to it's original weekend...HALLOWEEN................

That's ok Jack. I'll just have to come without him.

Linda

madjack wrote:
To the pole dancers(shoulda been there), the folks who costumed up and those who decorated their sites...THANK YOU

madjack

Dang! What went on on the side of the park! No wonder it was all quite on our side

starleen2 wrote:

madjack wrote:
To the pole dancers(shoulda been there), the folks who costumed up and those who decorated their sites...THANK YOU

madjack

Dang! What went on on the side of the park! No wonder it was all quite on our side

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

What happens at LCG lives on in campfire lore forevermore.

Did you know Caseydog can do can hurdle 54-quart Coleman coolers in the dark? I'm not saying anything else.

madjack wrote:...so sorry Linda...we are just moving it back to it's original weekend...HALLOWEEN................

So, I'm confused. Do I schedule my vacation the week before or the week after?