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.
Mark (& Cindi) 
<<Jeep Wave
As long as the party lives on, I'm game 
