Petit Jean 2008 April 25 & 26

[AR Dave]

SteveF left a message on my cell phone, at about 5 pm, that he was already in Memphis!
Ain't that moving along kinda swift?

Looking like this is going to be a good one!
Always get excited when those first planes get within stiking distance.

[doug8082a]

That's great to hear! Man, I wish I was traveling with him.

[N2868C]

Hey Dave!

Just thought that I should let you know that Sandy and I will be coming. Hopefully the weather between Kentucky Lake and MPJ will cooperate. We have reservations at the Lodge. We camped before, but looking at the weather, we thought it prudent to have dry accommodations at the Lodge, just in case. The older we get, the less we enjoy hard ground and wet camping. Not sure how we get back and forth, but I’m sure that others will be in the same fix. Looking forward to a great weekend! Sorry Traci won't be there. We sure will miss her.

Hope to see you Friday

Tom & Sandy Odehnal
1954 170B N2868C

[AR Dave]

Talked to SteveF this morning and he's going on up to Gaston's Resort until tomorrow! The world record Brown Trout came out of that river or the one next to it btw. He said that he's has a smooth enjoyable trip!

We take several vehicles (Van's) up to the campground and use those for transportations. But with a dozen cars coming to the fly-in and going back n forth between the lodge and campground, transportation is nothing to worry about! Unless you jump in the vehicle GAR is driving!

[GAHorn]

The weekends forecast for the area:

Friday, Apr 25
High: 76 °F RealFeel®: 78 °F
Some sun with a thunderstorm possible
Friday Night, Apr 25
Low: 58 °F RealFeel®: 57 °F
Considerable clouds with late-night TRWs

Saturday, Apr 26
High: 73 °F RealFeel®: 73 °F
Mostly cloudy with a shower or thunderstorm possible
Saturday Night, Apr 26
Low: 56 °F RealFeel®: 53 °F

Sunday, Apr 27
High: 74 °F RealFeel®: 72 °F
Cloudy with rain and a thunderstorm possible
Sunday Night, Apr 27
Low: 57 °F RealFeel®: 53 °F
Evening showers and thunderstorms; otherwise, overcast

[AR Dave]

Thanks for the good weather report George! We had a thunderstorm pass by this afternoon. SteveF called from Gaston's to report the birds were chirping and he was liking what he saw. He said that he waited for the thunderstorm to pass before flying over. Typically you can give it an hour and let it move on to the east.

[jrenwick]

The current weather forecast for Friday is unfavorable for a flight down from Minnesota, with rain and thunderstorms predicted all along the route. Same deal on Thursday, and a return on Sunday doesn't look good either. Mather Lodge has a 48-hour cancellation policy, so Dennis Hoffman and I have cancelled our reservations there. We'll keep watching the weather of course, and still try to get down there if we can. We can always camp if we can't get another booking in the lodge. Hope springs eternal....

John

[Paul-WI]

This spring has been frustrating, hasn't it John? Everytime I want to go somewhere, bad weather. Everytime weather is good - work gets in the way. Oh well.....


Paul

[jrenwick]

This spring has been frustrating, hasn't it John? Everytime I want to go somewhere, bad weather. Everytime weather is good - work gets in the way. Oh well.....

Exactly! Well, Plan B is Lee Bottom on June 7th.

John

[AR Dave]

Helped SteveF set up camp at Petit Jean, just flew back 5pm.
GAR called from Hope, AR, and should be here at about 7pm..

There is a brand new multi-million dollar lodge/restaraunt at Rockerfellar's Ranch (actually closer to airport). I just found out about this. So if we need more rooms, maybe we should check this place out!

[jrenwick]

There is a brand new multi-million dollar lodge/restaraunt at Rockerfellar's Ranch (actually closer to airport). I just found out about this. So if we need more rooms, maybe we should check this place out!

You must be talking about the U. of Arkansas' Winthrop Rockefeller Institute (http://www.uawri.org). There's a map here: http://www.uawri.org/!userfiles/file/lo ... email).pdf. They appear to have rooms available now, for $69/night. (501) 727-5435.

John

[blueldr]

Damn! I wish I'd known about those $69 rooms. I'd have given it my best shot on my new ride. Gasoline bill Was killing me so I bought a 200cc Vespa motor scooter. Hot Damn! 70 MPG, Freeway legal and cruises smoother than a babys butt at 60 MPH. I ve put 2500 miles on it in five weeks! Guess it's too late to start for Petit Jean at this late date. Maybe next year (if theres any gasoline left). How far do you suppose it is from Sacramento, California to Petit Jean Seate Park, Arkansas? Think I could make it on the Vespa in about three days? I don't know if my butt could last any longer than that.

Wishing all the very best at the fly in.

blueldr

[DaveF]

How far do you suppose it is from Sacramento, California to Petit Jean Seate Park, Arkansas?

Only 1926 miles!

http://tinyurl.com/5lxk2x

[AR Dave]

Damn! I wish I'd known about those $69 rooms. I'd have given it my best shot on my new ride. Gasoline bill Was killing me so I bought a 200cc Vespa motor scooter. Hot Damn! 70 MPG, Freeway legal and cruises smoother than a babys butt at 60 MPH. I ve put 2500 miles on it in five weeks! Guess it's too late to start for Petit Jean at this late date. Maybe next year (if theres any gasoline left). How far do you suppose it is from Sacramento, California to Petit Jean Seate Park, Arkansas? Think I could make it on the Vespa in about three days? I don't know if my butt could last any longer than that.

Wishing all the very best at the fly in.

blueldr

U BEDER QWIT THEM "DAM" "HOT DAM" DAM WURDS - -URE HURT MA EYERS - - SIDES U WUD PROLY PAS AWAY FORE U GOT TEN ER NINE MILES FRUM HOME IFN U TUK OFFN ON THAT "HOT DAM" SCOOTER!

[blueldr]

Sunofagun! Only 1926 miles. Piece of cake! By next year my butt will be toughened up to handle that distance in a breeze. I just hope there's enough Vespa fuel left in the good ol' USA to give it a try.

You have to understand, of course, that attempting the trip will also depend on the state of our petroleum situation. At the rate that the price of gasoline has been increasing, at only seventy miles per gallon a trip that distance may be out of question.

Say, do you suppose ol' AR Daves employer up there among the "Oils of the North" would cough up enough of those obscene recent oil profits to sponser our aggregate fuel bills for the party? I think we should impose on ol' Dave to kiss up to the high brass of his outfit and see what he can do. After all, he's one hell of an adept organizer. Just look at the PJ fly in.