Brian Roebuck
Site Admin
Caver
Caving - the one activity that really brings you to your knees!
Posts: 2,732
|
Post by Brian Roebuck on Jul 22, 2007 21:09:59 GMT -5
Lynn and I arrived today and met up with some of our caving friends. The convention has been fun already even though it hasn't even started! Cave trips and good times await us throughout the week. We'll try to keep y'all posted on some of the highights as we go. If you're in the neighborhood come on by!
|
|
Tony Anders
Caver
SKSC Caver
See you around, in the underground.
Posts: 329
|
Post by Tony Anders on Jul 22, 2007 21:54:47 GMT -5
Well, I am glad you all made it safe and sound. Let me know when you come back through. I guess you will probably be going down 64 instead of 75 though, huh...
If you do come through this way, give me a holler on the 146.610 if you have you radio with you.
|
|
|
Post by Sharon Faulkner on Jul 23, 2007 0:12:17 GMT -5
Hey Brian Thanks for the post...look forward to reading all about the Convention happenings! Give us a shout or an update when you can. Hope you all have a great time!
|
|
Brian Roebuck
Site Admin
Caver
Caving - the one activity that really brings you to your knees!
Posts: 2,732
|
Post by Brian Roebuck on Jul 23, 2007 9:03:27 GMT -5
Well, I am glad you all made it safe and sound. Let me know when you come back through. I guess you will probably be going down 64 instead of 75 though, huh... If you do come through this way, give me a holler on the 146.610 if you have you radio with you. Hi Tony, We didn't take a radio this time. since we came from a different route going up I am not sure of the route back home. Anyhow we're getting ready to head to the site. If you private meassage me your phone number we can call you on the way home Sat or Sun (depends on cave trips etc). We'll let you know though. Maybe we can stop somewhere and meet up!
|
|
Brian Roebuck
Site Admin
Caver
Caving - the one activity that really brings you to your knees!
Posts: 2,732
|
Post by Brian Roebuck on Jul 23, 2007 21:41:59 GMT -5
Day one (officially) of the 2007 NSS Convention began by checking up on the great local tourist caves nearby. Lynn and I met up with some TAG cavers, Gerald Moni, Avis Moni, Alan Cressler, by chance at Marengo Cave to do commercial tours. We had a good time with them enjoying the nice tours offered there. Many beautiful formations were seen in this fine cave with some good photo ops for Lynn and others to take advantage of. Later a lunch at a local restaurant (Vans) provided a chance to meet other cavers who also decided to eat there after seeing bat stickers parked outside. The local folks in Marengo are genuinely caver friendly and we have enjoyed excellent support from all of them. We had planned to try to do a bit of wild caving but our plans fell through. Maybe later. Instead Lynn and I decided to forgo any sessions in order to travel down the road to do Wyandotte cave commercial tour as well in the afternoon. In any case the Wyandotte tour was quite fun with a small group consisting of cavers and regular tourists. This tour was much more strenuous with many steep slopes, ladders, and stairs to negotiate along with many stoop passages for us taller cavers. Lynn got a few good photos of helectites through the wire mesh protective guards. Many impressive large rooms were also seen on the 90 minute tour. The guide was a fun young fellow and we cavers invited him to continue along and join the NSS and become a caver. He was very interested in doing so. That evening we attended the Howdy Party discussing caving and cavers with new found friends and old acquaintances among the music, good food, and cold brew. We had the good fortune to run into Jim Coke (fellow caver and U.S. Cavers Forum member) for the first time and had a great time discussing things with him. We also saw Azureana while there! Too many other cavers to mention were also seen here at this well attended event. The weather has cooperated wonderfully all week so far and it is nice and cool in the evenings here - great for camping and social buffoonery we cavers all enjoy. The shrine to "Sister Winky" has so far kept bad weather at bay but rumor has it that this strategy may backfire and rain may commence at the end of Convention to drown out our perfect experience. We'll see what happens. Live from Convention this is Dr Beaner......
|
|
|
Post by Sharon Faulkner on Jul 24, 2007 9:16:57 GMT -5
Thanks Dr. Beaner, sounds like a fun day! Wish I was there. Isn't the internet wonderful....it wasn't that many years ago that Convention reports would have had to have waited for folks to return from the trip. Now, participants can provide live coverage of events taking place on a daily basis. Too cool!
|
|
Brian Roebuck
Site Admin
Caver
Caving - the one activity that really brings you to your knees!
Posts: 2,732
|
Post by Brian Roebuck on Jul 24, 2007 21:29:28 GMT -5
Day two, We spent lots of time in sessions today attending the Conservation Section meeting as well. BTW the Conservation Section is actively looking for a new newsletter editor so let them know if you are interested! Many of the attendees also were in sessions and enjoying the vendors, climbing contests, and fellowship on the grounds. Lynn and I dined on a fine country Bologna sandwich (thick sliced) from a store just down the road. It was nice to find a rural delicacy so far north! The corn here is also excellent as is the beer many of us enjoy most evenings. No caver should starve at this Convention!
Tonight we enjoyed the open mike performances of several cavers including TAG's own Glenn Mills under the shelter. The campground seemes full now as most everyone attending is here now. We headed back to our motel to rest up for tomorrows activities. There are caves to see, local sites to visit, and more corn to eat!
Reporting live from convention, Dr Beaner............
|
|
Brian Roebuck
Site Admin
Caver
Caving - the one activity that really brings you to your knees!
Posts: 2,732
|
Post by Brian Roebuck on Jul 25, 2007 20:03:41 GMT -5
Day three... No big news here today. Lynn and I went on the wine tasting bus tour all day. We came, we sampled, we enjoyed. We capped the evening off with a nice dinner with a caver couple (the Whites from Illinois) at The Overlook Restaurant overlooking the Ohio River a couple hundred feet lower than the bluff we were on. It was a spectacular view and lots of cavers were also eating there. Benjy Von Cramon was there celebrating his birthday with Brent, Nancy and Scout Aulenbach, Hazel Barton, and several other notable cavers. The drive back along Indiana 62 to Corydon was also quite beautiful passing by Wyandotte Cave and lots of good looking Karst. Tonight we'll forego the Camp Party to rest up as the 2007 Convention comes to a head in the next few days! Live from Convention - Dr Beaner...... PS: Hoosier Daddy?
|
|
|
Post by Sharon Faulkner on Jul 25, 2007 22:11:57 GMT -5
Sounds like convention is going quite well! Glad you guys are finding time to step outside the convention doings and sample the local caves, eateries and scenery. Thanks for the report Dr. B! Glad to have you back with us Timebot! Maybe the Colorado Convention bid will be accepted and then you will have the opportunity to attend a near by convention.
|
|
Brian Roebuck
Site Admin
Caver
Caving - the one activity that really brings you to your knees!
Posts: 2,732
|
Post by Brian Roebuck on Jul 26, 2007 6:18:53 GMT -5
Yep, It's been fun so far and we're trying to wake up enough to go caving today. The guidebook is as big as a phone book so we have lots of choices. There might be some rain today if it gets this far south. It is dry around here too!
Hi to Timebot from convention!
|
|
Brian Roebuck
Site Admin
Caver
Caving - the one activity that really brings you to your knees!
Posts: 2,732
|
Post by Brian Roebuck on Jul 26, 2007 22:19:03 GMT -5
Day Four... We began the day by seeking out a wild cave to check out that was close by. Eventually we settled on Old Town Spring Cave near Marengo Cave right in town. We enjoyed a short trip into this stream cave before heading back to convention to goof off and get our bearings. Then we headed out into the countryside to find the infamous "Shoe-Tree". Heading down the narrow roads we came to an intersection with not one but at least four shoe trees! Lynn "donated" an old pair of caving boots to one of them and we took photos of the area. Next we headed to Corydon and Butt Drugs (www.buttdrugs.com) for a great ice cream sundae! Lunch and dinner all in one! Back to the motel to get ready for the photo salon we geared up and headed out to convention to ride a bus to the underground limestone quarry Marengo Warehouse where the salon and banquet will be held. The warehouse is awesome. It is 27 miles of large mined limestone passages at least 30 feet high and 50 feet wide with pillars every so often. Busses had no trouble running through the maze of passages on smooth concrete floors. It's huge! It is quite cool in there too especially with the moving air they circulate. We were driven deep into the warehouse and unloaded in a large room all set up for the photo salon. Within an hour we were informed it was raining heavily at the campground. Apparently the shrine to "Sister Winky" was not paid homage to in adequate amount to keep the bad weather at bay. Thunder soon could be heard even deep inside the limestone quarry warehouse. An announcement came through that one of the classroom roofs leaked water onto Emilys SpeleoBooks merchandise. We learned after awhile the campground had been hit with rough weather and that 70% of the tents had incurred some damage! Many campers left at that time while it was still daylight to access damage and rebuild camp. We headed out as well to try to help our friends as best we could but there was little we could do when we arrived. Our truck was in a muddy area but escaped harm from the winds and hail that rained down. Finally we 4 wheeled out of the muddy convention site and back to the motel. We are some of the lucky ones that will sleep in comfort tonight. Some campers will be sleeping in the school next to convention while others are being helped by local emergency personnel to get camps back in shape as best they can. Many thanks to the local rescue units being on hand offering assistance to us cavers. Also several local hotels, laundrymats, and other businesses are staying open late to help the cavers in distress! What a warm and welcoming community is supporting the convention in Marengo! Live from Convention - Dr Beaner...
|
|
cvmnrob
Newby
Caver, Photographer
Just hangin' round...
Posts: 5
|
Post by cvmnrob on Jul 27, 2007 7:36:34 GMT -5
Dr. & Mrs. Beaner made it up to Terre Haute, IN the weekend prior to the Convention and visited me; taking time out to visit Parke County IN "Covered Bridge Capital of the World" and get some photos of a few of them. They are learning that Hoosier Hospitality is no accident.
Rob Robbins
|
|
|
Post by Sharon Faulkner on Jul 27, 2007 10:35:29 GMT -5
Some nasty weather happening all around those parts Dr. B. News of a microburst causing damage in a suburb just outside of Chicago were also being reported last night. Sounds like shades of the Huntsville convention with its wind and rain storms. Glad to hear everyone is pulling together to help others out in their time of need. Hi cvmnrob, nice to hear from you! Bet you all were glad to have had the opportunity to have a visit prior to convention.
|
|
cvmnrob
Newby
Caver, Photographer
Just hangin' round...
Posts: 5
|
Post by cvmnrob on Jul 27, 2007 18:17:21 GMT -5
Hi Sharon , It sure was nice seeing old friends again. I hope they enjoyed being here just half as much as I enjoyed visiting with them. Better people you'll never find ;D. Rob
|
|
Brian Roebuck
Site Admin
Caver
Caving - the one activity that really brings you to your knees!
Posts: 2,732
|
Post by Brian Roebuck on Jul 27, 2007 22:21:44 GMT -5
Aw shucks Rob... Day Five... It's over tonight. Our day started out with a visit to Squire Boone Caverns south of Corydon. It is a pretty cave with very interesting tour guides as well. Later we visited the convention grounds again and finally got to meet US Caver Christian (AKA Lyonz) who spotted me hanging out with some other TAG cavers. It was really nice to meet him and talk awhile before we headed back to get ready for the banquet. Threatening skies decended upon convention yet again and rain began to fall. This time however no serious weather occured and the cavers who camped simply dealt with the rain. By the time we all got ready to ride busses to the Marengo Warehouse the rain stopped. Hoosier hospitality was again evident with a great banquet setup and wonderful food. We had all we needed and with a little extra clothing Lynn and I were comfortable throughout the evening. Many of our caving friends received well deserved awards from the NSS. We all felt proud to be members and enjoyed the evening. What had seemed to be such a short week earlier turned out to feel like a very long week as we drove away from the convention grounds. This was a great convention and all the Indiana cavers who worked so hard are to be congratulated for a job very well done. As Rob said we all learned about Hoosier hospitality! Live from the 2007 NSS Convention - Dr Beaner
|
|
|
Post by Lyonz on Jul 27, 2007 23:04:42 GMT -5
It's midnight so I will keep this short but promise to write more when I get back to Los Angeles. I just wanted to say what a treat it was for me to finally meet Dr. Beaner and his lovely wife Lynn. Both have been so supportive of me and I really was looking forward to meeting them. They were as nice as I had imagined them both to be. I will add more to the "1965 Jim Mitchell thread" as the Mitchell family attended the banquet so please be on the lookout.
Christian Lyon
|
|
cvmnrob
Newby
Caver, Photographer
Just hangin' round...
Posts: 5
|
Post by cvmnrob on Jul 28, 2007 11:07:03 GMT -5
Sure sorry to hear and read about the weather change and all the damage. Indiana weather has a nasty habit of showing itself at the most unexpect or unwanted times but also glad there were no injuries that I have heard of...
|
|
Brian Roebuck
Site Admin
Caver
Caving - the one activity that really brings you to your knees!
Posts: 2,732
|
Post by Brian Roebuck on Jul 28, 2007 17:28:44 GMT -5
Sure sorry to hear and read about the weather change and all the damage. Indiana weather has a nasty habit of showing itself at the most unexpect or unwanted times but also glad there were no injuries that I have heard of... Nobody was hurt so caver luck help out fine. Several dozen tents and canopies were totaled though. I'm sure some photos will pop up here and there telling the tale. Witnesses told us the hail lasted for a half hour with strong winds and heavy rain. Then it stopped and the sun shone for a few minutes before it started up again with the wind coming from the opposite direction. Again the storm lasted 30 or so minutes. We were all safe inside the Marengo Warehouse though so not much could hurt us. We got home today about 4:00 PM after visiting Floyd Collins grave site and Sand Cave in Mammoth Cave N.P. We're both tired out and are resting awhile before doing too much. Having fun can wear you out!
|
|
|
Post by Azurerana on Jul 29, 2007 13:05:33 GMT -5
Actually, one lady caver is reported to have incurred a serious eye injury from flying poles.
In the campground, tents survived fairly well, except for those speared by flying debris. Nearly all (80%+ including ours) of the dining canopies became white bent toothpicks and trashed tarps. Hardest hit were the 'EZ-Up' scissors types, which turned into metal mangles. Glenn and Martha Mills had their tent soaked--pumped their tent out with a kayak pump. Several vehicles were damaged from flying debris. We did not have an EZ-Up, but a staked down polyethylene covered canopy-- the wind mangled two of the 4 poles, apparently when it reared up and crashed according to witnesses. The tent stayed 90% dry inside, but everything else became muddy and soaked as chairs went blowing around, and a 6 inch creek came down the hill through our camp (no, we weren't at the bottom, but a shallow swale turned into a raging 6 inch deep torrent about 3 ft to one side of the tent.) We probably lost about $200 in property at the MVG camp. (2 canopies, plus some incidental damage.) Eugene and I lost our bat/Peep/flamingo lights-- on the canopy, and about half of our 'dry' food -- bread, cereal, boxed rice, etc. There was about 4 inches of rain *inside* of a closed Rubbermaid container. Still haven't figured out how. We were very glad that the 4-Hers had breakfast on Friday-- they made a killing on us!
After securing things as best we could in the dark, and finding out we had a place to sleep, Alicia Lewis, Rita M. (Marciukitis, I think but not sure on the spelling) and Meramec Valley Grotto laid out a wine and cheese party for themselves and passersby. We went through a case and a half of donated wine-- probably about 7-8 random kinds of 8 ounce cheeses, watermelon, chips and pretzels. The party went on until about 3 a.m. Marengo-English VFD came by to offer dry blankets and cots, and said Red Cross would have some coffee and donuts shortly, but we said we were doing fine with the wine and cheese.
More rain Friday afternoon soaked everything left-- by Saturday a.m. parts of the campground had been ground to mud mush. We had moved my and my brother's cars up the hill on Fri. a.m. but there were people having trouble getting vehicles out across the fields.
I gotta go now--we're spending today and tomorrow cleaning and repairing our stuff .
|
|
|
Post by Azurerana on Jul 29, 2007 17:39:00 GMT -5
We're thinking about doing a T-shirt: A girl in a gingham pinafore with a small dog, underneath an Easy-Up canopy, with the line: "Toto, I don't think we're in Indiana anymore." Or perhaps: "I Lost My Canopy-- NSS Indiana 2007."
|
|
L Roebuck
Technical Support
Caving
^V^ Just a caver
Posts: 2,023
|
Post by L Roebuck on Jul 29, 2007 18:28:19 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Sharon Faulkner on Jul 29, 2007 23:14:23 GMT -5
Nice assortment of photos there Lynn, I believe I know many of the folks captured in the images. Thanks all for sharing your convention photos, memories, and happenings with the rest of us!
|
|