The 3W's.
When: October 28th-30th (aka: Halloween weekend)
What: Missouri Element Campout
Where: Location T.B.D. - I am open to suggestions

What a great weekend to get away and relax in the crisp fall air, to tell spooky stories over a blazing campfire or wait till it dwindles and glows a strange red-orange. Bring your Element, your camping gear (dress for the weather it cold be nippy), and of course bring a pumpkin and a crafty spirit.

I am open to suggestions on a location--
A few places I have camped in the past that are quite neat are:
Meramac State Park (Sullivan, MO)
Finger Lakes State Park (Columbia, MO)

Post back to this thread if you are interested or able to make it.

Hope to see you there

i could be up for Meramac. They have a playground that's good for my kids.

I work weekends, but if anyone's "Up" for camping during the week, drop us a line. We live in the Eastern Ozarks near Piedmont, MO. Nice State park near here, Sam A. Baker. TW

What about Pierre Marquette in Grafton, IL??

I can go on the 28th(can't leave till after about 4pm though) and stay during the day on the 29th but I have to be at work by 9pm on the 29th so i can't stay saturday night. So the biggest factor for me is how far away it is because I won't have a whole lot of daylight left friday and don't want to leave too early saturday since i can't stay the whole weekend.

What about Pierre Marquette in Grafton, IL??
What's Pierre Marquette like? Good for little kids? ages 4 and 7

They have a playground right next to one of the large campground areas. The hiking there is good (and challenging too). They have a paved bike trail that runs the length of the river road (Alton to the park). Grafton is only about 10 minutes away so you can get plenty of fried fish, apples, ice cream and crafts, if need be.

http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R4/Peremarq.htm

Still not sure of my availability but it's a thought....

By the way, my kids are 7 and 4 and are coming too. In fact, my wife just reminded me that we are scheduled to be camping there that weekend anyway. If you want to go there, BOOK YOUR SPOT SOON. I think they may already be full or darn close to it.

Alton/Grafton area is great for me, less than an hour away. I would be able to get there at a decent hour after work :)

I am up for anywhere really. Have any of you been to Finger Lakes State Park in Columbia, MO? It has tons of lakes, it is famous for its 4wheeling ramps, etc. but I am poor so I don't own one.

My fiance and I went a little while ago and thought it was quite the spot to camp, very scenic and relaxing. Has a centrally located bathhouse and a great playground.

We have been to Meramc quite a bit too.

Let's bring this thing together- it is great weather and you gain an hour of sleep :grin: let's decide a place.

I'm already booked at Pere Marquette...sorry I forgot. We're meeting the in-laws there and they have a big, warm camper. I'll be in my tent w/ my SOP. ;)

Any and all are welcome... just get to the campground and the E's will give us away.

Anyone else planning on being there next weekend???

I think I'll be there. We were planning on going camping but I hadn't decided where.

I can be there friday night around 5, I'll go!

What camp site are you going to be in?

Also for others here is a good webpage about the park.

http://www.greatriverroad.com/Pere/camping.htm

My in-laws are driving their motor home there on Wednesday and they usually take the first camping area that you can hit after passing through Grafton. In fact, after looking at the map...that's the only public camp spot (non-group camping) that they have. The link you posted above actually shows pics and a map of their one, large public camping area.

We should be down late afternoon/evening on Friday and I'm hoping to set up my own area over in the tent camping section. It's just a bit into the park - down by the shower house for the RV camping area.

I should have my new cargo carrier on board and possibly a new tent.

BTW, I have some national meet t-shirts left if any of you are interested. If you want one/some, let me know in advance (size, etc.) and I can bring them with me -- only 20 bucks each.

*bump*

Pere Marquette... this weekend people! ;)

Just found out that on Saturday night at 6pm they are doing an owl hike too. Should be cool.

Whhhhoooooooo

*bump*

gonna go pack the E... be there if you can. we'll be the couple in the SOP w/ the geo mountain tent.

I just finished packing :) I'll be the silver w/ blue panels with a cabana. I should get there around 3:30.

NATURAL HISTORY HIKE
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Meet at the Visitors Center at 9:30 am.
Learn about the park's natural history and experience the beauty of nature by hiking along one of the many hiking trails. Wear good hiking shoes and bring binoculars for this two mile hiking adventure that will last about 2 hours.





I found that on the website...I'll be doing this! Specially since I have to miss the owl hike because of work.

Thanks to JasonS and rcwooton for coming to Pere Marquette over the weekend. It was a good time and a beautiful park.

http://images12.fotki.com/v239/free/22eb4/7/768968/2809173/DSCF0635-vi.jpg (http://public.fotki.com/siteworthy/pere_marquette_trip/dscf0635.html)

http://images15.fotki.com/v229/free/22eb4/7/768968/2809173/DSCF0639-vi.jpg (http://public.fotki.com/siteworthy/pere_marquette_trip/dscf0639.html)

http://images12.fotki.com/v242/free/22eb4/7/768968/2809173/DSCF0661-vi.jpg (http://public.fotki.com/siteworthy/pere_marquette_trip/dscf0661.html)

http://images12.fotki.com/v243/free/22eb4/7/768968/2809173/DSCF0653-vi.jpg (http://public.fotki.com/siteworthy/pere_marquette_trip/dscf0653.html)
Hosted on Fotki (http://www.fotki.com)

All:
I would've loved to have made it to the campout! Especially since the weather was great.

My fiance's mom got sick on thursday and went to the hospital- so needless to say my weekend was shot! She got better and came home on Sunday.

I would totally love to go camping this weekend------
any takers?

Jason? TMac? RWCOTTON?

Wish I could but we have regional playoffs this weekend, so I'll be busy coaching (hopefully into Saturday). Sorry you couldn't make it. The park is gorgeous right now and the drive along the river is equally nice.

can't do it Ice, sorry, probably won't camp again untill the spring, it got a little cold for the kids

All:
I would've loved to have made it to the campout! Especially since the weather was great.

My fiance's mom got sick on thursday and went to the hospital- so needless to say my weekend was shot! She got better and came home on Sunday.

I would totally love to go camping this weekend------
any takers?

Jason? TMac? RWCOTTON?


I'd love to go, it's supposed to rain saturday though :|

JasonS- we will keep an eye on that weather and I will let you know from there.

All:
We should have a StL Fall meet at a park somewhere sometime soon before it gets frigid and nasty.

Again- thank you all for putting effort into meeting up.

Would Meremac be a decent choice? I know you've been out there before. I just see that it's closer to St. Louis and looks bigger too.

Meramac would be just fine- it is much bigger and it is really nice.

We will have to monitor the weather- especially because alynn is just starting to get a cold. I hope we can go camping! If not we can meetup for a nice meal or something.

I heard on the news this morning that the rain chance for saturday isn't all that good :-D However that's because the front is coming quicker than expected I think and it's supposed to start to cool off again for the weekend. But it's looking good.

I checked the weather today online and there is a chance for an afternoon shower as well as a passing shower through the evening-- but who cares!

We are in the best tents on earth ;)

WE should be heading down to Meramac in the mid-to-late afternoon.

Email me for information k- jason?

Did you guys end up doing this? We're talking about campin again this weekend but not sure yet where to go or if we can pull it off. Might not leave here until Saturday morning.

Did you guys end up doing this? We're talking about campin again this weekend but not sure yet where to go or if we can pull it off. Might not leave here until Saturday morning.

I couldn't go :(

It was great weather too, minus the storm that rolled through late.