Just so no one sends flowers or anything; as of Monday I'll be gone
camping for a week. Nothing exotic ...just a week away to sit & think
and maybe chart a better course for the year ahead.

I'll have 4 days all to myself, then my wife will join me Friday night
and a BUNCH of friends on Saturday for some canoing.

But mostly, it's just for the quiet.

--
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http://nmwoodworks.com


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Bill - sounds like a good plan to me. Wish I was going somewhere for
some peace and quiet myself.

I haven't forgotten the paint mixes I told you I would send you. I'll
try to have them to you before you get back in case you come back
really inspired and need them!

We are trying to pick up the pieces here as we have had constant
flooding rains for almost two months. It it raining every *%^$#*&&^
day these days and it is killing us. I am sure you have seen mention
of the amounts of water we are getting here in South Texas.

We should be in drought times now, stage two water rationing in
effect. But we have already exceeded out yearly rainfall by about
10", and a lot more in some areas.

Getting a lot of calls for roof repairs, chimney repairs, leaking
stucco and brick walls, sheetrock damage... you name it. But the
weather idiots are promising a couple (maybe more) days of clear
weather so I can put a large dent in my estimating schedule if that
happens. Then I can dig those formulas out for you.

Check you email when you get back.

Robert

wrote

We are trying to pick up the pieces here as we have had constant
flooding rains for almost two months. It it raining every *%^$#*&&^
day these days and it is killing us. I am sure you have seen mention
of the amounts of water we are getting here in South Texas.

We should be in drought times now, stage two water rationing in
effect. But we have already exceeded out yearly rainfall by about
10", and a lot more in some areas.

Getting a lot of calls for roof repairs, chimney repairs, leaking
stucco and brick walls, sheetrock damage... you name it. But the
weather idiots are promising a couple (maybe more) days of clear
weather so I can put a large dent in my estimating schedule if that
happens.

Maybe you should put together a new contracting vehicle. One that floats!

On Sat, 28 Jul 2007 23:42:06 -0400, BillinDetroit
wrote:

Just so no one sends flowers or anything; as of Monday I'll be gone
camping for a week. Nothing exotic ...just a week away to sit & think
and maybe chart a better course for the year ahead.

I'll have 4 days all to myself, then my wife will join me Friday night
and a BUNCH of friends on Saturday for some canoing.

But mostly, it's just for the quiet.

Never in my life have I seen a more blatant request for flowers.
I'm filled with consternation or dismay.

WOW,

You are a lucky guy. I have not been camping in a few years. I hope to get
out this winter and do some desert camping. Great to have time to yourself
also.

cm

www.vintagetrailersforsale.com

I love my new mobile broadband internet connection!


"BillinDetroit" wrote in message
...
Just so no one sends flowers or anything; as of Monday I'll be gone
camping for a week. Nothing exotic ...just a week away to sit & think and
maybe chart a better course for the year ahead.

I'll have 4 days all to myself, then my wife will join me Friday night
and a BUNCH of friends on Saturday for some canoing.

But mostly, it's just for the quiet.

--
I'm not not at the above address.
http://nmwoodworks.com


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You know what they say: "you can never have enough camps!" Ughh.
Nevermind. I thought it said 'Gone clamping'

--
www.garagewoodworks.com

ROY! wrote:
On Sat, 28 Jul 2007 23:42:06 -0400, BillinDetroit
wrote:

Just so no one sends flowers or anything; as of Monday I'll be gone
camping for a week. Nothing exotic ...just a week away to sit & think
and maybe chart a better course for the year ahead.

I'll have 4 days all to myself, then my wife will join me Friday night
and a BUNCH of friends on Saturday for some canoing.

But mostly, it's just for the quiet.

Never in my life have I seen a more blatant request for flowers.
I'm filled with consternation or dismay.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (you can't tell the difference?)

Okay then, be that way. Don't send flowers. Send pizza for me and fresh
bait for the fish. ;-)

Bill


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GarageWoodworks wrote:
You know what they say: "you can never have enough camps!" Ughh.
Nevermind. I thought it said 'Gone clamping'

Might be ... depends on how fresh the food stays in the cooler. ;-)

Bill

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CM wrote:
WOW,

You are a lucky guy. I have not been camping in a few years. I hope to get
out this winter and do some desert camping. Great to have time to yourself
also.

cm


I've never gone desert camping. However, I -am- camping near a beach.
About the same amount of sand; lots more water, bigger fish, less
solitude, different assortment of crawly things. ;-)

The crew on Saturday will include a mom & two little girls camping with
us (their first time ... the citified Dad bailed out for lack of
interest) plus the canoeing crowd. Mom & the girls went canoeing with us
a couple weeks ago. Should be fun. Might be a fiasco (city wimmin' +
tents + crawly things + public showers/toilets + small kids).

During the week, the state parks are pretty empty and this particular
park never seems crowded anyways. I need some decompression time ... I
haven't had more than a day or two of solitude in the past 7+ years.

Bill



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wrote:
Bill - sounds like a good plan to me. Wish I was going somewhere for
some peace and quiet myself.

I haven't forgotten the paint mixes I told you I would send you. I'll
try to have them to you before you get back in case you come back
really inspired and need them!

We are trying to pick up the pieces here as we have had constant
flooding rains for almost two months. It it raining every *%^$#*&&^
day these days and it is killing us. I am sure you have seen mention
of the amounts of water we are getting here in South Texas.

We should be in drought times now, stage two water rationing in
effect. But we have already exceeded out yearly rainfall by about
10", and a lot more in some areas.

Getting a lot of calls for roof repairs, chimney repairs, leaking
stucco and brick walls, sheetrock damage... you name it. But the
weather idiots are promising a couple (maybe more) days of clear
weather so I can put a large dent in my estimating schedule if that
happens. Then I can dig those formulas out for you.

Check you email when you get back.

Robert


Robert ... thanks. You are swamped, so don't feel any pressure to get
that to me. When you get a few moments is good ... but don't push
anything aside on my account.

Pity about getting rained out like that and having to stay in the
gar-shop all day. ;-)

This is actually something of a 'working vacation'. I've got some design
ideas for some coordinated flatwork / turning that I want to develop, so
I'll be taking my sketch pad and colored pencils. And I want to re-work
parts of my web site, so I'll be hauling my laptop with me. Today I
noticed that, oddly enough, there is wireless internet access at the
park. I'm thinking I might just set up camp for the rest of the summer! ;-)

Wonder how the wife would take having to continue to punch the clock
while I'm hard at work on my tanning and fishing skills? Hmmmm

Bill


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Where pray tell will you be going..?

I normally have a week off in the middle of August, and usually drive across
to Ludington State Park, but it's getting ridiculous there now. If you want
a site in the state park, you need to either get a reservation 6 months in
advance, or plan on getting there at the crack of dawn to stand in line to
get a number and end up going back either late the same day or the next
morning in hopes of getting a site.

Even then, the darn park is just too crowded with 150' motor homes with car
and truck towed behind so they can 'camp' in air conditioned comfort and use
their own built-in showers/bathrooms. Heaven forbid if they ever had to use
one of the public facilities in the park. Not to mention what would happen
if they had to use an old fashioned out-house or '3rd tree on the left.'

The last few years I've been staying at Cartier's (?) campground just down
the road.

I've been going to Ludington every year or three for some time now, but I
think it's time for a new place to camp.

from downriver in Trenton.


"BillinDetroit" wrote in message
...
CM wrote:
WOW,

You are a lucky guy. I have not been camping in a few years. I hope to
get out this winter and do some desert camping. Great to have time to
yourself also.

cm


I've never gone desert camping. However, I -am- camping near a beach.
About the same amount of sand; lots more water, bigger fish, less
solitude, different assortment of crawly things. ;-)

The crew on Saturday will include a mom & two little girls camping with us
(their first time ... the citified Dad bailed out for lack of interest)
plus the canoeing crowd. Mom & the girls went canoeing with us a couple
weeks ago. Should be fun. Might be a fiasco (city wimmin' + tents + crawly
things + public showers/toilets + small kids).

During the week, the state parks are pretty empty and this particular park
never seems crowded anyways. I need some decompression time ... I haven't
had more than a day or two of solitude in the past 7+ years.

Bill



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On Sat, 28 Jul 2007 23:42:06 -0400, BillinDetroit
wrote:

Just so no one sends flowers or anything; as of Monday I'll be gone
camping for a week. Nothing exotic ...just a week away to sit & think
and maybe chart a better course for the year ahead.

I'll have 4 days all to myself, then my wife will join me Friday night
and a BUNCH of friends on Saturday for some canoing.

But mostly, it's just for the quiet.

Good luck with that. Last time I went "camping" was with a friend's
family to a campground where the tiny plots were right on top of each
other. A whole gaggle of people showed up next to us and took shifts
keeping us awake all night. About sunrise I said the hell with this
and went off for a run, noticing that their coffee pot was literally
on one of our tent's stakes. A bunch of very cranky people were just
starting to stir when I got back.

One of these days I'll have to go do the real thing. Did it in 8th
grade, our whole grade went up on a mountain for 4 days. But I'd sure
have a different appreciation for it now.


-Leuf

Timothy Drouillard wrote:
Where pray tell will you be going..?

I normally have a week off in the middle of August, and usually drive
across to Ludington State Park, but it's getting ridiculous there now.
If you want a site in the state park, you need to either get a
reservation 6 months in advance, or plan on getting there at the crack
of dawn to stand in line to get a number and end up going back either
late the same day or the next morning in hopes of getting a site.

Even then, the darn park is just too crowded with 150' motor homes with
car and truck towed behind so they can 'camp' in air conditioned comfort
and use their own built-in showers/bathrooms. Heaven forbid if they ever
had to use one of the public facilities in the park. Not to mention what
would happen if they had to use an old fashioned out-house or '3rd tree
on the left.'

The last few years I've been staying at Cartier's (?) campground just
down the road.

I've been going to Ludington every year or three for some time now, but
I think it's time for a new place to camp.

from downriver in Trenton.



We used
http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandt...fo.aspx?id=497
to make reservations at Sterling State park in Monroe. They completely
renovated the place a few years back ... added some nice fishing holes,
cleaned the beach, built new facilities, trails and so on. I have
witnessed pike in the lagoon. They feed under the fishing piers just
about dusk.

Wikipedia says that it is the 4th most used state park in MI ... but I'm
not certain where that information came from. Unlike at Kensington, the
weekends seem to get fuller, but not full of Winnies with 3 tv's and two
strings of Japanese party lamps. They come ... but are kept separate and
DO NOT get the water side of the camp.
http://www.midnrreservations.com/campmaps.cfm?cid=80

It would take a gun AND a court order to get me to camp at Kensington again.

I can also dis-recommend Wilson St. Park because it shares its lake with
private owners who are, of course, not looking for quite the same
experience as tent-campers. That is NOT the place to be on July 4! Those
clowns gots mortars and cannons and SAMs!

I've been in lot 88 at Sterling twice now, and didn't reserve this year
until May 14.

They are a little short on shade just at the moment, but haven't been
noticeably crowded the last two times I went there. They also have the
'home court' advantage of being MUCH closer than Ludington.

If you are going to go as far as Ludington, however, keep going to
Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat'l. Park. In addition to the dunes and lake
fishing, there is a combined canoe livery and tourist trap on the Lower
Platte (Betsie? I've forgotten!) just about 1/2 mile from the park
entrance. Canoe out to Lake Michigan ... fish along the way if you wish.
When I first went there, the water on the river was so clear that,
looking over the edge of the canoe I got vertigo and nearly fell in
because I lost track of 'up'. A golf course has since opened up and
apparently leeches nitrates into the water and it's less clear these
days. IMO, it's still worth the trip just for the trails and the woods
and the lighthouses and so on. Plus, it puts you within day-trip
distance of GT Bay.

Bill

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Leuf wrote:
On Sat, 28 Jul 2007 23:42:06 -0400, BillinDetroit
wrote:

Just so no one sends flowers or anything; as of Monday I'll be gone
camping for a week. Nothing exotic ...just a week away to sit & think
and maybe chart a better course for the year ahead.

I'll have 4 days all to myself, then my wife will join me Friday night
and a BUNCH of friends on Saturday for some canoing.

But mostly, it's just for the quiet.

Good luck with that. Last time I went "camping" was with a friend's
family to a campground where the tiny plots were right on top of each
other. A whole gaggle of people showed up next to us and took shifts
keeping us awake all night. About sunrise I said the hell with this
and went off for a run, noticing that their coffee pot was literally
on one of our tent's stakes. A bunch of very cranky people were just
starting to stir when I got back.

One of these days I'll have to go do the real thing. Did it in 8th
grade, our whole grade went up on a mountain for 4 days. But I'd sure
have a different appreciation for it now.


-Leuf



There is an amazing difference between the weekday and the weekend. I'm
going for the full week. The first 4 days I'll be there alone ... and
that's when the grounds are least full.

There are campgrounds I won't visit again, but, even though the campsite
plotting is just as tiny as elsewhere, I'm on the outskirts facing the
lake so I should be able to get what I am going there for (until the
munchkins arrive Friday night at the campground and the Mongol Hordes
arrive Saturday at the canoe launch point).

Solitude is relative. In this case, it doesn't mean I can't see other
people ... I just don't have to acknowledge them until Friday afternoon.


Bill
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Leuf wrote:

Good luck with that. Last time I went "camping" was with a friend's
family to a campground where the tiny plots were right on top of each
other. A whole gaggle of people showed up next to us and took shifts
keeping us awake all night.


At the state and national parks I've visited, the rangers were pretty
good about enforcing the curfew. I have seen someone who was causing a
disturbance forced to strike camp and leave about midnight. The first
pass, they warned them. The second time two of them stood by while the
campsite was cleared. I didn't file a complaint about them but neither
did I shed a tear. The only sadness I felt was for the 3-4 year old with
them. Mom & Dad had it coming.

It was pretty quiet after that.



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"BillinDetroit" wrote in message
...
Timothy Drouillard wrote:
Where pray tell will you be going..?

I normally have a week off in the middle of August, and usually drive
across to Ludington State Park, but it's getting ridiculous there now. If
you want a site in the state park, you need to either get a reservation 6
months in advance, or plan on getting there at the crack of dawn to stand
in line to get a number and end up going back either late the same day or
the next morning in hopes of getting a site.

Even then, the darn park is just too crowded with 150' motor homes with
car and truck towed behind so they can 'camp' in air conditioned comfort
and use their own built-in showers/bathrooms. Heaven forbid if they ever
had to use one of the public facilities in the park. Not to mention what
would happen if they had to use an old fashioned out-house or '3rd tree
on the left.'

The last few years I've been staying at Cartier's (?) campground just
down the road.

I've been going to Ludington every year or three for some time now, but I
think it's time for a new place to camp.

from downriver in Trenton.



We used
http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandt...fo.aspx?id=497
to make reservations at Sterling State park in Monroe. They completely
renovated the place a few years back ... added some nice fishing holes,
cleaned the beach, built new facilities, trails and so on. I have
witnessed pike in the lagoon. They feed under the fishing piers just about
dusk.

Wikipedia says that it is the 4th most used state park in MI ... but I'm
not certain where that information came from. Unlike at Kensington, the
weekends seem to get fuller, but not full of Winnies with 3 tv's and two
strings of Japanese party lamps. They come ... but are kept separate and
DO NOT get the water side of the camp.
http://www.midnrreservations.com/campmaps.cfm?cid=80

I keep forgetting about Sterling State Park. esp. since it's so close to me.
Heck. It's only about 15-20 min away from me. The last time I remember going
there was as a young kid,probably a good 40 years ago, and all I can
remember is mosqitos, lots of them!

Heck. I'll have to stop by there after work and check it out again. It sure
would beat the heck out of the 3 hour drive to Luddington. I'm getting to
old for the long drives.

Thanks for reminding me of what its in my own back yard.

We seem to always think that 'going on vacation' required a 4,000 mile 45
day (each way) trip with a couple whiny kids that seem to have to have a
bathroom break every 30 min ( wait a min. That happens as you get old as
well!).

Are we there yet??

Thanks Bill.


It would take a gun AND a court order to get me to camp at Kensington
again.

Been there as a teenager about 40 years ago for a picnic.


I can also dis-recommend Wilson St. Park because it shares its lake with
private owners who are, of course, not looking for quite the same
experience as tent-campers. That is NOT the place to be on July 4! Those
clowns gots mortars and cannons and SAMs!

I seem to remember camping at Wilson as a kid with my parents.


I've been in lot 88 at Sterling twice now, and didn't reserve this year
until May 14.

They are a little short on shade just at the moment, but haven't been
noticeably crowded the last two times I went there. They also have the
'home court' advantage of being MUCH closer than Ludington.

If you are going to go as far as Ludington, however, keep going to
Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat'l. Park. In addition to the dunes and lake
fishing, there is a combined canoe livery and tourist trap on the Lower
Platte (Betsie? I've forgotten!) just about 1/2 mile from the park
entrance. Canoe out to Lake Michigan ... fish along the way if you wish.
When I first went there, the water on the river was so clear that, looking
over the edge of the canoe I got vertigo and nearly fell in because I lost
track of 'up'. A golf course has since opened up and apparently leeches
nitrates into the water and it's less clear these days. IMO, it's still
worth the trip just for the trails and the woods and the lighthouses and
so on. Plus, it puts you within day-trip distance of GT Bay.

Been there a long time ago with the parents, and loved it, but these days,
it's a bit far for a old fart like me.


Bill

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On Sun, 29 Jul 2007 22:56:12 -0400, BillinDetroit
wrote:

ROY! wrote:
On Sat, 28 Jul 2007 23:42:06 -0400, BillinDetroit
wrote:

Just so no one sends flowers or anything; as of Monday I'll be gone
camping for a week. Nothing exotic ...just a week away to sit & think
and maybe chart a better course for the year ahead.

I'll have 4 days all to myself, then my wife will join me Friday night
and a BUNCH of friends on Saturday for some canoing.

But mostly, it's just for the quiet.

Never in my life have I seen a more blatant request for flowers.
I'm filled with consternation or dismay.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (you can't tell the difference?)
I'm old, bordering on senile.............

Okay then, be that way. Don't send flowers. Send pizza for me and fresh
bait for the fish. ;-)

Bill

Would an anchovie pizza fill both requests?

Hey, enjoy your quiet time!

ROY!

Timothy Drouillard wrote:

We seem to always think that 'going on vacation' required a 4,000 mile
45 day (each way) trip with a couple whiny kids that seem to have to
have a bathroom break every 30 min ( wait a min. That happens as you get
old as well!).

Are we there yet??

Thanks Bill.

No charge.

The park was empty (20-25% occupied) Mon - Fri 3 pm. Friday night it was
1/2 - 2/3 full. Saturday night it was 75-90% full.
It rained Saturday night. The RV'ers (or, most of 'em anyways) were gone
by noon Sunday.

The quiet was a good thing, as this week is (as predicted a couple
months ago) a madhouse. Good things coming (I think), but arriving in a
whirlwind.

A 'vacation' for me is little more than time to decompress. I got a lot
of reading done ... some writing ... some designing ... some bicycling
.... some full-on loafing. ;-)

As I write this it is Friday early a.m. and I haven't been able to spend
any more than about 10 minutes in the shop, but next week the deadlines
and challenges of this week will have been met and I should be able to
get back into my routine.

Bill
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