**** MIDWEST MESSABOUT ****

The 2007 Midwest Messabout will be held on June 8, 9, &
10 2007 @ Gun Creek Campground @ Rend Lake in South-central
Illinois, USA.

We have been reserving campspots #55 and #56 as "ground zero"
for the event and also #48, which is a fairly-decent water-front spot
over on the next leg. Other messabouters have already
been reserving additional camp spots in the vicinity of those
spots. If you can not secure a waterfront camp spot, you are
welcome to leave your boat in the water beached at one of
these waterfront spots. Jim M is starting to recommend making
advance reservations for campspots although I think you can usually
get something at the last minute if you don't mind being a
short walk from the water.


Maps of the campground and reservation info @

http://www.rendlake.com/pages/recreation/campingguncreek.htm

Looks like campspot fees are $14.00/ night this year, which
includes the use of a very nice concrete launch ramp in a
sheltered cove. If you want to leave your vehicle @ the
ramp and not get a camp spot, the ramp fee was $3.00/ day
last year; don't know if it has increased.


For those that don't wish to camp, the closest accomodations
(approx. 1/2 mile away) are
http://www.rendlake.org/lodging-dining/seasonslodge.shtml

There are also a few motels along the highway, both to the
North and to the South, but they may be 8 or 10 miles from
the messabout.


As usual, there will be a "group-effort" Saturday evening
meal. We will all vote on what we want for dinner (hamburgers
and hot dogs) and a couple of us will run into town for
supplies. You may contribute food or cash if you wish but
there is no requirement to nor will anyone keep track of
who contributes what. This plan always works well as one
can never know in advance how many will attend the messabout,
much less how many wish to eat my cooking (VOLUNTEER COOKS
WANTED)

Usually at least a few of us run-over to a local greasy spoon
for breakfast on Sat. & Sunday mornings. You are on your own
for the rest of the meals. With a hot meal on Sat. night, and
hot breakfasts in the mornings, I usually pack "cold" meals
to fill in the gaps with a minimum of cooking and mess.

I will be arriving Friday, late morning, and will head for
home late Sunday morning. Usually a fair number of people
will show-up during the afternoon on Friday, and most
everyone is gone by noon Sunday, leaving Saturday as
the "Big Day."

Although it can never be guaranteed what boats or how many
boats will show up, this messabout is usually a good
place to see a bunch of home-made boats at one time.

All are welcome; home-made boat, factory-made boat, or
no boat.

Any questions, you can drop me an e-mail:

cadbury112@...

or you can e-mail Jim Michalak (his e-mail address
is on his website)


Max