* * * * * MIDWEST MESSABOUT 2008 * * * * *
THE 19TH ANNUAL MIDWEST MESSABOUT WILL BE HELD THE WEEKEND
OF JUNE 6, 7, & 8 2008 @ GUN CREEK CAMPGROUND @ REND LAKE IN
SOUTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS.
Although the focus of this event is on homemade boats,
factory boats are always welcome as are people with
no boats but who have an interest in homemade boats.
This is a very loosely-organized (in other words, it's
disorganized) event. Generally people just kind of
hang-out and look at each other's boats and maybe
try-out each other's boats and talk about each other's
boats and so on and so forth.
Although most people camp in the campgound (reservations
can be made here ;)
http://www.recreation.gov/welcome.do?topTabIndex=Home
...a few people stay at some nearby rental condos (very nice
and right next to the campground- in fact you drive right
by the condos to get into the campground)
http://www.rendlake.org/lodging-dining/luxurylodge.shtml
People usually start arriving Friday around mid-day, and
people are usually packing-up and leaving Sunday by noon,
so Saturday is the big day. If you show up at noon on
Sunday most people will be gone by then.
Although there are some camp spots right on the water,
if you can not get a spot on the water or are staying
at the condos, you can usually leave your boat at one
of the waterfront spots. I have reserved spots #48 and
#56, and I believe Wisconsin Rob has probably reserved #55
If you would rather sleep on your boat, you can dispense
with the camp spot/condo and leave your trailer and
vehicle at the launch ramp parking lot. I believe that
the ramp fee is $3.00/ day and I have done this in the
past. By the way, if you pay the $14.00/ night for a
campspot, use of the ramp is included at no extra charge.
The ramp parking lot is well lighted and located between
a golf course and the campground
WARNING WARNING There is usually a bass tournement
on Sat. morning at the ramp so it is a noisy place
from 4:00 to 6:00 am Sat.
You are on your own as far as meals go, with the following
exceptions: It is customary for some of us to breakfast
Saturday and Sunday mornings at a greasy spoon
about 2 miles from the campground. There is a gas
station/convenience store right there also,
and is a good place to pick-up ice or whatever.
And there is a group supper on Saturday evening. If you
wish to bring food or donate money for the supper you
are welcome to but not required to. This is how the
Sat. group supper works: in the late afternoon we will
get a head count of how many people want to eat my cooking
vs. the number of people who are smarter. We will then
inventory such food that anyone might have brought. Then,
a couple of us will make a trip into Super Walmart to
pick up everything else we need for the supper, which usually
consists of burgers, hotdogs, chips, chile and/or beans, etc.
I will take care of the dessert.
By the way, we used to shop at Big Johns Grocery but
Big John shut down when Walmart opened.
That is pretty much it. Although I think you can still
get a campspot even if you show up with no reservations,
things have been getting more and more crowded each year.
It is also sometimes possible to find someone willing to
share their campspot with a fellow boater- sometimes such
arrangements are made on this board here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Michalak/
Here is a write-up on last year's event:
http://homepages.apci.net/~michalak/15jun07.htm
All are welcome: homemade boat, factory boat, no boat.
Max
OF JUNE 6, 7, & 8 2008 @ GUN CREEK CAMPGROUND @ REND LAKE IN
SOUTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS.
Although the focus of this event is on homemade boats,
factory boats are always welcome as are people with
no boats but who have an interest in homemade boats.
This is a very loosely-organized (in other words, it's
disorganized) event. Generally people just kind of
hang-out and look at each other's boats and maybe
try-out each other's boats and talk about each other's
boats and so on and so forth.
Although most people camp in the campgound (reservations
can be made here ;)
http://www.recreation.gov/welcome.do?topTabIndex=Home
...a few people stay at some nearby rental condos (very nice
and right next to the campground- in fact you drive right
by the condos to get into the campground)
http://www.rendlake.org/lodging-dining/luxurylodge.shtml
People usually start arriving Friday around mid-day, and
people are usually packing-up and leaving Sunday by noon,
so Saturday is the big day. If you show up at noon on
Sunday most people will be gone by then.
Although there are some camp spots right on the water,
if you can not get a spot on the water or are staying
at the condos, you can usually leave your boat at one
of the waterfront spots. I have reserved spots #48 and
#56, and I believe Wisconsin Rob has probably reserved #55
If you would rather sleep on your boat, you can dispense
with the camp spot/condo and leave your trailer and
vehicle at the launch ramp parking lot. I believe that
the ramp fee is $3.00/ day and I have done this in the
past. By the way, if you pay the $14.00/ night for a
campspot, use of the ramp is included at no extra charge.
The ramp parking lot is well lighted and located between
a golf course and the campground
WARNING WARNING There is usually a bass tournement
on Sat. morning at the ramp so it is a noisy place
from 4:00 to 6:00 am Sat.
You are on your own as far as meals go, with the following
exceptions: It is customary for some of us to breakfast
Saturday and Sunday mornings at a greasy spoon
about 2 miles from the campground. There is a gas
station/convenience store right there also,
and is a good place to pick-up ice or whatever.
And there is a group supper on Saturday evening. If you
wish to bring food or donate money for the supper you
are welcome to but not required to. This is how the
Sat. group supper works: in the late afternoon we will
get a head count of how many people want to eat my cooking
vs. the number of people who are smarter. We will then
inventory such food that anyone might have brought. Then,
a couple of us will make a trip into Super Walmart to
pick up everything else we need for the supper, which usually
consists of burgers, hotdogs, chips, chile and/or beans, etc.
I will take care of the dessert.
By the way, we used to shop at Big Johns Grocery but
Big John shut down when Walmart opened.
That is pretty much it. Although I think you can still
get a campspot even if you show up with no reservations,
things have been getting more and more crowded each year.
It is also sometimes possible to find someone willing to
share their campspot with a fellow boater- sometimes such
arrangements are made on this board here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Michalak/
Here is a write-up on last year's event:
http://homepages.apci.net/~michalak/15jun07.htm
All are welcome: homemade boat, factory boat, no boat.
Max