[Texascavers] 424 meters - new world record

[David via Texascavers]

I do not believe this is bungee-jumping.

https://youtu.be/iQ0qAW6CUK0

I believe it involves calculated loads of dynamic rope and swinging and a
bit of gambling with one's life.

I am pretty sure that two A.S.S. cavers did this off of a 30 foot bridge in
1987.  Ask Lee Perry of Albuquerque.
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[Texascavers] TCR success

[Logan McNatt via Texascavers]

  
  
Don, 

I agree with previous comments. I missed this TCR but have attended
most during your time as Director. You have the right combination of
skills and foresight to set basic rules to prevent unnecessary
problems, but keep it loose enough to allow everyone to have fun.
That's a delicate balance.

So now that you're out of a job, take the rest of the year off.

Thanks,
LowGun 
  

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Re: [Texascavers] [TCR 2017 Success!]

[Don Arburn via Texascavers]

Yummy and fantastic! And FREE!!


--Don




--Don
> On Oct 15, 2017, at 8:11 PM, Bill Steele via Texascavers 
>  wrote:
> 
> How’d the Shiner beer work out?
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Re: [Texascavers] [TCR 2017 Success!]

[Bill Steele via Texascavers]

YES! You’re our champion, Don! Thank you very much. 

How’d the Shiner beer work out? 

From the Pacific Ocean offshore of Guatemala.

Bill Steele 
cwilliamste...@gmail.com

> On Oct 15, 2017, at 7:02 PM, James Jasek via Texascavers 
>  wrote:
> 
> Thank you Don for all your hard work
> 
> Jim
> 
> Sent from my iPhoneiPhone
> 
> On Oct 15, 2017, at 6:25 PM, Don Arburn via Texascavers 
>  wrote:
> 
> Hey everyone, another successful Texas cavers reunion is behind us now, well 
> done! Good job everybody! It was awesome! IT WAS!
> 
> Not much to report in the Lost & Found Department this year, for once, yay!
> 
> The owner is happy, the park is clean. Next years deposit is paid, no date 
> set yet.
> 
> THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!!
> 
> I didn’t want to harsh your mellow, on Saturday night, but 2017 was my last 
> TCR as Director. I did six TCRs. I’m sorry folks, it was fun, rewarding and 
> an adventure! My resignation is on a high point, I feel, with TCR is in good 
> shape with a head start on 2018, with a year to solve my absence.
> 
> The music was very very good! 
> The food was very very good! Great job!!
> We had INTERNATIONAL Cavers visit from Mexico!
> We had David Locklear!
> The NSS represented!
> The Texas Contingent represented!
> The Aggies had a challenging Speleolympics course!
> There was a REBELAY course!
> We had a hot tub, sauna AND spring water!
> There was a SLIDESHOW!
> There were POWERWAGONS in service!
> There was a HUGE board game.
> There were barbarian Viking HOARDS!!
> We had MUD GLADIATORS!!
> There was schmoozing, I SAW IT!
> People smiled!
> What more can you ask for?
> I’m happy!
> 
> Thank you
> —Don
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> http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/
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Re: [Texascavers] [TCR 2017 Success!]

[James Jasek via Texascavers]

Thank you Don for all your hard work

Jim

Sent from my iPhoneiPhone

On Oct 15, 2017, at 6:25 PM, Don Arburn via Texascavers 
 wrote:

Hey everyone, another successful Texas cavers reunion is behind us now, well 
done! Good job everybody! It was awesome! IT WAS!

Not much to report in the Lost & Found Department this year, for once, yay!

The owner is happy, the park is clean. Next years deposit is paid, no date set 
yet.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!!

I didn’t want to harsh your mellow, on Saturday night, but 2017 was my last TCR 
as Director. I did six TCRs. I’m sorry folks, it was fun, rewarding and an 
adventure! My resignation is on a high point, I feel, with TCR is in good shape 
with a head start on 2018, with a year to solve my absence.

The music was very very good! 
The food was very very good! Great job!!
We had INTERNATIONAL Cavers visit from Mexico!
We had David Locklear!
The NSS represented!
The Texas Contingent represented!
The Aggies had a challenging Speleolympics course!
There was a REBELAY course!
We had a hot tub, sauna AND spring water!
There was a SLIDESHOW!
There were POWERWAGONS in service!
There was a HUGE board game.
There were barbarian Viking HOARDS!!
We had MUD GLADIATORS!!
There was schmoozing, I SAW IT!
People smiled!
What more can you ask for?
I’m happy!

Thank you
—Don
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[Texascavers] TCR 2017 and beyond

[Carl Kunath via Texascavers]

Don:
Thanks very much for your outstanding and unselfish service as TCR Jefe.  
You’ve done a wonderful job and your place will be hard to fill.  The position 
receives little thanks but I hope you know that for each person that openly 
says “thank you,” there are dozens of others that silently echo the thought.

>From me to you personally:  “Thanks, and well done!”

===Carl Kunath







-Original Message-
From: Don Arburn via Texascavers
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2017 6:25 PM
To: TSA Cavers List
Cc: Don Arburn
Subject: [Texascavers] [TCR 2017 Success!]

Hey everyone, another successful Texas cavers reunion is behind us now, well 
done! Good job everybody! It was awesome! IT WAS!

Not much to report in the Lost & Found Department this year, for once, yay!

The owner is happy, the park is clean. Next years deposit is paid, no date set 
yet.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!!

I didn’t want to harsh your mellow, on Saturday night, but 2017 was my last TCR 
as Director. I did six TCRs. I’m sorry folks, it was fun, rewarding and an 
adventure! My resignation is on a high point, I feel, with TCR is in good shape 
with a head start on 2018, with a year to solve my absence.

The music was very very good!
The food was very very good! Great job!!
We had INTERNATIONAL Cavers visit from Mexico!
We had David Locklear!
The NSS represented!
The Texas Contingent represented!
The Aggies had a challenging Speleolympics course!
There was a REBELAY course!
We had a hot tub, sauna AND spring water!
There was a SLIDESHOW!
There were POWERWAGONS in service!
There was a HUGE board game.
There were barbarian Viking HOARDS!!
We had MUD GLADIATORS!!
There was schmoozing, I SAW IT!
People smiled!
What more can you ask for?
I’m happy!

Thank you
—Don
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---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus
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[Texascavers] [TCR 2017 Success!]

[Don Arburn via Texascavers]

Hey everyone, another successful Texas cavers reunion is behind us now, well 
done! Good job everybody! It was awesome! IT WAS!

Not much to report in the Lost & Found Department this year, for once, yay!

The owner is happy, the park is clean. Next years deposit is paid, no date set 
yet.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!!

I didn’t want to harsh your mellow, on Saturday night, but 2017 was my last TCR 
as Director. I did six TCRs. I’m sorry folks, it was fun, rewarding and an 
adventure! My resignation is on a high point, I feel, with TCR is in good shape 
with a head start on 2018, with a year to solve my absence.

The music was very very good! 
The food was very very good! Great job!!
We had INTERNATIONAL Cavers visit from Mexico!
We had David Locklear!
The NSS represented!
The Texas Contingent represented!
The Aggies had a challenging Speleolympics course!
There was a REBELAY course!
We had a hot tub, sauna AND spring water!
There was a SLIDESHOW!
There were POWERWAGONS in service!
There was a HUGE board game.
There were barbarian Viking HOARDS!!
We had MUD GLADIATORS!!
There was schmoozing, I SAW IT!
People smiled!
What more can you ask for?
I’m happy!

Thank you
—Don
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Re: [Texascavers] Just reminiscing

[Marvin and Lisa via Texascavers]

David,

 

It was good to see you at TCR and I enjoyed reading your perspective on the 
event. I agree with your endorsement of the young guitarist/keyboard player. 
Good work, Dillon, and the rest of the band.

 

Marvin Miller

 

From: Texascavers [mailto:texascavers-boun...@texascavers.com] On Behalf Of 
David via Texascavers
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2017 4:20 PM
To: CaveTex 
Cc: David 
Subject: [Texascavers] Just reminiscing

 

>From David Locklear

 

 

( Part One is a venting rant.  Part Two is about my experience at TCR, so 
please skip Part One, or just hit Delete al ltogether to save you from 5 
minutes of your life that you will never get back. )

 

PART ONE

___

 

I am on I-10 passing the town Schulenburg heading due east for The Concrete 
Valley ( or as some call it,  "The Concrete Plateau." )

 

Like many attendees of TCR, I just spent 36 hours immersed in a bizarre 
non-concrete environment ( although there was a tiny concrete path ).  There at 
Paradise Canyon, I was subjected to warm-fuzzy feelings some call 
"cheerfulness."I am still in a state of shock much like an astronaut coming 
back to Earth.   Some people believe this cheerfulness-thing is nurturing. But 
the side-effects from this shock will be far more intense tomorrow when I have 
to face the really unusual problems at work head-on like a 2-by-6 across the 
face, added on to the fiery-fuel of the increasing toxic environment at my 
estranged-wife's house.   [ Sidenote ( please skip ):  As I am typing this 
report, she just started texting me that I am crazy-evil for stealing her tiny 
Christmas nativity-scene, and for me to never speak to her again.   Of course I 
have never touched it in 22 years, and have not seen it since she packed it 
away in February and threw it in her bizarre mountain of clutter ( that some 
might call feminine knick-knacks ).  And she hasn't even lifted a pinky to look 
for it, before getting all psychotic wacko. ]   

 

But I digress.

 

Plan A was to sleep there tonight, and try to briefly visit with my daughter.   
 But it looks like now, I will have to conjure up a Plan B out of a magic hat.

 

 

PART TWO

___

 

So I just made a pit-stop and was reminiscing about all that cheerfulness at 
TCR.

 

That was the most fun I have had in about 5 years.  I have a new favorite 
rock-and roll band - The Gary Franklin Band.  Their new young 
guitarist/keyboardist, herein known worldwide as, "The Maestro of Rock and 
Roll," simply blew the roof off the Paradise Lodge porch.  Then he teased us 
with a chord from " Sweet Madam Blue."

 

It appeared many attendees enjoyed the mud-wrestling.   

 

I thought the food was great. (  I do not think you can expect gourmet food at 
a volunteer low-budget mass feed )

 

The weather Friday and Saturday was about 2 degrees too hot in the day and 4 
degrees too hot at night.  But that made swimming more enticing especially at 
night, and the air-conditioned restrooms felt even more luxurious.  The weather 
Sunday was awesone for camping.

 

Numerous cavers went above the call of duty to make the event better than it 
normally is.  Among them were Don Arburn.  I can only guess that for his crew, 
TCR is a 5 day event.

 

Here are some highlights:

 

For one, The President of the National Speleological Society was available 24/7 
to discuss a wide variety of topics.   And he was busy, thru the NSS also had a 
booth of volunteers.

 

GFB performed two awesome sets of bluesy old rock-and-roll and there were ample 
opportunities to twerk, shake and jump and do cartwheels or hula-hoop or the 
lambada to the groovy music had you wanted to do so.  I really dug Gary's 
baratone twist on the sound.  I felt it was similar to "Puddles Pity Party," 
but was grittier and more bluesy.  Saj Zappitello killed it on the trumpet for 
"The Vehicle."

 

Mr. Passmore, "The Godfather of Speleo-VR," let anyone go virtual caving 
off-trail in NBC.  There is no doubt he is on to something none of us 
Earthlings can comprehend.

 

The Hot-Tub/Sauna tradition continued on with a new generation of 
naked-partying cavers.  I missed all that this year.

 

The Viking Parade was a surprising hoot and the kids enjoyed it, especially 
those in the parade.

 

Bob Bell from Fredericksburg brought a keg of awesome beer from the failing 
Pedernales MicroBrewery.  That was the best keg beer I have ever ever had.

 

Several old-timers graced us with their presence.  Including most of the 
healthy members of the Society of Underground Cavers, Karstologist and 
Speleologist.

 

Watching S.U.C.K.S. take a group photo was both an inspiration to me, and a 
moment in life to reflect on the passing of the baton.

 

It was impossible to see and do everything and talk with everybody.  I missed 
the activities around the vertical ropework.   You have to get here on Thursday 
night and stay later on Sunday to try to do it 

[Texascavers] Sincere apology to Crystal

[David via Texascavers]

Upon arriving at my first campspot in the quiet area, I accidentally chose
a spot in the heart of the Anti-David Locklear Grotto.  ( The ADLG )   I
strongly felt I should just accept fate and return to Houston.

After taking a deep breath, I went as far from cavers as I possibly could.

I think it was 2 a.m.

ButI  ran into an unexpected problem setting up my cot.   It had been years
since erecting it, and the canvas had shrunk.   I fought the dam cot for 30
minutes cursing and kicking the blasted contraption, while wondering what
kind of crazy person would bring a baby to group camp-out.

I should have moved my camp, but by that point I was exhausted.

But to set the record straight, it was 16 feet and there was a tree between
each camp.

Please accept my olive branch.

David
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Re: [Texascavers] Just reminiscing

[Crystal Datri via Texascavers]

"The quiet area" you speak of was very sparse.  When I pulled in, there
were maybe three or four other campers, all spaced quite far from each
other.  It was a very quiet area until you parked your cot 15 feet outside
of my window and woke my baby up before 6AM.

It did not help to see your ass.

I hate you.

Crystal Datri

On Sun, Oct 15, 2017 at 4:20 PM, David via Texascavers <
texascavers@texascavers.com> wrote:

> From David Locklear
>
>
> ( Part One is a venting rant.  Part Two is about my experience at TCR, so
> please skip Part One, or just hit Delete al ltogether to save you from 5
> minutes of your life that you will never get back. )
>
> PART ONE
> ___
>
> I am on I-10 passing the town Schulenburg heading due east for The
> Concrete Valley ( or as some call it,  "The Concrete Plateau." )
>
> Like many attendees of TCR, I just spent 36 hours immersed in a bizarre
> non-concrete environment ( although there was a tiny concrete path ).
> There at Paradise Canyon, I was subjected to warm-fuzzy feelings some call
> "cheerfulness."I am still in a state of shock much like an astronaut
> coming back to Earth.   Some people believe this cheerfulness-thing is
> nurturing. But the side-effects from this shock will be far more intense
> tomorrow when I have to face the really unusual problems at work head-on
> like a 2-by-6 across the face, added on to the fiery-fuel of the increasing
> toxic environment at my estranged-wife's house.   [ Sidenote ( please skip
> ):  As I am typing this report, she just started texting me that I am
> crazy-evil for stealing her tiny Christmas nativity-scene, and for me to
> never speak to her again.   Of course I have never touched it in 22 years,
> and have not seen it since she packed it away in February and threw it in
> her bizarre mountain of clutter ( that some might call feminine
> knick-knacks ).  And she hasn't even lifted a pinky to look for it, before
> getting all psychotic wacko. ]
>
> But I digress.
>
> Plan A was to sleep there tonight, and try to briefly visit with my
> daughter.But it looks like now, I will have to conjure up a Plan B out
> of a magic hat.
>
>
> PART TWO
> ___
>
> So I just made a pit-stop and was reminiscing about all that cheerfulness
> at TCR.
>
> That was the most fun I have had in about 5 years.  I have a new favorite
> rock-and roll band - The Gary Franklin Band.  Their new young
> guitarist/keyboardist, herein known worldwide as, "The Maestro of Rock and
> Roll," simply blew the roof off the Paradise Lodge porch.  Then he teased
> us with a chord from " Sweet Madam Blue."
>
> It appeared many attendees enjoyed the mud-wrestling.
>
> I thought the food was great. (  I do not think you can expect gourmet
> food at a volunteer low-budget mass feed )
>
> The weather Friday and Saturday was about 2 degrees too hot in the day and
> 4 degrees too hot at night.  But that made swimming more enticing
> especially at night, and the air-conditioned restrooms felt even more
> luxurious.  The weather Sunday was awesone for camping.
>
> Numerous cavers went above the call of duty to make the event better than
> it normally is.  Among them were Don Arburn.  I can only guess that for his
> crew, TCR is a 5 day event.
>
> Here are some highlights:
>
> For one, The President of the National Speleological Society was available
> 24/7 to discuss a wide variety of topics.   And he was busy, thru the NSS
> also had a booth of volunteers.
>
> GFB performed two awesome sets of bluesy old rock-and-roll and there were
> ample opportunities to twerk, shake and jump and do cartwheels or hula-hoop
> or the lambada to the groovy music had you wanted to do so.  I really dug
> Gary's baratone twist on the sound.  I felt it was similar to "Puddles Pity
> Party," but was grittier and more bluesy.  Saj Zappitello killed it on the
> trumpet for "The Vehicle."
>
> Mr. Passmore, "The Godfather of Speleo-VR," let anyone go virtual caving
> off-trail in NBC.  There is no doubt he is on to something none of us
> Earthlings can comprehend.
>
> The Hot-Tub/Sauna tradition continued on with a new generation of
> naked-partying cavers.  I missed all that this year.
>
> The Viking Parade was a surprising hoot and the kids enjoyed it,
> especially those in the parade.
>
> Bob Bell from Fredericksburg brought a keg of awesome beer from the
> failing Pedernales MicroBrewery.  That was the best keg beer I have ever
> ever had.
>
> Several old-timers graced us with their presence.  Including most of the
> healthy members of the Society of Underground Cavers, Karstologist and
> Speleologist.
>
> Watching S.U.C.K.S. take a group photo was both an inspiration to me, and
> a moment in life to reflect on the passing of the baton.
>
> It was impossible to see and do everything and talk with everybody.  I
> missed the activities around the vertical ropework.   You have to get here
> on Thursday night and stay later on Sunday to try to do it all.
>
> There were several 

Re: [Texascavers] Just reminiscing

[Louise Power via Texascavers]

Nobody cares. Take my name off your damned list!



From: Texascavers  on behalf of David via 
Texascavers 
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2017 2:20 PM
To: CaveTex
Cc: David
Subject: [Texascavers] Just reminiscing

>From David Locklear


( Part One is a venting rant.  Part Two is about my experience at TCR, so 
please skip Part One, or just hit Delete al ltogether to save you from 5 
minutes of your life that you will never get back. )

PART ONE
___

I am on I-10 passing the town Schulenburg heading due east for The Concrete 
Valley ( or as some call it,  "The Concrete Plateau." )

Like many attendees of TCR, I just spent 36 hours immersed in a bizarre 
non-concrete environment ( although there was a tiny concrete path ).  There at 
Paradise Canyon, I was subjected to warm-fuzzy feelings some call 
"cheerfulness."I am still in a state of shock much like an astronaut coming 
back to Earth.   Some people believe this cheerfulness-thing is nurturing. But 
the side-effects from this shock will be far more intense tomorrow when I have 
to face the really unusual problems at work head-on like a 2-by-6 across the 
face, added on to the fiery-fuel of the increasing toxic environment at my 
estranged-wife's house.   [ Sidenote ( please skip ):  As I am typing this 
report, she just started texting me that I am crazy-evil for stealing her tiny 
Christmas nativity-scene, and for me to never speak to her again.   Of course I 
have never touched it in 22 years, and have not seen it since she packed it 
away in February and threw it in her bizarre mountain of clutter ( that some 
might call feminine knick-knacks ).  And she hasn't even lifted a pinky to look 
for it, before getting all psychotic wacko. ]

But I digress.

Plan A was to sleep there tonight, and try to briefly visit with my daughter.   
 But it looks like now, I will have to conjure up a Plan B out of a magic hat.


PART TWO
___

So I just made a pit-stop and was reminiscing about all that cheerfulness at 
TCR.

That was the most fun I have had in about 5 years.  I have a new favorite 
rock-and roll band - The Gary Franklin Band.  Their new young 
guitarist/keyboardist, herein known worldwide as, "The Maestro of Rock and 
Roll," simply blew the roof off the Paradise Lodge porch.  Then he teased us 
with a chord from " Sweet Madam Blue."

It appeared many attendees enjoyed the mud-wrestling.

I thought the food was great. (  I do not think you can expect gourmet food at 
a volunteer low-budget mass feed )

The weather Friday and Saturday was about 2 degrees too hot in the day and 4 
degrees too hot at night.  But that made swimming more enticing especially at 
night, and the air-conditioned restrooms felt even more luxurious.  The weather 
Sunday was awesone for camping.

Numerous cavers went above the call of duty to make the event better than it 
normally is.  Among them were Don Arburn.  I can only guess that for his crew, 
TCR is a 5 day event.

Here are some highlights:

For one, The President of the National Speleological Society was available 24/7 
to discuss a wide variety of topics.   And he was busy, thru the NSS also had a 
booth of volunteers.

GFB performed two awesome sets of bluesy old rock-and-roll and there were ample 
opportunities to twerk, shake and jump and do cartwheels or hula-hoop or the 
lambada to the groovy music had you wanted to do so.  I really dug Gary's 
baratone twist on the sound.  I felt it was similar to "Puddles Pity Party," 
but was grittier and more bluesy.  Saj Zappitello killed it on the trumpet for 
"The Vehicle."

Mr. Passmore, "The Godfather of Speleo-VR," let anyone go virtual caving 
off-trail in NBC.  There is no doubt he is on to something none of us 
Earthlings can comprehend.

The Hot-Tub/Sauna tradition continued on with a new generation of 
naked-partying cavers.  I missed all that this year.

The Viking Parade was a surprising hoot and the kids enjoyed it, especially 
those in the parade.

Bob Bell from Fredericksburg brought a keg of awesome beer from the failing 
Pedernales MicroBrewery.  That was the best keg beer I have ever ever had.

Several old-timers graced us with their presence.  Including most of the 
healthy members of the Society of Underground Cavers, Karstologist and 
Speleologist.

Watching S.U.C.K.S. take a group photo was both an inspiration to me, and a 
moment in life to reflect on the passing of the baton.

It was impossible to see and do everything and talk with everybody.  I missed 
the activities around the vertical ropework.   You have to get here on Thursday 
night and stay later on Sunday to try to do it all.

There were several cavers from Houston area, mostly only those still actively 
caving.   Don and Syd Formanek, myself, Charles and Adriana Fromen ( Adriana is 
drom Brazil ), and Ray Hertel.   And a girl I have met, but can't remember her 
name at the moment.   

[Texascavers] Just reminiscing

[David via Texascavers]

>From David Locklear


( Part One is a venting rant.  Part Two is about my experience at TCR, so
please skip Part One, or just hit Delete al ltogether to save you from 5
minutes of your life that you will never get back. )

PART ONE
___

I am on I-10 passing the town Schulenburg heading due east for The Concrete
Valley ( or as some call it,  "The Concrete Plateau." )

Like many attendees of TCR, I just spent 36 hours immersed in a bizarre
non-concrete environment ( although there was a tiny concrete path ).
There at Paradise Canyon, I was subjected to warm-fuzzy feelings some call
"cheerfulness."I am still in a state of shock much like an astronaut
coming back to Earth.   Some people believe this cheerfulness-thing is
nurturing. But the side-effects from this shock will be far more intense
tomorrow when I have to face the really unusual problems at work head-on
like a 2-by-6 across the face, added on to the fiery-fuel of the increasing
toxic environment at my estranged-wife's house.   [ Sidenote ( please skip
):  As I am typing this report, she just started texting me that I am
crazy-evil for stealing her tiny Christmas nativity-scene, and for me to
never speak to her again.   Of course I have never touched it in 22 years,
and have not seen it since she packed it away in February and threw it in
her bizarre mountain of clutter ( that some might call feminine
knick-knacks ).  And she hasn't even lifted a pinky to look for it, before
getting all psychotic wacko. ]

But I digress.

Plan A was to sleep there tonight, and try to briefly visit with my
daughter.But it looks like now, I will have to conjure up a Plan B out
of a magic hat.


PART TWO
___

So I just made a pit-stop and was reminiscing about all that cheerfulness
at TCR.

That was the most fun I have had in about 5 years.  I have a new favorite
rock-and roll band - The Gary Franklin Band.  Their new young
guitarist/keyboardist, herein known worldwide as, "The Maestro of Rock and
Roll," simply blew the roof off the Paradise Lodge porch.  Then he teased
us with a chord from " Sweet Madam Blue."

It appeared many attendees enjoyed the mud-wrestling.

I thought the food was great. (  I do not think you can expect gourmet food
at a volunteer low-budget mass feed )

The weather Friday and Saturday was about 2 degrees too hot in the day and
4 degrees too hot at night.  But that made swimming more enticing
especially at night, and the air-conditioned restrooms felt even more
luxurious.  The weather Sunday was awesone for camping.

Numerous cavers went above the call of duty to make the event better than
it normally is.  Among them were Don Arburn.  I can only guess that for his
crew, TCR is a 5 day event.

Here are some highlights:

For one, The President of the National Speleological Society was available
24/7 to discuss a wide variety of topics.   And he was busy, thru the NSS
also had a booth of volunteers.

GFB performed two awesome sets of bluesy old rock-and-roll and there were
ample opportunities to twerk, shake and jump and do cartwheels or hula-hoop
or the lambada to the groovy music had you wanted to do so.  I really dug
Gary's baratone twist on the sound.  I felt it was similar to "Puddles Pity
Party," but was grittier and more bluesy.  Saj Zappitello killed it on the
trumpet for "The Vehicle."

Mr. Passmore, "The Godfather of Speleo-VR," let anyone go virtual caving
off-trail in NBC.  There is no doubt he is on to something none of us
Earthlings can comprehend.

The Hot-Tub/Sauna tradition continued on with a new generation of
naked-partying cavers.  I missed all that this year.

The Viking Parade was a surprising hoot and the kids enjoyed it, especially
those in the parade.

Bob Bell from Fredericksburg brought a keg of awesome beer from the failing
Pedernales MicroBrewery.  That was the best keg beer I have ever ever had.

Several old-timers graced us with their presence.  Including most of the
healthy members of the Society of Underground Cavers, Karstologist and
Speleologist.

Watching S.U.C.K.S. take a group photo was both an inspiration to me, and a
moment in life to reflect on the passing of the baton.

It was impossible to see and do everything and talk with everybody.  I
missed the activities around the vertical ropework.   You have to get here
on Thursday night and stay later on Sunday to try to do it all.

There were several cavers from Houston area, mostly only those still
actively caving.   Don and Syd Formanek, myself, Charles and Adriana Fromen
( Adriana is drom Brazil ), and Ray Hertel.   And a girl I have met, but
can't remember her name at the moment.   Also, Dr. Peter Druschke and his
lovely family.

It was good to see Ray Hertel volunteering at registration.   He has been
with GHG for at least 10 years.  If he never was awarded the Chuck Steuhm
Award, then he certainly deserves to receive it late.

It is always great to see and chat with cavers that I first met from 1985
to 1987.
( Which was about 70