Instead of writing one long trip report I am going to post several mini trip reports.
First of which, is a complaint to the NSS. When making my plans to attend this event, I decided to bring my wife and mother-in-law along. My plan was for them to hang around the vicinity of camp all week, while I attended a few of the convention highlights. ( I was not expecting them to attend the convention, but I would have taken them to see the photos and the maps if they really wanted to see them, and just purchase a day pass. ) Upon arriving at the campground, I was told they could not enter with me unless they fully registered for the whole week as non-members. I was told I would have to pay an additional $ 260.00, in addition to the $ 130.00 I had already paid for myself, meaning for us to attend this convention would cost me $ 390.00. Because of our late arrival to the campground, I had less than 30 minutes to decide how I was going to scrape up the money to do this; or if I would be better off to leave them in a hotel all week while I went to the convention. I returned to my car to ponder the problem, and STRONGLY considered blowing off the convention, after driving so far to get there. As I was sitting in my car, just on the other side of the fence the Howdy Party was getting started. I was disappointed. My wife and mother-in-law where unaware of what the problem was, or why we were just sitting there in the car with me pulling my hair out. I have been to 4 previous conventions, but this was my 1st to bring in other people with me, so in hindsight, I clearly made too many assumptions on this part of my travel plans. With less than 5 minutes before registration closed, I decided to FORK UP the money, knowing that the rest of my vacation was going to be very short on funds and that my wife and mother-in-law were not going to understand why I did this or why there was no money to buy anything during the trip. In my opinion, it was not fair or reasonable that I should have had to pay so much money for them to camp with me. I want a partial refund of that $ 260.00. That being said, since they were registered, it seemed logical for me to drag them with me where ever possible to the convention. They did see the part of the Slide Salon and did eat dinner at the Howdy Party. They saw the maps and the photos and even part of the video of the McBride's cave rescue. They enjoyed the Rocket Center program, eventhough, they could not read the english descriptions of the museum exhibits. However, they would have preferred to sit at camp and relax and play with the baby, and I would have preferred to spend this money on new cave gear. David Locklear NSS # 27639
