DaveInTN 3,247 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 The First Annual (I hope) Desoto Grand Gathering took place this weekend at Desoto State Park in Alabama! Like other GG trip reports, hopefully this one can be a collaborative effort where we can all share our experiences and pics. I know several pictures have already been shared on the GG thread, but I uploaded all my pictures and have 89 I think....so figured I'd start an actual TR thread to share them. So, what's with my title? This really felt like two separate gatherings to me...mainly because of the weather. Friday and Saturday were spectacular days in northern Alabama. Sunny and in the 60's. Couldn't ask more much better. Which was great as that is when we had the most attendees and when we hung out the most. Then, at 2:07 am Sunday (per my clock), the rain started. And boy, did it rain. Ask poor Yvonne who was packing up her tent in the middle of it. It was coming down in buckets. And even though the heaviest rain ended sometime Sunday morning, the fog and mist persisted into Monday, and the temps cooled off. Completely different camping experience. But still good...as I'll get to later. So, I guess I'll back up to Friday and get started. The DIT girls are on spring break this week, so Friday was the infamous day before break. Lots of kids skip to head to their beach vacations early. Teachers don't plan much. And our girls don't miss much school. Plus, knowing that half of our county would be on the roads heading south that afternoon, we decided to just skip the entire day and get an early start. We hit the road around 10:30. The drive was STRESSFUL....very windy, especially heading over Monteagle, where we enjoyed a picnic of PB&J's. But we made it safe and sound at the campground by mid-afternoon and were the 2nd Fiends to arrive. Tim5055 had arrived early that morning. The campground had created a group for us to add our reservations to, and had blocked off some great sites all together (normally you make a reservation just for a type of site then select when you arrive). We got to pick from that block of sites, and before long I had this in my hand. And this as my home. Coming up....our first hike, and more Fiends arrive. Feel free to add, Fiends..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 I'm in! It was the best of times. It was the worst of times . . . I can't wait to hear all about it! TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Katman1356...Jason 1,140 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Count me in. Wish I could have been there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AC in A2......Aaron 693 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 I am in!Good start. There is already beer! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dblr....Rennie 224 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 I'm here also, let me get a beer first........... Ok go ahead Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Momof6....aka Marty 769 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 I'm in! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 I'm in! First page! DIT, you aren't going to monopolize your own first page? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beckers 1,136 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 I'm in! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YENSIDCAMPER 66 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 I am in and sadly excitedly waiting to hear more of what we missed out on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beckers 1,136 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 I'm in! First page!DIT, you aren't going to monopolize your own first page?I don't think we should give him a chance too Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Helmsey......Todd 134 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 I am in and sadly excitedly waiting to hear more of what we missed out on.Me too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grumpy and Grandma 739 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Hurry with the important pics. Where's Anna? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AuburnJen 771 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 There will be lots of Anna pictures, just be patient. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grumpy and Grandma 739 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 just be patient.Not my strong suit. Just ask Grandma.. :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted March 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 I didn't take many Anna pics but I know Carol and Jen have that covered. I was too busy taking selfies on this trip, and I am going to subject you to every one of them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
momof3kids-Yvonne 594 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 The rain was terrible and cold. Thankfully though it didn't start on Saturday like the original weather predictions were showing. That day was absolutely beautiful. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
h2odivers...Ray 952 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 I'm in. Traveling today but I'll hopefully be able to get some reading in today. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
h2odivers...Ray 952 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 How the heck did I make page one? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
h2odivers...Ray 952 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Mum thinking of pulling a DIT and hogging all of page one. But I have a feel in this is going to be a great TR so I won't. Bring on the Anna, the pood forn, and the beer pictures, Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Roller ... aka Ed 351 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Sad that we missed Friday and Saturday - but glad we missed Sunday and Monday! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted March 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 It looks like page one is full, so I can continue with the report. I always like to give everyone the opportunity to post on page one on trip reports....there are some people who hog page one which is just plain rude IMO. :rofl3: After getting set up at the site, we had our first Fiend encounter. Tim came by with his little puppy dog Niko. We chatted for a bit, then decided to head out on our first short hike to one of the trails closest to the campground. We strapped Anna into the backpack and headed out, and before long our girls conquered their first waterfall in the name of Fiendom. And they sat back to reflect on the day's accomplishments. Carol had mentioned our little white fluff ball earlier, named Foofy. Here she is with INC. SELFIE ALERT! That one shows Anna in her pack. I bet there aren't many 6 year olds who can ride in a backpack. :rofl2: SELFIE ALERT #2!! The selfies were mainly to embarrass my girls. I kept taking them. And they kept rolling their eyes. Man, I love embarrassing my kids. Is that wrong? Of course, they think they can fight back by making strange faces in my selfies. But the joke is on them, because I don't get embarrassed easily, and will post pretty much anything. And I have a long enough arm to get 7 people in one selfie!! I bet they didn't think I'd post those. Fools. Will they ever learn that their father has no shame? On with the Hiking Selfies! Ok....I suppose that's enough with the selfies. For now. There will be more. And you have been warned. When we got back, Leslie arrived to set up shop for one night. And other Fiends began rolling in as well. I will let some of them add their Friday recollections and pictures now..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 I'm in too. Great selfies! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AC in A2......Aaron 693 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Nice job on the selfies!Embarrassing our children is one of life's great pleasures. Roller ... aka Ed 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beckers 1,136 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Clearly you did not go to TCD'S school of selfies, thank goodness!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 The selfies are AMAZING... oh wait, the Troll is hiding these days. Good job embarrassing the kids. It's important to do so in order to build character. Roller ... aka Ed 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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