MetalDad 33 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 And once again, it is time to gather the troops and head off to the Fortress of Wilderness and celebrate our nation’s independence.Four (score) and one-half days of Forting around in what is surely our favorite camping destination, as evidenced by this tour diary by which you dear reader , will join us by sight, sound, and smell (a MetalDad TR sensory writing device).I mean, truthfully, you want to live vicariously through a trip report, it’s like spending someone else’s money. So, let us carry on…page 4 in your songbooks…To move forward, we must move back.As some of you may recall from the Rainbow Bridge Pet memorials thread, we had to put down our beloved Pekingese. Her name was Pepper, she was 14.It was exactly one week before we left for the Fort.We had decided to wait awhile before we got another dog. And when we did, it was going to be the opposite of Pepper.We decided this course of action even before we put her down. It would be a black lab, a good family dog. A big boy dog to ride in the truck and go camping instead of the petite little girl that wanted nothing to do with cars, campers, or any other dogs. Pepper was a homegirl to be sure.We were gonna wait, I don’t know, coupla months maybe…That didn’t last.Meet Josie.She’s a 6-month old girl that we met from the Lab Rescue of Florida. She was just what we wanted. And we didn’t even know it!After our application and donation, we were approved as a result of our interview and were given a list of currently available dogs, all 6 or 7 years old, and this girl. We thought some were too old for our needs, and the young one was a girl, well, we can go meet her anyway.At the moment we decided to ask about meeting her, she was at a rescue event at PetSmart about a half hour away, and it ended at 2pm. It was 12:38pm when we bolted out the door and into the truck.When we got there, another family pulled up in front of the store and shouted that they were here to meet the 6-month old girl (they called her Roxanne, but we wanted to name her our own name, we named her after a Steely Dan song!), we also got to spend time with her. She loved the kids, and MetalWife, and responded to me as well.The other family said they wanted her, had to check with dad, blah, blah, grandmother’s yelling at the rescue volunteer to get the paperwork together. I calmly told the volunteer that was fostering her, that we too wanted the dog, we’ve gone through the proper procedure, had donated, and that we were taking the dog home with us.After stocking up on new dog stuff, we headed home. She laid in the front seat with her head and front paws on my lap, I was in love with her by the first traffic light.The backstory goes like this. She belonged to a military family in Valdosta, GA (which explains her good posture and southern accent!). They were reassigned to a station in Europe and could not bring her along, so they gave her to the Lab rescue, they moved her here because the Georgia shelters can’t find enough homes for the animals.She had a better chance in the Tampa Bay area, and the Good Lord let our paths cross!We had a welcome home party for her, invited friends and family, Ben the BassMaster was there, we had a fire blazing at Metal Dad’s Fire Pit (that’s the official Facebook check-in!).She has a new batch of toys, new kids to play with, and an infection…What the Fort?The day before we were Fort bound, the Mrs. rings me at the office to tell me that the vet went to take her sutures out (from when she was spayed)and lo and behold, the wound was infected.So instead of going to the Fort for her first camping adventure, she would wear the cone of shame and board at the vet’s for 6 days.Drag.Oh yeah, camping trip… Hijacked my own thread…in the first post…is that a Fiend record?Some housekeeping before we leave. I recently got some Musket Mickey/Fort Wilderness vinyl stickers made for the truck and camper, and was so pleased that I had some new designs scanned and cut for the trip, a spiffy big Coleman logo, and my name, Metal Dad, done up in vinyl, which was cool because it’s in the same font as the logo for the metal band Iron Maiden.On the camper.And, on the truck.Incredibly cheesy, I know, but that’s the kind of cheddar merchant that my wife and kids have come to know and love!So we’re ready to roll Fort forward. Weeks of planning, packing (holy…I’ll get to that in a bit!), and preparing mind, body, soul, camper, and camera.I dumped all the photos off my phone, all the songs, video…so I had as much room as possible to load it up with Fort pictures for this here trip report (Santa missed my camera request, thanks, you portly myth!).Not just any photos, but some 249 photos of absurdity of subject and perspective.Please keep in mind that this four day affair is completely park free.This is the way that me and my tribe make the most of the Fort.You’ll see some blood, smell some sweat, and meet some Fiends.Hop in, I’ll drive! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marilyn 19 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 I'm ready. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bord1niowa......Curt 79 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Bring it on! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 WooHoo!!! A Fiend Fourth Trip Report!!!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AC in A2......Aaron 693 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Yeeeee-hawwwww! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Bout time you started this one. I'm a very impatient Fiend, you know. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BassMaster 7 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 The BassMaster awaits. Also, want to make sure that you post none of my blood or sweat, just my bass. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
momof3kids-Yvonne 594 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 My seatbelt is securely fastened and I am ready to go!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BouncingTiggers 98 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Beautiful Lab you've got there.Looking foward to the next installment Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SCTigerCock 171 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Congrats on the new pup!Can't wait for more! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Disneyzombie-Brenda 10 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 I'm ready, let's roll! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
H in SC 85 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 That’s the same expression I have on my face when starting a trip to the Fort.Enjoying the Trip Report. :) Nicki aka Rebelstand 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scooterminnie...paula 20 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 :popcorn: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dollface...CindyC 18 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Shot gun!!!!!!!! The new puppy is adorable!!! Hope she's feeling all better from her infection and loving her new family. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doodlebug....Cherie 461 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 I was on the verge of tears during the back story, but I am so happy you found Josie!! Sorry she missed her first Fort trip but she has many to look forward to.Ready for more!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nicki aka Rebelstand 272 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 I'm strapped in... at least I will be next week. Give me something to catch up on!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ajcjmom 8 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 I in! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alexwyattmommy 181 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Waiting for more, please. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dvccamper 32 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 I'm sorry about Pepper, she was really adorable. But congrats on Josie, another beautiful dog!Looking forward to reading your adventure! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gots2pitt.. Jeff 64 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Just made the first page.. wait for me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MetalDad 33 Posted July 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 I'm ready.Bring it on!Cool. Early check-in. I like it.WooHoo!!! A Fiend Fourth Trip Report!!!!!!Yeeeee-hawwwww!Yee-Haw indeed. This one was one for the books. And most people would say we didn't do much!Bout time you started this one. I'm a very impatient Fiend, you know.We had a delay, technical difficulty with a photo of the Lego Death Star from DTD. Rest assured there's lotsa food Dave, and I remembered to take a photo just for you of all of it! And rocked some Bluegrass too!The BassMaster awaits. Also, want to make sure that you post none of my blood or sweat, just my bass.No, but the giant cheesy moustache will be prominently featured! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MetalDad 33 Posted July 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 My seatbelt is securely fastened and I am ready to go!!!!You've obviously never looped with me in a Kenny cart. Whit knuckle to be sure!Beautiful Lab you've got there.Looking foward to the next installmentThank you. She smells and sheds, but I love her anyway! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MetalDad 33 Posted July 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Congrats on the new pup!Can't wait for more!Wait until you see the beer section, we brought it to a fine art this time. We'll need to reconvene the fireside sample session whence you arrive at the Fort one of these days. Checkin' the calendar for Sept.I'm ready, let's roll!Indeed, roll we will, in fact Publix French Hamburger Roll to be exact!That’s the same expression I have on my face when starting a trip to the Fort.Enjoying the Trip Report. :)That's perfect, made me laugh out loud. That's the first still shot I could get of her. She's curious but not hyper! :popcorn:Careful with that corn, squirrels in the 1500 are brazen.Shot gun!!!!!!!!The new puppy is adorable!!! Hope she's feeling all better from her infection and loving her new family.Thanks! Kids always want to ride shotgun, and we've always said no, now with the big truck it's abit safer, no air bag in the center, and th dog takes up room, so one actually does ride shotgun. Waited for years, love it!I was on the verge of tears during the back story, but I am so happy you found Josie!! Sorry she missed her first Fort trip but she has many to look forward to.Ready for more!!Sorry I didn't see you more, that's all in the TR, pretty funny too!I'm strapped in... at least I will be next week. Give me something to catch up on!!Maybe we'll wait then...I in!Waiting for more, please.Thanks for joining!I'm sorry about Pepper, she was really adorable. But congrats on Josie, another beautiful dog!Looking forward to reading your adventure!Thanks. Next segment will be up perhaps later. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
photogal06...Sommer 10 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Looooooove Josie! She's a doll! We went through the same thing when we lost our Dotty. She was my heart, and we lost her just before she turned 12. I swore it would be a while before we got another dog. A few weeks later, Murphy joined our family. The hole Dot left was just too big, and it had to be filled in a bit.Can't wait to read more! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brent... Just Brent 83 Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 I'm in. Can't wait to see what all you guys did. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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