Sign up for the 1996 GSP Raft Trip!

The GSP Raft Trip RULES!

I was sitting around watching MTV's "Road Rules," the episode where Paul at MRT takes 'em rafting on the New, when it suddenly occurred to me, "Great Scott! I need to send out the GSP letter!" Those of you who've been with us for a few years know that this time of the year we start planning for the ANNUAL GSP RAFT TRIP!

What it is, Dude!

This year, we will be rafting on the New River, Saturday, July 6, 1996. The New River is designated as a National River to preserve its scenic and historic beauty, and once you get there, you will see why! Mountain River Tours will provide our equipment and guides; they have been our raft trip professionals for 15 years. The main one-day trip takes us through the best section of this great river, in 6-man self-bailing rafts (read: gnarley!).

The GSPiglets threaten to outnumber the GSP's, if that's possible. Once again, children will not be a problem, should you wish to leave your child at GSP daycare (read: escape from) long enough to go on the raft trip. Children must be at least 14 years of age to raft with MRT. (1)

There will also be a myriad of ancillary GSP activities in the New River Gorge area, including hiking, swimming, ducky/funyak/kayak (one-man raft) and canoe trips, bicycling, and a hike down to tooth-sucker rapids or GSP Falls on the Meadow River. If you have interest in or concerns about these events, please enclose a note with your deposit payment. Some of these events have not yet been finalized, so your input is very important!

What about the beer, you ask? In the past we have had more beer varieties than you can shake a GSP at, and this year will be no exception. Plan to bring your favorite homebrew, store-botten, or micro-brew beer, and count on having plenty of choices. If beer's not your bag, bring plenty of Pepsi.

Find out more about the GSP trip on the web:http://worldserver.com/gsp/.

LaTeX

You may have noticed; this letter is formatted in LaTeX. I'm very excited about this; I know you will be too. Why? Because the equations are prettier, of course!

Send Money in Small, Unmarked Bills

The cost of the trip is a bit more on the weekend than on a weekday, but a bargain at twice the price! The total cost of the trip is $100.00 per person. This amount includes MRT's portion for the raft trip ($81.50), plus a contribution to the Festivity Fund ($18.50). The Festivity Fund includes the cost of the Cool Gift. All attendees, rafting or not, are asked to contribute to the Festivity Fund to cover cool gifts and expenses, such as ice at the campground and postage to send these letters. Half of the amount is due now, as a deposit to reserve your spot on the trip, and the balance is due in May (I will be sending another letter to remind you). Of course you may pay the whole amount at once if you wish. If you wish to raft, it is very important that you send the deposit before March 10, 1996 (2) to reserve your spot.

If you need extra time to decide or make your plans, please contact me immediately and let me know what's up, so I can try to work something out. There are a limited number of rafting spaces available, and it will be first-come first-serve. The deposit is refundable only if we can find someone else to fill your spot. If you decide not to raft, but plan to attend the GSP event (rafting ain't the only thing that goes on!), or think you might attend, it would be helpful if you send your contribution to the Festivity Fund in advance to help me cover expenses and plan appropriately.

If there is sufficient interest, we will get a video of the trip, which you may purchase. Please indicate your interest level so that I may plan accordingly.

Camping

Camping will cost $4.00 per person per night on weekdays and $4.50 per person per night on the weekends, giving you a small square of grass upon which to set up your tent, flashers, barracades and construction equipment. (3) Camping arrangements can be made upon arrival.

If you're a camping weenie and would rather stay in a nice cozy hotel room, let me know, and I will try to provide you with a list of possibilities.

Gauley

If there is sufficient interest, we will plan a Gauley trip for sometime in October. The Gauley is an awesome river; if you haven't ever done it, you should! Please let me know if you are interested in a fall Gauley trip. You don't need to make a definite commitment yet.

Return to Sender

In an unadulterated, shameless attempt to get everyone to send in the first payment as promptly as possible, I'm hosting a contest! There will be a first-place prize for the payment that is the first to appear in my mailbox, and a runner-up prize, too! As there may be a tie, I have cooked up the following quiz as a tie-breaker. The most-correct and/or best answers will be used by the panel of judges to determine the winner. (4)

Jeff Treece, February 21, 1996

Please enclose answers to the following questions, along with half of the total amount due:

  1. Who organized the trip in 1987?
  2. Complete the phrase: "We're all _______ on this bus."
  3. The thunderstorm occurred primarily during which rapids?
  4. Name a MRT guide that has passed out at the campfire.
  5. Name a GSP person most likely to have witnessed a guide passing out at the campfire.
  6. Give me a number between 1 and 100.
  7. Tell me a funny joke.

Cost and Cool Gift Worksheet

Please send half of the total immediately to secure your position on the 1996 raft trip! The balance is due May 15, 1996. You will receive a confirmation and final instructions letter in May if you reserve a spot on the trip. Return to:
Jeff and Cherre Treece
GSP Rafting Central
5330 Lakeside Ct.
Bloomington, IN 47404
812-876-8083
Footnotes

1. At first, I thought there had been exceptions to this rule in the past, but then I discovered that DrEd is actually at least 14 years of age! [Return to text.]

2. I apologize for the short notice. There was an earthquake; a terrible flood; my dog died; I lost my job; It's not my fault! [Return to text.]

3. The small, trough-shaped section of real estate, in the middle of the south end of the campground is reserved for Rich Kulawiec's tent. [Return to text.]

4. Disclaimer: all questions have been painstakingly researched; judges' decisions are final; all rights reversed; it's not what you know, but who you know; questions and/or content may be plagiarized from previous trip leaders and/or the GSP WWW page; void where prohibited; registered; trademark... [Return to text.]