Kim's first letter

Come One Come All

Come to the Last Raft Trip of the
Century*

There have been a lot of major events in the last 100 years.

Major events of the 20^th century:

1901 - William McKinley fatally shot.
1903 - Wright Brothers made aviation history with the first flight.
1906 - San Francisco earthquake.
1908 - Model T goes on the market.
1917 - United States enters WWI.
1920 - Women get to Vote.
1923 - Warren G. Harding dies.
1929 - Stock market crashes.
1932 - Prohibition repealed.
1938 - Hindenburg crashes.
1941 - A day that will live in infamy. December 7 Pearl Harbor
1945 - Franklin D. Roosevelt dies.
1945 - WWII ends!!!!
1948 - Shockley invents the transistor.
1951 - I love Lucy premiers.
1956 - Elvis’s first movie "Love Me Tender".
1963 - JFK assassinated.
1969 - Neil Armstrong walks on the moon.
1971 - Nixon resigns as President.
1971 - 1980 Cultural Void
1981 - 7 men 1 woman face the New River, and the GSPs were formed.
1982 - "Pig Roast" - Frozen Pig hauled from Indiana and Roasted (anybody I know?)
1983 - First official raft trip letter. RSK sights a "bear" in the campground - no witnesses.
1984 - First woman to MOON at campfire and first camper at campground.  First Gauley trip - Holy water originates.
1985 - Raft trip first COOL gift. Kim Strang's first raft trip.  Ken Long uses car trunk for beer cooler on 2^nd Gauley trip -"it's only a rental"
1986 - Malcolm and KDS bicycle from Chicago to Hico and request Lite Beer.  Not Ready for Conception Players premiers.
1987 - GSPs evicted from Mountain Manor campgrounds, also first piglet on trip.  Coincidence?
1988 - Ray St Clair accepts GSP refugees. Raft trip run on Gauley. (It was Pure Screaming Hell.)
1989 - Day Glow -Day-ay-ay Glo Bathing Suit Exchange Who has Paul's shorts?
1990 - Jeff Treece perfects the raft evacuation techniques.
1991 - A torrential downpour in the Keeneys then Kris Meade has a tough break during Miller's Folly.
1992 - Higgins organizes-Cultural void  --  See 1971-1980
1993 - First group pot luck and beer tasting.  Exercise?  All we did was eat and drink.
1994 - Meadow Swimming hole found.  Bear (beer/) sited with witnesses.
1995 - Kim Strang reborn as a Treece.  First piglet raft trip.
1996 - Major erection at campsite.  I was referring to the castle not you RSK.)
1997 - GSP pie written and performed.
1998 - High tech beer coolers introduced.
1999 - Kim Strang organizes. 19^th year and we finally sing 99 bottles of beer!

*O.K. I know technically next year is the last year of the century, but if everyone else can do it so can I.

PARTY PARTY PARTY !!!!

Share the history, achieve Internet immortality, make Darrel's song, be the first person on your block to sign up for the "Party of the Century", The 19^th Annual GSP Raft Trip.  Come one, come all , bring your tents, bring your boats, bring your friend, bring your cases of beer.  The beer, Beer, BEER, that’s one thing I love the beer, Beer, BEER. Come early, stay late, send money, send phone numbers of single men.  West Virginia is wild and wonderful, and there are many people who come on the raft trip not just to raft.  Mostly they come just to see me, but there are also local attractions such as hiking, scenic airplanes rides, swimming, museums (the Mystery Hole), all the entertainment you can handle, and just plain fun with your closest friends.

Guess Where We are Going?

I called MRT to organize the 1999 trip, and they asked when we wanted to raft. I said "July 4^th of course", so by order of the Party Girl, we are rafting Sunday, July 4^th.  Once again we will be rafting the scenic New River.  This year I made an executive decision to go with Mountain River Tours (like we would go with anyone else).  And of course Mountain River Tours will provide the equipment and the guides (I hope, I forgot to ask).  Children should be at least 12 years of age (I just made the cutoff).  Payment is due all at once (I need cash to cover my winter vacation) due March 15^th (et tu, RSK?).  The total fee for Rafting/Slush is $115.00 (the raft fee is $20.00 the rest is slush….what a shush!).  The Slush Fund covers wood, ice, cool gift and my 1999 summer wardrobe.  We will be rafting in 6 man rafts ( in my case , 5 strong single men, and me).  The raft trip includes dinner (if you can call it that) after the trip, and a MRT videographer to capture the day's events (swimsuits are optional).  Day care for you piglets can usually be arranged for the day of the trip (I personally think they'd do well on their own - just lock the beer cooler).

where should we stay?

Why stay at the same place year after year?  How about a 4 star hotel?  Well, MRT's campground is considered 4 star accommodations in West Virginia (after all, Ray now has 2 bathrooms).  The rooms are $6 per person Sunday through Saturday (hey, Ray's kids will be in college soon).  Equipment not included (unless of course Ken Long comes).  I have a listing of local non-camping establishments (B&Bs, motels), if you are interested (I am).

QUACK QUACK QUACK

The Ducky ( or try to save your inheritance) Trip is scheduled for Friday, July 2.  You can get a good taste of white water at a low intensity level (unless you double duck with Higgens) on the Upper New.  Children must be 6 or older to raft, duck or swim down the rapids.  This is an all day affair including lunch and equipment.  Cost varies with your method of transportation down the river.  See the last page for details ( and you were hoping this was the last page).  Bring your own boat, get a discount, bring back your own boat, get a bigger discount.  A yard sale of found river equipment will follow the Ducky Trip, all proceeds will benefit the Make a Wish Foundation for Kim (the last person to put their name this may times in the letter was Dr. Ed).