Kim's second letter

I was drinkin' when I wrote this

Forgive me if it goes astray

But when I woke up this mornin'

Coulda sworn it was rafting day

The sky was all purple

There were people runnin' everywhere

Tryin' to run to the MRT

Rafting facilities there

'Cuz they say two thousand zero zero party over

Oops out of time

So this year we're gonna party like it's 1999

I was drinkin' when I wrote this

So sue me if I go too fast

But life is just a party

And parties weren't meant to last

Water is all around us

Our minds says prepare to swim

So if we've gotta die

We're gonna listen for the GSP hymn

Yeah, they say two thousand zero zero party over

Oops out of time

So this year we're gonna party like it's 1999

Yeah

If you didn't come to party

Don't bother knockin' on my door

I got a bottle in my pocket

And baby I'm ready to pour

Yeah, everybody's got a boat

We could all die any day

But before we let that happen

We'll paddle our lives away

They say two thousand zero zero party over

Oops out of time

We're runnin' outta time

So this year we're gonna party like it's 1999

Say it one more time

Two thousand zero zero party over

Oops out of time

So this trip we're gonna party like it's 1999)

Yeah, 1999 (1999)

Don'tcha wanna go (1999)

Don'tcha wanna go (1999) …..

So load up your cars, your campers, your boats and your tents and head to the Wild and Wonderful land of West Virginia, for the 19th Annual GSP Raft Trip.  Usually the GSP start funneling in the week before 4th of July and stake out the MRT campsite.  During that week, they hike, they bike, they drink, they paddle and sometimes they visit the local hospitals.  There is no official schedule of events except for the ducky trip, which is on 2nd of July, and the main event, on the 4th of July.  The following is a short and sweet list on how any GSP can survive a week in the wilderness.

Beer.  Each year every GSP brings a case of beer to West Virginia.  Year after year the assortment of Beers have grown to a large selection of Ales, Bocks, Microbrews, local beers, Pale Ales, Stouts, Wheats, yada, yada, yada.  (Oh! Did I forget Bud?)  Even I have come a long way.  The first case of beer I brought to the raft trip was Iron City Light and last year I brought Wild Goose Indian Pale Ale and Oxford Raspberry Wheat (by the way I still like IC light).  Let's aim for 99 different types of beer this year!

No Radios.  What will we do with no radios?  Well, we can do a skit. We can all do skits: Ed Bronson, The Treece Family and The Not Ready for Conception Players.  Anyone can do a skit.  Even I did one once.  We can sing.  Bring a musical instrument and we can sing around the campfire.  I have an idea, maybe we can sing 99 bottles of beer with a different beer for each chorus.

The MRT Campground.  Of course we are camping at the scenic MRT campground.  For all the virgins (a virgin is a first time GSP) remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  We have a lot a people going this year (we did not make 99) and Ray does not let us reserve any campground space.  Please, early arrivals move to the back and spread out.  (Just like our hips are doing.)  Also, to give us more room, try to park your car close to the road.  I realize for some of you it's a long hike to your tent, but if you need help we can arrange it.  This will give the kids more room to play and the adults more room for the Beerbottle-Anihilation Game.

Food.  I suggest you should bring some or you could lose a lot of weight on your vacation.  All joking aside, basically you are on your own except for the following:  Saturday night we will have the potluck Dinner.  What should you bring?  Try the GSP recipe book.  The morning of the raft trip MRT has toast, cereal, and coffee.  I have a feeling I am going to go there every morning.  I am only joking; Sue and Paul feed me.  After the raft trip, MRT have will serve a 5 star rafting cuisine dinner at the campsite for all the people who rafted.  If you go on the ducky trip and not on the raft trip, save your meal ticket for the 4th of July.  If you went on both you can pass your ticket on to a piglet or a significant other.  If you do not have a ticket, you may buy a meal ticket if you chose to eat the MRT dinner.

Let Me Know.  If you need a babysitter for your piglets on the raft day, please contact me so I can make arrangements.  Here's a thought, if you are not going on the raft trip and are willing to watch another GSP's piglets let me know.  When you put a couple of piglets together they always seem to have a good time.  Video, Video, Video, this part of the trip keeps changing and changing.  We will have a videographer go on the ducky and New River raft trip, so both trips will be on one video.  The deal is, of course, the more we buy the cheaper the videotape.  Basically, if we guarantee 20 sales the video will be $22 each.  The normal charge is $38.  Let me know if you an interested in buying a video.  If there is not enough interest, we will have to make other arrangements.

Important Phone Numbers:

Kim Strang GSP Party Girl kstrang@erols.com
Mountain River Tours 1-800-822-1386
Ray & Dren St. Clair 304-658-4386 Home 304-658-9944 Campground
Emergency 911

Places of Interest:

Call 1-800-CALL-WVA
Babcock State Park
Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine
Camp Washington Carver
Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park
Hawks Nest State Park
Horsebackriding
Little Beaver State Park
Kirkwood Winery, Summersville
Meadow-Swimming Hole
Mountain Biking
New River Gorge Bridge
New River Visitor's Center
Organ Cave
Rock Climbing
Sandstone Falls
Scenic Airplane Rides
Summersville Lake
Stephens Lake
Skydiving
Thurmond.

Things to Bring

Air mattress/Thermarest
Beer
Bug spray
Canteen
Cooler
Camping stove & fuel
Cooking utensils
Clothing
Clothesline
Croakies
Day pack
Dining fly
Eating utensils
Flashlight & batteries
Food
Frequent Rafter Card
Hat
Hiking stuff shoes
Jacket
Lantern
Lawn chairs
Lawn ornaments
Personal hygiene items
Rain gear
River shoes
Sleeping bag
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Swimsuit
Swimming gear
Tent/camper/motor home
Water bottle
Towel

Stuff you don't need to bring

Ice, firewood and charcoal for the Rambo Grill, this is provided by the slush fund.

Stuff you should bring on the river

Water
Swimsuit
Footgear (old sneaker, Tevas, neoprene boots)
Sunscreen (waterproof)
Sunglasses
Croakies

Optional stuff to bring on the river

Cap with a bill
Medication
Paddle jacket
Wet suit (MRT rents these)
Weaponry for water fight
Waterproof camera
Nylon pants
Shirt (sun sensitive people)
Cool helmet/raft ornament
Duck tape for ornament
Dry bag / sportspouch

Stuff not to bring on the river

Food MRT provides lunch
Alcohol
Recreational drugs

Stuff to leave at MRT for after rafting

Shower stuff
Towel
Dry clothes and shoes