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2011 FLOAT TRIP
Seventy-one people were welcomed to NRO by the 22 year sign. We had 7 canoes, two six-man rafts and 8 four-man rafts going down the Niangua River July 14. There were 58 people, plus 5 pre-school children and 4 dogs enjoying the day on the river. Rick was glad that Grandpa Sweetie made the float this year as that prevented Rick from being the eldest as has been the case the past few years. Grandpa at 80 years old was the oldest and Lex Clemons (if not correct, send me the right name) at 8 months the youngest. The Campbell’s two terriers were sporting their brand new hair cuts performed by Tosha with Bonny’s assistance. On the second leg of the float, the NRO-Rendezvous Point, Wayne was the oldest at 60—a fact no one would let him forget. He may still be watching for his OATS bus ride, unless he forgot all about it. J Wayne had all his family present to celebrate his birthday with poetry, adaptive equipment, and even an impressive demonstration: Thank you, Waylon, for the show. The group meals were in the pavilion this year as most did not arrive until Wednesday. We filled one RV spot, 4 NRO cabins and 2 suites at Sand Spring motel, the back of a Jeep, plus countless tents. Linda and David drove back and forth from their Waynesville home. David took Rick there and they spent the day in Waynesville adding another feature to the regular golfing and shopping events. The Golfers were Austin, Joe, Garret, Wayne, Randy, Adam and Terry. The shoppers visited the Outlet Mall where the preschoolers sought the quarters and spare change to ride the toys. Pooh’s Honey Pot was a favorite as it tended to continue the ride with or without quarters. The Shoppers had lunch at Burger King filling approximately half the seating area. On Float Day we scheduled breakfast early and finished in time to take several pictures done by our own “Captured Moments” photographer and left at 10:30 AM from the campground. We put in at Bennett Springs and just got started down river when a Boy Scout group whizzed through our group. After they zipped on past, out came the water guns and the splash ball toys and the surprise dunking. Jessica caught KK, but KK soon retaliated; Randy thought he could soak meek Bonny with no repercussions. She appeared to take it, but once her raft was behind his, observers reported she sprang and latched on like a spider monkey past his center of gravity and toppled him backwards into the river in a spectacular sneak attack. Ruth is next year’s Grand Pooh Bah and the tentative date is Thursday, July 12, 2012. The traffic was much heavier on the river this year so we are going to try to get it more to ourselves by moving everything up a day. Early arrivals would be Monday, July 9, visiting and setting up on Tuesday, July 10, shopping and golf on Wednesday, July 11, and then cleaning up and farewells on Thursday, July 12. Send all suggestions for 2012 to Ruth. Grandpa and Grandma Sweetie Jeanne’s Branch Rick, Jeanne, Deb, Steve, John, David, Esther, Abby, Evan (California guest), Becca, Anna, Curtis, Nancy, Garret, Cora, Adam, Bonny, Tosha Gaskin (friend), Matt, Jessica, Haden, Elle, Tristan, KK (friends) Wayne’s Branch Wayne, Allen, Melissa, Waylon, Wyatt, Kaci, Michelle, Joe, Jalen, Joel, (friend) Kopen, Alisha, Tina, Rachel, Pam McGill, Sheral Vest Linda’s Branch Linda, David Steve’s Branch Steve, Donna, Eliza Kathy’s Branch Terry, Kathy, Tess, Jenni, Jesse Ruth’s Branch Ruth, Mo, Tommy Cornell Branch Joe, Nita Tygart Branch Allen, Chelsea, Corey, Amy, Austin, LaShelle, Lexi Clemons Grafted Branches Randy & Judy Campbell, Anita & Sam Bowden, Mr. Bowden, Allen, Dale & Linda Thompson,
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