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Petit Jean Fly-in Camp-In -- Room Update

BillSchlatterer

Well Known Member
Still getting things together for the November 4-5-6 camp in gathering at Petit Jean KMPJ but had several requests about rooms close by for those that might not want to camp. Someone else asked about bringing a spousal unit that wanted a little upgrade to the tent style camping :).

Guys and girls, I think we found you flyers but non campers a deal! This is 3 minutes from the airport campground, shuttle service to and from, and a absolutely gorgeous place to stay.

This is the Rockefeller Conference Center, Presidents Lodge building and they LOVE the idea of our group staying at their facility. These are the nice folks hosting the Friday night arrival BBQ at the Boathouse on the lake. (pictures below) There are 22 double queen rooms and 5 king rooms available in this building for RV folks for $79 a night! Beautiful lounge area with wide screens, bar, and outdoor area 20 feet from your room AND great private gathering room with a kitchen for cookie making :).

If you want to just fly in and bring a chair, play like your camping but sleep comfy,.. this is for you. Book a room and we will take you to the center after dinner both nights and pick you up for breakfast in the morning and back to the campsite. Enjoy all the outdoors fun, but just before you would climb in your tent, you can pull back a comforter and snuggle in AAA camping :) Can't be any easier than that!

presidentslodge.jpg

By billschlatterer at 2011-09-23

Picture taken from a spot just down from the Lodge

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By billschlatterer at 2011-09-23

Tanya, how 'bout some cookies from the kitchen on the left :)

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By billschlatterer at 2011-09-23

SOOO, you can rough it like Jay here .....

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By billschlatterer at 2011-09-23

Or...fluff it in here :)

presidentslodgeroom.jpg

By billschlatterer at 2011-09-23

And either way, you can have a Danny King good time....

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By billschlatterer at 2011-09-23


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By billschlatterer at 2011-09-23

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By billschlatterer at 2011-09-23

IMG]http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/4929/nikon201011062669.jpg[/IMG]
By billschlatterer at 2011-09-23


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By billschlatterer at 2011-09-23

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By billschlatterer at 2010-11-07



So here's the deal! We only have a limited block of rooms and you need to reserve one like RIGHT NOW! We have 5 king rooms and 20 double queens and you can have either one for $79. These are NICE rooms! Wi-fi, plasma screens, etc. Split it with a buddy or buddette and that turns into $39 a night. Call 501 727 5435 and tell them you are with the Petit Jean Fly-in, group number is 42124 to get the right rate! Three rooms were booked today.

Gerald Loyd, says we might have a group planning some formation practice and fly-bys for your viewing pleasure and there is the traditional star gazing and RVSocializing 24x7 !!

Check out this link for info on all of the hiking trails and local info. EAA 165 will shuttle to the hiking trails and any other place you might want to visit when we're not flying and lying :)

http://www.petitjeanstatepark.com/things_to_do/trails_overlooks.aspx

Check this out on the Rockefeller Car Museum just 5 minutes away for a quick late afternoon bonus tour.

http://museumofautos.com/

Remember for Friday afternoon arrivals, we are having a welcome BBQ with Chicken, Brisket, fixings and maybe a few cold beers !! Breakfasts and lunch are provided by the local EAA group and all you have to bring for the Saturday night SteakOut on the Tarmac is a piece of meat. Your choice on that and we will have the grills, potatoes, salad, bread, firewood and cold drinks. All you have to do now is fire up the airplane, throw a steak in a soft cooler and bring your favorite folding chair. Camp if you want, hotel if you like, but plan on coming either way!

This ain't gonna be nutt'in but fun!


Bill S
 
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Excellent work Bill. But that creates a dilemma.

Camping with many folks, evening fires, stargazing

or

Comfy bed.

This sounds like a well run event with the amenities that make it a no brainer to go.
 
Tanya, how 'bout some cookies from the kitchen on the left :)

Negative, they won't pass the QC specialist. Cookies are no good if they haven't been blessed with some airplane transport funk :). We're not coming to actually DO anything anyway. Sit, talk, eat, drink, sleep, hike, sit, talk, eat, drink, sleep, depart. That is my plan, in that order. Much more than that sounds like chaos for this weekend :).
 
Got my room

Bill

Thanks for your hard work. My wife wanted to go, but was not excited about camping. We got a room for Friday & Saturday nights and now she's happy. :)

Gerald (Bulldog)
 
Sit, talk, eat, drink, sleep, hike, sit, talk, eat, drink, sleep, depart. That is my plan, in that order. Much more than that sounds like chaos for this weekend :).

Now Scott, would that be hiking with Tanya or are you taking your airplane :rolleyes:

nikon201011062661.jpg

By billschlatterer at 2010-11-07

Might mention again, that the nicest RV I have ever ridden in !!

Bill S
 
Now Scott, would that be hiking with Tanya or are you taking your airplane :rolleyes:


Might mention again, that the nicest RV I have ever ridden in !!

Bill S

Thanks. Unfortunately, somehow I never seem to get credit for that exercise although I sure have done a lot of it :).
 
Two from Florida

Bill,

Having the indoor camping available made all the difference.

I'll be flying up in my 9A far behind my friend Don in his Lancair.

Folks at the conference center are incredibly hospitable on the phone!

Thanks for the effort.

Please check your PM'S
 
Petit Jean Fly-in

Bill,

Made my reservations for a room at the lodge, I was planning on camping but after I told AnnaLynn about the Lodge, she decided that if we could a room that nice with that view and after looking at the surrounding, she is planning on going too!! This was a great idea!
tks,

Richard
 
Another thanks to Bill....

Really appreciate the offer to pick up steaks for us. Everyone I've been in contact with that is connected to this event has been very helpful. Looking forward to the get together!

I'll be in touch when I have the final word on whether I'm flying solo or not.
 
Head Counts :eek:)

Just a little update. We will have plenty of transport to the trails for those wanting to hike. Planning on making a loop about every 30 minutes so it doens't matter if anyone wants to hike a long trail or a shorter one. There should be lots of hiking options time wise. Check out the trail info at the state park site listed earlier.


Ross and Doug are in charge of "star gazing" whatever that is :) and I suspect it's ceiling dependent! ( I wonder if that's like going to the submarine races at the river when we were a few years younger ?)


We currently have 30 folks(aircraft) who say they are coming, of course that is weather pending ;) I think that is about 44 bodies and lots of spouses. Most are saying they will be there Friday afternoon in time for the BBQ around 5:30.


Of the thirty above, 17 are camping and 13 have opted for rooms at the lodge. They are holding 20 rooms so you might want to give them a buzz if you haven't already and are a non-camper.

We are picking up steaks for at least 4 so if anyone else wants us to do that rather than toting their own for Saturday night, just let us know.

It looks like it's going to be a lot of plane fun!

Bill S
7a GTG (got the grin)
 
I wish...

My 40 was flown off on the 4! I would love to make this one...I will unfortunately be flying in circles trying to get the time flown off.

Have a beer (and maybe some scotch) for me! Oh yeah and enjoy Tanya's cookies too!
 
Bill, your including the rooms is a stroke of genius!
This is gonna be a great fly-in.

Do you know if the FBO at KMPJ is still selling fuel?
 
Hey Andrew, you could steel a company plane and pick me up on the way. :) my 9 is down for paint so I'm walking too.
 
Fuel and the FBO

Chris Finkbiener is the local FBO and does sell fuel. He has also cut us a grass taxiway on the west side of the runway so we don't have to back taxi on the runway if the traffic backs up.

A group of our local RV guys went and walked it this week and marked any holes that needed to be filled and leveled and Chis is taking care of that as well.

He is all in for anything we need and you're right....it's going to be a great weekend.

Ross, don't forget that you and Doug and in charge of "stargazing" ;) ??

Bill
 
I've actually convinced my better half to join me so count another two in weather permitting. We will be camping and we are interested in you picking up steaks for us too if that is not too much trouble Bill. We are really hoping for some great weather as we are both very excited about making the trip!

Peter K
9A- 345 hrs
 
On my calendar

Planning to arrive Fri afternoon along with Don Short , will be trying the camping thing just hope it all fits in the RV. As this is the first time to this fly-in any checklist on items needed would be appreciated.
 
Checklist ??

Oh, man, a checklist.... ;) Real campers don't use checklists and real men fly taildraggers :rolleyes:

Usual tiedown stuff for airplane, other than the obvious tent camping gear I might suggest: A small LED flashlight, air mattress under bedroll, possible use of an extension cord and electric blanket. (never tried it myself but it's been mentioned and sounds good assuming no rain)

Always good to have a light plastic sheet under the tent. Folding chair is good but we will have 30-40 plastic chairs available. If you plan on hiking, you might think about a light back pack, camera, etc. There are quiet a few folks hiking so joining those groups is not a problem. Trails are well marked and pretty this time of year. Always have 30-50 feet of light rope just because.....

If you want to cook something the small backpack stoves are good but we will have light breakfast kinda things, dogs and burgers for lunch, steak out for dinner, (bring your own steak or tell us ahead of time and we can pick them up for you) We'll post a week out when we confirm just how heavy the breakfasts are gonna be. We have folks making noises about upgrading continental to full fat,... after all,... we do fly for food!

Hot showers on site but bring your own towels, etc. We will have ice, coolers, water, etc available 24x7 so no need to haul it. If you want anything special to drink....bring your own and I'll help you drink it!

I think you're gonna like the camping side. If the weather cooperates, you'll have lots of fun folks to show you how not to set up a tent :)

Bill S
 
OK...ok...

Looks like our friday and saturday opened up and we are going to be there in the 10! It will be me, Carrie (my wife), and Madi (our 2 y/o daughter). We are planning on camping, but have a room reserved just in case...you never can be too prepared with a two year old!

We are currently planning to come down friday and stay friday night, and leave sometime midday on saturday. Weather may change that decision...that and how much Tanya and Scott force me to drink!

See you all there!
 
Petit Jean Fly-in

Cindy (my wife) and I will be there Friday afternoon.
We'll be camping! The last time we camped there we were the only ones there.
This time should be a little different!
We're looking forward to some fun and relaxation!

Mark
 
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refridgerator

Will there be a refrigerator or cooler to keep the steaks cold until Saturday?
 
Coolers for Steaks ??

Steve, all you need to do is put it in a baggy with your name on it ;). We have plenty of cooler space and ice. We probably even have the baggy!

Weather is looking good and I just flew back from there this afternoon and it was drop dead beautiful. I'll post a couple of pictures if I can get them off my phone!

Should be a fun weekend! Seems like most folks are trying to make it in Friday afternoon. Should be a great BBQ as well!

Bill
7a GTGrin
 
We're hoping to arrive late Friday AM or early afternoon so we can set up our chairs and watch the arrivals. Will there be anyone to direct us to the camping area regarding location for tent set-up (just wondering when you all were planning to arrive)? Any specific instructions regarding a/c parking (other than bringing tiedowns) in case we arrive before others have had a chance to get there? We're really excited about joining the group for this event and hoping that the weather holds out!

Peter & Laura K
9A 345 hrs
Union City, TN
 
Sorry!

Sorry my spam can had to sneak into the background and ruin this picture! I will be there again this year, but my car. I was going to see if there would be any possibility to line up a flight in a -4 or -8 to experience the flight characteristics a little bit? Let me know if I can work anything out with somebody. Thank you and see you soon!

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By billschlatterer at 2010-11-07
 
we'll be there...

Amanda and I will be there. Rusty and Heather are coming too. two planes...Rv6a and Rv7a. We are all from GPM. We will likely get there mid afternoon. Let us know if this is the wrong place to let you know about a head count, let us know. Other than that, we are looking forward to meeting new friends and seeing some old friends.
 
Dan and Patti are inbound on Saturday, staying at the the lodge.

As of this AM there are (I think) 5 rooms still available in the Presidents Lodge block held for us. Be sure to tell the nice lady you're with the fly-in group or she'll tell you the Lodge is full.
 
Saturday Departure

Change of plans will have us departing on Saturday before dinner. I'll still have a few dozen cookies upon arrival.
 
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