A camping we will go…

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to go camping. Fortunately, twice a year we are able to camp with anywhere from 100 to 200 like minded people (cavers) for a fun filled, action packed weekend. This past weekend was our 2019 MVOR (Mississippi Valley Ozark Region) Spring/Summer event. The various grottos that belong to the MVOR all attend and come together for the weekend. It was rumored that there were 169 people in attendance.

Jim was out of town all week. Throughout the week I prepared everything so when he landed on Friday afternoon all he had to do was drive home from the airport and hop in the car. All week long I looked at the weather reports and all week long, they looked bad. Our camper does well in the rain but who wants to sit in your camper when you are out camping with friends!

We took off Friday at about 5:00 and arrived in a field in Black, MO about 6:30. No rain. Our grotto friends had saved us a spot so we pulled in and got set up. It was still light out so we were able to walk around and talk to everyone and go down to the water (the Ottery Creek). The water was amazing with a gravel bar and a perfect swimming hole.

When we finished checking out the site we headed down to the “Howdy Party”. This is done at every event as a way to let people begin their weekend catching up with people they haven’t seen in a while. And there’s food……… and beverages. This is always a great way to start the weekend. Finally about 1:30 am we headed back to our camper. Jim does a great job of decorating it with lights so we never have trouble finding it. And it looks really nice!

Saturday I woke early and wanted to enjoy as much of the day as possible outside. We had no cell service so I had no idea when the rain was going to start. I decided to go out and walk around a bit. This is my favorite time of day at MVORs and I didn’t want to miss it.

I begin my walk through the area of tents surrounding our camper. Some are awake, some are snoring. There is coffee brewing on someone’s camp stove. I walk past our fire from the night before and someone has thrown a couple logs on it to get it going again. It’s a little chilly out so I was glad. As I wander out of our area into the field, I see people in other areas starting to stir. Some are falling out of their tents. Some are drinking their coffee. Someone not too far away is softly playing a guitar. I’m walking down the car path (tracks in the grass that the cars have been using) and look to my right. There is someone practicing their rope climbing skills in a tree. Fulling geared up in his climbing gear, hanging from a tree). I see someone pouring Bailey’s into their coffee. I wave or say good morning whether I actually know the people or not. Many people have their dogs with them. We are one big community at this point. There are people from Springfield, Kansas City, Tennessee, St. Louis and probably a lot of other areas I don’t know about. I love this life!

Saturday is spent talking and laughing. Lots of laughing. People head out in groups to go caving. Others leave to go floating on the river. Lots just hang around talking. We go down to the river for a bit but it’s too cold for me to get in. I sit in a chair in the water instead. During an MVOR you have the choice of purchasing a dinner or cooking your own. We chose to purchase a banquet ticket. Our caterer has been catering our events for years. Chris St. George. Amazing chicken, pork, etc. All served on paper plates and eaten in your lawn chair. Bonfires are going everywhere. Still no rain. After dinner, we have the “business meeting”. Treasurer’s report, old business, new business, discussions, a little heated conversations and then………….. the big bonfire.

This is always a highlight.

A little history for anyone who is not familiar with caving. As I mentioned before, there are multiple grottos that make up a region. Our grotto is MVG (Meramec Valley Grotto). Each year, the MVOR is hosted and put on by one of the grottos. They are responsible for coordinating everything from finding the site to making sure we leave the area cleaner than when we arrive. They care responsible for creating the shirts that are sold, the vendors that attend, the invites that go out. Everything. They are also responsible for building the bonfire. We have seen everything from cabins, port-a-pottys, or ships built out of wood only to be used as the bonfire. This year a group within our group hosted the event. Club 69! We are a group within the group within the MVOR.

This year’s bonfire reminded me of Lincoln Logs and it was wonderful. It was made out of trees that had been cut for the landowner and stacked in a way that made the fire last…. and last. We enjoyed the fire all night long. We also had Karaoke going in the evenings. Kyle Hibdon did an amazing job keeping us all going. Still, no rain. I was up until around 2:00 enjoying everything and everyone!

Sunday morning was stunning. The sun was shining and it was warm. Many people were packing up to leave when I awoke. That’s kind of the norm though. A lot of people like to head home so they can get unpacked before their week starts. Jim and I don’t do that. We stay. We helped people tear down their tents and pack and then we pack up and get ready to head out. But we don’t. It’s become really warm and we are hot. Time for a swim! There are about 12 of us left. We head down to the water and jump in. It’s perfect. We eat lunch, we talk, we laugh. I love ending a weekend this way!

Finally, around 5:00 we say our goodbyes. Parting is such sweet sorrow. The rain never came. We made it home safe and sound.

Yet another successful Minigan adventure! Thanks to all that worked so hard to make this such a fantastic event. Chuck and Sue Clifford for all that you do! Alicia and Mike Wallace for your hard work and dedication! Mike and Jill Bennett! Tony and Mary Schmitt! Brian and Rhonda Hibdon (we missed you Rhonda)! Jim and Gina Ruedin! Derrick and Cheryl Holtman! Rob and Adele Ayers! …and to all those that I haven’t mentioned….. way to go! And to all those in attendance…….. thanks for making it a great event!

Love to all!

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