2001-09 4-Rivers Jayco Flight #9 September Campout 14-16, 2001 Devil’s Backbone City Park Grand Tower, IL Devil’s Backbone City Park at Grand Tower alongside the Mighty Mississippi River was the site of our September campout. The weather was cool and dry, making for a beautiful fall weekend. This was the first campout in quite a while where a campfire felt good. The attendance at this campout was rather small, but we had a great time anyway. Five club members camping were Dale & Jan Wright with Danny, Eugene & Faye Burden, Durwood and Rheitta Eleam, Bill & Betty Ryan, and Norman & Jean Proffitt. We had just as many visitors who included Jim & Donna Young, Bob & Mary Lauderdale, Kenny & Ann Herring all from Metropolis, Bob & Patsy Snow from Paducah, and camping for the second time with us was Steve and Judy Dawson from Carbondale. Mary & George Taylor came by on Saturday for a short visit on their way to a reunion. Bart & Robin Hileman from Anna dropped by to visit with Bill & Betty on their way to the fair on Saturday afternoon. Friday night we all sat around a warm fire behind Eleams campsite overlooking the river and watching the barges go up and down the river. Saturday morning the guys were out early getting the grill hot for the sausage, bacon & pancakes for us “pampered” ladies. “Guy, you did a great job as usual, and we really appreciate all your hard work.” After breakfast we drew for the door prize which was won by the Proffitts and donated by the Burdens. We didn’t have enough officers for a business meeting, but we decided that we’d have about the same menu and activities for the Halloween campout as in the past. Saturday afternoon everyone did different things: hiking, biking, quilting, napping, going to the Cape Fair, Murphysboro Apple Festival and just visiting. At around 4:30 several went to Chester to eat at Reid’s Harvest House Restaurant. Bob Lauderdale had the fire roaring when everyone got back, and we enjoyed another fall night by the river. October 26-28 is the date for our annual Halloween, Invitational campout at Hillman Ferry in Land Between the Lakes. This is traditionally our biggest campout of the year. Everyone try and bring a guest with you, it doesn’t matter what kind of camping unit they have. There will be pumpkin carving and costume contests (adults included), and cash prizes for the best decorated rigs. Everyone is to bring a pumpkin to carve and enter in the contest. They will have several nice prizes to give away, so lets see if we can’t get very creative in our costumes and pumpkin carving! We will have our chili and hotdog supper in the pavilion Saturday night, menu is at end of this newsletter, then follow this with trick or treating and costume judging! If there is enough interest after all these activities, we might want to try out our “new” bingo cards for a game of grocery bingo if the pavilion is available. Randy & Vicki Knight are to furnish the door prize for this campout. Sunday morning most of us slept in and by shortly afternoon we were all headed home. We missed all of you that couldn’t make this trip, but you’ll have to try Grand Tower some time. It is really a nice campground, not much to do, but very peaceful. MENU FOR OCTOBER Eleam --------Chili                 Odell Allbritten------Vegetable Soup & Pumpkin Pie Wright--------Chili                 Sherman--------------Chicken Soup & Dessert Borum--------Chili                 Kyle Allbritten------Clam Chowder & Dessert Lauderdale---Chili                 Haley-----------------Cheese & Crackers Proffitt---------Vegetable Soup         Ray-------------------Hot Dogs & Buns Hinkle---------Vegetable Tray         Wyatts----------------Vegetable Tray Ryans---------Chili, Cheese & Crackers     Peters-----------------Dessert Young---------Dessert             Knight----------------Hot Dogs & Buns Smith----------Cheese & Crackers         O’Saile---------------Dessert Dawson-------Hot Dogs & Buns         Beaman---------------Dessert McElroy------Cheese & Crackers         Burden----------------Hot Dogs & Buns Taylor---------Chili                 Anyone else------Just whatever Remaining 2001 Campouts Oct. 26 – 28 Hillman Ferry Annual Invitational LBL Kentucky Nov. 9 – 11 Two Rivers Campground Music Valley Drive Nashville TN Betty Ryan  (Thanks from Deirdre, Betty!)