texascavers Digest 26 May 2010 12:21:01 -0000 Issue 1059

Wed, 26 May 2010 05:21:12 -0700 (PDT) 

texascavers Digest 26 May 2010 12:21:01 -0000 Issue 1059

Topics (messages 14872 through 14881):

Re: 52 Ways to Die in a Cave
        14872 by: Diana Tomchick
        14874 by: Terri Sprouse

Re: Shortest Caves
        14873 by: Mimi Alex
        14876 by: wa5pok.peoplepc.com
        14878 by: Rod Goke
        14881 by: Mark.Alman.l-3com.com

Re: dumb list
        14875 by: Rod Goke
        14877 by: Geary Schindel

East Texas Caver's Cookout photos 1
        14879 by: David

The Cookout - Report 2
        14880 by: David

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----------------------------------------------------------------------
--- Begin Message --- 
61. Rock paranoia, will destroy ya...

Diana

On May 25, 2010, at 4:13 PM, ryan monjaras wrote:
60. touching a live wire for lights (thankfully it was low voltage and i only got shocked) 

"Semper Exploro"
Ryan Monjaras
Maverick Grotto
Cowtown Grotto
DFW Grotto
(832)754-5778




From: pitboun...@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 25 May 2010 14:31:40 -0500
To: brewskyj...@rgv.rr.com
CC: diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu; a...@oztotl.com; 
texascavers@texascavers.com
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] 52 Ways to Die in a Cave

59. heart attack from carrying too many rocks in your cave pack
On Tue, May 25, 2010 at 2:00 PM, Bruce Anderson <brewskyj...@rgv.rr.com > wrote: 
#58   Getting flat rocked by someone in the group.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Diana Tomchick" <diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu > 
To: "Allan B. Cobb" <a...@oztotl.com>
Cc: <texascavers@texascavers.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 1:59 PM
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] 52 Ways to Die in a Cave



How about

57. Getting "Puppied" at the shaft entrance of Honey Creek.

Diana

On May 25, 2010, at 11:45 AM, Allan B. Cobb wrote:

The "52 Ways" list is here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/31358060/52-Ways-to-Die-in-a-Cave

I can think of many more ways.  Caving here in Belize I can add:

53.  Getting eaten by a jaguar
54. Being ripped apart by a gibnut (or tepescuintle) in a crawlway
55. Interupting looters while they are looting Maya artifacts

(I've been close to these.)

There are other ways too.
56. Being blugeoned to death by your fellow cavers with rappel racks. (I've contemplated that a few times.) 

No virus found in this outgoing message.
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* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diana R. Tomchick
Associate Professor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Biochemistry
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214B Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A. Email: 
diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
214-645-6383 (phone)
214-645-6353 (fax)


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Hotmail is redefining busy with tools for the New Busy. Get more from your inbox. See how. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diana R. Tomchick
Associate Professor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Biochemistry
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214B   
Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A.   
Email: diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
214-645-6383 (phone)
214-645-6353 (fax)

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- 
Thanks, but no thanks, guys. 



----- Original Message ----
From: Diana Tomchick <diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu>
To: Cave Tex <texascavers@texascavers.com>
Sent: Tue, May 25, 2010 4:38:09 PM
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] 52 Ways to Die in a Cave

61. Rock paranoia, will destroy ya...

Diana

On May 25, 2010, at 4:13 PM, ryan monjaras wrote:

> 60. touching a live wire for lights (thankfully it was low voltage  
> and i only got shocked)
>
> "Semper Exploro"
> Ryan Monjaras
> Maverick Grotto
> Cowtown Grotto
> DFW Grotto
> (832)754-5778
>
>
>
>
> From: pitboun...@gmail.com
> Date: Tue, 25 May 2010 14:31:40 -0500
> To: brewskyj...@rgv.rr.com
> CC: diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu; a...@oztotl.com; 
> texascavers@texascavers.com
> Subject: Re: [Texascavers] 52 Ways to Die in a Cave
>
> 59. heart attack from carrying too many rocks in your cave pack
>
> On Tue, May 25, 2010 at 2:00 PM, Bruce Anderson <brewskyj...@rgv.rr.com 
> > wrote:
> #58   Getting flat rocked by someone in the group.
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Diana Tomchick" 
> <diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu 
> >
> To: "Allan B. Cobb" <a...@oztotl.com>
> Cc: <texascavers@texascavers.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 1:59 PM
> Subject: Re: [Texascavers] 52 Ways to Die in a Cave
>
>
>
> How about
>
> 57. Getting "Puppied" at the shaft entrance of Honey Creek.
>
> Diana
>
> On May 25, 2010, at 11:45 AM, Allan B. Cobb wrote:
>
> The "52 Ways" list is here:
>
> http://www.scribd.com/doc/31358060/52-Ways-to-Die-in-a-Cave
>
> I can think of many more ways.  Caving here in Belize I can add:
>
> 53.  Getting eaten by a jaguar
> 54. Being ripped apart by a gibnut (or tepescuintle) in a crawlway
> 55. Interupting looters while they are looting Maya artifacts
>
> (I've been close to these.)
>
> There are other ways too.
>
> 56. Being blugeoned to death by your fellow cavers with rappel  
> racks.  (I've contemplated that a few times.)
>
> No virus found in this outgoing message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 8.5.437 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2895 - Release Date:  
> 05/25/10 06:26:00
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Visit our website: http://texascavers.com
> To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com
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>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> Diana R. Tomchick
> Associate Professor
> University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
> Department of Biochemistry
> 5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
> Rm. ND10.214B Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A. Email: 
> diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
> 214-645-6383 (phone)
> 214-645-6353 (fax)
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
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>
> Hotmail is redefining busy with tools for the New Busy. Get more  
> from your inbox. See how.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diana R. Tomchick
Associate Professor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Biochemistry
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214B    
Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A.    
Email: diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
214-645-6383 (phone)
214-645-6353 (fax)


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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- 
There is a very nice little cave named Mushroom Cave (if my mind doesn't
fail me). Its a quick repel into an upside-down-mushroom shaped hole, which
extends in all directions for a short distance. Although I don't know many
small caves, that's my favorite.

~Mimi

On Tue, May 25, 2010 at 3:21 PM, Josh Rubinstein <kars...@gmail.com> wrote:

> One of my favorite short caves is Herblink Cave in Pennsylvania. They
> measured the cave by employing one of their team.  I don't remember how tall
> Herb was, but it is three and half of him to the back of the cave.
>
> Now, there is a use for the fourth member of a survey team.
>
> Josh
>
> On Tue, May 25, 2010 at 2:58 PM, Gill Edigar <gi...@att.net> wrote:
>
>> Well, they have this book about "All Things Quantifiable Quantified". If
>> we can include the longest caves why not the shortest ones, too. I'm waiting
>> for somebody to claim they're not quantifiable. Just trying to cover all the
>> bases here--in the interest of thoroughness.
>> --Ediger
>>
>> On Tue, May 25, 2010 at 11:03 AM, Mark Minton <mminton@caet> wrote:
>>
>>>        How would you even define what a short cave was?  Would it have a
>>> minimum length as well as a maximum.  Without a minimum every overhang,
>>> tinaja, and gopher hole under a rock might qualify.  Besides, who would
>>> care, other than Gill?  ;-)
>>>
>>> Mark Minton
>>>
>>> At 07:38 AM 5/25/2010, Chris Vreeland wrote:
>>>
>>>> It may, in fact, be the longest list of caves.
>>>>
>>>> On May 24, 2010, at 10:37 PM, Logan McNatt wrote:
>>>>
>>>> The list of shortest caves would be really long.
>>>>>
>>>>> Gill Edigar wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Well, can't you send them the lists of Deep & Long caves of the
>>>>>> World?  How
>>>>>> come nobody keeps a list of the shortest caves?
>>>>>> --Ediger
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Mon, May 24, 2010 at 9:51 PM, Logan McNatt
>>>>>> <lmcn...@austin.rr.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Found an interesting website today that some of you might want to
>>>>>>> look at.
>>>>>>> It does not live up to the "all things quantifiable quantified"
>>>>>>> claim, e.g.
>>>>>>> under Natural World I didn't find Caves.  It does haveBats, but
>>>>>>> only the
>>>>>>> largest and smallest.  Some of the categories include foreign and
>>>>>>> historic
>>>>>>> measures which can come in handy when you find yourself caving in
>>>>>>> a far away
>>>>>>> place, or time.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> http://www.sizes.com/
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Please reply to mmin...@caver.net
>>>>>> Permanent email address is mmin...@illinoisalumni.org
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> Visit our website: http://texascavers.com
>>> To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com
>>> For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
>>>
>>>
>>
>

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- 
How 'bout:
min - sun can't touch you from sunrise to sunset
max - gotta use un-natural light when natural light doesn' work 
anymore.

~F~

>          How would you even define what a short cave was?  Would it
> have a minimum length as well as a maximum.  Without a minimum every
> overhang, tinaja, and gopher hole under a rock might qualify. 
> Besides, who would care, other than Gill?  ;-)
> 
> Mark Minton
> 
> At 07:38 AM 5/25/2010, Chris Vreeland wrote:
> >It may, in fact, be the longest list of caves.
> >
> >On May 24, 2010, at 10:37 PM, Logan McNatt wrote:
> >
> >>The list of shortest caves would be really long.
> >>
> >>Gill Edigar wrote:
> >>>Well, can't you send them the lists of Deep & Long caves of the
> >>>World?  How come nobody keeps a list of the shortest caves?
> >>>--Ediger
> >>>
> >>>On Mon, May 24, 2010 at 9:51 PM, Logan McNatt
> >>><lmcn...@austin.rr.com> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>>Found an interesting website today that some of you might want to
> >>>>look at. It does not live up to the "all things quantifiable
> >>>>quantified" claim, e.g. under Natural World I didn't find Caves. 
> >>>>It does haveBats, but only the largest and smallest.  Some of the
> >>>>categories include foreign and historic measures which can come in
> >>>>handy when you find yourself caving in a far away place, or time.
> >>>>
> >>>>http://www.sizes.com/
> >>>
> >>>Please reply to mmin...@caver.net
> >>>Permanent email address is mmin...@illinoisalumni.org 
> 
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail:
> texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands,
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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- 
The classical standard is that for a cavity to qualify as a cave, as opposed to 
merely a rock shelter or a pit, a caver must be able to reach some location 
inside the cavity where no sunlight is visible, even when the sun is shining 
brightly outside the cavity.

When searching for the shortest cave by this definition, it may be useful to 
have at least one large diameter caver on the survey team, since this may help 
to qualify certain cavities that are less than one body length long. The caver 
enters the cavity head first. Once he squeezes in far enough for his body to 
plug the entrance, sunlight will no longer be visible from his location, and, 
hence, the cavity will qualify as a cave, even if it is too short to accept the 
caver's entire body. Therefore, the next time you go cave hunting for tiny 
caves, invite an extra large caver, and you might make a discovery worthy of 
Gill's record book.

;-)

Rod


-----Original Message-----
>From: wa5...@peoplepc.com
>Sent: May 25, 2010 10:55 PM
>To: texascavers@texascavers.com
>Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Re: Shortest Caves
>
>How 'bout:
>min - sun can't touch you from sunrise to sunset
>max - gotta use un-natural light when natural light doesn' work 
>anymore.
>
>~F~
>
>>          How would you even define what a short cave was?  Would it
>> have a minimum length as well as a maximum.  Without a minimum every
>> overhang, tinaja, and gopher hole under a rock might qualify. 
>> Besides, who would care, other than Gill?  ;-)
>> 
>> Mark Minton
>> 
>> At 07:38 AM 5/25/2010, Chris Vreeland wrote:
>> >It may, in fact, be the longest list of caves.
>> >
>> >On May 24, 2010, at 10:37 PM, Logan McNatt wrote:
>> >
>> >>The list of shortest caves would be really long.
>> >>
>> >>Gill Edigar wrote:
>> >>>Well, can't you send them the lists of Deep & Long caves of the
>> >>>World?  How come nobody keeps a list of the shortest caves?
>> >>>--Ediger
>> >>>
>> >>>On Mon, May 24, 2010 at 9:51 PM, Logan McNatt
>> >>><lmcn...@austin.rr.com> wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>>>Found an interesting website today that some of you might want to
>> >>>>look at. It does not live up to the "all things quantifiable
>> >>>>quantified" claim, e.g. under Natural World I didn't find Caves. 
>> >>>>It does haveBats, but only the largest and smallest.  Some of the
>> >>>>categories include foreign and historic measures which can come in
>> >>>>handy when you find yourself caving in a far away place, or time.
>> >>>>
>> >>>>http://www.sizes.com/
>> >>>
>> >>>Please reply to mmin...@caver.net
>> >>>Permanent email address is mmin...@illinoisalumni.org 
>> 
>> 
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail:
>> texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands,
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>
>
>
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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- 
Brilliant!



Mark




-----Original Message-----
From: Rod Goke [mailto:rod.g...@earthlink.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 12:06 AM
To: TexasCavers
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Re: Shortest Caves

The caver enters the cavity head first. Once he squeezes in far enough for his 
body to plug the entrance, sunlight will no longer be visible from his 
location, and, hence, the cavity will qualify as a cave, even if it is too 
short to accept the caver's entire body.

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Unfortunately, this kind of rope cutting is more than just a hypothetical possibility. A very serious accident of this type actually happen to a caver in the Colorado Grotto during the time that I was a member there before moving to Austin. He was rappelling down a cliff during a ropework practice and training session with a group of cavers, when his rain poncho got caught in his rack. He attempted to cut the poncho free with a knife, accidently cut his rope instead, and took a long fall onto the rocks below. The accident was not fatal, but it easily could have been if he had landed differently or if the falling distance had been a little longer. He did receive multiple fractures in the leg and hip and, even after many months of recovery, had to use a cane when walking.

Like most of the serious accidents involving cavers I have known, this one did not happen to some novice caver who didn't know what he was doing. Instead, it happened to a very experienced caver who fully understood what he was doing. In fact this caver had been involved many times with teaching vertical techniques to new cavers, including the standard warnings about not using knives or other sharp objects near the climbing rope. Some people even recalled one or more earlier training sessions when this caver had done rope cutting demonstrations to show new cavers how easily a rope could be cut when it was under tension. He clearly understood the potential risk, but apparently was overly confident about his ability to cut only what he intended to cut while doing what he and other experienced cavers routinely warned new cavers not to do.

In retrospect, it was easy to see multiple ways that this accident could have been avoided. If he had used an extra ascender or rappel safety device above his rack to temporarily relieve rope tension in the rack, then he probably could have removed the poncho from the rack with no cutting. If he did not have the equipment with him to do this, then other cavers nearby could have lowered extra equipment to him on another rope. If no equipment of this type had been available, they could have lowered a second rope to him, so that he could have attached the second rope to his harness like a belay to relieve tension on the rack. In fact, there was already a second climbing rope rigged near the one this caver was using, so, if necessary, another caver could have gone to his aid on the second rope. Of course, a poncho is not the best type of clothing to wear while rappelling, either, even if it is raining.

The primary lesson from this incident is not so much that cavers need the equipment and knowhow to do things safely (which, of course, they do), but rather that they need to be diligent about actually using the safety equipment and knowledge they have instead of letting overconfidence tempt them into risky shortcuts.

Rod

-----Original Message-----
From: Geary Schindel
Sent: May 25, 2010 2:23 PM
To: Charles Goldsmith
Cc: Mixon Bill , Cavers Texas
Subject: RE: [Texascavers] dumb list

If you respond by cutting your hair out of a rack with a knife, then it is a very real possibility of cutting the rope and that gets you back on the list of 52 ways to die in a cave.

 

The times when I knife is a solution to a problem in vertical caving is very rare.  You can almost always find a technical solution using the tools you have on you – most importantly – your experience and your brain.

 

Geary

 

From: Charles Goldsmith [mailto:wo...@justfamily.org]
Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 2:19 PM
To: Geary Schindel
Cc: Mixon Bill; Cavers Texas
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] dumb list

 

Depends on how much hair as well.. a few strands, would sting...  a whole pony tail worth of hair would be very painful

 

 

On Tue, May 25, 2010 at 2:17 PM, Geary Schindel <gschin...@edwardsaquifer.org> wrote:

Remember, what doesn't kill you usually hurts like Hell.  Getting your hair caught in a rack usually ranks right up there in the "hurts like Hell" category.

Geary




-----Original Message-----
From: Mixon Bill [mailto:bmixon...@austin.rr.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 2:08 PM
To: Cavers Texas
Subject: [Texascavers] dumb list

That's a pretty silly list of 52 ways to die in a cave. Getting hair
caught in a rack isn't likely to be fatal. Ditto for a lot of the
others. Then of course the list actually only goes up to 47.... -- Mixon

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- 
Rod,
 
Well said and a very nice post.  There is a lot to learn from case
histories.
 
Geary
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Rod Goke [mailto:rod.g...@earthlink.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 9:53 PM
To: TexasCavers
Subject: RE: [Texascavers] dumb list
 
Unfortunately, this kind of rope cutting is more than just a
hypothetical possibility. A very serious accident of this type actually
happen to a caver in the Colorado Grotto during the time that I was a
member there before moving to Austin. He was rappelling down a cliff
during a ropework practice and training session with a group of cavers,
when his rain poncho got caught in his rack. He attempted to cut the
poncho free with a knife, accidently cut his rope instead, and took a
long fall onto the rocks below. The accident was not fatal, but it
easily could have been if he had landed differently or if the falling
distance had been a little longer. He did receive multiple fractures in
the leg and hip and, even after many months of recovery, had to use a
cane when walking.
 
Like most of the serious accidents involving cavers I have known, this
one did not happen to some novice caver who didn't know what he was
doing. Instead, it happened to a very experienced caver who fully
understood what he was doing. In fact this caver had been involved many
times with teaching vertical techniques to new cavers, including the
standard warnings about not using knives or other sharp objects near the
climbing rope. Some people even recalled one or more earlier training
sessions when this caver had done rope cutting demonstrations to show
new cavers how easily a rope could be cut when it was under tension. He
clearly understood the potential risk, but apparently was overly
confident about his ability to cut only what he intended to cut while
doing what he and other experienced cavers routinely warned new cavers
not to do.
 
In retrospect, it was easy to see multiple ways that this accident could
have been avoided. If he had used an extra ascender or rappel safety
device above his rack to temporarily relieve rope tension in the rack,
then he probably could have removed the poncho from the rack with no
cutting. If he did not have the equipment with him to do this, then
other cavers nearby could have lowered extra equipment to him on another
rope. If no equipment of this type had been available, they could have
lowered a second rope to him, so that he could have attached the second
rope to his harness like a belay to relieve tension on the rack. In
fact, there was already a second climbing rope rigged near the one this
caver was using, so, if necessary, another caver could have gone to his
aid on the second rope. Of course, a poncho is not the best type of
clothing to wear while rappelling, either, even if it is raining.
 
The primary lesson from this incident is not so much that cavers need
the equipment and knowhow to do things safely (which, of course, they
do), but rather that they need to be diligent about actually using the
safety equipment and knowledge they have instead of letting
overconfidence tempt them into risky shortcuts.
 
Rod
 
-----Original Message----- 
From: Geary Schindel 
Sent: May 25, 2010 2:23 PM 
To: Charles Goldsmith 
Cc: Mixon Bill , Cavers Texas 
Subject: RE: [Texascavers] dumb list 



If you respond by cutting your hair out of a rack with a knife, then it
is a very real possibility of cutting the rope and that gets you back on
the list of 52 ways to die in a cave.
 
The times when I knife is a solution to a problem in vertical caving is
very rare.  You can almost always find a technical solution using the
tools you have on you - most importantly - your experience and your
brain.
 
Geary
 
From: Charles Goldsmith [mailto:wo...@justfamily.org] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 2:19 PM
To: Geary Schindel
Cc: Mixon Bill; Cavers Texas
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] dumb list
 
Depends on how much hair as well.. a few strands, would sting...  a
whole pony tail worth of hair would be very painful
 
 
On Tue, May 25, 2010 at 2:17 PM, Geary Schindel
<gschin...@edwardsaquifer.org> wrote:
Remember, what doesn't kill you usually hurts like Hell.  Getting your
hair caught in a rack usually ranks right up there in the "hurts like
Hell" category.

Geary



-----Original Message-----
From: Mixon Bill [mailto:bmixon...@austin.rr.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 2:08 PM
To: Cavers Texas
Subject: [Texascavers] dumb list

That's a pretty silly list of 52 ways to die in a cave. Getting hair
caught in a rack isn't likely to be fatal. Ditto for a lot of the
others. Then of course the list actually only goes up to 47.... -- Mixon
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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- 
Here are 5 photos from Sunday after most of the attendees had left.

    http://www.showmebendigo.info/webupload/slideshow/58_twkCU

( Disclaimer:   I do not do much photo sharing on the web, and
have never used that web-site before )

Photos taken by Colin Nelson.

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This post talks about some of the issues I had to deal
with on the day before the Cookout:



My last post to CaveTex prior to leaving for the cookout,
mentioned that I was optimistic that attendees would be
glad they attended this.

That was on Thursday.    I still hadn't packed the things
I wanted to pack, but thought I had time.

After that, my # 1 customer called me with an emergency, and wanted
me to drop everything I was doing, and work till mid-night on it.

Since I had only 3 people coming to this, and that my wife
was raising a huge fuss about attending the Cookout, it seemed
I needed to focus on my job.   I also thought there was a chance
he would pay me for this before the Cookout, and then I would
have money to buy better food, or other last minute items.

Fortunately, I completed the job; but I still have not got paid for
it.

Friday morning, I was wiped out and was scheduled to meet the
camp manager early at the camp to go over details.    Working with
him the past few months has been difficult.     He likes to do things
in person, and not via e-mail.     I had so many things going on Friday
morning, that I finally just had to throw in the towel and admit defeat.
It was at that point that I cancelled many of the things I had hoped to
do at the event.    Since I only had 3 people coming to this, it seemed
I needed to redirect my energy to the important things.

I jumped in the car and drove 1 1/2 hours up to the campground and met
the manager, Friday morning.     All he needed to do was hand me the keys,
but I had to listen to stories like how his Aunt Bessie's x-husband's
brother, RIP,
once went on a boat ride in a cave in Mammoth Cave.    I was thoroughly
exhausted at this point.

Once I had the keys in my hand, I was so relieved.    I have sort of been at
this for 3 years, and the past 6 months has been consumed trying to get to
this point.     I had really wanted the keys the day before when I
drove up there
to meet him, but that is another story.

He drove off and told me to have a nice time.    I presumed he would be checking
on us several times a day, as he lived nearby, especially since he seemed so
strict during our conversations.

I began to start putting together the swimming pool.     But the camp had no
water.    No Water !!!

I sat down in the 90 degree weather, wondering how the hell could things get
much worse.

I called the camp manager.   No answer !!!    I wanted to chunk my cell phone
across the park.    I was afraid he had not paid the water bill, or
something like
that.

An hour later he returns my call, and I explain there is no water.
He says that
is too weird.    He would come after work and look into it.     I hung
up the phone
and hung my head.     What was I going to do ?

I went to check the kitchen.     The refrigerator and the separate
freezer looked
like they hadn't been cleaned in months.    I loaded the freezer on a
dolly and took
it outside and started trying to clean it ( without water ).    I
scrubbed for about 2
hours in the 90 degree heat, using pine sol.

He shows up.   I am dripping in sweat, about to have a heat stroke.
He checks the
water supply valve inside the camp, and it was shut off.     Someone
seems to have
been playing a prank, because it was on earlier.    I was so relieved
to have water,
that I didn't care.     I finished cleaning the freezer, and fridge,
and set up the freezer
on the outside patio, so the guest could easily access ice and Blue
Bell Ice Cream
during the dinner.

He drives off.   ( I had no idea  that I would not be seeing him again
for nearly 4
days. )

By Friday afternoon, several people had tried to e-mail me, but I was
unaware of that
because I was no where near anything with internet.    I don't believe
anybody made
an effort to call me on my cell phone.


The next issue relates to my family.     My mom and my daughter have not got to
spend any quality time in the outdoors, and it was high on my list to
fix that.   My
mom only lives an hour from the camp.   It was important to me for her
to be there,
as she knows nothing about my interest in caves. I also hoped she
would want to participate
in the cooking.     My step-father and my half-brother don't like me,
but I invited them,
partly because my mom would not come without them, and they do cook good.
But they loathe the outdoors.  I was also hoping my mom would bring my
2 young nieces
to play with my daughter, as they have seldom seen one another due to
my ex-sister in law
taking them away, several years ago.     So I called up my mom, after
cleaning the fridge,
and asked her if she thought she was going to come, and if so when.
  She was in tears,
and having a nervous breakdown.    My first thought was that my
half-sister must have had a
miscarriage as she is having pregnancy issues.     But it turned out,
that my nieces step-father
shot himself  to death a few hours earlier.     So there I am at the
camp, sweating, trying to fix things,
and having to deal with that.    To make a long story short, all of my
family that was
attending cancelled.

That left me with 3 possible cavers attending, and maybe my wife,
mother-in-law and
daughter.

I went to the storage unit several miles away in the mini-van, and
started getting things.
( I had made a huge effort to reserve a U-haul truck, but it seemed
like a waste of money to go get it. )

At some point around this time, my lower back completely gave out on me.

At 9:30 p.m. I am still alone in the camp, pondering the outcome of this fiasco.

My wife calls and says she is about 20 miles away and lost.    I told
her I would meet
her in Brenham.    So, I had to drop everything I was doing and leave
the camp unattended
for an hour while I took care of that problem.

We arrive at the camp, around 10:30, and it turns out that she did not
bring a single
thing that I asked her to bring.     I was upset, and all she could do
was b*tch about
what a stupid camping trip this was.     I wanted her to arrive in the
day light, so my
daughter and I could enjoy the evening.    I wanted her to pack the
car Thursday night.
But I could not get a drop of cooperation out of her.

Around 11:p.m.  our 1st and only guest that evening arrived.    I had
no idea who he
was and he had no idea who I was.     Our meeting was awkward, because
I was in lots
of pain and agony due to my lower back giving out on me.

My family settled for the night in the camp's rustic cabin.

I didn't get any rest Friday night.    My wife went on and on about
how this campout
was wacko, and there was some strange guy out in the woods that I met
on the internet,
and no telling what he was going to do to us.

To be continued....

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