Date:         Thu, 19 Aug 2004 21:45:33 -0500
Reply-To:     James Fritz <jfritz@ALPINECOM.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         James Fritz <jfritz@ALPINECOM.NET>
Subject:      Northern Iowa Fall Campout
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Volks,
Well, at least for now, the mantle has been passed.  Budd Premack
"encouraged" me to organize a camping weekend for this fall.  Busses
Over the Rainbow was started by Budd in the spring of 2003 and we've
gathered twice for VW commraderie at Lanesboro, Minnesota so far.  We
enjoyed each others  company enough to decide we wanted to try it
again.  So, we're doing it this fall at a new, slightly more southern,
locaiton.

I've checked out many campgrounds in the Tri-State area and honestly,
one I can recommend  most highly is right in my hometown: Decorah,
Iowa.  So, I am officially announcing the 1st Fall Busses Over the
Rainbow campout at the Pulpit Rock Campground in Decorah for the
weekend of September 17-19.  Pulpit Rock is a beautiful campground
located directly on the scenic Upper Iowa River with the Twin Springs
trout stream also running through it.  There are 75 gravel sites and 79
grass sites with electrical hook-ups, restroom and showers, playground,
etc.  Price is $12 for non-electric and $14 for electric.  The
campground is connected to Decorah via a lighted, paved bike/walking
trail that runs along the bluffs and the river.  Decorah is the home of
the Vesterheim Museum (nation's largest museum devoted to a single
ethnic group - Norwegian), Luther College, the Seed Savers, Dunning
Springs, the Decorah Trout Hatchery, and much more.  There is also
canoeing, kayaking, tubing, biking, boutique shopping, antique-ing, and
more for your entertainment.

I will reserve (following confirmation from each of you) an appropriate
amount of space in adjoining campsites (probably electric @$14 per
night).  You will all need to pay/register upon your arrival but the
space will be reserved.  In addition, there are several wonderful B&Bs
and the newly restored historic Winneshiek Hotel for those who may wish
to forgo the camping experience.  Email me for details.

Friday evening will be a time to renew old acquaintances around the
campfire ring.  As its also Homecoming week for Decorah High School,
there's the opportunity to catch a little of Americana at the local
high school football field.  Due to the fact that I'm the high school
band director, I'll be a little late getting to the campfire but I'll
be there!

On Saturday we'll poll the group for day trips.  We have many options
including the Vesterheim, Seed Savers, and other local areas of
interest and beauty or we may take a more extended road trip to the
Effigy Mounds National Monument and Pikes Peak (view 4 states from a
single overlook) in Marquette, Iowa along the Mississippi (probably 100
mile round trip).  We'll decide this as a group.

I have several requests from each of you:  first RSVP if you plan to
attend so that I might better plan the weekend.  secondly, tell your
friends.  third, email any suggestions for activities, ideas, etc. that
you might have.

I look forward to seeing you all at Pulpit Rock on the 17-19th!

Jim in Iowa
89 Westy GL
91 Passat Wagon GL
66 Beetle