FREE POPCORN TIME - WI - MN - IL get together 2007 Date, Location, Directions

[Scoop]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Hey Roscoe, Thanks for the message. I do not know if I will be able to make it. My wife just got a job in Rhinelander and I am working in Madison and will continue to live near Portage. I don't know how things are going to develop. I will keep checking in to see what the plans are.

The Dells in July and August can be nightmarish. Finding any spots to stay during that time is tough. The area is beautiful though. Lots of great scenery to see and things to do. Traffic on I-90 during the weekends can back up a long way with a lot of Chicagoans coming up for the weekend.

 

[roscoe]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Hi Scoop.
Wow, the Portage to Rhinelander commute is a long one.

Good info on the summer Dells traffic.

Hopefully it will work out so you can at least stop by for a visit.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

I agree with scoop about the traffic. It can be insane. But the area is beautiful and there are ways around the traffic if you know the area and the timing. Another area that presents some opportunity might be along the Mississippi. There is a state park over there that is suppose to be wonderful. Hey how about houseboats! I know, but it would be interesting to get two or three of these rigs on a sandbar for a weekend.

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

I've been down to the Praire du Chien area at the confluence of the WI and Miss rivers, beautiful. But I've never boated on the Miss, would love to do that someday. Being a fisherman with a low profile 16 footer I'd be much more comfortable on a body of water with some sheltered areas and backcountry to explore.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Calico, I have run the river from Prairie du to Red Wing MN in a 17 footer with an open bow. It was a blast. We just tent camped on sand bars whenever needed. 4-5 days was enough. Ended up meeting hotties on a houseboat who took "care" of us for a couple of days.

Just do it. Its fun...

 

[bekosh]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

[colour=red]Does anyone have any conflicts with July 7th?
[colour=black]

bekosh, does Partridge Lake still get real weedy in the summer? Or do they keep it open?

Does anyone know if there is a campground on the upper dells, without getting right into the dells quagmire ?

July 7 looks ok on our end.

We usually go up in Aug and it's never seemed bad. Banks of weeds to the north and west sides but open in the middle and by the river.

According to my Wisconsin Atlas & Gazetteer, the only campground on the Upper Dells, not in town, is...
HOLIDAY SHORES CAMP / RESORT
3901 River Rd. • Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
Phone: 608-254-2717
http://www.holiday-shores.com/default.asp
4 miles north of Wisconsin Dells off hwy 13.
Tent Sites by River no electric & water $33 per night
River Sites electric & water $43 per night

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

I totally agree Pointer, I'm a river explorer at heart. I spend most days on the water here above Lake WI on the WI River's skinny water and sandbars. I would much rather explore the ins and outs of a big braided river than get my axe kicked on a giant windblown lake.

 

[bekosh]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

I totally agree Pointer, I'm a river explorer at heart. I spend most days on the water here above Lake WI on the WI River's skinny water and sandbars. I would much rather explore the ins and outs of a big braided river than get my axe kicked on a giant windblown lake.

That's why I suggested Fremont & Partridge Lake. Right on the Wolf River with as much skinny water as you want. But you can also head south down to bigger water, Lake Poygan and beyond. Something for everyone.
Check out the google sat view.
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...3353,-88.871498&spn=0.054204,0.11261&t=k&om=1
(Stupid bbBoard. copy and paste the link to make it work..)

 

[roscoe]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Hey guys,I guess all us southern members need to do some plans.
Has there ever been a southeast get together? The carolinas,georgia or florida?

Gary, you are welcome to stop by and visit, if you are transporting through the area. We'll call your boss and tell him you broke down. d

 

[roscoe]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

I was about to vote with you on Partridge Lake bekosh, but then I saw the $55-70 a nite camping fees. $63 for lakeside, and $83 to sleep in a "cottage."

Might as well stay at the hotel down the road.
Maybe I'm just cheap.
No, wait a second, I AM cheap.

I found this map of the Petenwell County Park. (scroll down)
The map is turned sideways, the beach faces west, the boat ramp faces north.

http://www.co.adams.wi.gov/default.asp?id=142&mnu=142

.
.
?

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Do they have a camp ground on the south end of the lake? That one's 1100 miles from here.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Heck, you can get there by water. Just come on up the Mississippi and hang a right on the Wisconsin. You'll need to make a few portages to get around the dams, but where there's a will there's a way.

Chances are I'll be making it just for Sunday. The other tech usually takes that weekend off and he has seniority. Then again I get off saturday at two and work is between here and there. When I was a Boy Scout I camped on Castle Rock flowage. Every time before swimming we had to search the area for old square nails and sure enough about every time somebody would find one. They flooded an old town to make it. Invest in a lake map. Lotsa stumpy areas. Probably on Petenwell as well.

 

[roscoe]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Chances are I'll be making it just for Sunday. The other tech usually takes that weekend off and he has seniority.

What weekend?

We haven't picked one yet.
But whatever weekend it is, I think the fuel pump is gonna go out on your truck, so you won't make it in to work.

Reel Poor, if you bring the small boat, we will carry it around the dams for you.

 

[bekosh]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

I was about to vote with you on Partridge Lake bekosh, but then I saw the $55-70 a nite camping fees. $63 for lakeside, and $83 to sleep in a "cottage."

Might as well stay at the hotel down the road.
Maybe I'm just cheap.
No, wait a second, I AM cheap.

I found this map of the Petenwell County Park. (scroll down)
The map is turned sideways, the beach faces west, the boat ramp faces north.

http://www.co.adams.wi.gov/default.asp?id=142&mnu=142

.
.
?

WOW! didn't realise Jelly$tone was that pricey.

There is another campground on Partridge called Blue Top Resort. Prices are a bit more reasonable.
http://www.bluetopresort.com/
CAMPING RATES
PRIMITIVE - NO HOOKUPS - $18.00
SITE WITH ELECTRIC - $20.50
PULL THROUGH - WATER & ELEC - $21.50
LAKE FRONT - WATER & ELEC - $25.50

EACH ADDITIONAL ADULT - $4.00
AIR CONDITIONING - $2.00

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

The weekend after 7/4 specifically, or any surrounding the three holidays would limit me. I work all saturdays til 2, but might be able to get other saturdays off other than those. Too many uncertanities for me to propose any specific weekend myself. I'll fit in as best I can.

The Upper Dells would make a great day trip, but a whole weekend would be tough. All shoreline is posted No Trespassing and campgrounds are scarce and highly attended. But for a $5 launch fee, the only thing cheaper in the Dells is to drive on through without stopping.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Just another off the wall idea, but how about Lake Geneva. There is a state park (Bigfoot state park) on the east side and right on the water. Fishing is great, the water is crystal clear and the water is like bath water.

The biggest issue is that that park is widely used. There is no more beautiful lake in the State.

 

[roscoe]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

"This 271-acre park on the shore of Lake Geneva offers wooded campsites, a sand beach, and picnic areas. No alcoholic beverages are allowed anywhere in the park."

Do you really want to be around some of these guys/gals, if they can't have their "spotted skunk cedar hill" brew?

LOL

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

If WI State Parks are considered it would be prudent to check reservability now. WI parks subcontract reservations through ReserveAmerica and last I checked the system they had in place allowed bookings years in advance which in turn has tied up most of the best state campgrounds in WI for several years with the exception of walk-on first come first served non-reservable sites. The ReserveAmerica dealio is a nice example of privatizing state park management.

Yes Petenwell and Castlerock are stumpy, they are flooded reservoirs. Petenwell in particular has some very treacherous areas where stumps hide just inches beneath the water's surface. When this lake and Castlerock were built in the late 40s, construction forces didn't foresee the potential recreational boat traffic of the future and left trees standing in the reservoir as it was flooded. They then went back in Winter after the lake was frozen and cut the trees off flush with the surface and dragged them off the ice. This was much easier than cutting and dragging them up the steep banks before the lake was filled. Realizing the created danger a few years later the lake was drawn down several feet before Winter exposing the tree stumps which were again cut off flush. The Lake was returned to normal levels. Not all stumps were cut off though. Some areas of the lake have a lot of standing and fallen timber under water which makes for great fishing. Most of the lake is safely navigable and any stumpy areas are clearly shown on available maps.

 

[roscoe]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Just so all are aware, Wi state parks have a vehicle sticker fee.
WI resident $25 annual or $7 for a day pass
Non-resident, $35 annual or $10 for a day pass.
And yes, I have heard it is tough to get sites, especially in a group.

Does Blue Top Resort allow tent camping?

 

[roscoe]

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Re: FREE POPCORN TIME - again! .. WI - MN - IL get together 2007

Summary of locations, in order of suggestion.

The Madison lake chain
Lake WI - WI River - sandbar camping !!
Castle Rock County Park
Petenwell County Park
Big Eau Pleine County Park
Lake Winnebago - High Cliff State Park
Lake Winnebago - Calumet County Park
Fremont - Wolf River Valley Jellystone or Blue Top Resort
Mississippi and Wisconsin River confluence, Prairie du Chein - Wyalusing State Park
Upper Dells - Holiday Shores
Lake Geneva - Big Foot State Park

I would go to any of these locations except the Madison chain because, well... its too urban.

I get the feeling this thread is about to turn over to page 2.........