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Post by deb193redux on Dec 13, 2007 12:49:50 GMT -5
The nice thing would be some runing water. That was useful down in Burro Creek. Hauling water to the camp is no fun.
There also might be other campsites in the area. We could go to the ranch and did some days, but also go to free sites and dig some days too. Now that I have joined a local club, I should be able to get the scoop.
I met a guy last night that had a medium grade picture jasper that looked sort of like a green/grey/red biggs. He found it in a national forest near Prinville, which is not too far from Richardsons.
I need to find out what moving box I packed my Ore-Rock-On CD and scope out the locations in that area. I can get guide book and look for campsites near Madras too. It sure would be nice to find a good group camp site with a pavillion and spicket like Jamie had in Burro Creek.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2007 18:28:17 GMT -5
Good idea Daniel,
Dan over at D&B Rockwerks lives fairly close. I will get in touch with him as he would know of other digging areas and also some camping spots. We could also do Glass Buttes for obsidian which isnt real close but could be done for those of us that can go for a few days. Dan also has some Aussie buddies coming for a visit this summer and they were planning a Richardson Ranch trip anyway.........we might be able to meet up with them and form a larger group.
Shannon
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deedolce
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Post by deedolce on Dec 14, 2007 3:18:53 GMT -5
THis sounds like it's really going to be fun! Please plan it after June 14th, 'cause I don't want to miss it!  ~dee |
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Post by deb193redux on Dec 14, 2007 16:41:46 GMT -5
Most of the commercial campgrounds are over closer to Warm Springs or down by PRinville. They also don't have nice group sites, charge for extra vhelicles ... etc.
I did find some BLM campsites along the Deutches river, one near Madrass, that has group sites. I will try to get more info form the regional office.
But, the RR camp does say that they have toilets and showers, and the camping is free. I wonder if just bringing along a canope fo r the common area might not be the way to go?
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bouldergal
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Post by bouldergal on Dec 18, 2007 0:15:29 GMT -5
RR might be okay, but we definitely need to check. I've heard that they're very helpful but that wasn't the case when I was there last summer. Maybe because it was off season for them (hotter than HELL) or maybe just an off day. Free and close by sounds good. There are so many sites within an hour or so with a huge variety of different types of rocks that it would be great if someone local had more info.
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Post by deb193redux on Dec 18, 2007 0:20:42 GMT -5
I am going to try and find some folks with local knowhow in the SweetHome Rock club.
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RedwoodRocks
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Post by RedwoodRocks on Dec 18, 2007 11:37:44 GMT -5
I would be interested if the trip is after the kids get out of school.
Dan, did you move to OR?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2007 13:49:05 GMT -5
Yep.....Daniel is now my neighbor. Well, he's about a couple hours away. Hey Cal, It will be after the kids get out of school as I want to make sure my daughter can go. There are a couple of people that cant do it in the middle of June so we are thinking the end of June. I have also contacted someone that lives nearby and asked about hotels, nearby campgrounds, amenities offered at Richardsons and other nearby digging locations. Daniel and I were talking about the possibility of digging at other nearby locations along with Richardsons but keep in mind that Richardsons Ranch is HUGE. Its a long ways out to the beds from the rock shop....not really that far but it takes awhile because of the roads. There are multiple beds and each one keeps you busy for hours. Theres the red bed, the blue bed, the moss bed, the opal bed, the jasper ledge etc. We could dig all weekend and still not see everything. I have a Richardsons flyer that shows a map of the different beds. If you are interested in receiving it as an email attachment, pm me your email address and I will get it to you. Shannon |
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RedwoodRocks
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Post by RedwoodRocks on Dec 19, 2007 14:37:06 GMT -5
The end of June works for me. I think I am more inclined to go searching through the rock piles, but if time is available to dig, I would like to give digging a go. We (my son and I) will camp.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2007 15:24:42 GMT -5
Im with you............You can get plenty of t-eggs in a day or less. I would love to spend another day or so digging in the yard. When I went last time I was a little rushed. I could have spent many more hours in the yard. My daughter Lillie was kept occupied chasing the Richardsons chickens. They have many chickens running around and Lillie was determined to catch a baby chick. It didnt happen of course.
I told my dad he could pick out a rock from the yard......my way of thanking him for going with me. He found one that he wanted........a large chunk of opalized wood with very nice grain patterns in it. It probably weighed around 5 lbs. and they charged me $5. Something like that at a show would go for so much more. We had a lot of fun.
I talked to Dan over at D&B Rockwerks. He said that Richardson's has water available but thats about it. If we want to look into hotels or camping areas outside of Richardsons, we need to look around Madras, Oregon. He said that he normally doesnt camp at Richardsons but just stays for the day and then goes on to Prineville, Oregon as it is a good central location for many local digging areas. He also mentioned that he just pulls off on a logging road somewhere to camp but that probably would be favorable for everyone. That is personally how I like to camp too but I know it would be nice to have showers and water.
I will check for hotels and camping spots in Madras and update you when I have more info.
Shannon
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Post by catmandewe on Dec 19, 2007 19:33:35 GMT -5
What about contacting Dale Rhode?
He lives in that neck of the woods, he might have all the info we need.
Tony
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Post by deb193redux on Dec 19, 2007 19:50:43 GMT -5
The Richardson's web site says they have toilets and showers.
We need to identify 3 or 4 places where we could go dig/collect. Then we could see what camping was most central. Talking to Dale is a good idea. I will send him an email. We shoud ask B&B Dan where he thinks some good collecting locations are.
I am going to call the district BLM office and see what info they have on the group sites at their campsites.
Im will ing to go over and scout around, but getting over the mountains is a problem for th enext few months. I don't even have chains - or much tire tred for that matter.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2007 20:40:54 GMT -5
Hey Daniel......Ive got an email attachment from Dan over at D&B that has all of the digging areas on a map.
Shannon
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Post by catmandewe on Dec 19, 2007 23:33:25 GMT -5
I already got a message back from Dale, he seemed pretty excited about it and said he can keep us busy for days!!
Looks like the weekend trip may stretch out a little!
I will forward it onto you Shannon, since this is your party.
Tony
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2007 14:29:29 GMT -5
I think we need to set a date in June for this since we will all have to work around our schedules and such. I know someone said they were busy the week of the 14th and my sister's wedding is on the 21st. Before this had turned into a group trip, I had planned on going the last weekend of June. Is there anyone that wouldnt be able to make it that weekend? It sounds like Dale could keep us busy for 4 days so we could do a Thurs-Sunday or a Sat-Tues.
Just let me know what sounds good and we can start figuring out details.
Shannon
PS-Dales locations are awesome. Ive never been to any of them but have some rock from those areas. The ochoco green moss is great.
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bouldergal
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Post by bouldergal on Dec 20, 2007 19:28:04 GMT -5
Unless my plans change drastically I plan on being on the west coast for about a month and will arrange my schedule to be at RR whenever the group is there. I'd definitely like to explore some of the other areas, too. This is a rock hound trip for us!
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Post by deb193redux on Dec 21, 2007 0:31:59 GMT -5
So would that be Thurs-26th thru Sunday-30th, or would camp break and pack up on Monday-31st. Either way OK for me. I could go a day earlier, but would prefer not to go into July because I plan to go to the agate conference July 12-13 in WI.
We should also think about the local POW WOWs. I thought Madras was always the last weekend in June and Prinville the 1st weekend in July. Seems like we might want to go to the Madras show on Sunday 30th. I mean, we will be right there.
We could also plan some camping for the week between the two shows. Folks could go to the 1st show and camp/dig a few days, or camp/dig a few days and then goto the 2nd show, or real diehards could come for the 1st show camp /dig all week and then go to the 2nd show.
There could also be two trips. A 2-3 day Richardsons trip with a side trip to an off-ranch site, and another trip that tried to visit 3 or 4 days worth of sites Dale could suggest. Folks could go on one trip, the other, or both.
In Burro Creek some folks stayed at the group camp site, but some came only for the weekend, while some were there for the week. Others stayed at the local motel, and Puppie stayed 50 miles down the road. Of course Jamie planned a lot of common stuff like the group site fees, meals, generators, some vehicles ... etc.
Last year in Texas some folks were in the cabin and some were camping, and again Sheri coordinated a lot of arrangements.
This trip idea began with Shannon thinking about a return trip to the ranch and asking who might want to meet there. So far we have not been talking about common meals and equipment like generators or water heaters ... etc. I think Shannon started with an overnight (i.e., Sat/Sun) trip as an alternative to a one day trip. Now its up to 3-4 days, but we need to be clear about this because the other trips were a week. I did not hear her volunteer to organize something as involved as the last two trips, but we could all pitch in to get it organized if that is what is emerging. I know some folks don't want to drive a long ways for just a 2 day trip, and it might not be clear about how long or how organized a trip we are talking about.
We could plan something more like Woodard or Burro Creek and share the work of planning and execution. Or, we could be a looser collections of individuals and groups that camp at the ranch or stay at motels in the area or stay at other camp sites. Everyone could plan their own meals. We could just coordinate where some folks want to meet up each day.
If we do want something more defined like a group site and common meals, I am willing to help with the planning and execution so this whole thing does not get out of control for Shannon. I think I could be there for all of a 4 day trip, but might not be able to go longer if it is too close to my trip to WI. If we want to be more of a looser confederation and just converge on the area and swap cell phone numbers or whatever, I am OK with that too. I have some friends with a time share in Prinville where I could stay the last week of June, but I don't mind making plans to camp at the ranch or wherever if the consensus is to try to get more of a multi-day group camping trip together.
Lets hear more people share ideas, and what days they would likely be there that week, and whether they would camp with the group or just show up each morning. Also if they have equipment they could bring, or if their vehicle is 4WD ... etc.
Lets also give Shannon plenty of room to say what she is and isn't comfortable coordinating.
There will not be a lot of time after the weather clears to get all this together, but at this point I think pretty much everything is possible.
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deedolce
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Post by deedolce on Dec 21, 2007 5:21:53 GMT -5
Hi all,
I'd be there the whole time, camping, and only have a small pick-up 2WD. Probably bringing my daughter, if she's not studying abroad.
How far is it to the grocery store, Daniel? My thinking is that we can be on our own for breakfast, and possibly pack our own lunches, but maybe each of us can plan to 'take over' a dinner for everyone. Maybe 2 or 3 of us, so we can do a main course, side dish and salad or something. I have one large cooler, so we could all pitch in to keep cool drinks handy, like water/soda/gatorade.
It really got to be so much, I think, for Jamie, to worry about the food for all the lunches and dinners for us! I know that Tony made us all dinner (yummers!!) the last night, and it made me think that it was a good way to share that responsibility so it doesn't fall to mostly one. I could even bring a small white board to leave notes for each other or the night's menu! lol.
I love the idea of the places that Dale knows and hitting at least one of those local shows. Sheesh, I better start saving up money now!!
Thanks for opening up the brainstorming Daniel!
~dee
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Post by catmandewe on Dec 21, 2007 11:18:00 GMT -5
I am planning on being there the whole time, I have a friend who has expressed interest in coming, and Ozzy said he might want to carpool up there with me. I will be camping, also.
The only thing that would keep me from going is a family reunion, but they don't have the date set yet. I will call and see what they are thinking for a date.
I like the idea of several people taking each night for the meals. Jamie did a fantastic job, but you could tell it was wearing her out. For elk camp we each make big meals at home, then put them in giant vacuum seal bags, when we get back off the mountain, we only have to boil a big pot of water and throw one of the meal bags in until it is done, voila, a meal in a bag. My wife has perfected lasagna in a bag, we get requests for that every year. Or we could do dutch oven cooking, but that is much more fickle and time consuming.
Tony
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Post by akansan on Dec 21, 2007 12:50:35 GMT -5
While I probably won't be attending, I thought I'd comment on what worked at WWR. In the end, we had one person mainly responsible each night for the meal, and then lunches, if you were in camp, were leftovers. For the most part, we packed our lunches and were out and about during lunch. That way the burden didn't fall completely on one person for all of the meals. Our group was big enough that we could even split the night's meal up - main dish & sides being done by separate people... It worked out really well.
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