dkhodz, Darby, and Stryker Survive Dueling Banjos!

I am about a week behind on this one, but I just got the pictures today. On the weekend of July 20th, Darby, dkhodz, and I along with about 20 other guys from our men's group went on a canoe trip at Turkey Run State Park on Sugar Creek. It's about 1.5 hours west of Indy in Marshall, IN. Beauitul place to hike, canoe, and camp if you are into that thing. We arrived Friday night and had a great time around the camp fire before some late night euchre. Darby and DK pulled out the win over me and my pal Curt. God game fellas. Stryker and C-Mac lose 10-9.

So we hit the bunks (we had cabins) around midnight and woke up around 7:30 for some early morning breakfast and to get our lunch and gear packed. We headed up to the rental office which is also a gas station, super market, and cafe and got some descent eggs, sausage patties, and biscuits-n-gravy then headed over to the canoe rental which was next door. We loaded up on buses that had canoes on racks behind it that dropped us off at our drop in point a couple of miles east. Hot ride, we were cramped in there like sardines, but nothing terrible.

We arrived to the water at around 10 am and got our canoe paddles and canoes in the water. We had around 8 canoes and 6 kayaks in total. Darby and DK hopped in their canoe while Curt (my losing Euchre partner and is also my fellow 311 fan attending the concert next week :) ) hopped into ours. We paddled out and waited for everyone to get in the water. There was another 30-50 people launching as well.

Once everyone was on the water we headed downstream. Absolutely gorgeous. Rock cliffs, beautiful pines, and great weather. Felt like a different state. Most of Indy is flat as can be. So it's nice to see some terrain and something that resembles more of a big hill or mountain than a raised flower bed. We weren't in the water too long before someone found a baseball floating down stream. of course it was brought into a canoe and it wasn't long before it was being tossed back and forth. Of course that wasn't good enough, pretty soon keep-away ensued and then it was time to create teams! LOL Imagine 25 grown men in canoes playing keep-away drifting down a river/creek not looking where they are going. Let's just say hilarity ensued! Many a flipped canoe and kayak while people made desperate attempts to catch over-thrown balls. It was hilarious. We spent a good hour on that stupid game all the while running into rocks, logs, and each other!

Finally we broke for lunch, took a swim, and did a little fossil hunting. Weren't as many fossils this year as last. You can thank low water for that. Indy has been pretty dry this year. We did an 11.5 mile float and it was about perfect. Enough to not wear you out but still enjoy yourself. We later had all the guys sign the baseball and dated it so we have something to remember the trip by. This is our second annual trip and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself each time. I am sure next year will be just as great.

Other things to note: DK needed a haircut BAD! ;) He has since taken care of it. Curt and I want a rematch! DK and Darby scared the crap out of me on the way down when I put the iPod on random and they both knew immediately when Paula Abdul and Janet Jackson songs came on (they are on their for my wife. well ok, maybe Janet is on there for me. :D ) Thanks for coming guys. It was great to share the weekend with some of my OMM brethern. :)

P.S. Forgot to mention Darby's dominance of the ping pong table and DK's treating us to Monical's for some excellent pizza!  As well as the places home made delicious ice cream! :)

Getting some breakfast - C-Mac and Darby (Left), Stryker & Rich (Right)


Some of the other fellas getting some grub in the morning.




We're finally in the water.


Under the cliffs. (dk and Darby on the left, me in the white)




Darby and DK take a spill! They gave it all for the sake of winning! LOL :P


Fallen Tree - Group Pic. (dk and Darby on the left, me in the white)










Stopping for lunch.