Although many troops
do not meet in the summer, there are a lot of activities available
to members of Girl Scouts. Resident camp immediately comes to
mind, as well as day camp.
Recently the log of a canoe trip
taken 23 years ago by Camp Agnes Arnold campers was given to
the History Committee. It’s obvious the girls had a memorable
trip. I couldn’t help but wonder if any of the campers
or counselors on that trip read The Golden Link.
The director of Camp Agnes Arnold
that summer was Jean Barnhill, also known as Navajo. The counselors
(and their camp name) who made the trip were Beth Sterling (Boz),
Tami Swinbank (Ski), Jennifer McIlrath (Gonzo), Toni White (TTT),
Angela Askew (Ace), and Pam Pickle (Dill).
The campers were Leigh Leigh Baillio,
Doris Baker, Laura Daniel, Katherine Davis, Linda Glaus, Christine
Hall, Carolyn Hamm, Wendy Hoggatt, Chrissy Ryder, Kim Schubert,
Ginnie Skaggs, and Erin Stewart. As
part of the preparation for the trip the campers prepared a
list of objectives for themselves:
1. to experience white water canoeing
2. to have a new challenge
3. to give us an opportunity to use our skills and
abilities
4. to get a chance to earn the cards I need
5. to learn to canoe in a better way
6. to use my new skills here and in the future
7. to learn to work in a group
8. to learn to get along with others
A detailed schedule was also determined
before the trip including menus for each meal. Chrissy Ryder
was the keeper of the log. Gonzo was her counselor helper. The
log was dedicated to “Navajo for fighting for this whitewater
trip for so long, and to everyone who made the Rainbow Cascade
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’82 San Marcos trip possible.”
Here’s the log as kept by Chrissy
Ryder.
August 1, 1982
While most of Camp Arnold was
snug in their beds the “elite” group from Mulberry
Bend was dragged out of bed at
4 a.m. (We’re having some fun now!) Almost every tent
was awake and actually moving, except for tent 4. Laura, Chrissy,
Wendy, and Linda were instructed to “Get their rears out
of bed.”
Voyager bags, pickle barrels and extra stuff
was hauled to the lodge and was packed into 2 vans and the ranger’s
truck (Good job ladies!)
We finally left camp at 5:40 a.m. (schedule
had predicted 5:30 a.m. departure) On the way to San Marcos
almost everyone in both vans caught up on their sleep. Campers
and counselors alike were sacked out leaning against windows,
and on top of voyager bags. On the road again.
We made our first
pit stop at McDonalds where Katie saw her next door neighbors,
Jerry, Judy, Jeff, and Jennene. Try that one on for size! (It’s
the Osmonds) After cries like, “If you don’t stop
I’m gonna die of starvation” were expressed, we
stopped at a roadside rest area and had breakfast. While we
were gulping down cinnamon and sweet rolls and drinking pineapple
juice a super ugly guy was wrapped up in a blanket sleeping
on a picnic table. (Bet he had a backache the next day!)
After
more sleeping we stopped at a gas station for our 3rd and final
pitstop. (The third time is always a charm)
We arrived at City Park out around
10 a.m. We had to change into our swim suits in the most disgusting
room anyone has ever smelled. It looked terrible and it smelled
like many a person had been to the rest room in our new dressing
room. When Ginnie |
 was
trying to make her way to the dressing room she dodged a sprinkler
and slipped in the mud. (Way to go grace) we soon packed the
canoes and were on the river at about 11 a.m.
Close
to 1/2 an hour later the group came up upon “the chute.”
Everyone was scared to go down it but lots did. No one flipped
and Gonzo went down solo. Next we paddled for 10 minutes or
so and then had to portage twice. (boo) We ate lunch (3 oranges)
and were off. The most exciting part of the day was when the
group went through Cummings Dam. Here’s the story: Gonzo
and Dill were in the lead canoe and Laura and Chrissy were following
them in Tiny Tug, and the rest were far behind. Gonzo’s
canoe was approaching the dam when Gonzo screamed back, “Don’t
follow us. Beach it.” But Chrissy and Laura didn’t
hear them so Gonzo’s canoe went through and Chrissy’s
canoe followed. Then all the campers told Boz that they saw
neither canoe come out of the water. (Were they dead)!)
The
group arrived at the dam and Gonzo, Dill, Chrissy and Laura
climbed to the other side of the dam to tell the others how
to go through. While attempting to go through the dam 4 of the
5 blue holes flipped and 2 out of 2 gruman’s flipped.
(Not very excellent statistics).
We paddled on in, unloaded canoes
and rode to Shady Grove. Then we had terrible freeze dried chicken
and rice. Gag me! We were in our tents to go to sleep when Ace
came by Chrissy and Laura’s tent and woke us up talking
to herself about Mickey somebody. |
