Well, have a great time, y’all!
g8rguy, sorry you won’t be able to make it. Obviously our schedules are out of sync…
The 24th sounds great. Have we settled on a location yet? Blue Springs is nice. I used to live very near there. If we’re still thinking about Ocala then Alexander Springs is nice too.
Rainbow Springs according to this site, looks like a good place for us to go. They’ve got picnic tables, grills, restrooms, and a couple of trails for nature walks. There’s even a man-made waterfall - imagine the photo ops!!
Admission is $1 per person - I think that’s a good deal. So unless someone has a major objection, what say we go there? I’ll give them a call and make sure that the park won’t be taken over by a festival or something that day.
All in favor??
Quite all right. At least I can still say I’ve met FCM, which allows me to feel all smug and superior. And that’s an important part of my life. 
Oh, that sounds nice. And pretty convenient, too. I’m very excited, especially since I had dinner with a Labdad, a wonderful Georgia Doper this week, and it was a fantastic evening. He’s set the bar pretty high for the rest of you.
Pffft, Shibb, this is me we’re talking about here. “Set the bar pretty high” indeed…
You need to be more like g8rguy - he understands.
Anyway - I’m going to Ocala this weekend to see my inlaws and I’m hoping to drive to the park and check it out. I’ll try to remember to take my camera - it might help if I can post photos of where I think we should all meet.
I’m very excited about this! I’ve posted about it on Fathom and the Unaboard too - with luck, we’ll have a nice gathering and a fun afternoon.
I can’t come to the Dopefest for FCM…I’m Canadian you know 
…too damned far to drive and besides, just came back from Huatulco, Mexico…but will someone raise a beer for FCM for me? I know it’s a tough duty and all, but if you could, raise a glass and feel positive thoughts from Canada for FCM.
P.S. Been to Ocala quite a few years ago, it snowed!
I am all about the rubber duck.
I am still trying to swing being down in Florida for this fest. Gotta make some calls again today.
I really, really, really want to meet y’all.
Ok, so Rainbow Springs on April 24th?
I’ll be there. What time?
Who’s on the definite list?
I think I’ll probably try to get there by 11 to claim a table or two and a grill and put up some balloons.
I suppose there should be a rain plan too - when I go check out the park, I’ll see if there’s a covered place we could gather. Or we could meet in the food court at the mall in Ocala…
Ooooh, and see if they have canoe rentals.
I’m just nudging this up to the front page where I can keep an eye on it and maybe link it into the MMP…
Bear_N - I believe they do have canoe rentals. I meant to go there this weekend and check things out, but my inlaws didn’t get back to Ocala till late Sat, and I wasn’t about to descend upon them one day after they got home. This coming weekend, I’ll be in Maryland, but the weekend after, I’m planning to go see the park - probably Sunday.
Shibb, I expect I’ll start a shiny new thread in about a month - no need to keep resurrecting this one. I’ll make sure you get all the pertinent details!
Me me me me me!
(Can I bring the rest of the ivy clan?)
Thanks for bringing that up, ivylass - yes - this is a family friendly picnic. Everyone is welcome - well, mebbe not the family dog - I don’t think pets are allowed in state parks.
I’m hoping my kid will come along - we shall see…
I’m in with bells on.
There is no dutch clan, but hopefully a few people will have taken me up on a ride by then…
Dang dutchboy’s already said he’s wearing bells. Guess I’ll have to take that new outfit I bought just for this back to the store now. I’ll be there anyway. Sigh… back to the designer’s.
I don’t think anybody called dibs on whistles yet.
I can’t wear whistles they make my butt look too big. Maybe I’ll show up in noise makers. That’d be a trendy fashion statement! Or maybe just regular ol’ shorts. I could wear my “I Lost My Shirt At Hattie’s Hideaway Motel” tshirt. Bet nobody else has one of those. Only about seven weeks to choose an outfit! Oh my! Oh my! Oh my!