# TornaDope: the SW Ohio Picnic Style DopeFest! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 1, 2004, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926 "2004-03-01T16:13:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926/21 "2004-04-02T17:20:16Z")
No mouth? How can they make sweet, passionate love without a mouth? [/Chef] Anyway, I’ll need to come back to Ohio and some point to round up the family and herd them back down to Florida. That’s what. Probably in June, although July’s sounding pretty attractive at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926/22 "2004-04-13T14:19:50Z")
I could finally be bothered to actually go to the park and check the joint at. Happily [Caesar Creek](http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/parks/caesarck.htm) is a pretty Jake park. I knew that, but this was the first time I had to check it out with picnic on my mind. If you look on [the park map](http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/parkmaps/caesarcreek.gif) down there at the bottom, the picnic area on Clarksville Road between the Visitor Center and the Pioneer Village should work out nicely. I talked to a very nice lady at the Visitor Center and she said that even though the picnic shelters are reservable, if they aren’t reserved for that day, they can be dibbied on a first-come, first-served basis. Me, being the Eternal Optimist (I’m still thinking some people might show up for this thing), figure we should have one of the nice shelters in the Flat Ridge Recreation Area (that’s what the big brown sign that points to the picnic area calls it). There are two there next to the playground and the nice lady said no one had a reservation in yet. There are plenty of regular picnic areas with tables and grills, but I’m hoping for a shelter. Not that it’s going to rain mind you, but because they are easier to find rather than a simple park picnic table. “But how do I get there?” you’re asking. I don’t know how _you_ get there, but these are the directions _I_ use: - Going north on I-71, get off at Exit 45. There’s a big sign that says it’s the Caesar Creek exit. (There are big signs all over the place, so the whole trip is fairly foolproof.) - You turn left from the off ramp onto OH 73 so you’re going west. (If you’re coming down I-71, you turn right onto OH 73 (still going west) and you’re a whole 1/4 mile closer to the picnic area.) - You tool down OH 73 for 4.2 miles to Oregonia Road. The big green sign that says “Oregonia Road” is right after the big brown sign that says “Park Office, Boat Ramps, Visitor Center” and you have to turn left. - 1.1 miles down on Oregonia there’s a stop sign. You turn right onto Oregonia (no, I’m not joking) at the stop sign. (Again, there’s a big brown sign to help you find your way.) - In a mere 2.5 miles there’s another stop sign with a mini-mart across the street form you. This is the World Famous “Spillway Party Supplies”. Stop on in. If you dare. But you’re running late, so don’t dawdle. A right turn puts you on Clarksville Road. - The spillway is .8 miles ahead. You can dig for fossils there. I’m sure that’s way fun. - Only another .3 miles (all uphill) and you are (ta daaaa!) at the Flat Fork Ridge Recreation Area! The picnic shelters are the first (and only) right when you get into the parking lot. (As long as all the milage adds up to 8.9 miles as you get off the northbound I-71 off ramp, all the numbers are what I mean. If they don’t tally, when you get off I-71, you got about 9 miles to go.) - Look for my little silver car and the signs. If you’re coming along I-75, you hop onto OH 73 going east to Waynesville. (My atlas says at Exit 38, but I don’t know fer sure.) You can pick up Clarksville on the western side of Waynesville and then you’re real close to the picnic area. I’m sure there will be big brown signs to help you along. The bad news is I didn’t put a reservation in for a campsite for the night. There was no one at the campground office, so I didn’t get a space. But remember how I said I’m the “Eternal Optimist”? I’m sure there will be _no_ problems. The downside is I can’t tell you where I’ll be that night until you show up at the picnic. So you won’t be able to get the site right next door. (Or way the heck on the other side of the campgrounds if that’s the way you feel about things.) I figure I’ll get something Saturday morning before I head over to the Flat Ridge Recreation Area. I should be there about 10:00 and try to start the charcoal by 11:00 so we should have hot hot dogs by noon. ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926/23 "2004-04-13T23:16:56Z")
Hey, Rue, have you looked out your window? High spring, but we appear to be having a blizzard. A blizzard with thunder. Maybe it’s the beginning of an unexpected new ice age. Something ALWAYS goes wrong with these OhDopes… ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926/24 "2004-04-14T11:55:06Z")
Nuh-uh! That was just yesterday. By tomorrow it’s supposed to be _nice_. (“Nice” enough I’ll have to mow the grass. Again. And it’s not even May.) By the middle of May it’ll be so warm you’ll have to wear a bikini. Maybe under a jacket or something, but still… _ **FisherQueen** in a bikini!_ (Work with me here. I’m trying to draw in more people.) And games for the kiddies! (Not involving **Fisher** in her bikini. Or maybe it does…) And hot dogs! And Jiffy Pop! Fun for everyone! No problems with the weather, not by the 15th at least. And that’s still before the cicadas come out. Maybe your last chance to have fun all summer, what with those horrible cicadas. Yup, TornaDope will ve the funnest _ever!_ ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926/25 "2004-04-15T11:58:08Z")
People who are coming at least to the picnic Saturday, May 15th: Me **The Little Woman** **Soupo** **Katcha** **FisherQueen** **FisherQueen’s bikini** **GorillaGirl** **The Mermaid** (she said that she was coming somewhere else) **Mr. The Mermaid** (again, somewhere else, the mentioning was) Slortar wasn’t definite. I hope he shows up because we need more boys. jsgoddess is a big weenie about bringing Doom down upon our heads. grisham said he was coming, but then there were some Bad Feelings about the new Board rules, so I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2004, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926/26 "2004-04-21T16:57:08Z")
Did I mention you can reserve cabins at Caesar Creek? I should have, because you can. Really, they’re just jumped up mini-barns, but they have a real roof and a door you can lock so the evil raccoons don’t carry you off as slaves for their turnip mines. Just thought you should know. ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2004, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926/27 "2004-04-21T22:13:00Z")
I regret that, while I will be attending, my bikini, alas, will not be able to be there. What a terrible tragedy, or possibly not. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926/28 "2004-04-28T14:57:38Z")
So, yeah. I might come. Even without the bikini showing up, I might make an appearance. I’ll even show up Friday night so that I _know_ I’ll be there in time. I’d hate to be late. Can I bring my dog? (My wife, on the other hand, won’t be able to make it. That’s what she gets for changing jobs. Silly woman.) ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926/29 "2004-04-28T15:00:24Z")
Oh, yes: are there any recommended hotels in the area for my Friday evening leisure? ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926/30 "2004-04-28T15:10:47Z")
Oh, and does anyone know how far this is from Cleveland? Also, what’s the weather going to be like that time of year? Hot? Warm? Fuzzy? ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2004, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926/31 "2004-04-29T11:59:02Z")
Geez **Skip** , don’t you ever _think_ before you hit “Submit”? (If you do, how does that work out for you? Is it something I should try?) It’s totally Jake to bring your dog. They are unruled about dog banning. At least as far as I know. If anyone asks, your dog is a Service Dog in case you have seizures. (Get him a little sweater or something, I think Service Dogs wear sweaters.) If you have access to this new thing called _The Internet_ you can look for hotels in the comfort and privacy of your own home. Look in Dayton or Middletown and you won’t be too far from the park. Look in Cleveland and you’ll be 217 miles form the park. It’s your call. Right about now it’s starting to get nice. Short pants are doable. Heck **Fisher** ’s gonna show up _nekkid_! (Hey, she _said_ she wasn’t gonna wear her bikini. What else could that mean?) Unless you get cold easy, then you should wear more clothes. Bring a jacket too, you should always bring a jacket. The camping is purely optional. _Purely optional!_ I like to go camping, so I figured while I was at a park all day, I’d just bring my camping stuff and not go home that night. The Little Woman doesn’t like to camp, so she won’t be staying, and Katcha is unreliably housebroken overnight, so he won’t be staying but maybe Soupo will. So it’ll be us two men-folk as far as I know. But, yeah, you could stay too! That would make three of us men-folk. I mean it’s a State Park. Like I could kick you out of a State Park, even if I wanted to. (We could probably talk **Fisher** into staying too. Well, you could. _Some people_ don’t like me talking to nekkid wimmins.) ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2004, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926/32 "2004-04-29T14:49:18Z")
Nah, thinking before posting just amounts to a lesser amount of time _to_ post. And what would you do with your time if you didn’t have anything by me to read? I should write a book without stopping to think; then you’d be able to take unthinking writing from me anywhere you’d like. It’s like I’d always be around. How cool is that? Did you like how I asked you the same questions again and again and again here, on LiveJournal, _and_ the UnaBoard? I learned, once, about that whole gadfly thingie Socrates did–but all I got from the lesson was that if you’re annoying enough, people will pay attention to you. That’s how I finally wore down **auntie em** for the first date and then marriage. I’m not asking for your hand in marriage or anything, but is it too much to want a kiss on the cheek (upper)? I checked the park’s site. Doggies are allowed as long as they don’t kill someone. Especially you. Seriously. There’s a bit of text on the site that says: “All pet dogs, cats, birds, grunions, prawns, rocks, and teddy bears are allowed in the park as long as they don’t kill anyone–especially **Rue DeDay**.” I know. I was surprised as you when I read that, too. I mean, _teddy bears_? Those things are viscious! I dunno how they hope to control them; maybe you’re the Teddy Bear Whisperer or summthin’. I knew you were magical! ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2004, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926/33 "2004-05-07T11:28:48Z")
OK people! This is your last change to hop on the Funtime Bandwagon! Actually it’s your last chance to gather up some wood and some wheels and nails and maybe some screws and _build_ the Funtime Bandwagon, then give it a big push or roll it down a hill and then hop on and throw your arms in the air and say “Wheeeeeee!!!”. Next week is when it all happens. Then I’ll shut up about the danged thing. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2004, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926/34 "2004-05-07T11:50:36Z")
Hmmm… well, **Rue** , I went and made a big stinky production of it, but it looks like I won’t be bringing my wondermut after all. Turns out that I may extend my stay in that there part of the country, so I’ll probably be going to places that are civ-uh-lized and don’t allow that, although my pup is brilliant and beautiful and full of manners, she’s more than a dog. So, when picking a camp site, you can get a non-pet one. Yours Truly, Skip-O’-Roni ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926/35 "2004-05-08T05:23:26Z")
Oooooh, I wanna come! Can I, can I? 😃 I’m not off work until 2pm on Saturday (5/15), though. Will I be too late for roasting 'mallows and telling spooky stories around the campfire if I can’t come till late afternoon? Are people camping? I might even bring **Norwegian Blue** (if he’s up to it) and Cinnamon Blue Kiddo (if it’s kid-friendly). I can’t wait to meet some real life dopers! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![laserkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@laserkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laserkitty)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926/36 "2004-05-10T20:34:34Z")
I didn’t think we were going to be able to make it at all, but I think we can make the picnic! I’m assuming since there’s a pet area that the park is dog-friendly? Looking foward to seeing you again! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926/37 "2004-05-10T20:48:38Z")
> [@laserkitty](#): > > I didn’t think we were going to be able to make it at all, but I think we can make the picnic! I’m assuming since there’s a pet area that the park is dog-friendly? > > Looking foward to seeing you again! 🆒 Your dog needs to have proof of a recent rabies shot, **laserkitty** , if they demand to see it at the park. Here’s the section of the FAQ on their site which deals with pets: [click me, click me!](http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/faq.htm#petcamping) **Rue** will also have to reserve a pet-friendly section of the park. ---
**Author:** ![laserkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@laserkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laserkitty)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926/38 "2004-05-11T00:28:15Z")
> [@SkipMagic](#): > > **Rue** will also have to reserve a pet-friendly section of the park. Is that just for camping that you need to reserve? We’re not camping, we’re just picnicing. I don’t want to cause trouble by bringing the dog, so if it’s gonna be a hassle we’ll just get a babysitter for the day, which isn’t a problem. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926/39 "2004-05-11T00:32:38Z")
Oh. Well, then; if you’re not camping, I can’t see where it would be a problem. All you’d probably would need is proof of a rabies shot. Very cool. ---
**Author:** ![laserkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@laserkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laserkitty)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926/40 "2004-05-11T00:37:26Z")
> [@SkipMagic](#): > > Oh. Well, then; if you’re not camping, I can’t see where it would be a problem. All you’d probably would need is proof of a rabies shot. Very cool. Hmmm, perhaps I should give them a call. I’d love to bring her along, but the site isn’t real cut and dry about exactly where animals are permitted. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tornadope-the-sw-ohio-picnic-style-dopefest/231926.md?page=3)