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At ZookiMelt 2003 It's very hard to compare one ZM to the previous. Although the events are similar and the trails are still there, each year leaves different thoughts
in your mind as you pull up the last tent stake and idle slowly through the
campground, waving last goodbyes and imagining what the next year's event
will present.
From the start I knew that this would truly be a typical unpredictable event. I planned to leave Peoria Wednesday at noon -- I figured I'd stop in the office briefly, make sure everything was under control, then head east, trailer in tow. Of course, a seized brake caliper made an appearance at the last minute. Thanks to Figmo, TD & Laurie Graham, and my buddy Shawn the Brake Wizard, I was rolling by 2:00. |
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The skies were already looking a little restless when I pulled into the campsite and registered. Mini-Bob came running to greet me, telling me where everyone was camped and pointed me towards the staff area.
We had barely finished dinner when the storms returned -- reports of tornados touching down nearby didn't exactly cheer us up, but the unspoken idea that we all had each other to depend on made things a little easier to handle.
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The next morning vast webs of clotheslines were woven between trucks and poles and back to trucks again, wet things left to dry left nothing to the imagination -- rumor has it that this year's ZookiMelt Video answers the question "Does the Seasoned Rookie wear Boxers or Briefs?"
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 The rest of the weather that weekend was perfect -- save for a little rain
during the night run.
The night run. Oh boy. Traffic Jams, Search and Rescue, Flat Tires, Zookers separated from the rest of the group and "somewhere on the trail," what else could possibly have gone wrong? |
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| Thankfully the confusion was just that -- short term lack of information.
With the help of Ranger Rick's Bedford Boys, instinct, and great communication skills, we were able to locate a stranded Zook ("Lost Sheep"
became his codename) and lead him back home safely. Footage of this adventure (with running commentary by me) could very well appear in the Video
-- don't miss it!!
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 Most of my time on the trails was spent with some of my favorite trailblazers
-- Laurie Graham and her sidekick Daniella in a stocker hardtop, Jim and Mary
Zalipski in their green Geo Tracker, Vickie & Gidget (who went as far as to
name and conquer her own obstacle in the creek -- RIZZO's ROCK. ) and twofolks whose names regretfully escape me but I did enjoy sharing their flatbread rolled sandwiches for lunch! |
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 Of course there were others... and I didn't mean to exclude anyone of course
-- these folks just always seemed to find each other no matter where we ended
up!
Overall, I feel the 'Melt was a success. We missed a lot of familiar faces this year due to other commitments and of course the good ol' economy taking a bite into our fun-funds, but of course this left time to meet new friends. |
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 One thing that I always enjoy is checking out the little neighborhoods that
sprout up around the campground -- small groups forming and combining skills
and equipment to cook up some great dinners (many of which I had the honor to
sample) as well as a well-stocked pit crew, often working until the wee hours(much to the chagrin of some tired folks), but hey, it's part of the night time music at an event like this.
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  In upcoming articles, you'll meet Jim and "Mamma Z" Zalipski, two folks who
were constantly mistaken for my parents, Vicki and Gidget who don't know the
meaning of "my truck can't make it through that," as well as some other new
faces. If you have any questions or maybe would like to be featured as our
Rookie of the Month, feel free to write to
rookie@izook.com!And remember -- a rookie is someone trying something new. A Seasoned Rookie
comes back to do it again! |
09/14/04 16:39
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Seasoned
Rookie
