|
|
Five years ago, I decided to try to get a few
geocachers together for a picnic-style event at Riverside Park in
Guelph. We managed 13 caching groups...39 people in total. It was
cold and rainy, there were only two prizes, nobody knew each other,
but we all had a terrific time. Five years later, I still measure
the success of the event the same way, and by the simplest means
possible. SMILES. And judging by the smiles I saw this past
weekend, I'd have to say GHAGAFAP V was a resounding success!
A huge thank-you to all GHAGAFAP V attendees! It wouldn't be a
success with you! In fact, with 13 people in loud shirts standing
around a picnic shelter by themselves all day, I'm pretty sure it
would be an enormous bore! Please come back next year for more good
times!
To the cache hiders....Beaux, Dex, Fizbot, Nozzletime, OGA,
Tomtec, Walking Woody...without your efforts it really wouldn't be
a caching event...and by all accounts, they were really creative
hides. Thanks to all of you... and you can be sure you'll be
invited back next year to do it all again!
To the organizers of the "events within the event"...
--- Buttons and Beaux for their fabulous efforts on the kids games
and prize table (and remember...they ask for nothing, they take
nothing...this is done by them because they LIKE to do it.)
--- Buttons and Beaux. Again. This time for their organization of
the campers breakfast. Yum!
--- M3J (and their own team of helpers). Organized and prepared a
fantastic Saturday dinner in the campground.
--- Logger and Trail. For the outstanding "movie under the stars".
You're expected back next year by the way!!!
--- Algonquin Bound. Been trying to make this happen for three
years...FINALLY!!! What a great talent!
--- The "light show people". Mr. Mom, Tomtec, and everyone else
with those fabulous flashlights!
To all of you...a Big Big THANKS!
To the "official" sponsors...First To Find card game, Canadian
Cacher, Ontario Geocaching Association, Garmin, Canadian Geocoins,
Magellan, National 4WD, Microsoft, Atlantic Canada Geocaching
Association and Geocaching Alberta South... You folks provided some
terrific prizes for us this year. We received a ton of compliments
on our prize table. Thank you!
Also to the "unofficial" prize donators...too numerous to mention,
but you all know who you are, and you all know we really appreciate
the extra prizes for the draw. Thanks for your donations, and yes,
you're welcome to contribute again next year!
To the GHAGAFAP Central team...my undying gratitude! This event is
way beyond the capabilities of one or two people. I have the best
team of co-organizers I could possibly find. Amazon Annie, Buttons
and Beaux, Capjap, Logger and Trail, Nozzletime, Swifteroo and The
Blue Quasar. You all deserve the congratulations the event has been
receiving. I hope you're all there again next year!
My last thank-you, as always, goes to my wife Linda. Through
everything else that life throws at us, Linda always encourages me
to keep GHAGAFAP a top priority throughout the year. Without her
encouragement and support, GHAGAFAP wouldn't be what it is
today.
Hope to see all of you next year. Bring more friends!
Larry
-TrimblesTrek-
|