This has been
a Yearly Event for the Past six years, and why would we let a good
thing fall apart!?!
The
event has had Several Hosts, Including DCExplorer, Followed by
AstroD-Team, Astronomers Lighthouse Hunters, and now Myself, K0RPL,
with assistance from everyone! Every year, we learn new ideas to
make this the most fun and memorable, yet relaxing, event in the
state.
About The
Island:
Rock Island is Wisconsin's
most remote State Park and by far one of the most beautiful. Cars
and bikes are not allowed on the 912-acre island, making for an
experience unlike any other. There are 10 miles of hiking trails,
including a one-mile interpretive trail, a naturalist program,
5,000 feet of beach, and many historical sites. The camping is
considered rustic, but flush toilets, running water, pit toilets,
picnic tables, and fire rings are provided. Firewood is for sale or
can be gathered from the woods for free. There is a short hike from
the boat dock to the camp site, so bringing a cart or wagon is
helpful for hauling gear.
Few things have
changed for this year! And that's good!
But
new this year, we have decided to add a Kite Flying
Competition. The Rules for this competition, are pretty
relaxed, as it is meant to be a fun time. There will be some awards
decided upon at the event, for Highest Flight, Longest Flight, and
best Design, etc... Trash Talking, will be allowed, and Encouraged.
Keep in mind, that those that attend Rock Island, may be trained in
Aeronautical Arts!!! Big open areas and no power lines make this a
special place for kite flying!
Another addition for this
year will be an Alcohol Stove Workshop. This event
will instruct you on how to make a simple survival alcohol stove
out of nothing but Aluminum Beer Bottles, and Beer Cans. Tools and
Patterns will be provided, but you will be required to bring the
aluminum Beer Bottles. (Bring Full, and
Consume on Site) The Best ones to use for
this are the Bud Light, Budweiser, or Bud Select aluminum Bottles.
It is also rumored that thick wall aluminum Energy Drink Bottles
will work as well. Make your Cook Stove, and cook a meal over it.
There might even be an award for the 'Best Cooked Meal', or the
'most interesting Recipe'.
Beer &
Sausage, Wine & Cheese Tasting Event, the Rock Island
Getaway's most anticipated event is held on both Friday and
Saturday nights. Everybody brings a few of their favorite or unique
snacks and beverages for tasting and for sharing. For those
underage or members of the Temperance League, we will also be running a
Soda & Chip Tasting Event at the same
time.
Rock Island Getaway is
also home to the infamous GPSr hospital repair, Becky's Story Book,
hanging out at the rock furniture, visiting the lighthouse, the
boathouse, the many trails, some of Wisconsin's finest sand dune
swimming beaches, and, best of all, sharing caching experiences
with a varied group of geocachers. ALL EVENTS ARE OPTIONAL; we're
here to have fun, not wear ourselves out.
There has been a
Minor Change to the fee structure for this year,
for those wishing to camp at the group site. We have reserved Sroup
Site Two, which is the smaller and more wooded group site about 1/5
of a mile from the Boathouse. The fee for this year is going to be
5.00 per person, if you are staying one or two nights, and 7.50 per
person, if you are going to be staying all three nights. Please
contact me through the GC.COM Link to let me know how many people
will be in your camping group, and how many nights you plan on
staying, and your email address. I am going to close the
reservations on Sunday, the 12th of June, as this will give me a
chance to send out the final Email. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO STAY AT THE
GROUP SITE. If you wish to reserve your own individual site, that's
OK, too.
Getting
There: Take Wisconsin Highway 42 to the very end of the
Door Peninsula. Take the Washington Island Ferry to Washington
Island. The ferry carries people, vehicles, bicycles, and freight.
Take County Highway W to the opposite end of Washington Island.
Leave your vehicle or bike there, and take the passenger-only Rock
Island Ferry to Rock Island. There are fees for both ferries. The
2011 Washington Island Ferry fees are $25.00 per car plus
$11.50/adult passenger and $5.50/child passenger under 11. The Rock
Island Karfi rates are $11.00/adult and children over the age of 11
and $6.00/child under the age of 11, all round trip, and includes
hauling your camping gear. The Karfi leaves Washington Island at
10:00 am, 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm daily. Visitors may also take their
boats to Rock Island, but caution is urged since Lake Michigan and
Green Bay can be hazardous due to reefs, currents and storms. There
is a nightly fee of $1 per foot of boat length for all boats
mooring overnight at Rock Island. We're more than happy to share
rides and vehicles to save money.
See you all
There! Here's links to previous years' events; Good information
contained within!
Rock Island Getaway
I
Rock Island Getaway
II
Rock Island Getaway
III
Rock Island Getaway
IV
Rock Island Getaway
V
Rock Island Getaway VI