Due to popular
demand, the island
adventure is back. Everybody had a wicked good time last
year, so we'll do it again this year. More caches. More beer.
More relaxation. Less stress.
Since there's a lot
of information, and probably a lot of questions, I will
try to address important details in the form of a F.A.Q. Sorry
about the length, but there's lots of information.
Feel free
to post additional questions, and don't forget to add this page to
your watch list for further updates. PLEASE read the logs for last
year's event before asking new questions. Perhaps your question has
already been discussed. Here is the link to last year's event:
(GCMX84)
Frequently Asked
Questions
What is
it?
The Rock Island Getaway II is a loosely organized
camping weekend at Rock Island State Park. There will be a number
of temporary caches set up, in addition to the permanent caches on
Door, Washington and Rock Islands, but the emphasis is on
camaraderie, relaxation, and having fun, and not building huge
cache numbers in a short time.
When is it?
The dates are Friday, June 23 to
Sunday, June 25. This is the weekend BETWEEN Father's Day weekend
and Independence Day weekend. However, a couple of us may be going
up a day earlier (Thursday) to plant caches, and you are welcome to
join us. This weekend was chosen after much debate and will not be
changed, unless an enormous sum of money changes hands.
Is there an itinerary? What events are planned?
The schedule will be determined on the Thursday before the event
and distributed Friday. This is to avoid scheduling conflicts with
park events like nature walks or boathouse tours, which are popular
with campers. Geocaching events include a cache race, temporary
caches, beer and cheese tasting, a group dinner and communal
campfires. In addition, I am asking each Geocaching group or team
to hide ONE temporary cache by Saturday morning. All temps will
then be written up and distributed to others mid-morning Saturday.
This is purely a voluntary activity, and caches should conform to
standard guidelines.
How much does
it cost?
The event itself is free. However, a group
camping site has been reserved, and I am requesting $10 per camping
party (individual, couple or family) per night to cover the expense
of reserving the site. (which has already been paid for) You can
also reserve your own individual site if you wish. $20 for two
nights at the group site is cheaper than reserving your own
individual site, which will cost you $34. We may have a coffee can
for donations or pass the hat to buy some firewood, but that would
be voluntary. This is a non-profit event. If and when the expense
of the group site is paid for, additional collected monies may be
used to buy firewood for evening campfires, donated to the Friends
of Rock Island State Park, or returned to the giver, depending on
what people want to do. Pre-payment of the camping fee will hold
your space in the group site.
What's the
difference between this campout and the May
Geo-Campout?
About thirty days and thirty miles.
<rim shot> Seriously, It's just a coincidence that the 2006
Geo-campout and Rock Island Getaway II are both in Door County this
year. I plan to attend both. However, I believe the focus is a bit
different between the two events. As Cathunter explains, “Comparing
the WGA campout to Rock Island? In my mind, they are both great,
but there really is no comparison. _The WGA campout is hard and
fast camping with all the conveniences of home readily available.
Many participants are in full-bore geocaching frenzy the entire
time they are there. Rock Island is more like wilderness camping. A
great opportunity for some very pleasant hiking, with a few caches
to do as a bonus. One can relax and simply enjoy the rarity of
island living. Plenty of time spent gathering around the campfire
with geocachers sharing their stories, and of course the
traditional beer tasting. It sounds like this year will focus on
beer AND cheese.”
Wilderness
camping? Is it really difficult to camp there?
It's
not. Although some people have trepidations before arriving at Rock
Island, they disappear soon after. Many people after one visit
claim it to be their favorite camping spot ever. A sample of
opinion from last year's event:
Astro-D Team:
“Seeing as we have never been to this island before, we thought
this event was just the incentive we needed to get there! Boy we
were NOT disappointed!! This has been the BEST camping location we
have ever experienced. We really had a great time and are looking
forward to coming back. Thank you DC for your efforts in putting
this together. I agree with several others, this should become an
annual event!”
I see BEER has
been mentioned more than once. Is there going to be a lot of
drinking and carousing? Are kids welcome?
Several people last year brought along some unique and flavorful
adult beverages. Bocks, Ales, Lagers, Stouts, and other specialty
beers were sampled and shared. If you have a favorite or unique
beer from your area you would like to share, bring some along, and
we'll have a tasting party. Bring some cheese and crackers to
share, as well, to “cleanse the palet” between beers. Kids are, of
course, encouraged to drink root beer instead. Massive consumption
of adult beverages is discouraged. Quality, not quantity, is the
goal.
What else do I
need to know?
Most people reach Rock Island by taking a
ferry from Northport, on the tip of the Door Peninsula, to
Washington Island. Then you take a second ferry from Washington
Island to Rock Island. A few adventurous sorts may arrive
independently via kayak, sailboat or motorboat. There is a dock and
dock space on the island. The last ferry from Washington Island to
Rock Island will probably be around 4:00, so you would want to
leave the mainland in the late morning or early afternoon.
Carpooling from Northport can save ferry fees on vehicles. There is
no electricity on Rock Island for camper use, and cell coverage is
spotty at best. There is a payphone. You have to carry your gear
from the dock to the campsite, a distance of 1/4 - 1/3 mile, so
prudent gear selection is important. Lots of folks use handcarts to
transport gear. Dogs are allowed, but have to be leashed. No bikes.
No flush toilets. The beaches are wonderful, but the water will be
a bit chilly that time of year. Interesting birds seen last year
include a flock of white swans, and a bald eagle. The lighthouse
(and graveyards?) is allegedly haunted.
If you plan to
attend:
Post a reply here if you plan to attend, as
well as if you plan to stay at the group site or reserve your own
site. If you are going to stay at the group site, let me know how
many people you are, as I need an accurate herad count for the DNR.
Payment should be made ahead of time, as I don't want to bother
with money during or after the event. I will email an address to
make payment. I will start an email list of attendees to
facilitate ride
sharing and other information.
THIS area is
added information!
Added 2/26/06. Any additional
changes to the event description will go here. I will be bringing
an iPod along with external speakers. If you wish to make a
campfire-friendly playlist to share with others, please do so. GOOD
campfire music, like Johnny Cash, Neil Young or Billy Joel
encouraged. Death Metal or Hip-Hop-wannbee playlists may be voted
off the island. There will also be limited electricity available
via a Black and Decker Electromate 400 AC/DC power
supply which will be available to everyone with low-power
electrical requirements. No hair dryers or coffee makers. Also,
if ANYONE has a portable (battery powered) USB inkjet printer
they'd like to loan to the event, that would be better than
bringing a full-size inkjet along. Thanks.
Added
2/28/06. TS's excellent guide to the ins and outs of Rock Island
camping life can be located HERE.
Added
3/5/06. Added hit counter. Also, please make sure your email
address as listed in geocaching.com is correct; that's how I will
be contacting you if I don't already have your personal email
address.
Added
5/16/06 If you are
interested in attending, and haven't spoken up yet, let me know! I
want to have a semi-accurate head count by Memorial Day weekend. If
you live south of Green Bay and/or Sheboygan, and are interested in
carpooling, speak up at the thread at the Wisconsin Geocaching
Association web site HERE where those folks from points south can
arrange carpools, if desired.
Added 5/29/06.
Updated above link to the WGA planning forum.