Poll

Hot damn, it's workin!

it sure is! thanks for doing this, dan

No shows can't vote, right? (someone please hand me a box of tissues... :( ).
I will miss everyone.

Gloria! But I want you to come!!!

I am new, and don't know the details of how all this works, but I would like to ask a question that may make me unpopular and result in hubbub or kerfuffle.

2 cents worth:

Are we discussing staying somewhere as a split group, where we would drive to be together? This doesn't make sense to me.

What made my first experience fun was the opportunity to meet everyone--that's right, you had nowhere to hide.

Okay, here comes the controversy:

If we are discussing the idea of renting a place and splitting up rather than staying at Jons, I wonder how committed everyone is to going to Washington?

I like Washington, and the trip is all about being with you all. I have however, spent quite a bit of time in WA.

TBH, I have very little opportunity to travel for myself, I can honestly say I prefer going somewhere I have never been.

And there are cheaper places to fly in the summer.

Third world anyone?

Okay, ready, aim,

I assumed I was a no-show for this year, but I am pursuing new possibilities to make this happen. I have to be a part of this poll, but the uncertainty factor reduces the weight of my vote a bit.

Ack. That hurt a little.

and to be transparent, I voted for camp evison. But if we are not going to camp evison, are we open to other destinations?

I probably can't do outside of WA this year.

Brock wrote: "Are we discussing staying somewhere as a split group, where we would drive to be together? This doesn't make sense to me...."

Brock, exactly. This is the reason for the poll. If the majority want to stay at Camp Evison, then so be it. If they want rented accommodation, then so be it. But NO SPLITTING. That is not in the spirit of the dorka.

Kerry wrote: "Gloria! But I want you to come!!!"

Kerry, believe me, I'd love to be there! I'll refrain from messing up the vote count when the likelihood of going is so dim ... but, hell, I'd sleep on a concrete floor with a flimsy blanket if it meant getting to see all of you. (and Lara's right-- everyone needs to stay together).
Maybe I'll hunt down a Nixon mask and rob my local bank...

I voted for camp evison, but if we are talking about renting accommodations, are we hellbent on Washington?

That was the kerfuffle.

I would like to go back to Washington. Would be nice to see jon's family again too.

If you have specific, affordable, site-specific, suggestions outside of Washington, I think you should feel free to suggest it and the group can discuss. If it's a suggestion for other places to research, I'd say not this year. A) It's really too late in the game B) the overwhelming vibe I got last year was that everyone really wants to be in Washington, at least every other year.

I think I voted. I also had to delete Mo's login from the firefox goodreads page before I could login myself. That's how long it's been since I've been on Goodreads. I thought about posting as Mo, but that would have been really weird. Hi everyone. Please excuse the slight digressive ramble. Now back to Frankenstein for tomorrow's classes.

I... ha hum.... can't make it... um... this year. I'm strapped... not the David Carradine kind of strapped, just family issues in the peach state, and... um ha... unfinished... ha hum... issues south of here. Ha... I mean hum, south of here in a global... ha... sense.

I've got to get Mr Dorrit out of my head!!! Ha... his voice... hum... seems to have taken over me.

(plus... I may have some strange tropical disease and as you know I'm a sharer. You don't want me there. Trust me)

Now it's time for me to take Little Dorrit's hand. She's so lost outside the Marshalsea.

it looks like renting in Washington. Would anyone have interest in the Ilwaco area?

http://g.co/maps/zgz52

Here is a place that sleeps 14

http://goo.gl/ToxyA

Brock- that place looks really nice. just out of curiousity, i checked, and the last week of july is taken. but it appears open between July 21-26th (5 nights) and if their calculator is correct for 15 people it would break down to about $230ish a person.

and while considering options remember- anything on the coast- factor in a couple hour drive from the airport- this one is actually closer to PDX (just over 2 hrs) than to Seatac.

i posted this before, but i'll float it again. http://www.vrbo.com/311341 this one was about 50 miles from PDX and for 5 nights at 15 people about $200.
(i'm not personally attached to anything yet-still looking for options and i'm trying to find some better prices but availability is an issue)

those cots back in the asylum at Fort Flaggler were pretty sweet too. could always look in to that again. Kerry? Ben??

no asylum!!! still have nightmares. though the view from the cliff was nice.

i really like the look of that place patrick.

I do too, cookie. Three this morning I was looking at all the different locations everyone has posted. You'd think we were fish for as much as we like the water. Sorry to not have the one with gills this year. Brian.

There is no swimming anywhere near there, that I can see (you can't swim in the river). Does anyone have any familiarity with Skamania county?

I like that Skamania one too Patrick! And I have friends in PDX, so I wouldn't mind flying in there.

I like the Skamania one too, P.

Patty, i'm checking in to the swimming question right now. In their description of the place they proudly promote "Water sports of every kind..." , which i found vaguely scandalous, but it did get my attention. And i love the "Queen bedroom with...drive-up access".

just emailed them- for more details.

ok. back to searching.

have we looked at this one? the rates seem pretty good at first glance.

http://www.vrbo.com/30663

Twisp is a 4-5 hour drive from Sea-Tac. I dismissed places that far, thinking that anyone who'd just gotten off a long flight wouldn't want to follow it with a super long drive.

gotcha

The Skamania place looks wonderful and affordable. If there is no lake, couldn't we just fasten ourselves to the river bank or a tree and call it a fast moving lake? It seems so wonderful otherwise that we should be able to improvise something in the way of swimming.

Skamania looks nice, and I have a strong connection to PDX. It's going to be a skin of my teeth thing for me this year, but I'll be damned if I miss another Dork.

yeah Neil!! love that spirit

http://www.skamania.org/recreation.cfm

•Bird Watching
•Boating
•Camping
•Cross Country Skiing
•Disc Golf
•Fishing – Fly, Boat, Bank or Guided - KD Guide Services, Always Catchin'
•Fish Viewing - Bonneville Lock and Dam
•Geocaching
•Golfing - Skamania Lodge, Beacon Rock Golf Course
•Guided Hikes on Mt. St. Helens
•Hiking
•Huckleberry Picking
•Kayaking
•Kiteboarding
•Motorized Vehicles - Designated Trails (Trail Bikes/ATVs)
•Mountain Biking
•Mountain and Rock Climbing
•Mushroom Picking
•Sailing - Hood River Waterplay, Columbia Gorge Racing Association
•Snowmobiling
•Snowshoeing
•Spelunking
•Water Skiing or Jet Skiing
•Whitewater Rafting - All Adventures Rafting, Wet Planet Whitewater, Zoller's Outdoor Odysseys
•Wildflower Viewing
•Windsurfing

I agree, Les. Will you be the 1st volunteer for the tree-rope-river-harness?

Patrick, I found this. I'm not sure how close any of the places listed are. http://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/crgns...

this one is for Shel -even has "two outdoor hot showers"-


http://www.vrbo.com/61258?similarlist...

ok. probably too tight, but i'm sharing it cause it's pretty and looking at all these is making me crazy anxious to be on vacation.

http://www.vrbo.com/231053

Happily, Patty!

So are we coming close to enough of a consensus on skamania to start a poll on whether or not we pull the trigger on it?

http://www.oceancliff.us/rates.asp

and this guy emailed me back uber-quick. that's always considerate. i think, if i remember correctly, he's a presbyterian minister. the place looks lovely and right on the beach.

and Neil, i agree with Jennie. Yeah! keep hope alive brother!!! from the $ perspective, i think it's tricky for a lot of us. but always worth it.

and Yeah Les. not only does he sound like he's gonna make it but he volunteers to be the fist tossed from the river bank. what a trooper.

i love dorks.

Slowrabbit wrote: "http://www.oceancliff.us/rates.asp

and this guy emailed me back uber-quick. that's always considerate. i think, if i remember correctly, he's a presbyterian minister. the place looks lovely and..."

how many actual beds do they have? That place looks sweet.

It does look amazing. Couches, chairs, floors, outside under the stars are all lovely with me. In case the number of actual beds is keeping us from any particular spot. Sorry to request another poll as the ideas and wonderful locales keep coming. This poll has a week anyway, right?

Patty, here is the original listing http://www.vrbo.com/77568. looks like 2 units split up, but you can rent the entire place.

i have to say- i love the looks of the Skamania option just cause it seems secluded -accessible to the airport and what not- looks spacious, but the thought of being right on the coast... that close to the beach...very seductive. i guess we'd be throwing Les into the Ocean vs. the River, but hey, we're all adaptable.

we need to find out from JE if he plans on bringing the MOHO wherever we are. -& if i email anymore places i'll make sure and ask if parking a motor home is possible. I know for Penny in Roslyn that was an issue.

just got a message from the woman at the Skamania place.
looks like the last week of july has, tenatively, already been booked (awaiting deposit). she said if that falls through she would let me know. might be available a bit earlier in july?

she also mention that there was a public swimming pool not far away and a couple places along the river that people swim and a park right on the river 20 minutes away.

i'll keep searching, but now i'm gonna take a break and go listen to Steve Erickson on KCRW talk about his new novel. Yeah.

sorry for bombarding y'all today but FYI Mark (at the beach)just responded again and said there is plenty of room for JE's moho. that location sits on 4 acres.

I'm pretty sure earlier in July would be okay for me on the Skamania place.

Mmmmmm.... Mark's...beach AND forest? fire pit and two fully equipped kitchens? Yeah. I could handle that!

The Skamania place also looks great. Not a big deal, but if you guys go with the week including 7/19, I'll have to back out. My mom is turning 60. (I know, I know, she was very young...ha.)

By the way, was Fort Flaggler really an asylum, or was that just your nickname for it? Either way, I have a whole new level of respect for you guys. I feel really stupid for waking PG/JP last year because something was scratching at my fully intact, lockable window in the convent.

We can't go early then, because Elizabeth is one of the Dorks I've yet to meet in person.

is there going to be another poll to choose between skamania and the other place? patrick, what week(s) is the skamania place available? (i like the size and locale of skamania myself -- lots of elbow room. :)

Brock wrote: "I am new, and don't know the details of how all this works, but I would like to ask a question that may make me unpopular and result in hubbub or kerfuffle.

2 cents worth:

Are we discussing stayi..."

You just used the word hubbub AND kerfuffle - I doubt you will ever be unpopular in this group, Brock! ^_^