09/09 - 09/10 - National Mississippi River Gathering

Connie Fisher · Guest

I’m having a Computer Tech come in this weekend and make sure our wireless system at our home is easily accessible for those that want/need Wi-Fi access.

Regards,

Ron Fisher

texasair · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 6:24 pm Post subject:

Northbound,

First stop, Vida Christi hospital, Wichita KS

Hope to arrive in Guttenberg, Wed afternoon.

See yall there.

Connie Fisher · Guest

Wednesday morning in Guttenberg, Iowa,

Both the See-Saw from Amarillo, Texas (Lyle and Janda ) and the Joni Linn from Hazel Green, Wisconsin (Paul and Joni) showed up and are parked in the marina as of Monday.

We are expecting several other arrivals today.

Best regards,

Ron, Connie, Bear & Dolly Fisher

JamesTXSD · Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:46 am Post subject:

Kinda out of the loop here in the mountains in western Wyoming, but one of the other captains lent me his copy of Heartland Boating (that he just received) with the C-Dorys on the cover. Makes me even more anxious to get back to Wild Blue, but I had to comment on the nice reference to the Guttenberg gathering in the article... hope you all have a great get together!

Best wishes,
Jim & Joan

Connie Fisher · Guest

Journal entry ( Star Date) September 8th, 20011 - Guttenberg, Iowa.

So far twelve C-Dory’s have arrived, the “Last Chance” from Attica, NY, “Pelican”, “Sandpiper” and Lake Effect from Illinois, “Sea-Saw” and “Bixby’s Cub” from Texas, “Clover” from Arizona/Wisconsin, “Joni Lynn” from Wisconsin, Lucky Enough and Lil Sis from Iowa.

More will be showing up today with one or two more scheduled for tomorrow (Friday).

The party started last evening with marvellous weather, food and refreshment at the National Mississippi River C-Brats Headquarters.

We met for breakfast this morning with everyone heading out for new adventures.

Dinner tonight, Terry is cooking (Last Chance, Attica, NY) special New York “white” Pork Hot Dogs that he brought just for this occasion, along with German Potato Salad, Baked Beans and of course chilly for the dogs etc.

Wines from New York, Texas, California and Iowa are represented along with beer of all kinds, some we have never heard of.

One wine from Iowa was labelled “Horny Heifer” (see http://www.wwwinery.com/wines.html ) which Tex and Sharon liked and shared with the other wine drinkers.

More C-Dory’s will show up today and the party just keeps getting bigger.

Watch http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=Mississippi-River-2011&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php as photos are posted later.

Best regards and wish you all were here,

Ron, Connie, Bear, Dolly Fisher and all the C-Brats that are here on an absolute gorgeous day in Iowa on the upper Mississippi River.

Connie Fisher · Guest

OH NO, I made a mistake, Terry's boat is not "Last Chance" it's "LAST DANCE".

Terry's Sis calls him from home to have the error corrected.

Terry, Jay and Bob came all the way from Attica, NY to the gathering and hopefully will come back next year to "The Reunion".

Sorry for the mistake.

Regards,

Ron Fisher

Connie Fisher · Guest

Photos of the 2011 National Gathering are already being posted at http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=Mississippi-River-2011&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php&page=1

Regards,

Ron Fisher

texasair · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:10 pm Post subject:

Wow, Ron and Connie put on another outstanding gathering. Everyone had a great time.

Ron arranged for the local cafe to open every AM for the C-Brats to have breakfast every morning with an outstanding view of the lock and dam.

Terry of “Last Dance” cooked an outstanding assortment of upstate New York sausages on Friday. Then we divided up the loot "door prizes" among the C-Brats. Thanks to all who donated.

The local Guttenberg banker cooked slabs of bar-b-que ribs for us Saturday.

The Mayor and numerous local “big wheels” came by to dine with us Saturday evening.

The local TV station covered our events with an on site TV cameraman.

Numerous folks came by to see the boats, several took advantage of C-Brat hospitality and rode with us down the river on Saturday. Two for sure we managed to hook and will be back next year in new C-Dorys. Those of you that were there know who I am talking about.

All the boats took a scenic trip down the Mississippi Saturday morning and had lunch at Hawkeye Marina with Gary Kramer, the senior contributing editor of Heartland Boating Magazine. Gary wrote the recent article in the Boat US magazine about Bill and El as well as the big C-Dory article in the Sept. issue of Heartland Boating.

Boats were here from New York, Texas, South Dakota, Washington State and all over the mid-west.

9 boats stayed over after the gathering was over and continued the party Sunday night.

We had a great pizza party on the dock Sunday evening catered by the B and B catering company.
Barry on “C-Cakes” arranged the pizza.
The other Barry on “Clover” arranged the dessert.

Many of the boats headed home, but several had other destinations in mind.

Lyle and Janda on “See-Saw” are heading to the Carolina Gathering.

Andy and Molly on “Molly J” are headed down river to Mobile and on to Florida

Tex and Sharon on “Bixby’s Cub” are heading to the Apostle Islands and then to the Lake Powell Gathering.

Ramon and Laura on “Chiquitita” are going home to Chicago to restock and then to the Lake Powell Gathering.

Several other boats headed up or down the river after the Gathering was over.

Thanks again Ron and Connie.

I am not sure what the theme this year was but from what I saw it should have been......

“No shortage of food”

Tex and Sharon
“Bixby’s Cub”

Connie Fisher · Guest

This years theme was “C-Dory’s in the Cornfield” (see T-Shirt logo).

Next years theme is “Meet in the Middle”, where C-Bratt’s and C-Dory’s from coast to coast are invited to come together and “Meet in the Middle” of the country.

Thank you all for the complements, mark next years calendar for the second weekend in September (details to follow).

Enjoy your adventures, start finding and saving treasures for next years “Loot” night.

Best regards,

Ron, Connie, Bear & Dolly Fisher

Connie Fisher · Guest

Our past two Mississippi River C-Brat Gatherings have reminded me of my family down in the Green Hills of Missouri, who had a saying, that when people get together and “start cookin and drinken, perty soon they will be shooting guns and then the party starts”.

Well, we did have a great party, over several days, didn’t shoot guns, burned some gasoline, splashed some water, saw some country and best of all, made some new friends.

Fabulous weather, great people and a good time.

Best regards,

Ron, Connie, Bear & Dolly Fisher

Our lives are defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss. Benjamin Button

texasair · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 3:41 pm Post subject:

Sent from anchorage in Lake Superior.

Everyone was impressed with Terry's 22 Cruiser "Last Dance".

Many were very interested in his flooring that was similar to Dri-Deck, but better.

He gave me the information and I am posting it here for all that may be interested.

It is sometimes called interlocking flooring or "sport court".

TylonFlooring.com

Tex and Sharon on "Bixby's Cub"

Joni Lynn · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 4:28 pm Post subject:

Yo, Ron & Connie !

Thank you so very much for (once again) putting together an absolutely wonderful C-Brat gathering. It was a smashing success and quite obvious everyone had a wonderful time. Sorry we had to bug out so early and miss all of the activity on Sunday, but we had animals to feed at home. Plus, I was pretty much "partied out" after sampling all of the great beers brought in by so many.
Looking forward to next year's gathering when we'll have 3 shirts to wear !

Thanks again, and I'm sure we'll be stopping by periodically to say "Hello".
Paul & Joni aboard the Joni Lynn

texasair · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 12:10 pm Post subject:

Small world..

Our Guttenberg friend, "Nauti Norski" just arrived and is currently launching his C-Dory into Lake Superior for a few days in the Apostle Islands.
Forecast low for tomorrow is 30 degrees.

ajens · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 3:37 pm Post subject: Greetings from MollyJ

We, too, had a great time in Guttenberg. THANK YOU Ron & Connie for another awesome event. We enjoyed renewing friendships made last year but especially meeting the new members of this great gathering. Looking forward to seeing some of you during the year and again next Sept. We are in the Quad Cities at Sunset Marina for the night. Traveling has been great. Went through Lock 11 with "Sandpiper" and every lockmaster enjoys chatting about the C-Dorys. One of them is even considering one for his retirement in 3 years. Tomorrow we'll continue on our river adventure.

ajens · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 3:40 pm Post subject: Oops

Forgot to mention that we didn't stop in Dubuque at the Museum/Aquarium - all new docks are being installed-power pedestals, etc. so we'll plan that for next year. Wondering if they are going to start charging now?