Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Wednesday, May 24; 10:30 - 1:30
Hike and picnic at Split Rock Park Conservation Park!!!
Organizers: Cari Hund-Bunten & Cindy Day

IMPORTANT ITEMS:

#1. PLEASE arrive by 10:15 or earlier!!! We have 90+ participants and we cannot hold up the group if you are late. So leave extra travel time in your schedule. Cari has included directions below, and Laura sent me a website. Check out everything ahead of time and leave early!! Thank you.

#2. PLEASE let us know if you aren't coming, even if it's at the last minute. We have a family of 8 on the waiting list. And if we know you are not coming, we will also not worry about you if you don't show up.

#3. I have lost the envelope where I put money and checks received early on for this event. I know it has to be somewhere in my house (where else would it go?) So, if I haven't cashed your check, that's why. If you see a ? after your name and you have paid, let me know.

#4. Don't forget to pack a lunch and plan to stay afterwards.

#5 Check to be sure your family's RSVP information below is correct.

RSVP: Day (3, paid),, Thorn (2 - paid), Leland (3, paid), Riesenberg (8, paid), Graff (4, paid), Starr (3, paid), Amy Meyer (2 - paid), , Andrew/Light (2, paid), deJager-Kennedy (3, paid), Conways (4, paid), Hadsell (3, paid), Romer (5, paid), Foreman (3 - paid), Mattei (3 - paid), Raub (4, paid), Kuhl/Craig (4, paid) Mathis (2, paid), Hardy (2?), Anderson (2?) Robbins (3?) Kappel (3, paid), Roodhouse (3, paid), Hund-Bunten (4,paid), Jones (7, paid), Bergdall (5- paid), Barrett, (4,paid), Smith (3, paid) Heist (2, paid), Soto (8- 6payers 2 babies), Diesterhaft (4, paid), Beckley ( 4paid), Short (4paid), Hensley


Directions to Split Rock:
Take 275 West toward the airport. You will go several exits past the airport to the last Kentucky exit Petersburg exit #11 ( it is about 13 miles from the1-75 split) and veer a HARD right off the exit. Go right off the exit toward Petersburg, West on hwy. 20. Just about 5 miles you’ll go down a very steep hill into the town of Petersburg. At the 1st Stop sign turn left, staying on 20. Don’t go into the city of Petersburg. It is approximately 4 miles to Split Rock which is on the Right. You’ll pass several farms, a sand and gravel query along the way. There is a gated entrance that will be open just go on back until you see the metal barn and parking lot. If you get to another stop sign that is a dead end and you have to go either left or right you have passed it, turn around and it will be a couple miles back on your left. I will have some basic signage put out so look for that too.

If you are coming from Indiana- Petersburg is the first exit once you cross the bridge into Kentucky and all the directions above still apply. You still take a right off the exit toward Petersburg- West on hwy. #20.
From Florence/Burlington: take Burlington Pike (KY 18). From Burlington go 6.7 miles to KY 20. Take a right on KY 20 and go 3.4 miles. Split Rock is located on the left

Need additional information: Go to: www.splitrockpark.org

After all the hype, we were really excited about this event. It was a long drive (over 50 miles from our house) and I was a bit freaked out when we got off the exit and there wasn't a gas station (as my tank was on EMPTY)...we drove the winding roads towards split rock hoping to find a gas pump....about 6 miles from the exit we found a SMALL station with a single pump (you would have easily driven by it if you hadn't been really looking...we only found it thanks to me asking a construction worker we passed on the road).

The gal that organized it did a great job setting up.....hand washing station, sunscreen, bug repelent....she thought of everything.....

Once everyone got to Split Rock we were divided into 3 groups....we were to rotate through the wetlands, a visit to split rock, and the pond. The kids enjoyed themselves for the most part, but I kept thinking about things that would have made the event better. I guess when you pay to attend something you tend to think of things that would make it worth your money. Our free programs offered by the park districts were every bit as informative, if not more so...I guess the fact that we have done pond exploring almost every year and that we just visited the wetlands out at Chilo took the "awe" factor out of everything.

The kids had a good time, I guess that was what really matters, but I don't think I would make the drive again!

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