TIDEWATER'S OOZE
May-June 2003, Vol. 23, #5 & #6
TIDEWATER’S OOZE is the regular monthly publication of the TIDEWATER GROTTO of the NATIONAL SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. If you have any words of wit, trip reports or any insignificant drool, e-mail it to the Editor or mail it all to the TIDEWATER GROTTO, P.O. Box 62642, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23466, and perpetuate your illiteracy!
GROTTO OFFICERS
|
CHAIRPERSON |
VICE CHAIRMAN |
SECRETARY |
TREASURER |
The June Tidewater Grotto meeting will be held
7:30 p.m., Thursday, June 26th, 2003
at the home of:
Joedy & Rita Klimas
3116 Sherwood Drive
Chesapeake, VA 23322
(757) 421-2613
Go straight to the directions to Joedy and Rita's home!
May Meeting Results
Darrell Gross, Gary Pierce, and Bob Jones have paid their dues along with Tom and Sherry. We have four new members, Tim Parker, Paul Grouchmal, Betsy Simmers and Lisa Gomes. Daryl Carver is newly married and is now Daryl O'Neil and she has rejoined the Grotto. Daryl now lives in Germany. Thank you Bob Jones for your additional monetary contribution to the Grotto.
Recent Activities
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Spring VAR
May 9th -11th
OTR Campground
Dailey, WV
This was a very wet trip. Every hour another gully washer storm would drench the OTR site. All throughout the weekend we looked at Tygart Valley Run filling up with water behind the pavilion. Every hour it rose and then would recede some then rise again. At 9:00 p.m. Saturday, Rita, myself, Stephanie and Dave Carver had retired to my travel trailer and went to sleep. At midnight, Vickie Paul who was tenting right next to us, knocked on our door and said that the call had gone out at 10:00 p.m. to evacuate the OTR site. It was now 12:00 p.m.! Tygart Valley Run which was a good 600 feet away was now only 15 feet from the rear of the trailer. In 20 minutes, we had the trailer hooked up for towing and everything put away. Tygart Valley Run was now only five feet away from the rear of the trailer. I towed the trailer about four feet and immediately sank in the mud. I had to run and get someone who had a tow hitch on his truck and get a pull. I was only three feet from the gravel path but had to have the Suburban towed sideways to finally reach gravel. Then all was well. At 12:30 a.m. we decided to head home. The ride back gave us five feet of visibility due to thick fog all the way to Staunton and three hours of driving on Route 250. We then opted to stay in a motel where we collapsed from fatigue. What a trip. Most of the planned cave trips had to be canceled due to the heavy rains. The roads to the caves were all covered with rivers of run offs. With the heavy rains, the numerous water falls off the mountains were gorgeous.
Note: Click on the photos with your mouse for a larger image.
OTR site where VAR was held.
The OTR pavilion is way over next at the tree line in the distance.
Joedy and Rita's travel trailer and Vickie's tent are shown in the
foreground.
Tygart Valley Run 15 feet away from trailer.
The OTR pavilion lights are in the far distance.
Notice the light's reflection in the now formed lake
which was previously the VAR/OTR campsite!
Tygart Valley Run only 5 feet away
and racing to catch the trailer and tent.
At least Vickie Paul had a good time caving in all the mud
at one of the few caves which were accessible with the
flood rains, Sharps Cave cleanup!
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