Saturday morning starts about 5:30 AM. I trudge through the rain toward the shower. There are two showers. A small one not much larger than a closet and a larger one with a little bench in the corner. Had to get the small shower as someone had shit in the floor of the large one. This should have been seen as an omen. The shower is so small it is almost impossible to shower and keep new clothes dry. I decide I don't need a shave today.

I meet Patty half way along the trail and she informs me that, no matter what, she is not spending another night camping. She loves me dearly and I'm to do what ever I need to do, but she was through camping for today. End of discussion.

I manage to drum up enough dry supplies to get the coffee started and folks started to trudge in. You can tell the ones that have slept relatively dry. They are the only ones with smiles on their faces. Except Slowhand, and I think he's got one on permanently.

I find that Dirty Harry and his lady Brenda came by last night in the storm from Canada, but were smart enough to find a motel. Everything I have brought to SLIMEFEST is wet. The rain continues.

Dirty Harry and company came back and they were smiling (dry night) and looking forward to hanging out. Most coffee cups have a little whiskey in them this morning. After three or four pots of coffee, the Coleman has had enough water and is crapping out. The two remaining pots are put next to the fire to keep warm.

MadMan rides in at 9:00 for the breakfast run. He has, in tow, Mr. Van Hook from the dry state of Arizona. Trust us Barry, it actually does stop raining here, eventually. Most go to breakfast to plan the days activities and to get out of the rain. Lucky decides to just leave his sleeping bag and "get the fuck out". Patty and I stay behind, just in case there are any more insane people that actually will ride out. There are none. I start packing up our wet stuff. No finesse, just wad it up and throw it into the back of the truck. The "gazebo" is left for last.

When everyone returns from breakfast it is decided that the mountain ride for that day is to be rescheduled to another date and that SLIMEFEST is now officially over. Everyone decides to go their own respective ways. The "gazebo" comes down.

Randy and I decide to ride together back down to Oregon. We stop to see if Patty can work anything out about a refund on some of the camping site payment. The same Ranger that dropped by on Thursday night is working the desk and isn't in a dealing mood. No refunds, but we may get a little back by canceling unused night. This gain is overshadowed by all the money he wanted for parking extra vehicles. Patty manages to get us out with the shirts on our back.

Randy and I ride in the rain for about the first fifty miles, but keep the leather gear on as the temps didn't go over 61 the whole trip. The sun came out just as I was pullin' into our town. I got about 400 miles on the clock.

The back yard is full of set-up tents, "gazebos" and all manner of sleepin' bags. Patty and I find a much nicer gazebo at the sporting goods store the next day and it is immediately scarfed up.

Can't wait till next year.

-- Hoppy
BS#7 AH#85