From: Launch Commander
Regarding: Rocket Camp 2002 Report
Wow, Rocket Camp is over for another year! This was an unusually large group this year as the Trail Mates were invited to this event. Over 60 dads were signed up for this annual and favorite event.
The weather was unusually cool, with night temps into the 30's, and daytime temps in the mid 60's. Our friend the wind only came up for about 30 minutes Saturday night, knocking over or blowing away anything not securely tied down. It's funny though, I mean the kids. I got up with the wind, regretting that I didn't use my tent spikes, and pounded in the spikes without waking the boys, who were sleeping about 10 inches away from the swinging hammer. That, my friends, means that they had a very good time at this camp.
The launch started Saturday morning but had to shut down at 10:00 due to new "permit's" being required by the Bureau of Land Management. We've been coming out there for almost 10 years, and have even spoken with the BLM about this event in the past, and this location is the one they recommended. Surprise!
BLM agent Apley was emphathetic enough to determine that "this one time" we could use BLM land off Dunaway Road. So off we went and had a very successful afternoon of rocket launching. About 2/3rd of the group camped at Dunaway, while the remainder stayed at the original Coyote Road 2 site. Randy Meier entertained the Coyote Road 2 crew at eight PM with his first Glamous Candle, an event that will now become a regular Rocket Camp feature. Way to go Randy, it was really great!
The usual assortment of wonderful rockets, great launch's, parachute failures and other crashes kept the boys and girls entertained and having fun. We also noted that Doug and Cory Kerr were the proud instigators of at least a dozen homemade 5' double engine rockets, with dad's using their custom plans. These veterans and their students kept the heavy launch rod busy the entire day!
Even with the surprise from the BLM, this was another great camp.
