New Google site being made

I am updating some data but site should be ready for fall activities when weather cools down and hopefully can get some outdoor activites on the calendar. You can check it out at :
https://sites.google.com/site/sevencitiescampers/home

James River State Park July 10 weekend

Marie,Dale,Ali,Sami,Owen,Johm,Alexis, Ashley,Arianna,Bill,Hunter,Wesley,Jen, Brenda, Linda drove up Friday night. Dale and John canoed 7 miles Saturd morning in 2.5 hrs. Everyone tubed slowly 3+hrs. Marie & Dale canoed same route Sunday morning 2+hrs. John and Ashley canoed pulling everyone back down to the high rock for many to jump into the deep hole. Obligatory McDonalds stop on ride home. Even stopped DQ for ice cream.
CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES: http://picasaweb.google.com/DaleTrayner/JamesRiverStatePark#

Amerigreen Fest then Philadelphia

Great weekend. Departed Friday and drove approx 30 miles north of DC and camped in public campground approximately 20 miles south of Frederick MD. Plenty cool enough weather to camp in July heat. Saturday morning drove on the approximate 85 miles north to Manheim PA. We found our destination about 9:30 but the music didn't start until approx 1:00 so we had time to find a place to hopefully watch Argentina play Germany in World Cup. Who would have thought nothing open until 11:30. Finally, after driving around asking everywhere we find an awesome little pub out in the middle of what appeared to be Little Germany. I think it was called Sharpsburg.Germany wins 4-0, Marie disappointed. We departed prior to game end. Went back to Manheim and set up our camp and took a nap in the shade.
First music started at 1 followed by 12 bands on 3 revolving stages with Hoots & Hellmouth and then The Hackensaw Boys ending out the show.Surprisingly COLD night camping as we brought nothing warm to sit around in.
Sunday morning early departure west the 60 miles to Philadelphia. Arrived at the hostel and screwed up. Desk clerk nice enough to offer us luggage storage and a shower although we couldnt check in for a few more hours. Someone was taking a long time in the one lobby shower so I seized the opportunity to grab the swinging code locked door (as someone was exiting)that leads upstairs to all the showers (desk clerk spotted us and caught us on the 3rd floor). He wasn't happy and I just knew we would end up with lousy accomodations that night :) Luckily, he went off duty before we checked in.
What a place to view a July 4th parade. Hot 100 degree day while touring the city. Of course I tried the mandatory soft pretzel and philly cheeses steak.
Monday morning departure south down the eastern shore of MD/VA with a casual stops here and there. Great weekend.
Really looking forward to approximately 15 of us going to James River State Park canoeing/tubing this weekend.
Potential trip July 29 to Baltimore as The Hackensaw Boys will respoond to Hoots & Hellmouth's challenge to a band showdown.

Converting from Meetup to blog/Google Calender

Hope the conversion will be as seamless as possible. I really dont see the need to pay $180.00 annually for what Google w provide free. It wont be as viewable as to whom is attending and wont accept "maybe's and other details but at least the event calendar will be available for viewing. I will just have to manually do a little updating. So please make the conversion on your end prior to me ending my monthly payments to Meetup

As of now I will continue to use Meetup for all pre-existing scheduled events. All future posted events (today forward) will be posted on the 7cites Google Calendar. I may post on Meetup as well for a few more months but would rather slowly convert.

I hope I wasnt too vague on how to set up the connection w the 7cites Google Calender. To participate, Google requires you to have 2 things: (A) a Google gmail account (B) create your own Google calendar
Once you establish both (its really easy and quick) you never have to use them...just establish them.


Once you create a gmail acct, just go to your inbox. You will see a "calendar" tab upper left corner. Just spend a few seconds and establish a personal calendar.
Then just email me your gmail email address. I will then enter you as a participant member. You then log back in to your gmail account, then click on calendars, then click on "add a friends calendar. Then you will need to enter my gmail address of "daletrayner@gmail. voila' all done.
Any time you want to view the calender just log in to your gmail acct and click on calendars. You will see 2 calendars, your personal calendar and the 7cities calendar.

This will definitley be a work in progress as I attempt to marry up data from the 7cites blog and the 7cites Google calendar.
Who knows, maybe I will regret this conversion and wish I had just continued using the Meetuip software for $180.00 :)

Merchants Millpond State Park 3-20-10

Blackwater Campground 4-10-10 Windsor, Va 7citiescampers

Tubing on the Shenandoah River 6-6-10

Great trip, Great campground (Low Water Bridge Campground. Very well maintained campground. Nice landscaping. Large sites. Little shade so take an EZ Up. Camp store had the very basics. Request waterside campsite.No woods close by to pick up firewood although store does sell wood. Much nicer sites than across the river Shenandoah State Park. For self shuttle depart campsite and drive back across Low Water Bridge, drive approx 50 yrds taking the first right. Drive approx 1.5-2 miles taking a right (small pond on your right at this intersection)on a rough gravel road. Road is rough but not too rough. A normal car wouldn't have any problems. Drive to bottom of hill for launch point. Launch site is approx a 5 minute drive from campsite. River averaged probably 30" deep in June. Many places were 6" deep and I don't recall any place more than 5' deep. A few ripples/ledges (minor class I's) There are rapids approx 15 miles up river called Compton Rapids that are approx 30 yrds long class II.We tubed this route 2 times Saturday and it took approx 2:45 minutes each float. We tubed same route Sunday after it rained Saturday night and it only took 140 minutes. There is another outfitter just across the river if LWBG can't accomodate. Good fishing on the river (mostly catfish and smallmouth bass.
Campground was a nice 4.5 hr drive from Va Beach. I 64W to 295W to I95N to Fredericksburg, then 17N to Warrenton then Front Royal then Bentonville. I would rate the Shenandoah River a 10 for canoeing/kayaking/tubing. I would rate the campground an 8.75-9. Christy the campground owner was extremely nice. She put us on 2 campsites and charhed $8.00 per person per night for anyone 16 and older. Kids free. They enforce quiet hrs at 11 p.m. Was mostly younger aged 20's-30's) water oriented campers that stayed up late but were respectfully quiet at the same time.