Roy's Report June 29th


Hi, kidz!

I am just out from the Gathering after a week in the woodz. I am
covered in painful, oozing, itching POISON IVY blisters. But I had a
great time for the first four dayz...

NO MEADOWS
There are no meadows or open spaces, that I ever saw. Main Circle
(and dinner was served!) happened for the first time three days ago
(wed?) , on a fairly
clear spot right on the creekbank. There were maybe 150 pholks there
for it. Yummy vegan beans and veggies from one big bucket and brown
rice from the other. (I think it was from Warriors of Light kitchen)

RATTLESNAKE
A little excitement was had when a copperhead rattlesnake appeared
amongst us when someone moved a rock. About a foot and a half long, a
juvenile, it floundered around for a couple of minutes causing pholks
to jump up out of the way...then some road dog type grabbed it by the
back of the head and it ended up in the magic hat bucket...

POPULATION ESTIMATE
The Gathering is already quite large. Hard to estimate population,
but my guess is 4-5,000. It has about doubled in the time I was there
(saturday 23rd to friday the 29th)

POISON IVY
The entire place is covered with poison ivy/oak. If you have a severe
reaction to the stuff either don't come or come prepared to endure it.

WEATHER
The weather has been lovely, except when it has been raining.

WET FIREWOOD
Every bit of downed wood is soaking wet. Hard to make fires with it.
TELL PHOLKS TO BRING PROPANE STOVES.

WATER
Not a lot in the way of springs, but there ARE water supply lines in
place (I've seen them running along main trail). TELL PHOLKS TO BRING
WATER FILTRATION EQUIPMENT

BACK DOOR
The "back door" road across the creek by Montana Mud is certainly
there. There IS a road, but I can tell you that the LEO's never use
it. And those macho jerks drive their parade of 4x4s right through
bus village and through the creek several times a day -always from the
same direction (front door). I don't recommend the back road.

FAMILIAR FACES
I ran into Karin Zirk at Info just as she was arriving a couple of
days ago. It wuz fun. I also saw Marken there at Info, and Butterfly
Bill. I ran into John Buffalo on the trail, and lots and lots of
other familiar faces.

There seems to be plenty of food and lots of cooperation going on all
ready. There are a half a dozen kitchenz in full swing, CALM, INFO,
main supply are kickin'. Lots of tea kitchens, lots of music.

SHITTERS
Digging shitters is quite challenging. Under a half of an inch of
leaf litter on the ground is an inch or two of rocky soil, and below
that is broken rock. Digging a shitter (I can tell you from firsthand
experience!) means clearing off the top layer and then laboring to
excavate the broken rocks from the ground. Hard work. Shovels and
picks are pretty useless. Pry bars and heavy hand tools for loosening
rocks are what are needed. The rocks removed from the hole are then
stacked along the sides of the trench to give places for standing on
to squat.

POLICE PRESENCE
The LEOs have been up to their usual, nothing better or worse from
what I have seen in years past. It was a pretty good hassle getting
in on the 23rd. We were stopped four times on the way in, three of us
got tickets for riding in the back of a pickup truck without
seatbeltz. But we came in at like 1am and it wasn't so bad, and
HAD we wanted to sneak something in to the Gathering, it would have
gotten in...

HINTS
Hint to kidz - try to arrive in the middle of the dang night. And if
possible, arrive when it is raining. The LEO's always disappear
whenever it starts to rain...

Another note to pholks: come in a clean vehicle, licensed and
insured, and without tail-lights out. Don't give them no probable
cause to stop you. And remember the words "we do not consent to
search"

Please leave your pets at home. there are already way too many on
site.

HUMOR
I overheard the LEOs on the main road, when they were leaving, call
out to each other "lovin' you!" and "blessings!" in obvious attempt at
humor by copying the lingo of the rainbows. But to my ears it was
just like music - the dumb ass LEOs saying "loving you" to each other
is like saying that we have won...

NEEDED
Fresh vegetables, donations to kitchens. Bring lots of liquidz.
Rain gear. tarps.lots of twine or hemp rope.

I hope this helps someone.

Roy III
Green General Contractor from San Jose, Cali

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