It's Official, We're on for August 12-14, 2011

Steve found a great "group campsite" at Lake Keomah, just outside Oskaloosa, near Des Moines. As you can see from the panoramic shot, the area has plenty of space for everyone's tents and includes 6-7 hook up behind the lodge for RVs. There are also a dozen or so picnic tables. With the reservation of the group campsite, individual families will not need to make reservations. It will cost each family $11 a night to camp whether they choose to use tents or RVs. Here's the kitchen in the lodge. We not only have the benefit of the lodge being part of the group campsite, we have access to it from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon around 3pm. The kitchen is a tad smaller, but I'm sure we'll make do. The lodge also has bathrooms and showers! Yay!!!!

Here's the seating situation within the lodge. It has about a 50 person capacity, with our family ranging from 55-65 during a campout we've got the picnic benches for overflow. Plus, it's a whole lot better than cramming into a hotel's breakfast nook. :)

Once we have a decent head count I will be creating a menu plan and adding a sign up for food & supplies along with food prep and clean up. One meal has already been determined: VINKO's Gnocchis!!! Steve has generously volunteered to head up dinner on Saturday and make the famous dish. He'll need about 5 helpers and I'll get that on the list a little later.

One last note, should your family choose the hotel route, there is extremely limited space in Oskaloosa due to some races that weekend. You'll pay a premium or need to go to the next town about 25 miles down the road. Make your reservations now if you do plan to stay in a hotel.

I think that about covers it. Please post any questions and I'll do my best to answer them.