Euroman's 2011 Journey to Gunk’s Fest.

This are the events of Gunk’s Fest ’11 as seen through the eyes of Euroman….

Friday, September 30th
Euroman and Grover departed Euro-apartment with Chicago Babe early Friday morning to attend the CCM classic Gunk’s Fest. The threesome was immediately delayed at Knoxville airport by a missing flight crew. How can an airline not know the where abouts of their flight crews? The delay causes them to miss their connection in Chicago. Oddly the home of CB. Before leaving Euroman was assured by the CCM organizing body there would be transportation from Bradley to Gunk Fest. Upon arrival there were numerous phone calls and emails to the CCM higher command who were still debating Euroman’s transportation.

Pretty Boy apparently is the default transport. Euroman made appropriate introductions of CB and the four are than stuff into PB’s 2 front seats. Euroman spends a lengthy ride seating on the center console. PB decided to do the old hometown tour visiting with family and friends prior to Gunk’s fest opening cermonies. This causes a late arrival to winery. Euroman sets up tent, provided by PB, on the only dry ground which happened to be under a large tree. The Winery doors open at 6:00 for start of wine tasting evening. Euroman and Mikie open cooler for start of Sammie tasting. Slowly the loyal CCMer’s drift in, Ant, the Wrecker, the Russian contingency, several new folks for across the border who have roots with the origination whose name Euroman cannot speak. Presumable these roots will be cut once they experience a weekend with the CCM. As the CCM members move to the deck the doors are locked behind……

Saturday, October 1st.
The rains arrive overnight. Euroman is up ready to go, he finds only the Ant and Mikie. Goat who has the sleeping sickness is slow to join. PB refuses to answer the call and does not acknowledge repeated wake up knocks. It’s decided to head for New Paltz bakery to discus plans for the day. More continue to arrive, $Carol, Brother Rick & Jody coyote, Maid Mariam. Euroman and a few followers decide on the traditional rainy day hike to Skytop. Euroman not believe it cost $17 to climb and $12 to hike for a day. The merry group avoid the stinkin federallies all day. They reach tower by midday. Grover decides to mark another item off his bucket list and attempt his first base jump off the tower. Mikie and Ant will work video from the top. CB will be on stills at the base. PB will act as ground support and recovery team. After a short intro for the cameras Grover steps up on rim of tower. There is some controversy on whether Grover actually jumped or was thrown by Euroman. In either case he fell. Grover had an excellent arch but for unknown reasons, mostly likely do to over excitement, he forgot to pull. The rapid deployment trauma team was quickly on scene. CPR was administered and broken leg set. Full recovery was predicted. The group than made their way to the Dennis bench, where Sammie was brought out for a fitting toast to the Chief and Dennis. Back to winery by 5:00 for start of festivities. Some accounts of the evening are suspect, who did what first are not known. It began with discussions of where best to have the bonfire. The winery owner had already started one near the building and close to a Scooby Doo bouncy house, it seems like a good idea at the time to continue his lead. Wooden pallets from DollarCarol’s truck were unloaded. Soon after dinner arrived so did the
Cold winds which hampered food distribution and consumption. The CCM precevered. Another toast to the Chief and Dennis along with special announcements. Back to the fire for warmth and awarding of covevety golden plate awards. From here on accounts differ. Euroman who had taken notice of the large inviting bouncy house since they had arrived wondered why it was there. Was it for the winery normal guests or private party being held inside or for the enjoyment of the CCM? Who could be sure. Since there was no sign saying otherwise Euroman asked Carol$ do you want to go in. Carol$ quickly agreed and the bouncy began. Awhile later DollarCarol joined them. Now Euroman felt very at easy for if DollarCarol would do it, it had to be ok. They were a bouncing trio until Euroman landed in a corner where he sunk to the ground. The bouncy house collapsed around him. There was some laughter along with some concern. They all scramble for the door to escape. As they were exiting they were met by the owner who appeared none too happy. The bouncy house looked like it was hit by a wrecking ball. Owner made comments like, it’s for kids and you shouldn’t be in there. Euroman and DollarCarol ran around bouncy house trying to make it re-inflate with little luck. Along with the owner Pretty Boy also appeared none too happy. Euroman blame this on DollarCarol as he depends on Dollarcarol to tell him when he is doing something wrong. After a few twists were straighten out bouncy house started to look better. Euroman drifted back to the solitude of the tent with CB. Noisy T-storm overnight made Euroman question why he set up tent under tallest tree.

Sunday, Oct. 2nd.
Euroman was up early to survey damage. Bouncy house was lying in large pile totally deflated. Euroman was hoping it was from overnight storm and not delayed effects of
CCM bounce night. Ant and Dollarcarol soon joined Euroman to discuss where to go for morning meal. Euroman wished to go to the Dinner for that’s where the Chief always went. Others wanted the stinken Bristow. No self-respecting climber would go to a Bristow. Euroman and Goat tried to wake PB with no response. Euroman believed PB might still be upset about bouncy.house. At the diner Euroman officially apologized to PB for the actions of Dollarcarol and CarolDollar the previous night with regard to the great bouncy house incident, Euroman believes Dollarcarol should have known better. For everyone knows Euroman does not. Euroman and CB were given a ride back to airport by Caroldollar that evening. Traditional night spent at airport before early morning flight back to Knoxville.

Another great event put on by the greatest climber organization in the world, the CCM.
Outstanding effort by PB and able assistant Goat.