Patriot Games - Fort Knox, KY, October 16-18, 2015

Location - Fort Knox Military Base, Kentucky

Mileage - 268.2 miles round trip.  I topped off the gas in my truck on the way home.  I stopped at an Exchange (military gas station) on base since I found gas for $1.93/gallon.  I had already driven 159.4 miles, and it took 13.72 gallons to fill my truck.  I was pulling the Scout trailer, and after this fill up, I discovered that I get 11.61 miles to the gallon while pulling the Scout trailer.  That sucks!
Weather - No Rain, but COLD!  Friday night was in the upper 50s when we arrived, 31 Friday night/Saturday Morning, high of 57 during the day Saturday, and 28 Saturday night/Sunday morning.
Clothing - During the day, I wore my Carhartt pants (green), and a t-shirt under a woolen shirt.I also had my fleece jacket from Wood Badge and I took my rain coat. I wore the raincoat on top of everything else on Saturday night to stay warm in front of the fire.
Shoes - Old Tennis Shoes.  I took my hiking boots, but didn't wear them since I knew I would do a lot of walking, and it wasn't raining.
Tent Camping - I set up my Slumberjack Trail Tent 4.
Sleeping bag - I brought my Teton 0 bag.  I zipped it up to my shoulders.  I didn't get cold on Saturday morning, but did get a little cold on Sunday morning.
Sleeping - I used my camping pad on top of my new Texsport Deluxe Camp cot.  I wore ear plugs and a sock cap to keep my head warm.  I wore long underwear (top and bottom), and wool socks.  I ordered the Camp Cot because I'm tired of sleeping on the ground.  The Texsport Camp Cot fit well inside my 4 man tent, and it was very comfortable.
Main Activities - We toured the Patton Leadership Museum that was right beside where we were camping. There were activities for the Scouts at the Patriot Games, but most of what I did was walk around with the Scoutmaster to steal ideas for our troop from other Scout troops at the campout.  There were about 5 to 7 thousand Scouts at the event. We built a fire Saturday afternoon at about 3, and kept it burning until close to 11 when we went to bed.  At 6 PM, I led a Scouts Own Service for our troop.  It was about the Brotherhood of Scouting, and the Scripture I used was 1 John 3:11-17.  I thought it went well for something I didn't prepare for.  I talked about the importance of brotherhood among Scouts...especially from our troop.
Extra Gear - It's not official Scouting gear, but I'm going to admit it...I took a "cheater heater" that is run by propane gas.  It was used for a few minutes when I got ready for my sleeping bag while I stripped out of my clothes for long underwear, and it was used for a few minutes when I woke up in the morning to get back into my clothing for the day.
Nights Camping - 2
Total nights camping so far this year - 21 after this trip.

Next Campout - The 2015 camping season is winding down fast!  It makes me sad.  I haven't signed up for the November camping trip yet, but if it do it will be November 13-15 at Camp Michaels in Northern Kentucky.

Down for the night.  This is me in my Teton 0 bag

The military band played for us in the opening ceremony on Saturday morning.

Scouts from our troop and other troops on top of a tank outside the Patton Museum.

There is one scout from out troop that didn't want his picture taken.  He is in this picture, but you can't see him.

Leadership

Leadership

Military Vehicles at the event were available for the Scouts to explore.

Camp Improvement ideas from other troops.

Kimbap is a Korean dish.  A parent from our Troop who also stayed the weekend with us bought this at a Korean Store in Fort Knox.  He shared this with me.  It was really good!  I even talked most of our Scouts into trying it.  This isn't something you usually have on a camping trip.

Hot Fire Saturday night.  The trailer on the other side of the fire is cool!

Fire

I love this picture.  These Scouts are only 12 and 13 years old, and they're cooking breakfast on a cold morning.

Kawida Lodge Fall Fellowship - October 2 - 4, 2015

Location - Camp McKee, Levee Kentucky

Mileage - I quit counting the mileage to McKee and back.  It is roughly 150 miles round trip.
Weather - Rain Friday evening. 51 Friday night.  51 and Scattered Rain Saturday.  46 and rain on Saturday night.  Sunny and warmer on Sunday morning.
Clothing - quick dry shorts/convertible pants.  I wore my raincoat on top of my tshirt.
Shoes - Hiking Boots
Tent Camping - I set up my Slumberjack Trail Tent 4. This is my main tent from now on.
Sleeping bag - I brought my Teton 0 bag.  I used it as a sleeping bag on Friday night, and was a little too warm, and used it as a blanket on Saturday night, and slept very well.
Camping pad - I used my camping pad.
Main Activities - I picked up Ben to go with us to the Fall Fellowship.  Brett was supposed to go, but his dad called me Friday afternoon to tell me it would be easier for him if he just took Brett on Friday evening.  I took both of them home on Sunday.  Saturday morning the adults hiked Pioneer Mountain Trail (PMT).  This was the first time I had been on the PMT for at least a few years.  The hike during Fall Fellowship was the inaugural hike since the PMT became an official program of the Camp McKee Alumni Association.  The hike was led by a person who has hiked the trail, he said, 125 times in his lifetime.  He is a past adviser for Kawida Lodge, Tim Brown.  There were some inflatables set up inside Stamler Hall. One was where you stood on a stand and tried to knock your opponent off his stand with a padded stick.  I got talked into battling Thomas.  He beat me 3 to 1 by knocking me off the stand.  He probably would have beat me anyway, but I had only been off the PMT for a little over an hour when we battled.  There were 2016 Lodge Officer Elections at this Fellowship, which adult are not allowed to vote.  I spent too much money on OA flaps.  That's about normal.  I thought it was a great weekend.  I was able to address a Tecumseh Chapter meeting about Troop 1's homeless campout in December.  I made sure it was okay with the Scoutmaster of Troop 1, but I invited Tecumseh Chapter of Kawida Lodge to attend the campout in December.  I spent most of my weekend hanging out with the SM from Troop 269, but I also spent some time with the Bluegrass Council Vice President of District Operations.
Extra Gear - No extra gear.
Nights Camping - 2
Total nights camping so far this year - 19 after this trip.

Next Campout - This weekend!  Patriot Games at Fort Knox.  October 16-18.  It is supposed to be in the 50s in the daytime and mid 30s at night.  I CANNOT WAIT!  I love cold camping.

The theme for the weekend was The Lodge Awakens.  It was like Star Wars. The officers did a skit to teach the theme of the weekend.  It was cool.

Saturday Morning hike of the Pioneer Mountain Trail.  I couldn't convince Thomas to go with me, but I still had plenty of friends on the hike.

About a mile away from Grape Knob, which is the peak of the PMT, is Pilot Knob.  Thomas and I hiked Pilot Knob a month ago.  It is where Daniel Boone first looked over the Blue Grass area of Kentucky in 1769.

I always cut my knee or another part of my leg when I'm hiking. A brier cut my knee on this hike.

Muddy Boots are manly.  The trail was slick, but not too muddy.

After lunch was Kawida Lodge Officer elections.  Adults stayed in the back while the Scouts were voting.

After elections, the inflatables were set up.  Thomas and Brett battled it out.  I got talked into getting my butt kicked by Thomas only an hour or so after coming off the trail.

Sunday morning right before the Scouts Own Service led by Sebastian.  It was a good service.  There were a lot of Scouts and Scouters that stayed until the end.  It made it helpful for cleanup.  This group sang happy birthday to me since October 4 is my birthday. I turned 43 this weekend.

These are my acquisitions for the weekend.  To get the little wooden coin, each OA member had to memorize the OA prayer which is:

For night alone that rests our thought

For quiet dawn that lights our trail

For evening fire that warms and cheers

For each repast that fuels our work

We give thanks, O Lord.

This is all of our gear stuffed in the back of my truck after a good weekend of camping.