I made the suggestion for some uber light wheeling/ picnicking / socializing on the e-mail list, and there was some interest expressed, so I’m going to follow through and try to organize something.**And I use the term ‘organize’ loosely.
The idea is go somewhere relatively close to Tulsa, where we can do some light 4x4 exploring, have a picnic lunch/ dinner, let our spawn run around and spend some time bs’ing and getting to know each other. No overnight, so no camping needed. Keep it to ½ to a full day.**Nothing so difficult that a stock 4x4 Toyota couldn’t do it and still go to work on Monday.**I only have two idea’s for places, but if someone else has an option speak up.**Food wise, I think it is best that we keep it informal and self-sufficient.**So, pack your own cooler with your own drinks and sandwiches.**If you have a special cookie recipe you want to share with everyone one else, or you just bought a watermelon you want to get rid of, bring it to share, but otherwise, for this first time, let’s assume if you want to eat it, bring it yourself.*This is meant to be a quick and easy thing, so I really have no interest in hauling a grill out there to make burgers and dogs. Let’s leave that to the October Disney Picnic.
*
LOCATION
Option One –
Whitewater Off-Road Park – Below Keystone Dam*
www.ohranger.com/keystone-lake/poi/whitewater
It’s mostly a sandy area below the dam, but there are a few rocky areas and a few mud holes. If this is where we go I will be bringing my 6 year old boy, and my 4 year old girl (unless it is after April 14th, then it will be 7 and 4). I throw in some shovels and buckets for them and they like to build Sand Castles and dig for buried treasure. My son will be more than happy to explain the proper techniques to any child from age 0-80.
This area can be done on a Saturday or Sunday, and could be done as a morning or afternoon deal since it is so close.**So, say 10am-2pm, or 2-6pm.**If people are worried about how to get to the park (it’s pretty easy, go across bridge, first left, down the hill to a T and then left)**we could meet at the Sand Springs K-mart Parking lot.**Or as an alternative, if someone knows of a IHOP or local B-fast place, we could meet for Breakfast at 8:30, then go play in the sand.**So, for Keystone let’s say we could do A) Breakfast, B) Picnic Lunch, C) Picnic dinner.
Option Two –
Tall Grass Prarie Preserve
www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.7647
This location is north of Pawhuska.**Figure about an hour and a half from downtown Tulsa.**There is a small nature center there where the kids can actually touch the displays.**My kids favorite last time was the animal scat display (poop for those not in on the terminology).**There are some hiking trails, and a picnic area. The buffalo roam free, and can be as little as a few feet away from your truck, and you may have to wait for them to cross.**Last time we were there we say quite a few deer, and one buck that had an impressive rack for a Wyoming deer, let alone a little Okie one. It’s all gravel public roads so no real wheeling involved, but it’s still a fun area to explore.**There are some interesting oil field roads north of the preserve. Some of it gets into two track stuff.**I got lost in there once trying to find a cross over to Hulah Lake and Bartlesville.**I wouldn’t want to lead a group off into that area though if I didn’t know where I was going, but if a couple guys wanted to go look for a route without children to set something up for a future date I would be game.
This is best attacked as a whole day deal.**Leave Tulsa area round 9, get to the nature center round 10:30, explore it till lunch time, have our BYOPB&J (Bring Your Own Peanut Butter & Jelly) picnic.**Hike a trail if all are game, and then finish the buffalo loop.**That gets us home late afternoon (4-5?).**We could all meet up at the park, but I’d rather we all meet up in Collinsville, or Skiatook.**Skiatook is probably best as people who will be coming up HWY 75 won’t have to backtrack to the east.**Two options there too, either all meet at 9:30 at TSC parking lot, or at 8:45 at some restaurant for breakfast.*
I have Six FRS radios to keep everyone in contact if folks aren’t set up with CB’s in their rigs.**If everyone has CB’s I usually give the FRS radios to the kids in each vehicle so they can talk to each other.
Option 3 – You tell me!
Day Choice –
I don’t know if Saturday’s or Sundays are easier for everyone.**Probably the first weekend I could do it is March 2nd*or 3rd.**The two weekends I can’t do it are the 16th/17th*– because it’s the Big Meat Run and**Lone Star Land Cruiser Roundup and I’d rather go to one of those (most likely big meat), and April 13th*/14th.**Any other Saturday or Sunday between now and end of April should work.*
Gimmie your first second and third choice and I’ll try to pick something that is most accommodating as it can be.**Something like:
*
1st*Choice**Keystone Lunch Picnic March 2nd*Meet at Sand Springs K-Mart
2nd*Choice Keystone Breakfast March 10th*at Fred’s Café on 2nd*street
3rd*Choice Keystone Super Picnic April 6th
*
I’d also say just because we do one in March / April, doesn’t mean we can’t do the other in May / June, and if someone else wants to schedule something, please go right ahead
I'll hit both of these places this spring, but unless I have a date to do it as a group, it'll end up being one of those deals where I'll be up early on saturday and it'll be sunny out, and I'll say to the kids guess what we're doing today?
The idea is go somewhere relatively close to Tulsa, where we can do some light 4x4 exploring, have a picnic lunch/ dinner, let our spawn run around and spend some time bs’ing and getting to know each other. No overnight, so no camping needed. Keep it to ½ to a full day.**Nothing so difficult that a stock 4x4 Toyota couldn’t do it and still go to work on Monday.**I only have two idea’s for places, but if someone else has an option speak up.**Food wise, I think it is best that we keep it informal and self-sufficient.**So, pack your own cooler with your own drinks and sandwiches.**If you have a special cookie recipe you want to share with everyone one else, or you just bought a watermelon you want to get rid of, bring it to share, but otherwise, for this first time, let’s assume if you want to eat it, bring it yourself.*This is meant to be a quick and easy thing, so I really have no interest in hauling a grill out there to make burgers and dogs. Let’s leave that to the October Disney Picnic.
*
LOCATION
Option One –
Whitewater Off-Road Park – Below Keystone Dam*
www.ohranger.com/keystone-lake/poi/whitewater
It’s mostly a sandy area below the dam, but there are a few rocky areas and a few mud holes. If this is where we go I will be bringing my 6 year old boy, and my 4 year old girl (unless it is after April 14th, then it will be 7 and 4). I throw in some shovels and buckets for them and they like to build Sand Castles and dig for buried treasure. My son will be more than happy to explain the proper techniques to any child from age 0-80.
This area can be done on a Saturday or Sunday, and could be done as a morning or afternoon deal since it is so close.**So, say 10am-2pm, or 2-6pm.**If people are worried about how to get to the park (it’s pretty easy, go across bridge, first left, down the hill to a T and then left)**we could meet at the Sand Springs K-mart Parking lot.**Or as an alternative, if someone knows of a IHOP or local B-fast place, we could meet for Breakfast at 8:30, then go play in the sand.**So, for Keystone let’s say we could do A) Breakfast, B) Picnic Lunch, C) Picnic dinner.
Option Two –
Tall Grass Prarie Preserve
www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.7647
This location is north of Pawhuska.**Figure about an hour and a half from downtown Tulsa.**There is a small nature center there where the kids can actually touch the displays.**My kids favorite last time was the animal scat display (poop for those not in on the terminology).**There are some hiking trails, and a picnic area. The buffalo roam free, and can be as little as a few feet away from your truck, and you may have to wait for them to cross.**Last time we were there we say quite a few deer, and one buck that had an impressive rack for a Wyoming deer, let alone a little Okie one. It’s all gravel public roads so no real wheeling involved, but it’s still a fun area to explore.**There are some interesting oil field roads north of the preserve. Some of it gets into two track stuff.**I got lost in there once trying to find a cross over to Hulah Lake and Bartlesville.**I wouldn’t want to lead a group off into that area though if I didn’t know where I was going, but if a couple guys wanted to go look for a route without children to set something up for a future date I would be game.
This is best attacked as a whole day deal.**Leave Tulsa area round 9, get to the nature center round 10:30, explore it till lunch time, have our BYOPB&J (Bring Your Own Peanut Butter & Jelly) picnic.**Hike a trail if all are game, and then finish the buffalo loop.**That gets us home late afternoon (4-5?).**We could all meet up at the park, but I’d rather we all meet up in Collinsville, or Skiatook.**Skiatook is probably best as people who will be coming up HWY 75 won’t have to backtrack to the east.**Two options there too, either all meet at 9:30 at TSC parking lot, or at 8:45 at some restaurant for breakfast.*
I have Six FRS radios to keep everyone in contact if folks aren’t set up with CB’s in their rigs.**If everyone has CB’s I usually give the FRS radios to the kids in each vehicle so they can talk to each other.
Option 3 – You tell me!
Day Choice –
I don’t know if Saturday’s or Sundays are easier for everyone.**Probably the first weekend I could do it is March 2nd*or 3rd.**The two weekends I can’t do it are the 16th/17th*– because it’s the Big Meat Run and**Lone Star Land Cruiser Roundup and I’d rather go to one of those (most likely big meat), and April 13th*/14th.**Any other Saturday or Sunday between now and end of April should work.*
Gimmie your first second and third choice and I’ll try to pick something that is most accommodating as it can be.**Something like:
*
1st*Choice**Keystone Lunch Picnic March 2nd*Meet at Sand Springs K-Mart
2nd*Choice Keystone Breakfast March 10th*at Fred’s Café on 2nd*street
3rd*Choice Keystone Super Picnic April 6th
*
I’d also say just because we do one in March / April, doesn’t mean we can’t do the other in May / June, and if someone else wants to schedule something, please go right ahead
I'll hit both of these places this spring, but unless I have a date to do it as a group, it'll end up being one of those deals where I'll be up early on saturday and it'll be sunny out, and I'll say to the kids guess what we're doing today?