Winter Outing

[JK Knives]

As some of you might know, a group of us from Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and sometimes Kentucky, get together every couple of months for a group outing that we call our "Gatherings." We had our first Gathering of 2012 yesterday at Aux Sable Park just west of Minooka Illinois, for a cookout and a little knife testing. It was around 20 degrees out. Here are some photos from the day.

Looking across the old I&M Canal

Part of the trail

The shelter

mqqn batonning with the viKtim

Opening a can of baked beans with the viKtim.

From left to right, jds1, Kirell, darkmatter35, frontiertom (with his back to us), mqqn, and Mr. Sogetsu.

Nice fire!

"Two Knife mqqn" ready to fast draw!

The walk back to our cars. That`s an original Locktenders house on the left, from when mules pulled the barges down the canal.

 

[HornyToad]

The shelter

Looks like you had a good time but too cold for my Texas blood.

Just wondering. Are the coolers for keeping your food/beer from freezing?

 

[mqqn]

Hi HornyToad -

Exactly! I drove around 2 hours to the Gathering, and it was 8 degrees F when I left my house - I did not want the food to freeze hard, so I threw it in the cooler. It also makes it easy to cart to the shelter, as my cooler has wheels.

best

mqqn

 

[brewcitymike]

Looks like a nice time. I wanted to sign up but I wasn't sure I could get a sitter. I'm in Milwaukee, how far would I have had to drive?

 

[JK Knives]

Looks like a nice time. I wanted to sign up but I wasn't sure I could get a sitter. I'm in Milwaukee, how far would I have had to drive?

Where we were at is about 50 miles SW of Chicago.

 

[Mr. Night]

great pics! looks like a good time. it does remind me how much I dont miss Illinois winter, tho!