HighnDry wrote on Jul 1^st, 2015 at 11:49pm:


Well, for those interested in the origin of "Jimboree's" - including some perspective on the inaugural "Bushwhacker's Jamboree" - there is THIS account, which is now 10 years old: (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

The tale ALSO provides some insight into how pink flamingo yard art somehow became "commonplace" in the Quetico northwoods for a period of several years... to the extent that Piragis began to sell them as "campsite markers" in their Ely store & on-line (& paid absolutely no royalties to those of us responsible for initiating such an enlightened practice!).

Truth is almost always stranger than fiction.  Trust me, this is 35 years of Human Resources work (& @ 13 years of hanging around QJ) talking here.  I KNOW bizarre....

By the way, "Jimborees" were observed for a number of years (annually, not quinquennially) following 2005.  I still wear customized shirts that fellow QJ'ers created for these events in certain years.  Lord knows how much pink paraphenalia (buoys, balloons, goblets, fishing lures, etc.) exchanged hands.  I have a couple packs full of the stuff.  During a particularly party-some & mischievous year, the Jimboree highlight was a large vat of pink flamingo stew (think Pepto-Bismol colored lava, complete with slowly emerging air bubbles, straining to reach the surface of the pot).  It was actually quite delicious!

We kept these events up for several years.

Anyway, I'm all for re-instituting these get-togethers.  They were a good time.   "Nandaree" sounds just fine to me.   

Jimbo   

In 2006, a party of eight QJers launched from Crane Lake on a tow that eventually led to Bottle portage and a loop through Iron, Crooked, Elk, Brent, Suz, Conmee, Williams, Darky, Minn, and McAree. It was on that trip that pack extenders were first field tested and reviewed by all. We were met by a gorgeous blonde on Brent who followed us around the rest of the trip. While on Suz, yours truly, introduced the world to pink flamingo stew, a feat never since duplicated. The exact recipe is a closely guarded secret (think Col Sanders).

Next year would be the 10th anniversary of that epic voyage. I might be persuaded to repeat the pink flamingo trip.

Actually, the Pink Flamingo Stew is not a closely guarded secret. It is posted right here on QJ in the recipes section. I must have had a lapse in judgement when I shared it. Any restaurant managers profiteering from this must send me a cut.

10 days would be nice. I'm not sure a repeat trip would be possible for me. My life circumstances are different than they were then.

A better plan IMO is to pick a rendezvous lake and date, accessible from multiple entry points. That way, those who wish to are committing a day or less, rather than a full trip. It's a way to meet and screen possible future trip partners.

Magic,

Were you at the "wall campsite" (the one with the message cache) OR at one of the 5 star sites near the portages into Conmee?

Yes, some good memories there.  After the the evening of pink stew and flamingo paraphernalia EVERYWHERE , my crew returned to our quiet camp around the bend.  Shortly afterward, Matunik and The Fireman inadvertently hooked a beaver on a Hula Popper fishing from shore at dusk.

Too bad they hadn't caught it earlier in the day.  Would have been a fine contribution to Old Salt's stew....

Jimbo