T17 - Updates Including Travel Challenge Update posted 05/23/11

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We had a great canoe trip with spectacular weather. As you know, we had a problem with the bus getting back from Worth Ranch. After returning early from the river, we left Worth Ranch and experienced transmission issues with the bus. We had the bus serviced last week and they thought they had resolved the issue. After stopping several times in an effort to resolve the problem, we decided to implement "Plan B". Troop 17 has always maintained two backup plans to get Scouts home from a trip. "Plan C" is to have parents come get their Scouts from our location. We leave a roster of the attendees with an adult that is not on the trip and if we determine that we cannot go on, or need to be picked up, I call that person to instigate the plan. They then coordinate contacting parents to come pick up the Scouts at our location. In "Plan B" we use available personal vehicles to shuttle the Scouts instead of using the bus. In the case this weekend, we had enough seats on personal vehicles with us and only needed one vehicle coming from Fort Worth to meet us. These plans have been in place for every trip since Mr. Edmonds (at least) tenure as Scoutmaster. Thankfully, this is the first time that I have had to implement one of them. As you will read below, there are many thanks to go around to specific individuals that helped get everyone home safe and sound. Once we had all the Scouts and OF headed to the Scout Lodge, Dr. Mathe and I limped the bus back to the shop and left it for them to work on further. Fortunately, we dont have another bus trip scheduled until July. We will take the bus on a test "tour" once it is back from the shop and prior to putting Scouts back in it. The thanks go to... ...the Plan B drivers... All of these folks worked together to ensure that we got the Scouts home as quickly and safely as possible. First thanks goes to Dr. Mathe for driving and (or at least attempting to drive) the bus. He was a very patient man while working through the problems getting the bus to shift gears. We spent a lot of time discussing and trying solutions before finally deciding to implement Plan B. Al Witt - Let me first introduce Mr. Witt to you - Mr. Witt has been a longtime friend to several members of our Troop and a longtime volunteer for the district and Worth Ranch. He recently completed a "tour of duty" as the Scoutmaster of Troop 52 and was looking for a new Scouting "home" (next time you are at the Lodge, please introduce yourself and welcome him to his new Scouting "Home" - T17). Mr. Witt accompanied us on our canoe trip and brought his 15 passenger van along to help haul canoes (and potentially haul Scouts). Mr. Witt brought back many of the Scouts in his van Sunday afternoon. He also owns a bus and tried to apologize to me on the side of the highway for not bringing it! Thank you for having the van and willingness to bring Scouts home. Bryan Bogle - as usual, Mr. Bogle was hauling the Troop trailer and was with us on the trip. He reorganized the cab of his truck to accommodate passengers and brought back several Scouts. Tucker Bogle - All of the Bogle boys (excuse me, Bogle men) accompanied us on the trip down the river. Mr. Tucker Bogle had his truck at Worth Ranch after driving in from College Station and had helped haul canoes back from the river. He was with us on the return trip and transported several Scouts back to the lodge. Kenneth and Andrew Rekieta - The Rekieta men drove to Worth Ranch early Sunday morning to help shuttle drivers and canoes. Mr. Rekieta and Mr. Rekieta transported Scouts back to the lodge. Earl Johnson - Mr. Johnson came out late to the campout and had his van on the return trip. Mr. Johnson also transported Scouts back to the lodge. Stephen Fitzwater - Mr. Fitzwater had unique timing Sunday - he texted me to check on us literally within minutes of our decision to go to Plan B. Mr. Fitzwater came out Friday night to transport canoes to the river Saturday morning and volunteered to come "rescue" the OF that were left with the bus between Mineral Wells and Weatherford. We met him at South Bowie and I20 and he brought back the rest of the adults to Fort Worth. ...The OF... The OF this campout were led by Mr. Earl Johnson and Dr. Jim Marshall. Also canoeing down the river was Dr. Mathe, Mr. Bogle, Mr. Wells, Mr. Grayson Bogle, Mr. Tucker Bogle, Mr. Fitzgerald, and Mr. Satz. Some of these fine adults stayed behind so that we could get the Scouts home as soon as possible. Thanks to all of you that helped make the transition from the bus to the other vehicles safe and efficient. We quickly moved boys from their seats in the bus to the new vehicles and got them back on the road. Thanks to the wives of these OF that picked up their sons while we were still attempting to get their husbands back home. ...The Others... Thank you to the others that volunteered to help or transport the Scouts. We truly have a great group of parents that volunteer to help wherever needed. And now back to our normal updates... Tomorrow night, the calendar had an Eagle Court of Honor scheduled. That has been postponed and will be held at another date. We will have our regular meeting tomorrow. Please check the blogs for any merit badge class updates. Several Scouts have now learned an annual lesson in excessive UV ray exposure. Overall, the canoeing was the best we have seen in a while. I am sure there are a lot of sore muscles (and some tender skin) but everything really did go well on the river. Thank you, Mr. Turner

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