React 2012

It is that time of the year to get together again, do some cave diving, eat delicious food, win great prizes, and maybe learn a thing or two!

It's REACT 2012 ladies and gents!!! :clapper

When: October 27th
Where: Wanna guess? Cave Excursions of course!
What: I don't know where to start...
-- Dive Rite will be at the event all day with special offers!
-- Boat Rides at Telford, 8am - 4pm: You don't want to swim there right now! :roll:
-- Guest speaker is Tamara (Tami) Thomsen, talking about Cave Diving and Exploration in Minnesota, Iowa & Wisconsin. Presentation starts at 2pm and yes you will learn there is cave diving outside FL... and it's cold!
-- Raffle tickets!! You know you want to buy all of them Dave!!!! : Tickets are $1.00 each; 6 for $5.00 or an arm length for $10.00
-- Prizes (of course, why would you buy the raffle tickets Dave?):
50/50 Raffle: winner takes home 1/2 money collected. Need not be present to win.
Dive Rite Nomad LT ... and more!
-- Foooooooooooooooooooooooood: Boston Butt (I don't know what this is, probably an American thing, I don't eat butts), Chicken, Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, and all the trimmings.

Plus I might wear a bikini to sell more raffle tickets... if it is not too cold!!

I look forward to seeing yall there!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Xenia

Plus I might wear a bikini to sell more raffle tickets... if it is not too cold!!

---

I hear Dave has already bought them all based on this. can you put an end to this terrible rumour?

Who's arm? :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Xenia

Boston Butt (I don't know what this is, probably an American thing, I don't eat butts)

---

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_butt

What's wrong with swimming to telford right now?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by floridakid

What's wrong with swimming to telford right now?

---

River current is strong...even some river intrusion to the spring....
Not impossible but more work than before.

REACT is one of my favorite diving events of the year. I plan on using my UW Light Dude light for the first time :clapper.

See you there.


Jeff

I will be happy to meet you Jeff! We can compete which UW light dude light is brighter. :p

REACT is a wonderful event for customer appreciation. It is one of my favorites as well.

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk 2

Would not miss it bringing a first time to REACT dive buddy.
Always look forward to seeing new and friends previously known.
Most of all I look forward to seeing the caves been to long!

JCG

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JCGoodwin

Would not miss it bringing a first time to REACT dive buddy.
Always look forward to seeing new and friends previously known.
Most of all I look forward to seeing the caves been to long!

JCG

---

Like I said.. you need to move closer.. :roll:

I hear you though, I lived in VA and NC before I managed to move here. I am still thankful after a year for moving to FL. VA was too cold for me. :?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JCGoodwin

Would not miss it bringing a first time to REACT dive buddy.
Always look forward to seeing new and friends previously known.
Most of all I look forward to seeing the caves been to long!

JCG

---

Like I said.. you need to move closer.. :roll:

I hear you though, I lived in VA and NC before I managed to move here. I am still thankful after a year for moving to FL. VA was too cold for me. :?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slüdge

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_butt

---

Wikipedia is not the most reliable source considering it is crowd sourcing, not completely scientific or written by scientists, peer reviewed, and all these that make an encyclopedia valid. I still use it, but I had to crosscheck. Especially when it comes to eating something with a weird name.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Xenia

Wikipedia is not the most reliable source

---

True, but in this case it is correct.

Here in Vermont we call it a pork shoulder roast, even though Boston is not all that far away. Not quite far enough, many of us would say!

That is because Vermont was initially settled by freethinkers, many of whom were choosing to leave (or being chased out of town by) the Puritan dominated settlements down in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Ever since, we have taken a certain amount of contrarian pride in being un-Massachusetts-like.

The only Boston names for things I can think of that are used in Vermont are the Boston Cream Pie, a very good thing despite its name, and a Boston matched team, which is one black horse and one white one.

The point is, it is from the front half of the pig, not the back half.

But more importantly, I have never been to a REACT, and as I type this, Lynn is trying to schedule her next trip so we can make it down there.

I Sludge is going I'm going. It's gotta be a party then :-)

Bill and now Linda also put on one heck of a good show. The food is always great, the prizes and 50/50 are a lot of fun, gear is all on sale with big discounts, and of course getting to see everyone. What else could you ask for? See ya all there.

I did think it was the second half of the pig. But indeed wikipedia was right this time.

The most important thing though, as Sludge and curtschu said, is that we are getting ready for a party!!! I hope you guys will make it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Xenia

-- Raffle tickets!! You know you want to buy all of them Dave!!!!

---

Not ALL, just certain ones. You guys can have the rest ;)

Dave

Hey Dave! I thought you'd get a laugh with this. Are you going to make it? I will be selling raffle tickets!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Xenia

Hey Dave! I thought you'd get a laugh with this. Are you going to make it? I will be selling raffle tickets!!!

---

Sure thing, I'll be there helping Mann the CDS table!

Dave

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by loquat149

Sure thing, I'll be there helping Mann the CDS table!

Dave

---

:rollguy

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by loquat149

Sure thing, I'll be there helping Mann the CDS table!

Dave

---

I did not get that joke, maybe you can translate to the little Greek?

Glad you will be there though, it is always fun time when you join a social Dave. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Xenia

I did not get that joke, maybe you can translate to the little Greek?

---

in Greek - my surname is Mann.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by whodunit68

in Greek - my surname is Mann.

---

Your mama's a Mann.

Dave

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by loquat149

Your mama's a Mann.

Dave

---

I will send you the routing number to deposit the royalties.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Xenia

Glad you will be there though, it is always fun time when you join a social Dave. :)

---

Cool, looking forward to it!

Dave

I think I understand the joke now... not! Anyway, you can both explain it to me on REACT.

By the way Linda just posted this on FB:
"Cave Excursions, in partnership with North Florida Springs Alliance is announcing that Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park will be having extended hours for our REACT party, October 27th.

The park will close at 9pm, so this means that you need to be in the water by 7pm and out of the park by 9pm. We are asking that you abide by the curfew of 9pm, the park system is allowing this as a special circumstance and we want to show our gratitude by following all the rules they have set.

Cave Excursions will stop filling tanks at 7pm, we will re-open at 8am Sunday morning."

Yay! :ele Extended diving day at Peacock, one more reason to get to REACT!!

Wow, night dive! And we can take our raffle prizes straight to the water.

Dave

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by loquat149

Wow, night dive! And we can take our raffle prizes straight to the water.

---

I did understand that joke. :D Good one!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by loquat149

Sure thing, I'll be there helping Mann the CDS table!
Dave

---

ugh, you may be without the Mann...yet again, another international trip (it's business - not much fun in this) may kill it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by whodunit68

ugh, you may be without the Mann...yet again, another international trip (it's business - not much fun in this) may kill it.

---

No problem, I think we will have it covered.

great news. I still hope to attend and help out if possible. thanks,

That is great Steve!! It will be nice to see you. I hope you will make it..

It is exactly one month before REACT and I can't wait. :dancingbear

It's been kind of quiet, so what is folks planning for Saturday and Sunday morning? I am really looking forward to getting back to cave diving. Gear has been checked out, Tanks are filled. I'm looking at Telford since I was invited to tag along. but what else? Looking for a buddy to dive Peacock latter Saturday since it is going to be open late.

I am sure you will find lots of people to dive. I cannot schedule anything since I will be volunteering selling tickets etc. but there is going to be a bunch of people around. Telford should be fantastic!!!

Only 12 days till REACT people! Schedule your trips now! :diver

Is there going to be a boat running to Telford this year?

Anyone been there recently and care to report? I bet it's an improvement over my last visit there B)


Jeff
Diveconjeff@yahoo.com

There will be boat rides to Telford. I was there a month ago. Visibility was 30-40 ft.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Xenia

There will be boat rides to Telford. I was there a month ago. Visibility was 30-40 ft.

---

Sounds promising. When I was there this past spring, vis was a solid 1 to 2 feet. Made for pretty slow going. Kept thinking "Man those guys in front of us trashed this place... If we go a little further, maybe it will open up. Yeah, right!"

Made for a character building experience and some fun post dive chatter though.

This REACT event seems to be a big party. Watch out! The Canadians (from Québec) are invading (well, there will be three of us).

The more the merrier!!

Visibility is def. Better than 1-2 ft at Telford.

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk 2

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Xenia

The more the merrier!!

Visibility is def. Better than 1-2 ft at Telford.

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk 2

---

Bobby told me that you might be willing to dive with me at REACT, any truth to that or is he just telling me a story?
Jim

Maybe... if you are a good boy. ;)

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk 2

Well maybe next time then.

We will have a table at REACT with our Lux box so anyone that is interested can stop by and see how much light their dive light puts out and compare with the UW Light Dude lights. This years REACT should be bigger and better then ever before and those that miss it will wish they had not. Hope to see ya all there.

Only one week before REACT (Dive Rite Cave Excursions Annual Customer Tribute)

People get your trips together, let's occupy cave country!! Good food, boat rides to Telford, Raffle - Dive Rite Nomad LT, 50/50 Raffle (winner takes home 1/2 money collected. need not be present to win), and Guest speaker is Tamara (Tami) Thomsen! :clapper

I hope to see you all there.. weather is getting cold over here so the bikini crap may be out of the question for me...

PS> How could I forget! Peacock is going to be open for night dives!! Need to be in the water by 7 pm!! Thanks Cave Excursions and NFSA!!!

Is this just a one day event?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by offroadr1

Is this just a one day event?

---

Yes the event is one day which makes it a long weekend of hanging out & diving with friends. ;)

Ok we are gonna head down Friday and stay till Sunday. Any suggestions for affordable local lodging? This will be my first time in area.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by offroadr1

Ok we are gonna head down Friday and stay till Sunday. Any suggestions for affordable local lodging? This will be my first time in area.

---

We usually stay at Cindy's Motel at Mayo: http://www.cindysmotel.com/ Two bed rooms go $55 (pretty sure, I haven't been there for a while since I do day trips from Jacksonville, I was there last spring break since we stayed for a couple of days). I am very weird with clean rooms and this is one that passes my standards.

I have heard lots of good words about chateux H20: http://www.michael-angelo-art.com/chateau_h2o/. I have friends that have stayed and loved it.

I am pretty sure cave excursions trailers are booked, but you can always check. If you have many people this is a good place to stay: http://www.sidemount.com/?page_id=11. I have stayed in their trailers and loved it. They have renewed interiors now so it should be even better.

Suwannee River Rendez Vous is also great for camping and you can rent a room for $60: http://www.suwanneeriverrendezvous.com/index.html. Never stayed there, agein from friends very good words.

Of course there's more good places to stay. I hope more people will chime in to answer your question.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by offroadr1

Ok we are gonna head down Friday and stay till Sunday. Any suggestions for affordable local lodging? This will be my first time in area.

---

there's something about lodging on the CDF home page and about 462 million threads on it.
If you want to stay near Cave Exursions, you can contact Cathy at Dive Outpost (right around the corner). She has beds for as low as $20/night.
There's also some motels in Live Oak and then the chains up by route 10. Wayne @ Amigos has rooms for $25/night but that's 45 minutes away.

Camping on site is available in the field at Cave excursions, but the electicity is across the dirt road at the diveshop as is the shower and the semi truck noise at the weigh station sucks. Lafayette Blue SP, is less than 10 miles and is pretty nice to camp at.

It does not look like Sandy is going to have any impact on REACT except maybe make it a bit breezy. Those coming up I-95 and the Turnpike in south Florida drive carefully. The wind is going to be gusty. I am really looking forward to reconnecting to cave country.

Come on up Curt, well see you there.

See you there leaving very early Saturday.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by curtschu

It does not look like Sandy is going to have any impact on REACT except maybe make it a bit breezy.

---

Hopefully you are referrring to the hurricane and not me:) Looking forward to seeing all tomorrow.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by curtschu

It does not look like Sandy is going to have any impact on REACT except maybe make it a bit breezy.

---

Just don't eat Mexican tonight, Sandy!

Looks like I'm coming to this REACT thing, and I gave up a right seat ride in a B-25 coming from Valdosta to Albany for it, this REACT thing is worth it isn't it?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Looks like I'm coming to this REACT thing, and I gave up a right seat ride in a B-25 coming from Valdosta to Albany for it, this REACT thing is worth it isn't it?

---

Ewwww. I'm not so sure I could have made the same decision.

I wasn't offered the ride until yesterday, about an hour after I had paid for the camping spot, told my kid we were going etc. Plus it's coming to the plant I work at, and I think I will get my flight then. It's a group that is re-building an XP-82 and we have build several parts for them, they are bringing the B-25 to show appreciation.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Looks like I'm coming to this REACT thing, and I gave up a right seat ride in a B-25 coming from Valdosta to Albany for it, this REACT thing is worth it isn't it?

---

I will see you there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Looks like I'm coming to this REACT thing, and I gave up a right seat ride in a B-25 coming from Valdosta to Albany for it, this REACT thing is worth it isn't it?

---

Linda, Bill, and DiveRite host a great event - you will enjoy it. I would like to meet my Albany neighbor. Look me up at the NACD table.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Looks like I'm coming to this REACT thing, and I gave up a right seat ride in a B-25 coming from Valdosta to Albany for it, this REACT thing is worth it isn't it?

---

Totally worth it!!! I don't know what this B-25 thingy is, but can anything be better than cave diving, good food, and meeting old and new friends?

That was a great party yesterday. The food was delicious (I think I ate a bit too much of the Boston butt...), seeing old and new friends was priceless, the prizes were great (I believe almost everyone got a little something), and of course the night dive at Cow, getting out of a gorgeous cave under the stars was amazing. I hope everyone had a good time.

Big thanks to Linda and Bill for throwing a wonderful customer appreciation party... See you all next year!!!

This is a great event I really appreciate the sponsors the food was great after two great dives at Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park. Thanks TJ, Joe and Randy. Today was really great too thank you Jef and group P3 was very interesting. Sorry you missed out diving Rubis.

Thanks to CE and all the other folks that worked so hard to provide a reason to come back (much more than just once a year.) I do believe I'll try that PSPP night dive next if it's it's available.

So many people to chat with and stories to hear.

A special thanks to the guys at dive rite that squared my Nomad away. Had a great trip into Cow today.

Another great job by CE, Thank You to Bill and crew to all the hard work it takes leading up to the BIG EVENT.....
I had a great time talking to all and even got to dive...

Again thanks to Bill and crew................

I got my ride in the B-25 anyway, left seat. It's the "killer B". All I had was a cell phone for pictures and videos

Another truly great time. Thanks so much to the CE crew, volunteers and NFSA. While Telford's vis was mucked up, the back alternative dive across the river was a great treat. And the night dive with my buddy Chris and Forrest was a great way to cap off the day.

Jeff

Great day! I got lots of photos. Back home on Wednesday, and will upload.

TJ, never got to say hi. The more folks you get to know, the busier you are at these gatherings. I never saw anyone take pics either.

Hey, when you say Telfords vis was mucked up, was this due to it being dove in it's silty condition, or bad vis going in ? Also not sure what alternative dive is ? Thanks, D.H.

I was first diver in at Telford the day of react. (Beyond the reels the guys set across the sinks). The viz was consistent throughout - crummy. Also quite a bit of flow. IMHO just not worth the effort to dive it right now. Better caves to dive right now with far less effort.

Being the second in the cave after red hat jef, i confirm the. Iz was crappy

And of course being the third behind the two my Viz was not any better :)))

I was right behind red hat jef and I confirm that the viz was very so-so (and it was not jef's fault...) ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Xaryo

Being the second in the cave after red hat jef, i confirm the. Iz was crappy

---

ROFL, I often find that the case, but he's so sweet, who can complain? ;)

>>>That was tongue-in-cheek, of course!<<<

Jef is one of the best divers for moving cleanly through the cave that I've seen.

And his wife is a darn good shot, too! ;)

I won' t complain. I can't wait to dive with him again