NCTR Alumni Reunion 2002
updated 20 February 2003

The much touted and anticipated 2002 NCTR Alumni Reunion was a major success (for the participants)! Attendance was a bit light but the REAL men and women of NCTR were present and accounted for. To relive the 'gold old days' visit the float trip photo archives for 1977 and 1978.

The Whole Gang. Front left to right: Tammy Laney, Jerry Daily and Gail Capel. Back row: Larry Kraus and Pat Watkins.  Not shown are Larry's wife Annie and Jerry's wife Janet who classified themselves as 'just wives'.

After an 18 year hiatus, it was decided to attempt get the WHOLE gang together to reenact the Annual NCTR Float Trip started in the 1970's. Tammy took the lead (or had the lead thrust upon her) in contacting as many alumni as possible and getting things organized. After months of locating phone numbers and email addresses and contacting as many people as possible she got assurances of attendance from a large crowd, most who turned out to be no shows. You get a gold star Tammy; thanks for you efforts. The important people were there and had a great time catching up, reminiscing about the good(?) old days at NCTR and, of course, gossiping about the people who weren't there to defend themselves.

Jerry did an admirable and unenviable job of representing the ENTIRE population of current NCTR employees (who have a lot of 'splainin to do). We can't wait to hear the undoubtedly creative and entertaining excuses from the local folks who did not have to drive 1,000 miles to get there! An all points bulletin for the very vocal Ronnie Barsh produced no results. Tammy and Gail represented the Arkansas Chapter of the NCTR Alumni Association. Larry represented the North Carolina Chapter. Mechanical transportation problems prevented other North Carolina alumni from reaching the event (kudos for the attempt Richard!). Pat represented the Georgia Chapter. The Texas Chapter was a complete no show. Ever hear of airplanes and priorities guys?

The Women of the Raft. Left to right: Annie, Tammy, Janet and Gail.

Larry and Annie were the first to arrive on Thursday in their motor home followed closely by Pat with a pickup truck full of very complicated antique camping gear, then Tammy and Gail (who had made about a dozen trips to Longpool just to 'check things out') arrived with a van full of brand spanking new living in the woods stuff. Tammy returned to Little Rock Thursday night and came back Friday morning bringing beer and other essential supplies that everyone else forgot. Tammy and Gail made a trip to Little Rock Friday returning late Friday night. Jerry and Janet arrived in their motor home Friday evening.

Larry and Jerry set up their motor homes on the upscale lots with electricity and water. Pat, Tammy and Gail established primitive living conditions down by the river. Pat was up early every morning and fixed coffee and breakfast for the ladies. Larry and Jerry tended to sleep late, possibly due to the presence of air conditioning and real beds.

It rained almost every day the week before the event. On Wednesday the water level at Longpool was at 7'. Anything over 5' is considered dangerous. By Friday the weather cleared and the water level dropped to 4'. Saturday, the day of the float, was beautiful and the water level dropped to 3.5'.

Due to the low attendance the flotilla was reduced to one raft and one canoe. Quite a drop from the twenty canoes rented in 1984. Pat and Jerry manned the canoe. Larry steered the raft along with all the women (Tammy, Gail, Janet and Annie) and had the envy (or sympathy) of all the other floaters on the river. Not only were all the ladies back seat drivers but they all had paddles!

The Canoe. Pat (in the back) is working, Jerry (in the front) is not.

After the float we enjoyed a buffet style dinner of ribs, BBQ, hamburgers and other delicacies. When well and truly fed, Pat had to break camp to retrieve his spouse Sandy and make the trip back to Georgia. Everyone chipped in to help disassemble and repack all that gear. That turned out to be a lot of work and reminded Jerry and Larry why they invested all that money in fancy self-contained motor homes. After Pat's departure we built a campfire and talked and talked and talked. Sunday morning the remainder of the attendees packed up, said there good byes, vowed to "do it again" in a couple of years, and retuned to the real world. It is safe to say that "A great time was had by all!"

Decisions. The beer is over there... ...no the ribs are over here... ...no the beer is over there...	Discussion Time. Gail, Jerry, Annie, Tammy and  Janet.
The Gals. Gail and Tammy.	The Guys. Jerry, Pat and Larry.
The Wet Ones. Janet, Annie, Pat, Gail, Jerry and Tammy.		The Dailys. Janet and Jerry.
Explanations. "You see, a canoe is unstable by design and the unusual height of my shipmate raised the center of gravity....yadayada..."	More Explanations. "I'm tellin' you guys -- it weren't my fault!"	Recriminations. "Just wait till I get my hands on that %@#$ Butch!"

Other float trips: 1977  1978

a service of LaRK Communications