I arrived late Friday afternoon to a mostly empty field. Several BURPers had been diligently getting everything ready: gathering firewood; moving Chuck's grill to the main food area by transporting the cinder blocks and reassembling them; setting up tables and a canopy; strategically placing the port-a-potties; and implementing a vehicle check at the entrance. It was fairly warm and muggy, and the insects greeted us with their usual gentle but constant collisions with our faces. Gnat hats were provided for the unprotected. Folks trickled in all evening, tents sprouted up like mushrooms, Keg Row took shape, food was brought and cooked, homebrew and microbrew flowed, and folk music was played and sung as we settled in for a great weekend. The campfire kept us warm as night and temperatures fell, and we feasted on good eats and brews, including a keg of DeGroen's weizen.

The canopy came in handy as Saturday morning brought rain. But it didn't last long, nor did it dampen our spirits. More eating, drinking and conversation ensued, and many more people arrived throughout the morning and afternoon. The rain ended by afternoon, bringing just perfect weather: balmy, not bad humidity, and a light cloud cover that let in just the right amount of sun. A lot of fun activities filled people's day: horseshoes, water balloons (either shooting or getting shot at), yard darts, kickball, volleyball, swimming, hiking and biking. Many, like me, simply sat and walked around and socialized. It was such a pleasure to reunite with old friends and make new ones, and the day zipped by much too fast. It seemed as though I had just left my tent for 8 a.m. beer and breakfast, and here it was dusk again. We continued our merry ways as the air darkened and cooled. The music of Poker Face carried from the barn to every corner of the field, and a crowd gathered by them to watch or dance. Meanwhile, those of us by the campfire were entertained, as we had been the night before, by folk music from Steve Emery, Lou Mello, Frank Vispo and Chuck. The hills were alive with the sound of music! The smorgasbord was plentiful as always, and so was the plethora of beer. We carried on well into the night.

Sunday morning was very sunny and warm, and we gathered bright and early for raspberry pancakes and breakfast beers. The last of the water balloon ammo was fired, and Chuck flew over us several times in one of his aircraft. The field steadily emptied as people packed up and left, and many of us participated in the inevitable clean-up. It was a beautiful day, it had been a wonderful weekend, and it was a shame that we were leaving so soon. Perhaps MASHOUT could be made into a 3-day weekend event in the future?

Special thanks are in order for several people who made this great weekend possible: Bill Ridgely, Wendy Aaronson, Paul & Jamie Langley, Dan Allers, Alison Skeel, Don Kalliher, Larry Koch, and Anne-Marie Audley. Others contributed too, so thanks to you as well. And a big thanks to Chuck and Helen Popenoe for once again providing us with such a perfect place at which to hold this event.