Spring 2010 Property Outing Date Announcement

The Spring 2010 Eckert Property Outing will be May 28-31, 2010 (Memorial Day Weekend). We are adjusting the format as the main outing will be from Saturday morning to Monday. Stay tuned for updates!

Fall 2009 Outing Recap

The Fall 2009 Eckert Property Outing was another success. A very large turn out, relatively nice weather, great food, three softball games and lots of good times. On to the details!

Attendees

A total of 32 people visited during the weekend:

• Leo Eckert
• Johnny Eckert
• Katie Stevenson
• Jason, Cari, Cassie and Tommy Eckert
• Brad Burns and Nicole Heerlein*
• Todd and Nancy Burns
• Christine, Elizabeth and Baby Matthew Burns*
• Eric, Dawn and Ali Klinner
• Dan, Susan, Mackenzie, Alaina and Zachary* Moore
• Ted and Diane Stevenson
• Dan, Linda, James, Henry and Tess* Knoll
• Steve, Shannon and Peter* Damm

* Indicates first-time Property Outing Attendee

The Weather

Not too bad -- some rain for the Wednesday-Thursday early crew, sunny over the weekend, quite cold at night. Nice sunshine during the weekend afternoons.

Activities

The outing saw a larger than usual early arrival crew, who had a great time setting up and shooting. There was some unfortunate chaos on Friday evening as a Stevenson/Moore vehicle ran over an empty beer bottle, causing the early departure group to change vehicles in the dark. There was a large camp fire during the entire trip to help with the cold temps. There was a happy reunion on Friday as Johnny and Katie got back together. :) There was softball as three games were completed on Saturday morning/afternoon (the games were a little sluggish and only one HR was hit the entire time -- big Matthew, we missed you)! The outing was injury-free and saw the arrival of an HDTV as the old property t.v. died. (Sullivan Wal-Mart, we love you.)

Food

My, did we eat well! Leo was kind enough to provide two trays of Syberg's wings for Friday night, to go along with Dan Knoll's second bacon explosion and group birthday cake. We had a wonderful group breakfast on Saturday morning, and enjoyed smoked pork butt on Saturday evening (along with corn bread from Linda Knoll and baked beans from Cari). Todd provided a tasty mixed Lemon Drop drink throughout the weekend.

Up Next

We are still working on a date for the Spring 2010 outing. Stay tuned. Todd may be connecting additional lights for evening games, which would be a very welcome addition.

Pictures

Pictures from the outing may be enjoyed at http://picasaweb.google.com/jason.c.eckert/Fall2009EckertPropertyOuting#. Thanks to Dan and Linda Knoll for contributing some shots.

Fall 2009 Property Outing Date

The Fall 2009 Eckert Property Outing will be October 2-4, 2009. Stay tuned for updates!

Spring 2009 Outing Recap

The Spring 2009 Property Outing (May 15-17) was a blast and went very well with one notable exception: Leo missed his first outing in years after falling off his ATV (which rolled onto him) and breaking five ribs after setting up for the outing on May 14. Todd was fortunately with him and was able to help him up and to the hospital.

The actual outing was relatively injury-free and featured first-time attendees: Katie Stevenson and Michelle, Owen, and Alex Meyer (who joined Nick, who had been to the property in the past). Some highlights:

• Surviving heavy rains on Friday night
• Three excellent and competitive softball games
• Group feeding of the horses and donkey on our neighbor's property
• A bounce house for the kids brought by the Knolls
• Excellent group meals including pork butts, trout, group breakfast, and the inagural bacon explosion

See http://picasaweb.google.com/jason.c.eckert/SpringMay2009EckertPropertyOuting# for pictures from the outing. We can't wait for the Fall Outing (October 2-4).

Welcome to the Eckert Property Site / Next Outing May 15-17

Welcome to the new Eckert Property Website! This will be a place where we can share information about our favorite place, a piece of heaven in south-central Missouri.

I welcome comments and suggestions on the new site. The next outing is rapidly approaching. I hope to see you in the woods of Missouri May 15-17.

Comments may be directed to Jason Eckert.

Directions to the Property

From St. Louis (I-44 West):

• Exit Bourbon, Missouri ... Exit #218 .. 50 or so miles from I-270.


• Follow Highway C -- you will have to make a right off of I-44 -- then a quick left on C. Basically, just follow the signs for C.


• Drive 9.5 miles on Highway C to Highway CC and turn right. –– At this point, you can follow the map below...


• Drive 3.1 miles on Highway CC which turns into Highway F (also known as "Jake Prairie Road") at Highway 19.


• Drive 2.4 miles on Highway F and make a right onto Wright Road. (Wright Road is the next road on the right after Shoemaker, although it is not labeled very well on the map).


• Drive 1.0 mile on Wright and make a right onto Glasner.


• Drive 0.7 miles on Glasner and take a left on Stovoll (which will become Van Deven Road after 0.2 miles).


• This road will curve to the right, followed by a small creek which you need to cross. (The creek is normally dry or very low and is no big deal.)


• Drive 0.6 miles on Van Deven to the property gate.


• After you cross the creek, the property is the first gate on the left. The "address" VD1-201 is posted on the gate.


• If the gate is locked ... well ... holler like heck and maybe someone will come and let you in if you have beer. ;-)

From I-44 East:

• Exit at Cuba, MO ... Exit #208.


• Turn left (north) on Highway 19.


• Drive 10 miles on Highway 19 and make a left on Highway F.


• From this point, follow the directions above.
  

What to Bring to the Eckert Property:

• Beer, & any other beverages (soda, etc.) – Yes, alcohol tops the list
• Snacks & food – Most people bring food to share. There are sometimes group meals. Many people makes smores and roast peeps on the campfire.
• Lawn chairs
• Softball equipment – glove, bat ... some folks even bring cleats. Saturday afternoon softball is a property tradition.
• Water – There is no running water at the property, so you might want to bring some clean water for drinking and cleaning purposes.
• Towels and other toiletries...
• Sleeping bag, pillow, etc. – The cabin sleeps about 10 people. Tents are a common sight.
• Sunscreen BUG SPRAY ... especially bug spray that repels ticks. Deep Woods OFF or any spray that has a high DEET content are recommended.
• Games, cards, etc. – particularly if we have to wait out some rain under cover.
• CDs and iPods – A little music for the stereo which is typically perched on the cabin deck.

Satellite Photo of The Eckert Property

"Property Legend" Dan Knoll marked up this satellite photo a few years ago. It gives an excellent arial view of the property and its major features.

About the Eckert Property

The Eckert Property consists of 60 wooded acres of land in Gasconade County in south-central Missouri. The property is approximately 90 minutes southwest of St. Louis. The area is both beautiful and hilly, located on the far northern edge of the Ozark Mountains. The Eckert Property is relatively near the Missouri towns of Bourbon and Cuba.

The property was purchased by John Eckert in 1990. John was Leo's brother and Jason's godfather. After John passed away, his son Johnny inherited the property. The property is also used as a hunting and nature retreat.

The property website was initially designed by Jeff Lorentz. Jeff launched the page on October 19, 2001, and made periodic updates until Jason Eckert took the page over in 2005. The new property website (hosted by Blogger) was launched by Jason on April 27, 2009.

Features of The Eckert Property:

• Cabin with electricity
• Shed with a Ford tractor
• Beautiful creeks
• Numerous fields, including one groomed for softball games
• Trails perfect for ATV runs
• Sex rock
• Wildlife, especially when we are not making too much noise

The Eckert Property Does Not Have:

• Running water
• Telephone service
• Reliable cellular coverage (getting better over the years)
• Most burdens of city living