2008-05-24 42 -71

Sat 24 May 2008 in 42,-71: 42.1266480, -71.5475331 geohashing.info google osm bing/os kml crox

About

42.1266480113970560, -71.5475331240942810

These coordinates are in Hopedale in the Boston, Massachusetts graticule on 2008-05-24. They are in somebody's house so they will certainly not be reached exactly, but perhaps they can expect some odd passers-by. Nearby points of interest (and fallback locations if a large group shows up) include a baseball field and a cemetary.

The event

This was a triumph. I'm making a note here: huge success. It's hard to overstate my satisfaction.

Pictures

• Pictures
• 

  At peak count there were 38 people, but several more arrived uncounted.

• 

  We got within 8 meters, but decided not to walk up and start poking at the shrubbery that was the actual hash.

• 

  At first, there was a bit of awkward "hi, we're the internet!"

• 

  Realizing how many people were there, we relocated to a nearby park which turned out to have a nearby lake. In one area, Frisbee commenced.

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  In another area, Apples to Apples and other games.

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  The Frisbee occasionally ended up in the water. We enlisted the help of a local fisherman to try to pull it out -- which, surprisingly, almost worked.

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  But in the end we had to resort to Science (in this case, a big stick).

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  Later, the science was abandoned in favor of the manual recovery.

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  If Glen had started meowing, we'd be torn between calling the fire department and taping captions to him.

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  There was a big rock, for some reason. Folks stood on it. Glen is the one throwing the "blog" gang sign. We pretended not to know him.

• 

  By the time sundown approached, we desired food and drink, and walked a couple blocks to the town square, where there was pizza and chess. Liz told a very entertaining story about the time she was hit by an SUV and went flying through the air. There was an argument about initial-stress-derived nouns and the correct pronunciation of "annex".

• 

  Then the sun set and we all parted ways.

We're looking forward to more weekends in weirder places! Next time, we'll bring more food and more games. Also, if there are open spaces, kites.

Old planning-related posts

Nearby food includes Oregano Pizzaria, which sounds delicious right now.

The nearest MBTA commuter rail station is Forge Park, 8.2 miles away via Route 140. The Franklin line would accommodate arriving on train 1709 (Departs South Station at 1:20pm, EDT) and leaving on train 1714 (Departs Forge Park at 6:35pm, EDT) or 1716 (Departs Forge Park at 8:35pm, EDT).

User:Xkcd and chess set will be there.

User:Moku and goban will be there. Will also be taking the 1709 and biking.

Pinecone got three ride offers, so he and card games will be there.

Brad is like, so there.

User:Spot and his wife will be there, with various games.

Nick would like to be there. Is anyone interested in cycling from the commuter rail station?

Brian and Boggle are going to do the commuter train -> bike thing to be there. Nick, I'll be on the recommended 1709.

Jose missed the 1709. But will be on the next one, arr. at Forge Park at 4:20. Anyone else taking that one?