Wisconsin State Park Mission: Trip #3 Richard "Bong" State Recreation Area, Sunrise Campground, Site #16

August 1999

"Named after Wisconsin's famous flying ace, this 4,515-acre property offers traditional outdoor activities as well as unique recreational opportunities. Dog training, model airplanes, rocketry, and falconry co-exist with rare species and habitats."

Kansasville, Wisconsin

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/parks/specific/bong/

We obviously were on a mission that August, with this being the third park we camped at that month. However, the trip didn't last long. This was the first park we were kicked out of and what could be a more appropriate park name for this momentous occasion. We had a new member to our group this weekend. Chad, a co-worker at the time, came with us. Everything was going fine until the group on the site across from us started setting up their site after 11:00 p.m. Park rules state that you can't set up your site after 11:00 p.m., which is "quiet time." So we decided since they were setting up after hours we didn't have be quiet. We were singing Insane Clown Posse pretty loudly and it got the attention of the park rangers. "You sick, wit it." When they came to tell us to quiet down they also found a cooler of Mickey's grenades. I seriously can't believe I remember some of these details. Luckily park rangers, aka Ranger Joe from this point on, don't ticket for underage drinking, you just have to be off the site by 8:00 a.m. the next day. We packed up early, explored the park a bit and did a little fishing. Rather then heading home, we decided to make the best of a bad situation and got a room at a Hampton Inn for the night. No reason to end vacation early right! Plus even though we were all 18, no one wanted to explain why we were home early to the "rents." All in all, still a good trip!