Donald and Gloria May had a barbecue dinner on October 20 to celebrate thirty years of marriage.  Fellow Travelers attending were Frank Sutton, Janice and Art Shelfer, and Charlie and Diane Stines.  The Mays were also celebrating the birth of  their second grandchild, Rylee Kate.

Scott Gunn (Flipper) is up for promotion to major. This will really be a major award. Scott is awaiting the pinning ceremony. He visited Moultrie in July.

Greg Baker has used his graduate studies as an excuse to skip some Fellow Traveler outings.  Now he has his MBA from Boston University.

The Father’s Day trip fell victim to the drought.  The water level of the Suwannee in that area is too low for pleasant canoeing.

Casualties of the Okefenokee wildfire were the Maul Hammock shelter, the Big Water shelter, and the Dinner Pond shelter. This will preclude any swamp trips on the Red Trail until the shelters are rebuilt.  Perhaps the vultures will find another roost.

George Dalton died July 29 in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. George was the father of Debbie Tankersley and Glenn’s father-in-law.  George was a freelance reporter and photographer and Glenn described him as the Forrest Gump of Southwest Virginia--he was at every important happening in the area. One of the memorable events George photographed was the June 1975 Diane Sandefur--Charlie Stines wedding.  George lived long enough to see the bridge ou US 23 near Duffield named in his honor, but did not quite make it to opening of the George Dalton Room at the John Fox Museum in Big Stone Gap.  George was 97.  A few people have lived longer, but almost no one lived better.  Our sympathy is extended to Debbie, Glenn, David, Melissa, and Lucy.

Tim Eidson (the Knave) has been sworn in as chief public defender for the Cordele Judicial Circuit. The Fellow Travelers now include two chief public defenders (Tim and Joel Shiver) but no real district attorneys.

Art Shelfer has pressure-washed and used muriatic acid to clean up the Edmund Fitzgerald, the aluminum canoe rescued on the Shoal River trip.  After removig about thirty pounds of sand and water from the flotation chamber and the cleanup the boat is ready for its journey with the Fellow Travelers’ armada.

Cindy Williams (Mrs. John) is having health problems.  Keep her and John in your prayers.

Brent Osborne, son of Danny and Pat, has been accepted at Harvard. Although Ivy League schools do not give athletic scholarships Brent was recruited by the football coach.

Keith Webb had two graduations this spring. Hannah graduated from Erskine College and Byron graduated from North Buncombe High School. When Byron follows the Webb tradition and enrolls at Clemson Keith and Audrey will experience that empty nest syndrome. Hannah took off for an Italian tour after graduation.

The playmate has taken a new (old) name. She is once again Carla Irvin.

The Suburban Profane has retired to North Carolina. Bill Shipman, Charlie’s nephew, is the proud owner or victim. Bill has made ony one trip with the Fellow Traveler’s, that being a swamp trip.  Now that he has the Suburban perhaps he can use its veteran status and bring it down every now and then. An Expedition EL, which will likely be called the Exhibition will be the main tow vehicle as long as the payments can be made.

John Williams, Art Shelfer, and some others made a trip to Missouri in June, but no trip report has been furnished. They did return alive.

Margie Massey and her brother, Dr. Andy Wasdon, invited a few of the better behaved and more cultured Fellow Travelers to Dr. Wasdon’s place on Cherry Lake for a July 7 cookout.  Among those eating hamburger, churned ice cream, and watermelon were Art and Janice Shelfer, Greg and Lillian Baker, Donald and Gloria May, Frank Sutton, and Charlie and Diane Stines.

Roy Moye retired from aluminum siding sales in late September..  Everyone wishes the Bard the best and everyone expects him to miss no more Fellow Traveler outings.

Dan DeBrita is now living in Milton and has taken a bride, Charene, since last canoeing with the gang.

Paula Allen and Jamie Simpson wed on September 22. The have moved in across the street from Margie Massey in Thomasville.

Margie Massey celebrated her 57th birthday at Charles Seafood in Tifton on November 6. Jeanne Hewetson and Diane Stines joined the fun.

Hamp Chauncey, the Wizard, has taken a promotion with Ritz-Carlton and has moved to White Plains, New York.  Hamp has been the problem solver on so many trips and the Fellow Travelers regret that he will be unable to participate as regularly as in the past.  He is hoping to make the Thanksgiving trip to the Adams tract, however.

Robert Ward, father of Janice Shelfer, died December 27 after a long life and a long illness. Everyone extends sympathy to Janice, Art, and Tristan.

Lee and Lita Clifton lost Ron Tucker, Lita’s father, on September 30.  Ron was liked and respected by almost everyone.  Lee has made a couple of swamp trips with the travelers, and Lita has made one.

Greg Baker, Jack Chastain, and Charlie Stines introduced Tom Shipman, one of Charlie’s brother-in-laws, to canoeing by taking a short trip on the Suwannee on October 28. The trip was from the SR 51 bridge at Luraville to Royal Spring.  Some of the springs were pretty but Royal Spring was almost stagnant.  There was a stop at the Peacock Slough camp and at River Rendezvous.  The restaurant there is probably permanently out of business. It suffered great damage back when it used to rain and the river got high. The Presbyterians, Greg and Jack, went in one boat and the Baptists, Tom and Charlie went in another.  Greg said that was because Baptists tend to get dunked. It was a pleasant trip.

The Florida Folk Festival at White Springs was held November 9-11, 2007. Dave and Kim Lippy, Jerry and Donna Ellis, Art and Janice Shelfer, Greg and Lillian Baker, Roy Moye, Cindy Wilder, and Diane and Charlie Stines all attended and had a little time together.  Roy told lies on stage, Dave managed a stage, and Donna manned a booth.