You want to see a Gypsy woman’s head turn, say these four words “Girls Not Lake Trip”. Then you may here a few giggles, and will, for sure see some smiles. If you are lucky you may be able to hear a few tidbit stories from the adventures.

The Kansas women have been getting together since 2005, just us, no men, no kids, just us women. We take a weekend camp just for ourselves, and have a good ole time. Then I got to thinking, why don’t we share this experience with our other sisters. That is exactly what we decided to do back in 2009. The original “Not Lake” was held at Turner Falls in Oklahoma (you know that state that is between Texas and Kansas). The trip got its name because the first outing to Turner Falls had the usual Gypsy refreshments and I kept saying I wanted to go down to the lake, and I kept getting told it’s not a lake, so then I started saying “let’s go down to the NOT LAKE”. Then everyone else began to say let’s go down to the Not Lake, hence the name for the Gypsy woman weekends “Not Lake Trip”.

Our woman’s weekend, if possible, will always be held in Oklahoma, never at a lake. For the past two years it has been in Tahlequah on the river. No stress, no responsibilities, no schedule, well all except for the Saturday morning pick-up for the river rafting. Oh and no make-up! The only thing you need to do this weekend is to get to and from the camp site safely.

If you need something, one of us will have it. If your bike isn’t working, we’ll get it working somehow, someway. You have a flat tire, it will be fixed. I am so proud to be part of such a large family, watching my sisters step up when needed - without being asked. Setting up camp, and then tearing it down - we work as one unit. It is awesome, no one directing, but if you were an outsider looking in you would think that someone is coordinating the whole thing. Oh, and I pity the person who decides to mess with anyone of the Gypsy women, they have no clue what they are asking for – it you mess with one you mess with all of US!

During the river rafting we run into all kinds of wild life, anything from anacondas to beavers, and maybe a few crocodiles (which we call crotchadiles - because they are little minnows that like to swim up your shorts!), just talk to Lady Dale about the anaconda, or Cherri-O about the beavers. Floating down the river is an experience in itself. The phrases you hear the most throughout the rafting trip is “where’s the red cup?” and “I’m okay!” If you are wondering about the red cup, well, after a few drinks from the red cup the anaconda, beaver, and possibly a pterodactyl may show up.

Next year will be our fourth year, and I am telling you Gypsy women need to experience it at least one time. Last year I sat back and watched as everyone sat around the lantern – I say lantern because it is to dang hot in July for a camp fire – we talked, laughed, nothing serious except, if we couldn’t find the Apple Pie, then it was serious digging in the coolers trying to find it! I wish I could explain in words the feeling I had in my heart as I looked around at all the smiles, hugs and genuine love that everyone has toward each other there just aren’t words for this.

That is all I have for now – can’t let out to much of our weekend outing – you ask why? Because what goes on at the Girl’s Not Lake Trip stays at the Not Lake!