I was going to include a recipe for Mexicones that Rick and Dottie Hartman have been raving about but I won't have it until after Labor Day. However, Gary gave me this recipe for Eggplant Vidalia. It is healthy and tasty and I think can be adapted for a grill or campfire.

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Take a baking pan or cookie sheet and spray it with Pam or coat it with olive oil.
• Cut the ends off one eggplant and slice into 1/4" or 1/2" slices and place on the pan.
• Sprinkle salt and pepper and Tony Chachere's (or any other kind of seasoning you like) to taste on the eggplant slices.
• Slice a Vidalia onion into 1/4" slices and place on the eggplant slices.
• Place slices of either Havarti cheese or Swiss cheese on top, drizzle with olive oil, and bake in the oven for 20 minutes.

*Optional: Put tomato slices between the onion and cheese if you are a tomato fan.

Did you know that the average number of stitches needed in chainsaw accidents is 110? Let's be careful out there.

Topisaw Creek is a wonderful waterway that flows into the Bogue Chitto. It is very similar to Magee's Creek but since access is limited, it is more "natural".

On Saturday we will clean the river and camp at Bob's, On Sunday we will paddle the cleaned up section of the creek. Swimming pool and indoor plumbing at Bob's. Contact Martina at martinaellis@ yahoo.com or 985-748-6038.

The service trip is to remove trees that have fallen across the river. For smaller trees we will remove all or as much of the tree as we can. For large trees we will cut a "paddling path" where possible. This will involve getting in and out of your boat, working in water and the use of loppers, folding, bow and chain saws. Please bring your saws with you. We should only need two or three chain saws so please let Martina and me know if you plan to bring one.

We will use a "barge" to carry the saws, fuel, oil and anything else we may need. We may even have to use a block and tackle????

The Topisaw has very little trash compared to most of the streams we paddle but to have some folks along for light trash pickup duty and small limb removal would be very helpful. The more the merrier.

Bob's place is a great place to camp, so if you can, come on out for the weekend or, if you can't make it for the weekend, come out for one day or the other as the Topisaw is a fun place to hang out.

Please let us know by Sept. 12th so we can kind of sort of plan.