Punxsutawney road trip will not be repeated

The Digital Collegian (Penn State) ^ | Tuesday, February 4, 2003 | Andrew Rhodes, junior-architectural engineering

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

Well, it's safe to say Groundhog Day was certainly eventful, but I sincerely hope I never have to suffer like Bill Murry and repeat the day again.

We set off around 6 p.m. Saturday to witness the famous rodent tell us whether he can see his shadow.

We arrived in Punxsutawney expecting outdoor concerts, throbbing streets and lots of people generally having fun and generally getting drunk. What we found was a McDonalds, two car parks and the third largest armed force presence outside of the Middle East and L.A. The hostel we planned to stay in said they wouldn't let anyone in if they had alcohol on their breath (fair enough) so that ruled that out. So we thought, fine, we'll just drink in the van, pass out and head up for the prognostication about 5 a.m. Five cigarettes, two hours, one citation and a lot of nervous conversations with fat undercover cops later, we were released and found another car park to decide whether to go home or not. There were still seven hours till the ceremony and every car we passed was giving us funny looks and were almost all probably undercover cops too.

We drove back to town and slept for three hours under constant paranoia that it was a matter of time before we were jumped again. It turned out to be worth the wait however, because although it was very cold, the fireworks were brilliant, and the ceremony was comedy. Anyway, I have one piece of advice for those considering attending next year: Don't, or if you do, leave here at 4 a.m. That's the only way it'll be truly worth it. Roll on, Feb. 3. Please not another Groundhog Day for me.

[Willie Green]

Good riddance.
It's unlikely that the people of Punxsutawny want their winter festival turned into a drunken orgy for bonehead college students anyway.
Shouldn't be drinking and driving anyway, let alone along snow-covered roads in the middle of winter.

[theDentist]

After Phil's latest prediction I propose Groundhog Stew for dinner.

[Renegade]

Took my wife there for her birthday ( 02/02/02) . Largest crowd ever . ( 40,000 +) Arrived at the " knob " at 2:00 a.m. and there were already 10,000 people there . Was a great time . National guard was present because of the terrorist threat ( to the groundhog ???), but there was not an influx of SS undercover cops when we were there . The cold weather was no match for a shot of blackberry brandy now and then .

[PBRSTREETGANG]

"Don't drive angry Phil"

[Doc Savage]

"Sweet vermouth on the rocks, with a twist!" Let's drink to world peace!

[mountaineer]

So we thought, fine, we'll just drink in the van, pass out ...

Frankly, I'm not too comforted by the notion of America's future being its youth.

[TroutStalker]

I've never attended the ceremonies in Punxy, but I have dealt with a few groundhogs in the area and they were the ones who ended up "wasted".

[Willie Green]

but there was not an influx of SS undercover cops when we were there . The cold weather was no match for a shot of blackberry brandy now and then .

Yeah, if somebody goes there expecting it to be like the Mardi Gras,
they're going to be somewhat disappointed.
But for a small town, the locals put on a pretty good shindig.

[jaime1959]

Yeah, wouldn't want to have any fun now, would we?