Interested in a San Luis Obispo, California Gathering?

[martha24]

I was looking in my Woodall's 2005 book, since people had mentioned private campgrounds. So any I mention I know nothing about them, but might be worth looking to. Don't know how up to date info is either.
Morro Bay area:
Morro Dunes RV Park (San Luis Obispo) From jct Hwy-1 & Hwy 41: Go 1/2 mi W on Hwy 41 (Atascardero Rd) Enter on L. 170 sites typical site width 18ft. 133 full hkups, 37 W&E, (15&30 amps), 35 pull-thrus, tenting, dump station, laundry, fire rings, wood. Pet restrictions. No clubs Jul & Aug. (805) 772-2722

There are two others, but they don't allow tents. Bay Pines Travel Trailer Park & Cypress Morro Bay RV Park. So they they didn't sound like a campground.

San Luis Obispo:
Avila Valley Hot Springs Spa & RV Resort, their prices seemed higher than most but says clubs are welcome.
US 101 & Avila Beach Dr. 1/4 mi W on Avila Beach Dr.
60 sites, typical site width 20 ft, 21 full hkups, 16 W&E, (20&30 amps), 23 no hkups, some seasonal sites, 7 pull thrus, tenting, cabins, table, fire rings, grills, pet restrictions. (805) 595-2114

Ocean Canyon Resort (Woodall's didn't visit) Avila Beach area
Facilities 100 sites, 100 full hkups, (30 amps) (805) 595-2114

Also I noticed that with S.C.T.T. used Lake Perris SRA which is a Caifornia State Park & they reserved a whole area. I don't know if that can be done generally at State parks or not. Not in prime time I'm sure. To find out, it would take calling & speaking to people.

In the past the Boy Scout troop my son was a part of used to have a family campout around Oceano, then a few people would reserve a number of spots and a few people would get there early and stake out the spots.
What can or can't be done now I don't know. One of the nice things about gatherings is that the organizers are figuring out the reservations, not everyone is trying to call in & reserve a spot.
Thanks for everyone who volunteered to help pull this gathering off.
Martha

[Esteban]

More campgrounds to consider for a California Central Coast TD Gathering. The weather along the coast is usually very nice late Sept. through early Nov. April and May are good too.

Plaskett Creek campground on Hwy. 1 south of Big Sur http://www.campone.com/plskt.html
across Hwy. 1 from Sand Dollar Beach http://www.campone.com/sand.html
Big Sur info http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/

Jalama Beach campground near Lompoc http://www.santabarbaraparks.org/docs/jalama.html
http://www.jalamabeach.com/
http://www.jalamabeach.com/mapofjalama.html

Cachuma Lake campground north of Santa Barbara http://www.sbparks.org/Scripts/ParksDetail.asp?ParkID=2

Lopez Lake, inland from Arroyo Grande, would be another good campground for a gathering. http://www.slocountyparks.com/activities/lopez.htm
http://www.slocountyparks.com/activitie ... d_map.html

Kirk Creek campground - Big Sur (suggested by Dano )
Kirk Creek Campground California ) - http://www.parksman.com/kirk.html
"Ten Best in the U.S. Campgrounds Kirk Creek Campground California" :
http://gorp.away.com/gorp/activity/camping/dow_kirk.htm

[Esteban]

Lake Naciemento, near Paso Robles, in northern San Luis Obispo County:
http://www.nacimientoresort.com/camping.htm
Paso Robles wineries http://www.PasoWine.com

Lake San Antonio in southern Monterey County:
http://www.lakesanantonio.net/
http://www.lakesanantonioresort.com/

Pismo Beach and Oceano - 3 campgrounds: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=595

Oceano Dunes - camping on the beach: http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/

San Simeon State Park: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=590
http://www.pelicannetwork.net/sansimeon.html

LimeKiln State Park - southern Big Sur:http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=577

Big Sur camping info. and pictures: http://www.pelicannetwork.net/bigsur.campgrounds.htm

[Italia]

I enjoy all this interest in a central coast location, and my lady and I, will attend any location. If folks don't want dirt, then its rocks, asphalt or concrete. Some folks like camping in a park setting and some like camping in the woods have camped at nearly all of the mentioned locations and it depends on what you want. There is poison oak at all but the most" park like " locations, the vast majority of them have been cleared of P.O. in the immediate campground but close by it is happily growing. We know what it looks like , we are careful not to walk in it, so it is seldom an issue for us, though some friends of mine can't get with in eyesite of it without somehow getting some on them. Lopez Lake seems a nice compromise of park and woods,clean water, descent fishing,Deer and wild turkeys, pretty lake, asphalt rds, water spikets. Steve mentioned some Big Sur locations, may I humbly add Kirk Creek to the list :
http://www.parksman.com/kirk.html
Some of the campsites are on a bluff overlooking the unspoiled pacific ocean with some breathtaking sunsets. I'm a little shy of wind swept beaches( Morro Strand,) they tend to get chilly quickly after the sun goes down.
---Dano

[Gage]

Just remember, the further north you go the less SoCal teardrops you'll get. But then again, you might not care. I never thought of that. Hey Steve, beings how you've taken the ball and ran with it. Pick a campground, set a date, add the needed information and let's go from there. Some will be happy and some won't. That's just the way it goes.

P.S. I've been to a lot of gatherings and I don't know of any that have been in a 'Group Area'. And some, you had to make your own reservation and you hoped for the best. Something also to think about. If you want a large turnout (up to 15+ units), have it in the OFF SEASON.

[Ma3tt]

Pick one!!! We are with you!


and I agree with Gage if you go further east you will get fewer westcal people and if you go southwesterly you will get fewer northeastercal folks and if you go to bakersfield you will get hardly anyone!

[Esteban]

MdeOSP is the poll favorite. Mine too. I'm going to go take a closer look at the campground, take pictures, and chat with the park rangers.

On the way I'll stop in Carlock's Bakery in Los Osos for yummy goodies.

[sftiggee]

wow, this has grown wings:)

sorry i haven't been in on this lately, i was out in Mn visiting my parents and introducing jackson to everyone. I'm back now and ready to get re-involved.

I'd like to keep this as close to SLO as possible, and I voted for Montana de Oro. Luke tells me the best time of year down there is September, although every time i've been down there it has been nice nice nice. I say we do a time of year poll and then just go with majority vote and call it done.

just let me know what help you want and I'll help get this up and going, woohoo!!

[sdtripper2]

Look at the differences between
Morro Bay and Montana de Oro State Parks.

The pictures tell the story.

In my opinion Morro Bay State Park has more shade and has
showers if that is a need for some? There is wifi for anyone that has to be
connected.

Montaña de Oro State Park is more out of the way with primative sites and
appears to have less shade trees. Water is available but no showers.

Morro Bay

http://www.totalescape.com/active/camps ... morro.html
Morro Bay

Camping Morro Bay
The park has 135 campsites, each with a table, stove and food lockers. There are designated hike & bike sites, but no en-route camping nor environmental camps. Twelve sites are ADA accessible sites. There are restrooms with hot showers within the park so bring lots of quarters. The campsites will accommodate trailers and motor homes up to 35 feet long and 27 sites have hookups for water and electricity only. There is a dump-station on site for RVs. There are two group campsites, Chorro (35 people maximum) and Osos (25 people maximum), which range in price. Fees include entry for 1 vehicle and 1 (legally towed) vehicle or trailer, additional vehicles will be charged per night at the park.
Campground layout pdf
***********************


Montaña de Oro State Park
http://www.totalescape.com/active/camps ... ntana.html

Montaña de Oro State Park

Montaña de Oro State Park Camping: Fifty campsites are situated along the south side of the creek behind the Ranch House. The sites are suitable for tents, trailers, or motor homes up to 24 feet in length. Tables and woodstoves are provided. Primitive toilets are located nearby, but there are no showers or dump stations. Some people may prefer the walk-in environmental campsites, which are more secluded and perhaps more peaceful, but should not be surprised to wake up to the yapping of coyotes or the rustling of other nighttime creatures.

[Gage]

So tell me Steve, are you planning on going? It's already been noted above the Morro Bay S.P. is full service and that Montaña de Oro S.P. is primitive. But then there is the cost and also the availability of getting in there. Also, have you ever been to either S.P.?

[sdtripper2]

Gage:

I haven't been to either SP. Just seen pictures~
Have been contemplating coming to the central
coast outing and sense it is uP for a vote... I voted.

It seems as though that if in deciding to go you like the surroundings that is
half the battle. Showers can be a plus and Morro has them. Shade can be a
plus and Morro looks to have many trees. The views are nice as well.

The primitive sites with large vistas at Montana de Oro State Park is very nice
as well. However I think that many would opt for more shade and showers if
given a choice. I guess time will tell, on how the decision is made.

[Gage]

Is that why Morro Bay S.P. has only 2 votes and Montana de Oro S.P. has 8 votes so far. And I would say that most of us that have voted have been there. And I might add. Morro Bay S.P. could be hard to get into and be close together. I go into Morro Bay S.P. in January with the MaxiTear group and just about have the park to ourselfs. But it's cold and the showers don't work half the time.

"Morro Bay State Park [ 2 ] votes
Montana de Oro State Park [ 8 ] votes"

Hey, we're just talking.

[sdtripper2]

Gage:


I am a believer in votes that rule the day.
You that voted for the primitive spot win, as the vote goes.
Seems you will have your decision validated, Gage.

January on most any beach in California will be cold, as you say is real for the
time you usually go to Morro Bay. I can imagine you have met cold
weather as the waves of precipitation comes into the beaches in January.
September and October may be different? Thanks for keeping me abreast
of the cold, showers and the vote.


BTW being so close to Morro Bay, is Montaña de Oro State Park any warmer or will people most
likely face the same cold there How about wind We wouldn't have to worry about any showers.

There might be more to this campground than meets the eye or description.
Trust most people have a good reason for choosing this site besides the money
Maybe some of the 8 that voted for this campground could say why they voted for Montaña de Oro State Park

[Esteban]

Good morning, I added photo links from californiacoastline.org to the descriptions of the coastal campgrounds on the top of the first page.

I voted for Montana de Oro SP partly because it doesn't attract big RVs nearly as much as Morro Bay State Park. The photos, linked to below, for Montana de Oro SP campground show you the park's extraordinary natural beauty. The camping area is in a little valley with shade trees to camp under. I've hiked in the park many times. Strong winds are unusual. You can click on the photo to enlarge it and see the campground quit well:
http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=2167&mode=sequential&flags=0&year=2002

Regarding the weather. Summers along the coast are nice, with some early morning and late afternoon fog. The weather in September and early October is usually very nice along our coast. It's a time of year to expect warm, but not hot, days and clear blue skies.

The first rain of the season usually begins in late October or November. In January, like when Gage visited MBSP, there *could* be a few freezing nights and some days of stormy wet weather would be expected. December through March is our rainy season.

[martha24]

I keep wondering if at this point someone needs to talk to the park rangers at different parks or something to determine what is feasible.
Obviously there are different ways of going about the reservations, but unless a whole section can be reserved for approximately the number of people interested then it needs to be at a place & date that reservations are easy to get.
Sure January might not be a problem, but is that true for Sept or Oct?
When my son's old boyscout troop used to have a family camp out around Oceano after school started in Sept. , various families made reservations months in advance because that was still a fairly popular time to go camping. For some people it is easy to decide what they are doing months in advance, for some not. With the scout troop there was always to problem trying to get people to commit way in advance & many people that would change their mind whether they could come or not.
I don't know how many gatherings there are that everyone makes their own reservation? Many seem to be run by a group or a group of people & through them you make your reservations.
Just some thoughts that should be considered before a place & date are picked.
Thanks to all those that are interested in making this happen.
Martha