Mendocino Gathering site closed!!

[doug hodder]

2 weeks ago Dean Bessom drove over to FT. Bragg and wanted to camp at the site we were all at earlier this summer. They had been having some problems meeting the environmental regs. and the entrance had a large sheet of plywood painted up with "No RV's, No Camping. He also indicated that the fire rings were removed as well as the water and electrical posts. It has been rumored that they may have to do a lot of work to remain open, like a completely new septic system. Too bad, I liked the view there! Doug

[dmb90260]

Too bad, there are not many "free form" sites out there. It did provide a site with a view at a reasonable price

[Kevin A]

That's a bummer, gonna miss that place.
I hope Lee is successful finding another location.

[sdtripper2]

Doug, Dennis & Kevin ~

I enjoyed that outing that Lee made possible so very much.
It is a sad reckoning that the last gathering will be no more there.

Here once again is my remembrance of that experience for anyone who hasn't been there.

The Tears of Mendocino finding the light
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqrxzHVYZoM

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

I sure hope that the current property owner can get the needed renovations in place and signed off before July...
My hunch is there is a bigger thing happening here... Like someone else wants that property.
Dean and Deb hooked up with Joanie and I for dinner on their adventure Northward and broke this sad news to us...
All I can say is... It's a good thing that Lee is at the controls to find us a new Mendo spot.

[grant whipp]

Well ... dayyuummmm! ... ...

... and a whole stream of expletives deleted!

I do trust Lee, though, to come up with an alternate location if Cabrillo Highlands Campground can't (or won't ever) be ready in time for the '08 event.

Lawson's Landing at Dillon Beach (site of the Cam's Cool Coastal Cowpatty Campouts) is in jepordy of loosing their use permit due to extreme pressure from environmental groups and (I'm sure) a general unwillingness to maintain and update sewage & sanitary facilities over the years (it can't be due to inability, IMO, because the revenue they get from the campers is staggering!).

Cabrillo isn't the size (thank goodness) nor does it have the resources that Lawson's has, so it will be really interesting to see how this whole turn of events plays out ... ... ...

Here's hoping for the best ... for Cabrillo, for Lawson's, and for many more of our favorite coastal camping venues ... ...!

CHEERS!

Grant

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

As fate would have it... Lee called me just moments after I posted my thoughts.
He was in Eureka having just purchased something real cool (Don't want to spoil his suprise) and ended up stopping by the fire station for a chat.
Regardless of what happens to Cabrillo Heights, Lee has things under control!!!

[doug hodder]

My hunch is there is a bigger thing happening here... Like someone else wants that property.

I'm thinking like you Dean...My bet...a trophy home or some sort of upscale, townhouse, condo project, and they found a way to push the issue to force a sale. Doug

[Ron Dickey]

I sure hope that the current property owner can get the needed renovations in place and signed off before July...
My hunch is there is a bigger thing happening here... Like someone else wants that property.
Dean and Deb hooked up with Joanie and I for dinner on their adventure Northward and broke this sad news to us...
All I can say is... It's a good thing that Lee is at the controls to find us a new Mendo spot.

Maybe if you like that site alot you could stay as a work crew inhancing the site and staying for free. A group I use to belong to would improve the site they stayed at each time they came. a working relation ship. although once complete the rent to stay could go up way out of reach too.

I am sure there are many sites simaler that could be had.
It being my first campout with teardrops (we were in a tent) makes it strange that we will not be there in a TTT.
But then agian we saw that site and a new one would be welcomed.

Ron D.

[Eunice]

Here's hoping for the best ... for Cabrillo, for Lawson's, and for many more of our favorite coastal camping venues ... ...!
CHEERS!
Grant

ditto to what Grant said. Kenny and I have only been to Mendo once and also Dillon beach once. We love both sites. Hope it works out so they dont close.

[bledsoe3]

I really enjoyed my one visit there. The view was great and the people were even better. I'm glad I made it there once.

Maybe Lee could pick a spot a couple of hundred miles up the coast to replace it.

[martha24]

I really enjoyed my one visit there. The view was great and the people were even better. I'm glad I made it there once.

Maybe Lee could pick a spot a couple of hundred miles up the coast to replace it.

I guess it depends on perspective. A couple of hundred miles south sounds better to me.

I'm glad I made it once too, it was a beautiful area & had a good time last summer.

[Gage]

I really enjoyed my one visit there. The view was great and the people were even better. I'm glad I made it there once.
Maybe Lee could pick a spot a couple of hundred miles up the coast to replace it.

I guess it depends on perspective. A couple of hundred miles south sounds better to me.
I'm glad I made it once too, it was a beautiful area & had a good time last summer.

Or maybe even a couple of hundred miles South/East. But then it wouldn't be on the coast. Yep, I like Martha's idea better. And the weather is always great down this away. Never any fog.

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Fog is a good thing...

[dmb90260]

Fog is a good thing...

Only if you are old, mossy and hang out with banana slugs.