SLO, CA Gathering at Montana de Oro SP Sept. 13-15, 2007

[Esteban]

Hello everybody! The SLO Gathering countdown is getting short.

Early birds, Chris "Italia" and Billnut headed out to Montana de Oro with their teardrops today (Sunday). Wonder if they're the first ones? Chris and Dan helped plan the SLO Gathering.

The grocery stores in Los Osos are about 5-6 miles from the campground. If you forget something or need more ice they're where you'd go. Costco in SLO is about 15-18 miles from the campground (I haven't measured it).

Lana told me trailers need to be parked on the pavement. In most campsites the picnic table and fire ring are to one side of the parking area. Montana de Oro campground is predominantly used by tent campers. Just a guess, but I'd estimate most campsites are about 25-50 feet apart. We've had a few more offers of extra parking so as near as I can tell it's covered for everyone.

A campsite backing up to the creek


One of the sunniest camp spots

[Esteban]

Nice folks from SLO are lending me their teardrop. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Do you think it looks, just a little, like Joanne's Desert Dawg. Except this one has no galley. It has an ingenious heating system...candles inside metal cookie boxes that are vented to the outside.


Now that I get to enjoy some off the ground luxury camping in teardrop I plan to arrive at Montana de Oro on Wednesday to meet the early birds and to be help greet the rest of you who're arriving Thursday. I've lost count of how many TDs and TTTs are coming. Over 35.

The weather is nearly perfect for the gathering. Days are in the high 60s to low 70s. Weather forecasts say the next few nights are expected to be in the mid 50s.

[mfkaplan]

Any geocachers comming to the gathering? This is a fairly new hobby for me. I'm hooked! Just got a new GPS unit. I see that there are some caches hidden in the park that I would like to locate. Anyone interested?

[doug hodder]

Mary...I know that Lee did that the year before last at the Dam Gathering...sounds like a fun time. Doug

[Ma3tt]

I GeoCache but I'm not doing a class!!!!!!!!

[Gage]

<snip>
Lana told me trailers need to be parked on the pavement. <smip>

Steve, something for you to think about. A 'Teardrop' has a smaller foot print than your average family size tent. I believe that is one of the reasons S.P.'s and other campgrounds let us park off pavement. But beings how this is the first gathering for both you and the host, that's something that can be discussed at a later time.

I also heard a rumor from a good source that the Big Dog of the Southern California chapter of Tear Jerkers will be in attendance.

[Kevin A]

I just need someone to tell me where my van might be safe. If we share a campsite, does it mean that someone that snores will be sleeping 4 feet away from us with open windows?



Well, I already offered. Too late to back out now. Who's got the earplug concession for this gathering?

Duane, you're safe. I can't make it down for this gathering.

[sunny16]

I should be traveling thru Lo$t Wage$ (Las Vegas) some time early Thursday morning on my way to the gathering. I posted before that my son and I want to stop in Oxnard and Ventura to see some friends on the way. Short stops I hope! And since it is a long drive back we may be leaving the party on Saturday some time so that the drive home won't be so long. We will decide that after we get there. We may not want to go home! But we are looking forward to seeing everyone as this will be the first time to a gathering.

Drive careful everyone!

Anyone use CB or Ham radio? Any channels or freqs to call? I usually drive with both, CB on channel 19 and the calling channel for Ham radio 146.520.

See you there!

Bryan

[Ron Dickey]

Steve,

What is the agenda food wise my wife asked me and I have not kept up with all the cards and letters. I heard wallfels and Dutch Oven is there an asstablished day for get to gether pot luck .... she does the cookin, mostly I can cook but let her lead.

For those who are wondering most roads around there are paved. Los Osos is some what hilly but you have a straight shoot to the park it gets a little hilly when in the park but nothing drastic. It is a two lane road in and there is only one way in and one way out of M.D.O. Park. Lots of hike'n trailes and walks by the ocean. Animals are mostly deer, birds, cotten tails, Raccons the size of med. dogs, Opposems, and There are 1 or 2 moutain Lions (rearly seen) Rattle snakes (rearly heard), and Kangaroo Mice (the size of mice). Tranchala's migrate here but they don't come until Oct. 31 (for real) so you missed them. It will be a safe and fun place to camp.

Look forward to seeing and meeting all of you. My trailer is close to done. Roof went on this smorning. Back door cut. I may just nail up the side doors if I can't make them in time. Trailer not reg. yet. Truck wired. If I do not license it in time I may rent a utility trailer.

Ron D.
Los Osos, CA

[doug hodder]

What worked well I think at Mendocino is that for the Pot Luck on Sat. night is that people posted what they were going to be cooking or bringing. I think it's a good idea so that we don't end up with like 15 desserts and no entrees.
I can probably scrounge up a piece of cardboard that we can post on, and put in the "gathering" area. I'm sure that there are going to be plenty of eats, but knowing what might or might not be there could be helpful in kind of coordinating the menu....just an idea. Doug

[Esteban]

Ron, Doug, & anyone else with a good idea to share, please keep your pot luck planning ideas coming. It's planned for Saturday evening.

I printed the T&TTT Dutch Oven cookbook and gave Chris "Italia" a copy. I'll bring another one and leave it out on a table in the "gathering area" for people to browse for recipe ideas. Figure there'll be plenty of main dishes because of the DO class in the morning. Who knows if that's going to be right?

Thought about buying a dry erase board...too pricey. Would a spiral notebook with pages for people to sign up for main dishes, salads, deserts, etc. be helpful? Ive got one to bring. Or, I could bring some big pieces of cardboard (Doug's idea) and Sharpie pens'...I already have them, too.

Here's the thumbnail schedule (remember we said we're newbies organizing a gathering and we're not gonna schedule much):

Thursday. Thursday is when most people will arrive. No organized dinners together are planned. Some camp fire visiting would be expected. It's Farmer's Market night in downtown SLO from 5:30-9 PM. It'll be the first week Cal Poly is back so there are sure to be plenty of people out and about...but, there always are. There's an earlier Farmer's Market in Morro Bay at Spencer's Market from 3-5 PM. Both are good. The one in SLO has lots of restaurant food booths.

Friday. Nothing planned for Friday daytime. Expect lots of visiting and looking at trailers. A good day to go for a hike. In the evening Chris and Dan - "Italia," and I will BBQ tri tip for everyone as long as it lasts. Not sure what Cyndie and Randy Mac have up their sleeve...they're letting us share their wood fired cowboy BBQ.

Saturday. Waffles in the morning. At 10AM Matt and Joanne give a 1 hour DO cooking class. They can help with menu ideas if you want to cook something in your DO for the pot luck. Saturday evening is the big pot luck. Matt has some fun and games up his sleeve.

Sunday. We don't have plans for an organized breakfast or lunch. Very open to ideas. Most people leave today. In the evening there's a Maria Muldaur concert in Los Osos for a $15 donation. The concert starts at 7PM. They traditionally have a good pot luck at 6PM. Seats get scarce if you wait to come at 7.

[doug hodder]

Steve....a piece of cardboard with a marker is your best bet. It's a first come first served sort of thing, for those signing up. Like I say...I think it's best if we can kind of get an idea on who is bringing what so we don't end up with a load of the same thing. And for those of you who don't want to do a DO thing...salads are really welcomed and desired too, as well as bread etc...just what I've experienced. Doug

[Gage]

<snip>I could bring some big pieces of cardboard (Doug's idea) and Sharpie pens'...I already have them, too.

That'll be good enough. Good size piece of cardboard and some sharpies.

Because of past pot lucks that we've gone to, and not a DO cook, we'll be bringing a side dish. You watch though, the farmers market won't have any fresh beans Thursday.

[doug hodder]

Hey Gage.....got Fork??? Doug

[Gage]

Always got fork. and spoon, and knife. You got plate.