Ron and Lucia Dickey took me on a surprise picnic to Lopez Lake about a week ago on a Teusday. It was a hot day 80s + in SLO for about an hour. Then it cooled off as the afternoon breeze came up. When we arrived at Lopez Lake just before 5 it was cool enough that we all bundled up, by putting on a jacket, for our lakeside picnic. We (meaning Ron) drove through many parts of the campground late in the afternoon. We were curious tourists. It was warmer and wind sheltered (away from the lake frontage) up in the Beaver campground...maybe it was in the high 60's or low 70' around 5pm.
We saw that the Beaver Campground is a favorite tenting campground for families. It is considerably more private, with good sheltering shade, without big full hookup, RVs as neighbors. In the height of summer vacations most other nearby tent campgrounds were nearly empty. Beaver was about half full. One other hillside campground on the was up to Beaver was nearly full.
Full hookup campsites, especially ones near by the water slides, were nearly full that Tuesday.
At the height of summer vacation time only about half the Lopez Lake camping spaces we saw were filled. RVs and campers by the water slides in full hookups campsites were nearly filled. In the tent camping areas the Beaver campground was about half filled with happy families about to start supper. Every one had multiple "huge" family size tents. Most neighboring tent campsites were nearly deserted. One other hillside campground was nearly full. Conclusion the Beaver Campground is a favorite one to camp in for tenting families. (And will again be for those of us lucky enough to camp in teardrop trailers, with friends welcome to come by for a visit, camp in a tent, trailer, tent trailer, or nearby in a RV where they'll fit better.
At the end of our "picnic" Ron and Lucia reserved Beaver #18. Thank you very much Ron and Lucia for a surprise invitation, a very nice afternoon together, and for your friendship.
A local couple (hint) that I won't name here to preserve their privacy who camped at the first SLO Gathering at MdeO and at SLO2.O last year),
may come by for a visit Saturday. Theirs is a convertible TD. Early this summer they camped in their TD at the the KCBX Live Oak Music Festival. It was was an instant hit there and they gave many tours. Happy backpacking.
Chris "Italia" and I talked today, too. She and Dan plan to visit Lopez Lake this weekend. A pleasant surprise and a further mystery that may unfold to all of our delight !? Dan and Chris recently met a couple in Santa Barbara who have a rounded front teardrop (or an excellent clone) by a famous teardrop maker (CI) who might, hope, hope come to SLO 3. Chris and Dan were biven a full tour of the mystery TD. Chris said it's fabulous with enough room for a couple of small grand kids to sit and play inside.
Still more may unfold: Other local TDers may come if their work schedules and leisure lives can be aligned.
Anyone interested in seeing teardrop trailer, and meeting friendly teardroppers, is welcome to come for a visit. Usually mid day Saturday is the best time for us to give "tours". Really, really, curious about teardrop trailers and teardrop gatherings? Wonder if you too, two, or more, would like one? Feel free to come by, to camp in a tent, tent trailer, or tiny trailer at the gathering. Or stay in a local hotel and come by for a fun experience. (Not with tour buses full of curious gawkers, if you please!).
If you'll be camping a full size RV, please camp in a full hookup site, and come by for a tour.
Sweet Dreams and Happy Trails teardroppers whether we're already camping friends or new friends, yet to meet.
by Esteban » Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:51 pm 
Thank you Tim, Margaret, & Nicky and Joanne for getting the "Let's Talk Food" ball rolling. 
We're cast iron and dutch oven friendly. Bottom line is that almost any good tasty food is welcome.
Bob, With your schedule conflict so that you're won't be coming to this SLO Gathering. Maybe our paths will cross sometime, or somewhere, in the future.
