Greetings, All, Been out of the loop for a while, with a long illness, then no internet or phone for more than a month, and lots of business work piling up! We finally have phone service back, after DUMPING Frontier Communications, and have internet, but that is limited. I cannot seem to figure out how to make our AirPort Extreme router, talk to our new Modem. So, only SB has full service, as she needs it for our business, and I am still using my iPad, which is keep me somewhat in the loop. We are REALLY looking forward to the Gathering, and look forward to seeing you all there!! I'm going to be bringing less of my own stuff, and as much of BajaBum's as I can pack, so I can offer his goodies to those who attend. The prices will be fair, but not "give-away", as we are doing this to help Steve's wife and family. So far, I have $200 in the fund, and another $100 promised by a fellow Stovie. Come prepared to shop, but more importantly, to help our fallen Brother, Baja!! More later, as time permits.... Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Thank you Doc for the post. Myself, I'm worried more about what will hapeen to my collection then if I get buried. Concerned the treasures dont get junked. Will see if I can bring a little cash to help out. Duane
Well, Doc, First I hope you feel better. It's awful when an illness drags on and on. I had hoped to attend CASG10 with some other family members, but it looks like I'll be coming stag. My boss has noted my days off request, so barring the unforeseen (and unwelcome!), I will be there. Not that I need any new stoves, but this is for Steve, correct? Seriously though, may he RIP. If he had one of those Optimus 199 stoves, I think it is called the Ranger, that looks sort of like an 8R but can run on kero, I've always thought those were fantastic little stoves. Should he have one of those Rangers, I'd like to throw my proverbial hat in the ring for it. A 111T would be Optimal, and one can never be bored with a Borde. Special note to attendees that own Coleman Xtreme series stoves that use PowerMax fuel. I have purchased a special refill adapter from Japan. It can connect a standard threaded canister to a PowerMax canister. Should anyone want to refill a PowerMax canister, I will make the adapter available. Please bring whatever canister that contains the mix you would like to fill with. Custom mixes can be made with the propane adapter that I have, but mixes containing more than 40% propane would probably not be a good idea, particularly if the weather is warm. HJ
@hikin_jim , Jim, I'm afraid that most of Steve's collection was centered on lanterns, with stoves being a bit less in importance. Most of what he had was rather pedestrian, in that there are none of the high-end models, for the most part. There IS a 111T, but that "might" be spoken for. I'll see if the possible buyer is still interested, and if not, I'll bring it to the Gathering, where we can talk some turkey. Thanks to you and Duane, and all others who knew and loves Steve, for wanting to chip in to raise money for JoAnne and the kids!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Mark
@snwcmpr Interesting. I have had that happen on one Powermax canister. I just put the stove back on, took it off again, and it was fine. It appears that Lindal valves can "freeze up" over time. These canisters won't last for ever; their valves being perhaps the weakest link. HJ
@Doc Mark Pedestrian? Whoa, whoa, Doc, don't forget you're talking to a low life like me who (gasp!) even consorts with gassies. Horrors! If only I had listed to my poor mother and stuck with kero. She tried, Doc, she tried. Humor aside, what is pedestrian to one can be treasure to another. Now, this is probably a bit of an ask, but is there any way to find out what stoves Steve had? Just don't say a Camping Gaz S-206 or an Optimus 8R, 80, or 99, lol. I've got a half dozen each of those. I suppose I could chip in for a lantern, but I've not been truly bitten by the lantern bug (a fact my wife is most happy about). HJ
I have about 28 lanterns. Like stoves, just about have all I want. Of course been saying that for some time. Duane
I think I'll try to show up for this one, if only to see HikerDuane geeking out among his own tiny stove kind instead of with a bunch of Coleman geeks as I usually see him.
Be good to see you John, bringing the 442A I got off of you as my main stove. Now, see if can locate my purple Caddie Eldorado convertible to fit in with my pimped out 111T. ) Duane
Hello planned and potential attendees! Walmart recently had K-1 kero for $5/gallon. I bought several gallons even though I'll never use even 10% of it it in a million years. It's in plastic jugs which I understand do something (bad) to the kero over time, so bring a container or two; I'll be passing out the kero to all who want some. Just a benefit (as many before have benefitted me!) of attending the CASG. I doubt I'll be the only one with something to share. Don't have any metal containers? No problem. I bought some brand new 1 liter fuel bottles, so I can bring some of those. I might want a few bucks for the fuel bottles, not sure what to ask there, but I did have to pay for them. They come with free kero, so what a deal right? You need kero? Let's talk. I'm sure I can get you set up. HJ
Which highway do I take if in a hurry to get to the CG? 15 or 40? I'll be coming down 395, camping one night before making this, Bishop or north of Ridgecrest will be safer. Won't be able to get a detailed map before hand. Looking at the website, have located the CG. When leaving I can go the other way if I feel like it. Duane
I have only ever come in via I-40 which is dirt past Hole in the Wall Campground but was doable in a standard passenger car. I don't know what effect this past winter has on the road. The amount of dirt driving from I-40 is about 9 miles, from I-15 is about 10. The paved portion of the road is supposed to be a higher speed road from I-15, but, again, I haven't driven it. You've got 20 something miles of pavement from either interstate highway to the dirt roads. Coming in from either I-40 or I-15 seems fairly comparable in terms of the drive after you leave the interstate, with maybe a slight edge to the I-15 entry point. Of course you need to consider the entire trip, not just the portion after leaving the interstate. Google Maps says 5:20 from Bishop, CA (which is on US 395) to Mid Hills via I-15 and passing through Cima; 5:27 going via I-40 passing through Kelso; and 5:37 using Essex and Black Canyon Roads. HJ
Thanks HJ, thought it might be 4 hours, but my thinking was only if I was on one edge of the Park. Will see if I can camp at least an hour south of Bishop. Guessing check in time at the CG would be around 1 or 2. Will be making numerous stops, got a pup last weekend. Duane
All the paved roads through the park seem to be in good shape. Last week, I drove Ivanpah Rd (coming from Searchlight and Nipton to the junction about 2 miles south of the 15), then down Morningstar Mine Rd and Kelso-Cima Rd. I drove the roads east of the Providence Mts. a couple months ago, and they were fine. If you're coming from the 15, you need to use Cedar Canyon Rd to cross to the east side of the Providence Mts. Most of the way is dirt, though it's usually fine for passenger cars. The exception can be just after a rain when rocks and sand can wash over the road. It's usually still passable (except when actually flowing) if you go slow. If you can't negotiate Cedar Canyon then you'll have to drive Kelso-Cima Rd down to Kelso and then on to the 40. I'd advise picking up a good map of the area (the Tom Harrison one, or similar), rather than just relying on the phone gps. ....Arch
In that case, you might want to take Foshay Pass east of Kelso, and coming out south of Mitchell Caverns. (Tie down all the stuff in the back if you try this!) I haven't been up there in many years, though. ....Arch
Greetings, All, WOW!! CASG #10 is almost upon us!! If everyone who has shown interest, actually comes to the event, we'll have 18+ folks there, from 5 different States!!! That will be a new record for attendance/State representation!! We will have two surprise attendees from far, far away, in the US!! Their identity will be revealed once you all get to the Gathering!! For those that can't attend, you will have to wait until the AAR, and photos of the event, are posted here at CCS!! I'll be sending a PT to all those who have mentioned wanting to attend, later today, and hope to get a better idea of, exactly, how many of our CCS Mates we'll see at #10! So far, the weather looks like it will be warm, balmy to hot, days, and chilly and clear nights. But, as we've seen in the past, God knows what next week might bring!! So, bring layers, and a tent that can cope with inclement weather, if it's suddenly thrust upon it! I will not be bringing a huge amount of my own stoves, because the two cabin ranges, two Clayton and Lambert #3's, and the Glenwood Camp Cooker, will take up quite a bit of room in our truck. I will bring a few lanterns, including a couple of Swedish kero lanterns, which I've never fired up, and our oldest Coleman lantern. Most of the extra room will be filled with Steve's goodies, to sell for the fund raiser we've got going. I can't bring everything, as there is simply too much stuff! But, I'll bring some nice goodies, and let's all join in and help JoAnne and Baja's family, by buying something that he enjoyed. He wanted his CCS friends to have the stuff, rather than have it wasted at a garage sale, or swap meet, and all money collected will be given to JoAnne, and the family will then donate all the proceeds to the wonderful Foundation that helped Baja have a few extra and comfortable years!! As room in the truck is precious, we plan on eating far more simply than we usually do, just to make things easier to pack and stow. Be sure to bring something fun for the Pot Luck Dinner, which we can do either Friday, or Saturday, whichever is best for everyone. Or, hey, we could even do it earlier in the week, as I know some folks will have to leave early, as Easter will be upon us, and they have family commitments. Well, that's about it, for now. Be safe traveling, and we will look forward to seeing you all at CASG #10, Mid Hills Campground, site #19 (and surrounding sites, if we need them)!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Greetings, All, CASG #10 is shaping up to be a good event! So far, we have 13-14 people who say they will be there, and a few more who are not sure, just yet, and may come just for a day visit, which is fine. #10 will see at least FIVE couples, and that is a record for our events! SB and I are really excited, and very much looking forward to this event, and to seeing you all there!!! The weather reports are showing warm days, and very chilly nights (down in the high 40°F range), which is perfect camping weather!! Bring something warm to wear at night, and you should be fine. Have safe journeys to the event, and we'll see you all there!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Good Morning, All, A bit more news about the event. I got this email from @z1ulike , recently, and want to share it with you all, with his permission: "We'll arrive on Thursday the 13th and will leave on Saturday the 15th. We'll provide hot showers for everyone Thursday and Friday afternoons. Bring a towel. I'd also like to offer a communal breakfast for everyone Friday and Saturday mornings. I'll bring everything and recruit some help preparing it." I'm really happy that Ben and his wife will be joining us, and thank them both for their kind offers of showers and a communal breakfast! Sweet Bride and I will happily volunteer for cooking duty, or doing dishes, or whatever else will help with those breakfasts! Thanks, Ben! And, speaking about communal eating, let's plan our Pot Luck dinner for Friday afternoon, or evening, depending on the weather, as a few folks have to leave on Saturday. I don't think we will have any actual seminars, but I'm sure there will be lots of fettling going on, so bring your projects, and we can share info and skills with one another. I had hoped to bring both of the cabin stoves I scored recently, but am not sure they will fit, once all of Steve's stuff is packed in the truck. In any case, I'll bring some fun stoves, and other things. HJ mentioned that he wanted to see the original MSR white pump, so I'll bring my old #9, and all three of the pumps that MSR sent to the original owner of that stove, for replacements, as the original pumps began to fail. We'll also bring both Clayton and Lambert #3 stoves, and I will attempt to get the second one up and running at the event. I'll also be bringing several #2 Brass kero burners from Optimus/Primus, and we will do some cooking on them, and boil up our dish water everyday. That should be fun!! I'll also bring my camera, so we can share this event with everyone here at CCS, after we return home, safe and sound. So, unless something happens between now and the event, that should about cover the details. Remember, we'll be at the Mid Hills Campground, in the Mojave National Preserve, site #19, and whatever nearby sites we need. As we will be at a bit of elevation, be sure to bring warm jackets for the night, as it will be chilly, and we may even get a tad of rain, though none is in the forecast right now. I'll be bringing a couple of kero bowl fire heaters, just in case the night air is a bit too chilly to sit out and enjoy the stars. If you have a heater, you might want to pack it along, just in case. We've only needed them twice, whilst at a CASG, but were surely happy we had them, both times!! Give me a shout, if you have any questions, and I'll do my best to answer them. See you all there! Take care, and God Bless!! Every Good Wish, Doc P.S. For John, Rick, and anyone else who is possibly coming, please consider camping with us, if you can make it. But, even a day visit will be greatly appreciated!! And, Big Jim, please let me know if you are joining us at CASG #10. It's been a long time since we last touched base.
