Greetings, Friends and Neighbors, Well, we had such a fine time together at CASG5 that all of those who attended were ready to plan another California Stove Gathering, this one our 6th such event, immediately! And, so we did!! With huge help from Mac, who has camped there many times before, we are holding CASG6 at Joshua Tree National Park, May 17-20, with early arrivals on Wednesday, the 16th!! A few things of importance: - There is NO water available, so please bring all the water you will need, for drinking, cooking, dishes, and washing up yourself. - This is the start of the busiest time of the year for JT, so it would behoove you to get there as early as you can, as we are limited to 6 people and 2 cars per site. Some of us will be arriving early to stake out 3 campsites, but that will still only allow for 6 vehicles, and any others will have to park on BLM overflow, which as Mac says, might be rather grim. We cannot "hold" sites, so if you arrive later, we will do our best to fit you into the three sites we will have already bought, if there is room. - Days may well be fairly warm in May, but the nights can still be fairly cool,so dress accordingly. Sidewinders (poisonous snakes) may well be out and about at that time of year, so make sure you come prepared to keep a wary eye out for them. They will not bother you, as long as you don't bother them, or accidentally step on one! In that eventuality, being the resident "Doc", I'll bring some amputation tools, so don't worry, I'll "take care of you"!! 8) - Toilets are of the vault type, with no running water, so plan accordingly there, too. You might want to consider bringing some extra bum fodder (toilet paper) just in case there is a run on the toilets by the possible hoards of desert campers, or in case something from the pot luck dinner doesn't set well with your tummy!! Last, you might consider bringing a tent that can handle some wind, in case we get some, and which is not too hot, and also bring a fly of some kind under which you can take shade during the hot parts of the day. Other than that, come prepared to have a fun time, with the usual stoves, fettling, fun, food, friendship, and some great views!! We'll post info on how to get there, and which campsites we have, when the time gets a tad closer. Hope you can make it to CASG6, and remember, this is the reason you like stoves, right!?!! 8) If you have any questions, please give me a shout. Thanks, again, to Mac, for taking care of the recon on this one!! Well done, Mac! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
We'll be there on the 16th... but we'll be at 30,000 feet, flying east. Going to visit my Daughter and the grand-kids. Back on the 23rd. So if you see a contrail, heading east, wave!
Sounds like a great idea! I have it written down on my calendar. What camp will we be at? Indian Cove? Jumbo Rocks? Or? May could be very hot or it could be quite temperate. Let's hope for the best. Of course with the fettling skills of our CCS members, maybe we could rig up some Tilley IceBowls (the opposite of a BowlFire) and keep things nice and cool... HJ
Hey, Baja and HJ Well darn, Baja!! We figured you'd be right at home with the warm desert weather, and that this would be the perfect location and time of year for you and Mrs Baja!! Oh, well, I know you'll have fun visiting the family, and who knows, you might even find a new stove back there!! 8) We hope to see you next year, at the next CASG! I don't think there will be any more until then. HJ, good to hear that you might be joining us at #6! Just about the perfect time to be in JT, unless, as you say, we get a huge heat wave. Even then, it will be fun, though we may want to do our fettling underneath our huge canvas fly! I know that Ron will not be able to join us for #6, as he has a pressing family matter which will be keeping him busy. Hey, Ron, how about sending some of those special sausages, so we can pretend you are there with us!! I know there are other Stovies in So. Cal, but have not heard from any of them, so far. But, as always, even if our turnout is fairly small, which it is more times than not, we'll have a fantastic time and very much enjoy each others company, some fine food, fun, laughter, and fettling!! We're already looking forward to it!! More information as to exactly where we'll be will be forthcoming. The spot is picked, but we don't want to spill the beans so soon (wink wink, nudge, nudge!). Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Doc, no problem with the savages ahem sausages will send them next day express. Just remind me as even fishing is out of the question for the meantime. I hope my appehensions are just baseless but I have to be at my toes for now. Glad to know HJ might be going. Hope more stovies can come. I know aluminumjunkie likes camping . Unsure about viscara as everyone has something to do. Ron
Hey, Ron, As I told you on the phone yesterday, you are going the right thing, and I admire your for doing it. We'll keep our fingers crossed, and hope that everything turns out OK for your family. As to the sausages, I was really kidding, BUT, if you can let me know where to buy them, I'll score some for the upcoming Gathering, and we'll enjoy them with you in mind! I'll talk to you about it later, as it's way past my bedtime, and I only got a few hours of sleep last night, so I'm dragging "hiney", as we say in Texas! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Those Longanisa sausages are common in Chinese supermarkets, some Japanese stores maybe Korean and I assume Phillipino stores. I know the Chinese 99 chain of supermarkets has them, several brands and even a store made sausage. The store brand are very good and reasonable price. I buy them in 3-4 pound batches for my son who eats them almost every day for lunch. They are so reasonably priced that I haven't gotten around to making some myself. just easier to buy in bulk from the 99. I can bring some to CASG6 if you like. Jim Henderson
Hey, Big Jim, and Ron, First, Ron, thanks for offering to send the sausages. If Big Jim can score some, or if I can, we should be able to cover that base nicely. But, thanks for the kind offer. Much appreciated! Keep me posted as to how things go on your family mission. Big Jim, SB and I saw some "SEA" (South East Asia) markets yesterday, as we ran errands down the mountain, and I'll check there to see if they have those sausages. If not, I'll try to locate a Chinese 99 store, or something similar. In any case, I think we can cover the sausage front nicely. Thanks for the info and suggestions! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
It is very easy for me to get some of these sausages, like I said 3-4 pounds every week anyway. My local 99 stores are near Pomona, CA and Rancho Cucamonga, CA. about 15min drive to either for me depending on work or home. Their webpage is www.99ranch.com and they have a store locator. I don't see any closer to you than Rancho C. As mentioned before these appear to be fairly popular with SE and E Asians and of course Phillipinos, So any store selling to these groups may have them. Good Luck, Jim Henderson
Hey, Gents, Just a head's up: I'm going to try to bring quite a bit of stuff to either sell (for VERY good prices!), or simply give-away, at our CASG6. I've been trying to decide what I really "need", and what I can cut loose. Since I usually get great deals on the stuff I buy, I'm just looking to get that money back, and pass on the great deal to any interested parties that join us at the Gathering. I'll have lanterns, stoves, maybe a folding oven, or two, and some other goodies. So, leave room in your vehicles to take some of this stuff home with you, and bring a few bucks to seal the deal! Remember "CHEAP PRICES"!! 8) Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
So, trying to get some cash to get the famous Clayton and Lambert stove eh? I am sure Fliver will not accept money for your, I mean his Clayton and Lambert stove. You'll just have to use some of your medical impliments to pry his cold dead fingers off of the stove. Jim Henderson
Hey, Guys, Man, with friends like YOU two, who needs....?? Nah, in truth, I've been doing some housecleaning, and realize that I'll NEVER get around to every single stove/lantern/heater project that were originally planned. So, in order to make more room for storage and workshop, I am bringing goodies to pass along to my friends and fellow Stovies at CASG6. I should note, however, that I got a nice PT from a new CCS member back East, asking if I would be interested in selling him a stove, outright, which I had to decline. I gave him some suggestions as to where he could find the type of stove he sought, one of which was to attend the Eastern Stove Gatherings as they are planned and held. But, I do not sell stoves, as a rule, and so do not wish to begin doing that sort of thing on a regular basis. I will, however, bring them to CASG, OSG, or ASG events (California, Oregon, and Arizona) to give or sell to those who attend, but that's about all I wish to do, at least at this time. Also, please be advised that I'll NOT be bringing the super premium stoves in my collection, as they are far to dear to me to sell. And, last, no, I've made hundreds of attempts to purchase Brother Flivver's wonderful C&L stove, as well as steal it, "borrow it" permanently, and every other means of "acquiring" said stove, and alas and alack, I've failed at every turn. So, I have formally (and informally) given up hope on that, though I continue to seek such a specimen for my own. Mike is wise to keep his outstanding stove, and I don't blame him one bit! 8) See you all fairly soon, at CASG6! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Hey, Ron, Yeah, I am giving up! Heck, at CASG5, even FURRY FLIVVER "busted" me trying to steal that stove!!! AND, Mike sleeps with a pistol in hand, and one eye open!!! So, in the interest of not being either eaten by our CASG Mascot, or shot by Flivver (or, Mrs Flivver!) in the attempt, I'm giving up!! Ah, what the heck..... You can't have them all, right?! I know you won't be attending due to pressing family issues, but have a safe trip, and we'll see you at the next CASG, which will be held in Santa Fe, New Mexico!!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Yeah me too. Har har, Doc giving up. I think this is the old "lull them into a false sense of security by claiming you gave up, and then strike when the dog is sleeping" ploy. Yes Doc and Chief Inspector Clouseau have much in common. Jim Henderson
Howdy, Big Jim, Man, I can't pull the wool over ANYBODIES eyes, can I??!! I'll give you a hint at my (our) true intentions for Flivver's C&L. Sweet Bride just said, "Bring tons of stuff to give away at the CASG, so we have room for MY Clayton and Lambert stove!! If we don't have room in the truck, we can strap it on top. On second thought, strap ME on the top, and put MY Clayton and Lambert safely inside the truck"!! She further added, "I'll make the trip home with my mouthy closed, so I don't get bugs in my teeth"! I kid you not! That's exactly what she said!! By the way, you can ask her for yourself, at the Gathering, and she will readily admit it, all the while scheming for a good way to "find" Mike's C&L living at OUR house!!! 8) 8) Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc and Sweet Bride
Hi Doc: I just can't believe that my C&L is the only one in existence. If you look hard enough I bet you will turn up another. Mike...
Wow!! Only two weeks to stovie mania. Who all is attending? Will there be a good crowd of campers for show and tell? I have not camped there this time of year. Doc, is it true that you and sweetbride are cooking for the group? Mike...
Now, I just had myself one heck of a good laugh. And I'd better bring some toothpicks for poor SweetBride -- she'll need them when she gets home after riding on top. HJ
