Hey, Terry, I forgot my manner, my friend! Of course, you and your Bride are most definitely welcome to eat with SB and I every night, unless you have other plans. There is usually a pot luck dinner on either Friday, or Saturday afternoon/evening, and since you are traveling, please feel free to just join in, without worrying about cooking anything. We're just glad to be able to meet, and share some time with you guys!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Mark
Hi all: Hey Doc I just reread the first page and remembered you mentioned a Coleman theme. Is this still the case? Mike...
Howdy, Flivver, Hummm.... I had forgotten about that, but it's OK with me! I imagine it will be pretty much as usual for our CASG Family: bring whatever trips your trigger. If we do a Coleman theme, Big Jim will win, hands down, as his ENTIRE CAMP is Coleman-made, for the most part!! Mike, I'm going to bring my two Coleman #1 stoves, and finally see about getting the best of them up and running perfectly. The one I got running has a leak in the fuel tank, which is probably going to have to be brazed, or maybe I'll just swap out the tank, which is pretty much where I left it the last time I worked on it. I'll also bring my Coleman #2, as well, so the other stoves won't feel alone! 8) I don't know if BernieDawg is planning to join us, but I surely do wish I'd spent some time learning to braze, when he did his outstanding class on that subject, at CASG#3!! Talk to you later, and as plans come together, we can decide, for sure, if we want a theme-based Gathering this time, or not. Pet Charlie for me, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
I am good for that date. Coleman, what Coleman? Oh, I might have a Coleman keychain or something. By the way, for our out of state visitors you might want to re-read some of my and ohers comments from the last CASG #6 at about that same date two years ago. https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/20767 Pay SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE NEED FOR WATER AND SHADE. If you have not camped in a desert climate before, you WILL NEED A LOT OF WATER AND SUN PROTECTION. Last time it was in the 70s to 90s F and had some nice breezes. You will dehydrate quickly in this dry climate. I was told that a day or so before I arrived, it was very windy and that you need to stake your tent down. The ground is decomposed granite, like crumbly concrete, so driving a stake into the ground can be tricky, like pounding nails into rock. I was able to use a sledge hammer or small ax head from Doc I think, to pound my el cheapo dime store stakes(bent nails?) into the rock. I am not sure you could drive a large stake into the rock and forget plastic ones. As far as medical emergencies, Doc is always at the ready with his amputation saws and Clysters. Looking forward to it. Jim Henderson
Hey, Big Jim! That's great news!! So far, we have a nice little group planning to attend CASG #8, and hopefully a few more will join us, too. As things stand, here are out attendees who are planning to be there: Big Jim Mac and Mrs Mac Flivver, Mrs Flivver, and Furry Flivver (Charlie the Wonder Dog!) Terry and his Bride (from the UK!) Doc and Sweet Bride and a possible day visitor, Mark Lindemann (from whom I bought my nice Coleman #2, a few years ago.) I haven't heard back from Ron, BernieDawg, Baja Bum, Hikin' Jim, and a handful of others to whom I sent notice of our upcoming event, so it's very possible our ranks will swell somewhat for this next CASG. Jim is absolutely right, however: bring tons of water, some sort of shade for your camp (which should be strong enough that it won't blow away when the winds howl, which they very well may!!), lots of sun protection, and a good hat to cover your head and shade your face, also being a first aid kit of some sort, 'cause it's the desert and you never know what might happen to you out there. As to clothing, dress in light layers, and make sure you don't wear dark clothing, which will make you hotter, IMHO. Chairs of some sort are also a good thing, and of course, whatever stoves, food, and beverages that you may need/want. In past Gatherings out there, we had to make food/ice/beverage/water runs into town, which is a real problem. One more word of advice: as I mentioned earlier in this thread, please be sure to arrive as early as you can, because sites are at a premium, and it's usually "first come, first served". For CASG #7, which was only attended by the Mac Family, and us, we were blessed to be able to secure the LAST campsite in that entire side of the Park!!! Had we had a larger attendance, we'd have been out of luck. If worse comes to worse, we will simply caravan to the Mid-Hills Campground, about 50 miles North of JTNP, as I'm sure we can find sites there. Not near as lovely as JTNP, but hey, beggars cannot be choosers, right?!! So, that's all, for now, and more info as it becomes available. This Gathering is shaping up to be a fine one!! 8) Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Hi all: Come join us. All CCS stovies are invited and welcome to CASG gatherings. (Please post if you intend to come) Mike...
Greetings, All, Just for off the phone with Flivver, and he thought I had not stressed hard enough that all our CASG events are open to any and all Stovies, no matter where you happen to live!! I think I've made that clear in the past, but maybe I should remind every one more often. The event is set, the place has been reserved, so make your plans to join us for CASG8!! More info will be posted here, as soon as I have it in hand. Take care, and SB and I are really looking forward to seeing you all at CASG8, and especially to meet Terry and his lovely wife, who are joining us from the UK!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc (who's back to work.....)
You should also mention that the Cottonwood GROUP CAMP site has been reserved for us. So essentially unlimited numbers of stovies may attend(within reason and far beyond what we would expect) From PMs in the group... The site is flat with NO NATURAL SHADE but it does have overhead roofs over the picnic tables(2 or 3? per shelter) and has flush toilets. It can and probably will be windy.
Hey, DaveW, That's great! I see you live up near where my Mom used to live. You would head down to Phoenix, than take the I10 freeway into CA. When you pass Chiraco Summit (before Palm Springs/Indio), you will see the turn off to JTNP. Follow the signs to Cottonwood Campground, and we're in site #3. Looking forward to seeing you there! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
It looks like you guys are going to have a great meet - with some new friends joining you. At our meet in Newark in the UK in the past I have met members who had thought that it was an 'elitist' gathering, but after two or three years decided that they would turn up. Then they found out that the Newark meeting is anything but elitist. It is a wonderful relaxing gathering of CCS members. It does not matter if you have 20 stoves or no stoves at all - everyone is made welcome. Good chat, good food, good drink and lots of laughs. So all you US members of CCS, if you can possibly make the CASG#8 meeting - get there and you will not regret it!
Greetings, All, Just a reminder that CASG8 is coming up soon. if you have not head about it as of yet, CASG8 will take place May 6-11, with some of us arriving on the 6th, and a few coming on Thursday or Friday. We've reserve Site #3 in the Cottonwood Campground, which is not far from Interstate 10. So far, it looks like we're going to have a very good turn-out. Remember to bring your stoves, your tools, any parts you may have, plenty of fuel, and of course, yourself!! Also, make sure you bring a decent tent, that won't blow away, should we get the occasional high winds down in JTNP, and bring plenty of water, and a good cooler. A first aid kit would be good, as well as a camera, and anything else you think you may need, or want. If any more info develops before time for the event, I'll post it here. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc P.S. Trevor, many thanks for your very kind and thoughtful comments in the preceding post!! One day, we hope you can come and join us, as Terry and his wife are doing this year!!
Good Morning, All, It's our second foggy, rainy day, up here in the mountains, and we're loving it!! I've been thinking about our upcoming CASG8, however, and wonder if those who plan to attend would like to do another "Show and Tell" day? We've done them a few times before, with, mostly, good success. The last one we did, however, at Belle Campground, was not so successful. Of course, WE were really the only campers around there, so I guess that was to be expected!! But, with Cottonwood Campground being much larger, that "might" allow for more interested folks to come by to see what we do. So, either post here, or drop me a PT, or a regular email, and let me know your thoughts about that. I'm good with it, either way, and will be bringing some fun stoves to use, some to enjoy, and some to fettle! Talk later, and see you all soon!! God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Greetings, All, Whilst talking to Flivver (Mike) today, he wondered if anyone would would bring older Coleman lanterns that had the radioactive Thorium mantles in them? I might have one such lantern, which we almost always bring, and as it looks to have it's original mantles, it might fit that bill. If there is interest, Mike will bring his Geiger Counter, and we can test any older Coleman mantles for radioactivity!! That might be fun! Any thoughts, or comments? Talk soon, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Greetings, All, Last night I got another confirmation of attendance, so we're up to 10 at the event, with very possibly more to come as we get closer!! If everyone who has expressed interest comes, then we should have around 20 people there. But, having 10 Stovies, and Stovettes there will be just fine, too!! I've made my list of stoves to bring..... then, scratched it, and started over again....., now I'm on round three, and that will probably change, too, as I find more favorites down in the Hobby Hole!! See you all there! God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Update: Checked with Arch, and then looked online, and if we need to resupply, for ice, etc., Chiraco Summit, down in Interstate 10, is the closest place to do so. There is only a Chevron mini-mart/gas station and their offerings may well be a bit meager, not to mention quite high priced! But, Indio, CA is only 33.2 miles, and 37 minutes from Cottonwood, and Twentynine Palms is about 40 miles to the North. But, going to TNP is going to take more than an hour each way, since most of the road is inside the National Park, itself. So, Indio is probably our best bet, if we need to resupply. More later, if more info becomes available. Take care, see you soon, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Greetings, All, Arch sent me a note the other day, informing me that our campsite is actually reserved from Wednesday, May 7 - Sunday May 11. So, please don't arrive on Tuesday, as some of us were planning to do. You may not get a campsite, or if you do, it won't be the one in which we're holding the Gathering. See you soon, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
