Thought I'd post up a request for those living within 200 miles or so of the California/Oregon border that might be interested in a mini-meet. Not to exclude anyone that might want to come from farther away. All are welcome. SoCal is so far away and as the 'core' group has expressed their desire to not drive to heck and gone(my words) which is understandable, it's up to us if we want to have a mini within a reasonable distance. No commitments here as of now, this is just for informational purposes to see if there is enough or any interest at all. Add your screen name and city if you see fit or we can just let it wither on the vine. It's up to us. So, here we go... 1. Russ in California- Mckinleyville, CA 2. Thanks, 8)
Steve in Klamath Falls, Oregon... several times a year, anyway. Could hit a meet coming or going, I suppose. Usually- March-Brrr June 8) September 8) Thanksgiving Brrr
I would need some notice of course to request time off. I'm around three hour drive from Redding, up by Quincy. hikerduane, Meadow Valley, CA
Hello, I'm Doc Mark, and I live in Southern California! I would love to drive up to join you at some future meet, as long as time allows. Please keep me posted as to any future stove meets that you create up your way. Thanks, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc P.S. See how easy that was??!! 8) I do hope that you setup and create some fun Gatherings up your way, and remember, we down South are more than willing to drive to attend such things!! In fact, if you look at our four CASGs, besides Mike and Gary, both drive in from out of State, we are the ONLY ones who are willing to drive for Gatherings!! 8) My original point was not that we're unwilling to drive, as you mistakenly wrote, but that it was far better for locals to put on their own events, as they are much better suited to pick campsites from their own area, and know the lay of the land better than someone from far away!!! That was the only intent of my comments, and hopefully, you now understand that. But, history has shown me that, when it comes to planning events like this, only a few folks are willing to pony up and attend them. Our core group from down South is filled with intrepid, interesting, and good Stovies, that have shown over and over again, that they are willing to drive hundreds and hundreds of miles, and spend 5-6 hours on the road, in order to share some stove and camping fun together!!! I hope you have the same success up your way, and if possible, will come up and join you if I can! Please keep in mind that you were invited to our events down here, too, but you could not attend. I do hope you will journey South one of these times to join us, as we already have established that we can, and do, put on a very interesting and fun Stove Gathering!!! I am proud of you for taking the bull by the horns, and trying to setup your own mini-meet, or Gathering, Russ!! I wish for you the same successes we've down down this way!!! Huzzah!!!
Thanks Doc Mark but...hold the phone. What I actually said was "the core group has expressed their desire to not drive to heck and gone(my words) which is understandable." I did not mean to imply anyone was 'unwilling' and recant if I overstated anyones opinion. Your point of north and south is well taken and God's willing and the river don't rise we just might have a mini at some point. Looks like we have a few folks willing to be implicated in a future mini-meet and hopefully there will be more and even some who will actually attend. Life is good. Living the dream eh. 8)
Russ: We live in Corvallis, OR and I think I (we) might be ripe for such a mini-meet. I'm retired so time is usually flexible, unless conflicted with another camping trip. We have camped a lot in California, 13 years, and in Oregon, about 8 years, and can say with no hesitation that if you are thinking of holding the event at a state park, you would be better off holding it in Oregon, possibly just north of the boarder at Harris Beach State Park in Brookings. That is only about 6+ hours away from our abode. The only real problem with that is you almost have to make reservations 9 months in advance to be assured of getting a site. To some extent this also holds true for the more popular state parks in California. Private campgrounds are more available but are more expensive and usually much more crowded. The Abalone Campground at Patrick's Point is nice but can be very damp, especially in the summer. It has no shore power and the water supply in communal. Do you have a short list of possible locations yet? I was privileged to attend the first SoCal mini-meet with Doc and Baja. It was a kick!! But, it was more in range as we were living in Santa Rosa at the time. Please put me (us) down as very highly likely attendees. Gordon
OK, I know what I need and like in a camp. With a jug of water and 'a stove' I'm feeling fine. Don't need no stinkin' campsite numbers. What are others looking for in a campground? Is a state park or 'formal' campground needed? How about a primitive camp? Near a main artery or off the beaten path(my choice)? I'll be honest, I live on the coast(read: fog)and would choose something inland that involves no fog and a bit of warmth. So post up what you'd like to see for amenities and we'll see what shakes out. 8) p.s. State of Jefferson, YES
I go backpacking, so I need very little, but if others are bringing a s/o, may need to get something with facilities. A close source of water since we have stoves would be nice but not necessary as I guess we would be together for just a day or two. If too far away, would arrive mid day and leave early the last day. No fog, had enough of that growing up in the valley. We also need to consider the cost of fuel doing these things, not everyone has the time or money to drive a long distance. Not that we don't want to go. Some of us still need to work and pay for more stoves. Didn't I say no more stoves a few weeks ago? $25 is cheap right?
HD that's cheap man! Anyway, a mini meet would be an overnight at least in a camp ground, open fire pit perhaps and close enough parking for the group. Then we can bring some problematic or show off stoves to oogle or fettle over. Driving 100 miles requires a bit of rest so overnighters are OK in my book. Ron
Hey, Ron, Back in the day, Sweet Bride and I would drive over 100 miles, just to go out to eat in a good restaurant!!! 8) 8) Living up here in the mountains, if we want to run errands down on the flat, we have to make such drives as a matter of course. No muss, no fuss.... But, it's interesting how different folks view what constitutes a "long drive". In our business, we have customers in New York City, that do not go to do business with another client of ours, in New Jersey, even though the two areas are only TWENTY MILES apart!!! Those folks from NYC say, "It's too far to drive all the way to New Jersey"!!! Oh, well..... each to his/her own, right??!! But, driving 100 miles, even for a mini-meet, would be fine with me. Of course, over-nights, or better still, weekends, are always even more enjoyable!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Know what you mean there Doc. When we lived in Oz we'd drive the 1000 miles each way from Sydney to Adelaide two or three times a year to visit my wife's cousin. We'd only stop for fuel and it'd take us 16 hours overnight door to door sharing the driving two hours on, two hours off. Mind you, we were a bit younger then. What used to really annoy us is that we'd make a visit back to the UK, and having travelled 12,000 miles to do so, someone would then say it was too far to drive 30 miles to meet up with us! That was a great way to re-evaluate who your real friends were and a few got knocked off the birthday card list Cheers, Graham.
Hi all: It's all what you are accustom to. For 15 years I drove 92 miles each way to work through heavy traffic in Los Angeles. Today I plan my trips to Walmart to coincide with other errands because of the distance (15 miles). Mike...
Distances to travel are very relative. My current boss is South African and would regularly drive from Johannesburg to Pretoria for a concert then drive home straight after Thats a similar distance to Sydney to Adelaide but another workmate who has family in Holland was told that 5km was too far to walk and someone would drive him. The nature of the terrain traffic etc makes a difference as does the regularity of such journeys. Your 30km trip could easily in the minds of those making it require all the planing of your 1000km trip.
From past experience, if you try to accomodate everyone, no one goes. If you change plans to accomodate one person, no one goes. Best plans are to lay it out and if others can make it, they will. They know that's the plan and if something changes and they can make it, they know all the w's.
Hey, Hiker Duane, and All, Well said, and absolutely true!! Make the plan, lay it out, and IF someone wants to attend, they will, if not, they won't. It's that simple. Sweet Bride and I are ones that are more than willing to "drive" for some stove or Living History fun!! Whilst others might consider the distance "too far", in order to participate in the upcoming 18th century horse scout about which I've told you all, I will be driving 1,300 + miles, round-trip! Is that "too far"? Not to me, Mates!! 8) "Fun" is where you find it, and somethings you have to drive to enjoy it!! Good by me, that's for sure! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Are we going to do anything? I have vacation time coming up Oct. 8, but I plan on a backpack trip to the southern Sierra out of Independence. Still hot in the valley I guess.