Heya Gents I reckon we're about 6-7 weeks out from the OSG. Just a quick reminder that the event is still totally on and happening. I think it's gonna be great! At about four weeks out I'll check in with another update and some additional info. Stay tuned and enjoy your summer until then. Cheers, Gary
Just thinking aloud here since I will be driving solo for this trip and to be honest I can not do long drives without stopping for a 30 minute rest. Its a safety factor that comes with age . The route I will be taking is Highway 5 as most of the members may be using. It would be livelier if along the way, from the farthest member joining that we meet up along the route hence I will synchronize my schedule to those traveling and have a convoy. Am aware that Bajabum may be traveling 101 on to 5 via Gilroy so Baja, if you can tell me your schedule. HikerDuane will be joining but since he is only 4 hours from the site, he may want to go ahead. Doc Mark may be using another route other than 5. Anybody else from SoCal or in the Bay area joining and perhaps sync our schedules and meet up somewhere? I can taper my departure without problems. But I may have to leave early Monday. I may be bringing a CB radio just in case. Ron
Ron, Sorry, but we'll be going up a week early, to do some work at our other place. As of right now, we aren't sure what day we'll be continuing on to the meet. ATB, Steve
I'm on US101 near Eureka but I won't leave till Friday pm late after work-ish. If that works for anyone, giddy-yup. 8)
I wish it was only four hours, its three to the border, plus I plan on spending one afternoon and night at a guys place from TLB who asked a while back when was I coming to do a bp trip. I have Wed. Aug. 31 off, so should be at the lake on Thursday midday I'm hoping. Not sure if I'm going home first after work on Tuesday and start for OR that afternoon and spend a night at the lava beds or some such place, before taking off again Wed. or going home first, then getting a early start Wed for the long drive. Wish I could meet some on 5, but I may go 395. Duane
Morning, All, Sweet Bride and I still have not decided two things about our trip to the OSG. One, is whether we should try to bring our 17' Alumacraft canoe along, and two, is which route we will be taking North to Oregon. It appears, from the mapping programs, that going West to I-5, then North, is the quickest way to get there. However, we're going to figure out how far it would be by taking Hwy 395, instead, as that is just a short distance from our mountains, and we do love that drive up past Bishop, and Mt. Whitney, with magnificent views of the Sierra, compared to the sometimes boring stretches of I-5 in some areas. Ron, I'll give you a shout when we've made our decision about route. One possible fly in the ointment is that we've found, though long experience, that using a "convoy" method of travel, can sometimes cause more problems and solutions, depending on how reliable those involved tend to be in being punctual, how fast they like to drive, how far they can drive in a single day, how many times they like to stop, and how often do they need fuel, food, and bathroom breaks! It always looks good on paper, but sometimes does not work out as well in practice. For what it's worth.... It won't be long, now, Friends, and many of us will be sharing a fine event in Oregon, thanks to the hard work of Mr and Mrs BernieDawg!! YIPPEE!! 8) Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc and Sweet Bride
Hi Guys Thanks Doc! This is *not* the official one-month update. That will happen later this coming week. But, just wanted to say with regard to boating craft, fishermen, and Diamond Lake, I plan on bringing my new "toy" to the OSG. (I reckon I can fill it with stoves and fuel for the drive.) It hasn't even gotten wet yet. But, I think that if you like to fish we oughta be able to get out where "the big ones" lurk. Do consider arranging licenses now if fishing is your bag whether you end up in a boat or from shore. I'm not much of a fisherman but I will be bringing my Gen-u-wine Popeil Pocket Fisherman. Mrs. BD will probably bring her kayak in case she wants a break from all the stoving. And, please do remember, that there is a ton of *hiking* available in the area if you are *not* a water person. Cheers, Gary
Morning, BernieDawg! Your new craft looks great, and ready for action!! Do you name such things, or just call it "the boat"? We tend to name boats, cars, guns, and other such things, like some special stoves! Lots of fun, but only for us, I guess! We look forward to seeing you and your new toy in a very short time! After a bit of discussion with Sweet Bride, this morning, we have decided that a trip of over 800 miles, each direction, is just too long to justify our bringing the canoe, so we are leaving it at home. We also took at look at the routes up to Oregon, and favor the 395 route, at least on our way up there, as it is far more scenic, and passes through some of our most favorite areas, whilst the I-5 route, especially below Sacramento, is flat, dry as a popcorn belch, and not very pretty, or interesting. Farther North, it is a lovely drive. But, we have chosen the route that's calling us for this trip, and so will not be using I-5 on the way to Oregon, though we may use it on the way home. The 395 route is shorter by around 25-20 miles, but because it's not on a major freeway, and it wends it way through mountains and small towns in some areas, the trip takes about 1 1/2 Hours longer than the I-5 route. The beauty along the way will more than make up for that extra time, however!! See you all there soon! I have been deciding on stoves to bring, and even though my original plan was not to bring as many as I have in the past, the choices are very hard to make!! I'm still going to try and winnow through the lists, and shorten it a good bit, though. Makes better sense, me thinks, and a few good stoves are just as much fun as 200 stoves that never make it out of the back of the truck, due to a lack of time to get to them, right!??!! I'll bring some user stoves, some show and tell stoves, and some in need of fettling. That's plenty, and more than enough fun!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc P.S. I was talking to Flivver the other day, and though he would really like to be there, it's very likely that he will not be able to make it. Ron, maybe you could give him a call, and see if he might like to meet you someplace, then drive up together. What do you think?
Doc, I will try to get in touch with Fliver. Gary, nice boat, canoe, yatch, tugboat, cruise ship you have there. Hope you have enough life jackets there. I will be bringing fishing gear for 3 hopefully thats enough. Yeah will get a license if I can remember once I hit the state line. Maybe I can declare Oregon part of California for that whole week so I need not buy any Also, did you bring home that large tent where we did popcorn with the group? My tent is in need of repairs. Ron
Hi Ron Yeah, we'll have pfds around for folks. No worries there. And, yeah, we do have the large Formerly Flivver tent. Ummm, I was sort of thinking of sleeping in it with the missus. If you don't think you'll have a chance to repair your tent, we might be able to scare up another for you. Let me know. Or, actually, maybe drop an email on this. We might be able to help with repairs since there is this great little outfit here in town that stocks boodles of tent fabric and repair goodies. Cheers, Gary
Gary, How long did it take you to make the boat? Nice job. Will the motor be done in a month? I have a bp trip in less than two weeks, I don't even have a CA Fishing license, I'll have to see what a OR license costs. Went over on what I wanted to spend on my credit card again, couple more stoves to round things out and bp food. Oops! Duane
Hi Duane Aw, schucks! *I* didn't make that boat, Willie did. Took them/him about six weeks. And, I'm the motor. 8) Yeah. I'm not sure the ODFW is too kind to out of staters on the licenses. You'll have to check. I know that there's a lot of tuna and ling cod in at the docks in Newport at the coast. It might be easier if the lovely spouse and I just throw some in a cooler for grilling at the OSG. Would folks be interested in that d'ya think? Cheers, Gary
Ooooh, Fresh fish, on the Barbie! Love Albies, and Lings I (we) are surely interested! Maybe I can con you out of a little bit, to try out my Optimus Smoker? And Gary's right on the money (lots of) about the temp out of state license... 7 days for $59.75... Shucks, you can get a whole year for only $106...
Gary, Did you have that made for a Grande Canyou trip? Don't they use that type of row boat there? Seems I've seen photos of that type used there. Best Bob
OK, Baja, I'll see what I can do on the fish score. I was out to Newport earlier this week and just swung by the waterfront and noticed all the "TUNA" and "LING COD" signs up on all the commercial fishing docks. Not sure how long the ling season goes, but I'm thinking tuna until the the OSG. I'll drop a PT when I've got some numbers and more of a plan to see how much you might want. We've been talking about just running out there some day soon and grilling some up on the beach. Could be fun! And, for those who aren't aware, the fresh albacore is *nothing* like the stuff you get in the can. As to the fishing licenses, I see it's a lot from Baja's research. Sorry 'bout that. I can't *officially* recommend a no license approach, but you'd be welcome to ride in my boat as long as I don't get cited for anything you might do whilst riding. Bob, I bought the Willies for floating on some of the Oregon rivers and for the Middle Fork Salmon in Idaho at sub-three feet on the gauge. The Willies is based on traditional McKenzie River drift boat designs. Grand Canyon dories are based on those same McKenzie River designs but are usually decked and with compartments and are scaled up in size to be 2-6 feet longer than my little Willies. (Boy, I can see the jokes at my expense a-comin'!) Anyway, without the decks and compartments, this boat would fill up and sink pretty quickly in water as big as one finds on the Grand. But, you definitely called the design and look of the boat correctly, Bob. It's absolutely a cousin to the decked dories of the Colorado. I'd love to have one of those GC dories, but I think I'd fall about $10K short from what I spent on the Willies. Cheers, Gary
I'll have to check fishing license costs for OR, I don't care to buy one for a week, maybe a day or two license. I'll ride or go for a hike. The price for a week license will fill my car with gas almost twice. Duane
Hi Gary, don't worry about these up-coming jokes about your Willie, after all, it's not size that matters! Best regards, Wim
