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gotair · 04-29-2004, 10:20 PM

northern california rally, where,and when, why, ?? any one want to start something... newbie can't make any concrete plans yet... but wants to know whats going on in my area,

pinkflamingoes · 05-08-2004, 10:18 PM

Hey yeah I'm here too, gotair, I'll come if there's a rally. I'll even bring pictures of my trailer and we can all come to my house for a hot tub after.

pinkflamingoes · 05-08-2004, 10:20 PM

oh and i don't care what we do as long as there's a good glass of cab and an evening fire to stare at.

Big Dee · 05-08-2004, 11:35 PM

Hey Northern Californians-

Great to see you guys on the forum. I am jealous of Jack's rallies so I was thinking of planning a forum rally around here but didn't know if anybody would come. I was thinking Fall at one of the county parks with hookups. I just found out today that Mount Madonna Park has electrical/water sites.

There is a Region 12 Rally October 18-24 that I would like to go to but maybe an earlier weekend in October? Any ideas?

pinkflamingoes · 05-09-2004, 11:47 AM

We don't have our trailer yet, and it won't be liveable for quite a while. But we'll come anyway, and tent it if there are spots, or stay in a motel. Say the word!

I had never heard of Mt. Madonna until now. I don't get out of Alameda county much. I found some photos of the park at:

http://www.bahiker.com/slideshows/so...donnapics.html

It looks like a really nice place to have a rally, plus the Ridge Trail goes through it. Beautiful!

Here are other parks, from www.bahiker.com that offer camping, but the list doesn't really specify if it's RV vs. tent, how many, etc.

South Bay (San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties)
• Big Basin State Park. Tent, walk-in, and RV campsites, and tent cabins.
• Butano State Park. Tent and RV campsites.
• Castle Rock State Park. Hike-in campsites.
• Half Moon Bay State Beach. Tent and RV campsites, on a bluff just above the ocean.
• Henry W. Coe State Park. Tent and RV campsites, plus backcounty camping.
• Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Tent and RV campsites.
• Grant County Park. Tent, RV, and youth group campsites.
• Sam McDonald County Park. Youth group campsites and horse camp.
• Memorial County Park. Tent, RV, and group campsites.
• Mount Madonna County Park. Tent, RV, group, and youth group campsites.
• Portola Redwoods State Park. Tent and RV campsites.
• Sanborn-Skyline County Park. RV and walk-in campsites.
• Uvas Canyon County Park. Tent and youth group campsites.

I'm so there!

InsideOut · 05-09-2004, 09:22 PM

Quote:

...so I was thinking of planning a forum rally around here but didn't know if anybody would come.

If you plan it...they will come

Shari

Big Dee · 05-09-2004, 09:23 PM

There are a lot of nice parks on that list and nice pics!

Well I took my Mom to Mt Madonna Park today for a Mother's Day hike and picnic and to check out the campground. Awesome park for hikes. Very beautiful. Thick forest where we were. Hard to believe that at the turn of the twentieth century, the whole mountain was clearcut.

Anyway, campground is VERY nice IF you have a unit smaller than, say 25'. The campground has trees that are very close to the road and the road winds through them. The trees have been hit before. The pads are dirt and not very level. Not somewhere to bring my brand new 30' Classic but would be excellent for anyone in a smaller trailer, especially a Bambi or tent camping.

I have been told that Laguna Seca has campgrounds with hookups and are great for groups. Plus close to beaches, Monterey and all that. I will try to check them out sometime soon. Here is the site http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/parks/laguna_seca.htm
There is even an A/S in one of the pics.

plowboy · 05-09-2004, 10:11 PM

I think a rally would be great. Laguna Seca sound like a great place for a rally. Recently, we met my folks at Casa de Fruta (13mi east of Gilroy on hwy 152.) In addition to the paved RV spaces, they have several grassy areas for tents and several meeting rooms. I spoke with a S.O.B. (Monaco) motorhome owner who said he planed on attending a Monaco club rally at Casa de Fruta in the near future. Check it out www.casadefruta.com
Just another option,
Paul

Condoluminum · 05-09-2004, 10:24 PM

Our Mother's Day outing today was to Nepenthe in Big Sur, an hour south of Monterey on Highway 1.. Passed several private campgrounds in Big Sur area along river in redwoods, including one we've stayed at before a long time ago.. Kinda a long way from North Bay, but pretty different from immediate Bay Area... Local WBCCI Santa Clara unit also has just been to campground in Santa Cruz Mountains/Scott's Valley area, with full hookups (featured on PBS story of vintage trailers and Airstreams) or Vintage Airstreamers love to go to Russian River west of Healdsburg, and campground at mouth of river...

Scheduling a challenge, but we'd try to join as well, as Condoluminum is a set of mini-blinds and soon-to-be-delivered curtains away from a full redecoration inside... Photo's to follow when curtains and blinds go in...

John McG

pinkflamingoes · 05-09-2004, 11:23 PM

Casa de Fruta is where they had an alternate Rennaissance Faire when the one in Novato wasn't allowed to be at the former location. We drove down there for it, it's a really neat place. Big Sur is, of course, amazing. You could also consider some places north of the Bay Area. but Big Sur or down Santa Clara County way sound exciting! Might want to think about what activities there are to do in the surrounding area. Big Sur would be hard to beat.

I'm up for anything. I have been known to put a tent in my backyard.

Don't know what I could do to help, but I will if you need it. I'm in Alameda.

pinkflamingoes · 05-09-2004, 11:29 PM

Just for fun I typed in CNDLMNM at the California DMV web site. It's available as a personalized plate for your trailer/MH!

I got SVRTWKY.

**jcanavera** · 05-10-2004, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Dee

Hey Northern Californians-

Great to see you guys on the forum. I am jealous of Jack's rallies so I was thinking of planning a forum rally around here but didn't know if anybody would come.

My advice pick a spot and a date and just do it. Unfortunately you won't find a locale that is convient for everyone nor will you get the perfect date. Last year we had 14 units show up, with many coming at the last minute. This year it looks like we will have 24. Let me know, short of being there

if I can help.

Regards,

Jack

Big Dee · 05-10-2004, 09:31 AM

Thanks Jack for the good word. Looks like we're goin' to have our selves a Northern Cal Forum Rally.

I was thinking about how Casa de Fruita would be great because there would be unlimited spaces available for latecomers if it was a non-Rennaissance Faire weekend. They have great group areas there. Lots of hiking around San Luis Resevoir and surrounding hills. Lots to do around Casa de Fruita itself.

Laguna Seca is also big for latecomers. They have a group BBQ area with night lighting. My friend loves mountain biking/hiking at nearby Fort Ord. My brother loves hiking Carmel Valley. Other possibilities: day at Monterey or Carmel or Santa Cruz.

Big Sur, of course, speaks for itself. No matter how many times one has been, no one ever forgets a trip to Big Sur. I haven't been camping there since VW Camper days at Pffeifer. The Big Sur campgrounds are smallish so that would limit the numbers.

Speaking of Russian River, I know Casini Ranch is beautiful and good for groups. Campground is right on river. Plenty to do.

Coastalview · 05-10-2004, 02:22 PM

Big Dee,you can count us in as well. Like mentioned before,pick a spot,and they will come. Laguna Seca's chaparral camground is a great vantage point,Casa de fruita is plenty big enough,and Big Sur has a few locations that can squeeze in a few streamers.For those wanting to go,we can start a list,and take a pole on a location and a time.Sounds fun. Jeff

pinkflamingoes · 05-10-2004, 03:55 PM

There are pictures of a rally at Casini Ranch at: http://www.airstream.net/rallies/03-.../scrapbook.htm at least I think that's Casini Ranch.

As I mentioned, we probably won't have a trailer yet, but if nothing brutally important is happening that weekend, we'll be there, with pictures of ours...!

Big Dee · 05-10-2004, 06:13 PM

Yeah, that's Casini Ranch. Very nice campground. Very nice rally. Don't they have fun at those VAC rallies? They know how to do it. This year's is in Napa, I think. Already filled up, as I remember. Would love to visit during their "open house."

One pic I didn't like was the one of the GG Bridge Sunday afternoon traffic. I have been stuck in it many times and it is real bad. I would definitely come home via Richmond/San Rafael Bridge.

Anyway, Casini is definitely doable.

pinkflamingoes · 05-10-2004, 06:38 PM

Yeah that's an all too familiar and very depressing, put your head back against the headrest and say "uuuuuooooh nooooo", sight.

I am going to the Silver Trailer Social in Calistoga this Saturday with my husband, just to look. We're just going for the day to ogle, look at interior layouts, and show pictures of ours, which we have yet to tow home. If you decide to show up for the day, let me know we can meet up and say hi.

Big Dee · 05-10-2004, 06:50 PM

Wow- is it happening on Saturday? Time just FLIES! Don't know if I'll make it. Long drive (3 plus hours) and I got NO chores done last weekend.

But I would love to see those beautiful restored units and talk with the owners during the open house. If you go, take some pics as we would all like to see them.

Mike B · 05-10-2004, 07:07 PM

Big Dee,
Another place that I remember hearing about is Snug Harbor in the Delta near Rio Vista. I would think that that would be a central location for both the Bay Area and the Valley residents. The weather in the Delta in the fall should be nice. I would think the wind would have died down by then, and there is nothing more relaxing than being near the water.
The web address is www.snugharbor.net .
I know that the VAC has had a rally there before. Maybe a VAC member could chime in and say what they thought about the location.
It doesn't matter where it will be, I will be there if at all possible.
I would love to go to the Silver Trailer Social to look and talk but I have to work on saturdays and that is when the open house is. I could go on sunday but I don't think that would be the right thing to do.
Mike B

Big Dee · 05-10-2004, 10:11 PM

Hey thanks Mark for the find. I am always scowling the net for these places and still not find them. All waterfront sites- wow! I will bookmark that page- great pics. I really want to camp here. I wonder when I can fit them all in.

But as the rally goes, it looks a little small?