NorCal : NorCal Rally, April 27-29, Casini Ranch

[Kevbo10]

Originally Posted by BamCamper

I just checked the site map...where are the ralliers planning to camp?

laurel,

full hookups is where most all of us will be at... so sites 121-148. pick something in the middle. there all good. and all pull through. OR there's dry camping w/ tim, put i think he's bringing a friend and wants his privacy. understandable. (rustling my offical paper work, was'nt this covered in the handbook, I know this is not your first Rodeo)

kevbo

[BamCamper]

Sorry...the dog ate my manual. Didn't you get the $50 I sent for a replacement?

Giddyup.

[Kevbo10]

Originally Posted by BamCamper

Sorry...the dog ate my manual. Didn't you get the $50 I sent for a replacement?

Giddyup.

Darlin, please, cantact me back channel... i have the only paid position at the rally. this is an "extra", and please no wine for or on the K9's... Equines only (rule 39e, section K, i forgot the line #)

kevbo

[doorgunner]

I thought this was a forum rally not a wally thing. Pitch the rule book!

[str8strm]

Just called up and made our reservation, spoke with SARA and she said that from March on is very busy and people should reserve ASAP. We are in spot 148 and there is someone in 123 but I did not recognize the name. Larry? They take one night deposit of $34.

[Roscinante]

Just made our reservation. We will be in site 129.

Look forward to meeting everyone. This will be our first rally. Please be gentle with us.

We have a 19' Bambi, 2 pink flamingoes, and are really looking forward to this.

JERRY and AVIS

[Kevbo10]

just spoke to casini. made my reservation.

you must call now. this is a first come, first serve rally. if you want to be together as a group, you must call now.

the lady said this is the high season (the week we arrive). the park will be FULL.

i'm arriving thursday and departing sunday. i'm in space 140. so if you don't like me, or my horses, camp away from me. or stay home, or like whatever (please note, i'm curbing my use of the "D" word. gee's i caught heck in 29 palms, and i'm a sensitive guy, and i ACTUALLY do listen, but i don't spell well).

our group is camping in full hook ups at spaces 121-148 unless you want elec and water only, or dry camping on the river. your choice. did i say CALL NOW.

if you know folks who want to attend and actually have a life and don't spend all day on the forum, call or email them and let them know.

call NOW. 800-451-8400.

another epic tome by,

kevbo

[sequoiacoast]

We're in 128. Tanya & Mark: Sean 15, Taylor 8, and Aidan 2, Shadow 7.


**If we can get into the Newport OR rally, this will become our 2nd!
Whoa !

[BamCamper]

Oh oh. She assigned me space 139. And Ed is afraid of horses. I tried for the outer circle (143-148) but she said they were reserved for the big rigs. Hmph. You mean 16 feet is NOT big?

They did say lots of people were calling so apparently we have a race for a space so as Kevbo said...spread the word!

[Luminati]

Just made the rezzies and we're in space #130.

Our avitar was taken at Casini Ranch a few years ago. We were boondocking on the river and really enjoyed it.

[Kevbo10]

please reread post #43.

in regards to door prizes.... the following make sense to me...

best dressed, including but not limited to best use of starch.
best over decorated trailer, w/o using red velvet.
smallest pocket dog, not having the name bubba.
largest animal(s) in attendance (exnay humans).
best behaved cat, w/ bells on the collar.
largest stockpile of beer / wine / spirits.
best BBQ, cooked on site.


is this working? thoughts? please post additional ideas...

kevbo

[BamCamper]

...most creative park job.
...best new use for a sewer hose.
...shortest award acceptance speech.
...snappiest tap dancer (the nights can get a little slow and there is a lot of pavement).

[str8strm]

We will be coming up the 101 and want to know how to negotiate the bay area the best -- any ideas?

[Condoluminum]

I think best bet is to swing west from Hwy 101 south of San Jose to CA Hwy 85, which is new road that bypasses much of congestion. When it intersects I-280 take 280 north towards San Francisco, and after passing SF Airport exit, stay left to follow signs to Golden Gate Bridge and Hwy 1.. You'll be put onto 19th Ave, which is 6 lane boulevard, but no left turns and lights are timed, and it's used by trucks. Stay in right lane to weave through Golden Gate PArk, and follow 19th through MacArthur Tunnel. Turn left at end at bottom of hill (from either lane..) and you're on the on-ramp to Golden Gate Bridge, and no tolls northbound, so bear right and go.. As you approach bridge, you are back on Hwy 101..

Stay on 101 north through Marin County and past Petaluma, ignoring Hwy 116 which looks like a shortcut! Exit from 101 west onto "River Road" at south end of Santa Rosa, and follow River Road past wineries and Guerneville to the Campground about 5 miles inland from Ocean...

Others may advise staying on I-5 longer (past Los Banos cutover to 101) but don't try I-580 into Hayward/Oakland area.. If you're trying to miss Bay Area congestion on east side, stay on I-5 and take Hwy 12 from Lodi to I-80, then I-80 to Hwy 37 at Mare Island, and Hwy 37 to join 101 north in Novato... Hwy 12 looks flaky on map, but is good relatively flat and open two lane road across Delta from I-5 to I-80... If time permits, there is a tour-able Budweiser Brewery along Hwy 12, and the Jelly Belly Factory (with tours also) is across the road in Fairfield area...

Several Do Not's...

1. Don't stay on 101 and follow it through San Francisco, down Van Ness and out Lombard St... Very tight traffic and turns...
2. Don't attempt 116 from Petaluma.. Bad narrow road, useful for logging and small trucks/little cars...
3. Don't plan to arrive in rush hours... Morning is 6AM to 9AM, evening is 3PM til 7PM.. Traffic much heavier then around San Jose and San Francisco... You might make out hitting San Jose and 101-85 split around 5PM, as you'd then hit SFO after initial rush to bridge at around 6:30PM.. Would mean arriving at Casini in the dark, but do-able. Going north on 19th Ave or across bridge much before 7PM is not good idea... We plan to hit it at noon...

[Kevbo10]

Originally Posted by str8strm

We will be coming up the 101 and want to know how to negotiate the bay area the best -- any ideas?

STR8STRM great question. i can't remember what i did last year, but i'm sure it's just like here in los angeles. plan your travel based on the commute. like don't be going thru SF north on the 101 say at 5pm. or south into SF on the 101 say at 7am.

the actual nor cal peeps, i'm sure, will pipe in and help us both out, in regards to route and times.

thanks for that question.

kevbo

[BamCamper]

Good tips Condoluminum. I've made the mistake of following 101 through SF and it's not a good route with or without a trailer if you are heading north. I follow the Golden Gate Bridge signs as you mentioned.

Thanks for the tip on 116. It will be tricky to time this just right.
Bam

[Big Dee]

Originally Posted by str8strm

We will be coming up the 101 and want to know how to negotiate the bay area the best -- any ideas?

John is absolutely right. My only advice is get to 19th Avenue and GG Park well before the 5 o'clock traffic. I've been stuck in that before with the trailer and it was a nightmare. 19th up thru the park becomes a parking lot and inching along with a trailer for a couple of hours is not a great way to start the weekend.

[Big Dee]

Yeah Casini was busy today taking reservations like mad for "that Airstream group." So everyone get on it and get those reservations ASAP!

I will start a list of whos attending and what site. The calendar list is notoriously wrong so do not pay attention to it. The potluck list will start at the end of March. This will be the only rally thread.

Casini Rally List
Big Dee............................132
Coastalview......................131
BamCamper..................... 139
Luminati...........................130
sequoiacoast.....................128
Kevbo...............................140
Roscinante........................129
str8strm...........................148

NOTE: Everyone will need to make their own reservations. When you call Casini, ask for a full hook-up site and tell them you're with the NorCal Airstream Rally. Then post your site number so we all know. Everyone should make their reservations ASAP if you want full hookups. Casini is huge, so there will be no problem with late reservations but they will be limited to no hook-up sites away from the group.

Call Casini Ranch for Reservations: (800) 451-8400

[sequoiacoast]

One other word of congestion... Santa Rosa at 5 o'clock- it can be awful. We've been lucky on most trips through- it's hard to miss both SF and SR at 5 PM!

If you're hungry (In N' Out) or need Home Depot (or both) around Santa Rosa, take the Golf Course Drive exit and park behind In N Out in the Lows (?) furniture parking lot- it's always empty and easy to maneuver!

[Kevbo10]

i know that i've been w/ this very group at this ranch. i know we had fire. did we bring a fire ring, or did casini provide one?

thanks,

kevbo