All California Pismo Meet - Aug 22-24

[badfysh]

please delete any other thread and start this one. I should have the trip sheet amended and submitted to both NCLR and SCLR by the end of the weekend.

If anyone is open to helping lead the trip (from NCLR), I would greatly appreciate. Its a large event and good to break into groups. No worries if not. I will figure it out.

I will be planning to arrive Thursday the 21st mid-day and rope off an area just like last year. We will separate the camps into "adult" and "family" areas to avoid noise pollution conflicts between campsites just like last year. Beyond that, expect noise all night, this is open camping in dunes with ATV's, motorcycles, trucks etc. free to drive around 24 hours a day and they usually do. Our campsite will be near a "pit" type bathroom with no other facilities offered. In-n-outs are permitted, so you can go to store etc. there is a campground with pay hot showers just outside the dunes as well as gas stations, groceries, etc.

All the info will be in the trip sheet. Best advice for now is to go to ReserveAmerica website and reserve a campsite. Its not too hard, just google "reserve america" then under the first hit, click "find campgrounds" the click "O" for Oceano and Oceano SVRA is the only one that appears. Then follow the steps for booking. I thinks its $10/night plus a small surcharge. Yes, its a non-specific off highway campsite, large dunes, no set spots etc., so dont try to get fancy and select a site or ask questions on how to reserve a specific area. They do it by numbers and then close it off. 999 passes available to the entire area with no rules on where to comap other than no blocking "roadways", entrances/exits, bathrooms and other common sense stuff.

You may have to sign up to Reserve America but its free.

TRIP SHEET ADDED TO SCLR WEB SITE http://www.sclr.org/calendar/2008/08-Aug/pismo_trip_sheet.pdf

[N2RVRS]

Count me in, I'm looking forward to it !

[badfysh]

its really a good time.

This year I really want to try to get some kind of cook off challenge together. We attempted last year but nobody signed up. I think this year I will offer prizes so that people will sign up.

Any ideas to get the ball rolling?

Will, are you planning to attend?

[astateofmike]

Maybe we can get schwag donations? I know if Carlos is coming, then you have at least one person who will be willing to throw down for a cookoff....

[Gotrovr]

Joe

I'm not sure the August dates will work for me. At the moment, I have more pressing issues with my broken Disco and hand. Hand is out of splint and functioning at 85%. My concern is the Disco hasn't moved out from the garage since back from RR8.

[badfysh]

Joe

I'm not sure the August dates will work for me. At the moment, I have more pressing issues with my broken Disco and hand. Hand is out of splint and functioning at 85%. My concern is the Disco hasn't moved out from the garage since back from RR8.

right, totally understandable. I will not include any type of winching exercise at this time unless i can find another volunteer to lead the demonstration. or we just wont have one unless a truck gets stuck.

take care of that hand and call in some favors for the truck. i KNOW there are people to help with it. i would no problem if i was closer!!!

[lutz]

badfysh if u need any help just let me know im down to lead a group through the dunes.

[badfysh]

FYI: this trip has been de-classified as a NCLR official trip - there will be no listing of iot on the calendar as far as i know and no RSVP feature. You of course are still invited but please send me a pm withthe follwoing information if you plan to attend.

Name
Vehicle (year, make and model)
# in party
# of pets if applicable

Thank you.!!!!

lutzi,

that would be awesome. it worked perfect last year to do the intro run in the morning with basics and follow the leader and then you leading in the afternoon for a shorter more "intense" approach to the dunes.

i will get in touch with you as it gets closer but let me know your schedule for that weekend. meaning, what afternoon would be best for you, hopefully saturday the 23rd to run a group arounf the hummer loop after a basics in the morning.


Joe

[dcproven]

I think I may sneak out a day out there, Saturday most likely, still not sure.

I would love to learn from the masters of the dunes ;) so let us know when this intro + advance thing is happening, I would love to join for that...

David.

[badfysh]

David,

Sounds good. As you know, many people last year just came for a day. Some even just a few hours on the last day as most were leaving.

Look forward to seeign you.

Joe

[dcproven]

Last year I spent the whole day dealing with the RRC "mood" until the breakdown in my way back...

This year I hope to actually have some fun on the dunes :)

David.

[Disco2Guy]

I'd like to attend the Pismo run, especially for the "intro" and "get out there and do it" sessions.

[astateofmike]

Pismo is interesting..fun to tool around in the sand...We still might come for the day, as it is to loud at night for a baby.

Sand is a totally new experience from vehicle to vehicle, tire to tire and driver to driver. May not be everyone's thing, but you have to go once to see!

Also, as we ran out for coffee and smokes in the early AM Sunday, driving along the beach at sunrise or sunset is something everyone should do once in their life!

[lutz]

I'm taking off the whole weekend so i can camp so anytime is good for me.

[Jantiz]

Gonna try to clear up my calendar as well and see if I can get out there. My wife and I are going there this Memorial day weekend but I'm probably gonna keep it fairly mild being by myself, this being my first time out on the dunes and not having any recovery straps yet. I'd love to go out with the experts from the club and get some real instruction time on dune driving! Call me crazy but being out with NCLR members to do any wheeling always feels like I'm out with family.

If I can make it, my load would look like this:

*06 LR3 w/ AT Tires

*3 adults in party (will probably camp, depending on noise level. Wife and nioses while trying to sleep is a bad combination!)

*2 Toy Poodles (maybe)

[Desertcrawler]

We are going to be there Memorial Day weekend as well. Most of the day Sunday for sure, may overnight.


I'd be happy to take you out on the dunes for some runs if you'd like. We will need to keep an eye out for each other. We will be parked someplace on the beach, where all the RV's hang out, possibly with a pop-up tent trailer and a silver disco II with a English flag...

Expect a very loud noise level. To prep her, It is like a small city, with lots of drunks riding around on ATV's all night long (too be brutally honest).. It's fun -- but not in a "tread lightly, experience the outdoors" sort of way.... think fast sand rails and loud rigs...

[badfysh]

lutzi,

thats good to hear. i will definitely be asking for your hewlp then.

i think it worked great last year as i mentioned. i take the entire group out in the mornign for some basic down hills, stops and starts, turning, in-n-out of bowls, etc. take the whole mornign getting people used to driving around the dunes and their various features. then we head back for lunch. then after lunch, we head out for some "tour" type stuff where you lead us around the "tourist" spots and we do some advanced stuff, sideways driving, large hills climbs etc. of course all welcomed and nto required to do the challenges if uncomfortablebut certainly come and watch.

although this is a family oriented trip, yes the dunes are loud and people drive at all hours. we camp back in the dunes so not as CRAZY as the beach camping but please be aware i cant control others or their noise level.

as fo rour own camp site and the noise level their, last year i separated the camp into two areas, family (early to bed) and adult (stay up late) areas. it seemed to work out great.

[badfysh]

TRIP SHEET LINK ADDED TO FIRST POST OF THIS THREAD.

I do want to add that this terrain is suitable for ALL Land Rovers and drivers of all abilities.

For those coming from the south, the street map portion is a bit longer than needed. there is an Exit at Arroyo Grande that is faster. A bit more complicated though.

Exit Los Berros Rd in Arroyo Grande just north of Nipomo, Turn left under freeway. Follow until it ends at a stop sign, Valley Road. Turn Left on Valley Road and drive approx. 1/8th mile to first stop sign and turn right, Cienaga. Then follow this road to the end which is more of veer to the right and called Front street. Front street to Pier Ave and turn left. The rest is the same.

This is a preliminary trip sheet that covers most of what you need to know. A few minor details may change, like restuarant location, or similar but I will get that all ironed out in the next 2 weeks. Just wanted something up so people have a reference point.

[Jantiz]

We are going to be there Memorial Day weekend as well. Most of the day Sunday for sure, may overnight.

Chuck, I'd love to meet other NCLR members out there Memorial day weekend. I believe Brenton said he was going to try and come out as well. I'll definitely look out for the Britt flagged Disco and make sure to stop by and say hello. Can't promise I'll have all day to play around but I would certainly love to join you and who ever else shows up for some sand kicking rover time!

[Disco2Guy]

Not sure if I can do Memorial Day now. It looks like I'll need to be around for bug fixing during beta, which runs through June. I should have lots of time for PTO in late Summer and Fall though.

[Disco2Guy]

Pismo is just under 2 months away, and I'm starting to make plans (purchases) now. Is this an official trip that will get posted on the calendar?

[badfysh]

NCLR has requested this NOT be an official trip for whatever reason. i have yet to speak with Will. it is on the forum as an event but it wont be added to the caldendar as an NCLR event and I changed the name to Pismo Beach All California Meet and posted on the NCLR, SCLR, and LRRF forums.

What are you looking for? Trip sheet?

I can forward you a pdf of that file posted on SCLR.

[Disco2Guy]

I read trip sheet yesterday that is posted on the first thread. I wasn't aware the trip is an un-official one. My last reply was also meant as a "bump" for people who may have forgotten about this trip.

[badfysh]

it was an official NCLR / SCLr trip last year but this year when i posted the thread, Will emailed me to say that NCLR decided not to be involved. We never got to speak about it so I didnt get a specific reason. I have a couple guesses but don;t want to speculate.

Either, I changed it from a SCLR NCLR event to a "All California Meet" - kind fo a free for all but definitely planned and some (not much) organization.

[Gotrovr]

I had a chance to clear up some things with Joe via phone yesterday afternoon.
<O:p</O:p
The first and real issue here is simply that someone (NCLR member) needs to step up and submit a trip request. Joe would be happy to coordinate and help any NCLR member with the particulars. Last year that someone was me. Unfortunate circumstances and schedule conflicts will not permit me to be that person this year.
<O:p</O:p
The second issue is that several NCLR officers and directors have reservations about a sanctioned trip to Pismo due to a potential liability exposure related to the incident with “Precious” last year.

<O:p</O:p
Conditionally, I am in full support of having a sanctioned trip to Pismo this year.

[badfysh]

I would like to address the second issue first. I dont want this thread to turn into a discussion of that event but lets be clear on a few facts.

First of all it was an accident. Accidents happen regardless of terrain, driver ability, sanctioned event or not, etc.

Second, the responsibility of such incidents I would think would fall on that of the drivers. Similar to SCLR, liability defaults to California law. In such a case of a car accident, both drivers by law are required to be licensed and insured. Other than that its up to each drivers insurance to work it out. It is a public area. I don't see hwo Pismo would be any different than any other run unless number of participants changes things in which case, we limit the trip to one under that number.

Third, if #2 isn't true, then just make it a non NCLR event and add to calendar that way. A member event listed. I am a member (#042) as well as all the other north guys. Do members have the right to advertise a trip?

Now, back to the first issue, yes, it was great to have Will help last year, with somewhere near 40 trucks throughout the weekend, I alone just simply do not have enough energy to cover all the comings and goings, lost trucks, breakdowns, trail runs, food events, etc. It becomes overwhelming after about 12-15 trucks. So help would be great. Theer really isn't anything to do other help. The trip is all planned, its just time and energy needed.

Lutzi has already offered to lead a trail run and that is great and will be utlized. especially since he does the Humvee tours in Pismo, what better person that to lead a run and show us around. plus he drives a D2.

Anyone plannign to go, please just email me and if you have to ability or time or just plain good neighbor motivation to help, great, if not, still email me and come and enjoy the dunes with us.

thanks guys, will keep you posted.

Joe
joseph.nosal@gmail.com

[astateofmike]

I think the issue with #2 is that it is so widly known about, and so that means people have opinions if the very next year, the trip leader was the one involved in the incident, at the same location, may be of intrest.

Not that I am picking on Will, but if he had been the trail leader and rolled his truck at (RR), I may not be all about going and following him the next trip, as I look to him for leadership and guidance. The trip leader is supposed to lead by example.

In both incidents, they are isolated incidents, accidents. I understand. But the perception of the leader as the "Example" is a viable discussion.

Does that make sense. I am not arguing one way or another, just giving a persepective.

Now, I know I most likely won't be coming. It was fun, but not enough to do every year as it was not really conducive to bringing my family/young kid. If I am free that weekend, we may come down (as part of a night at a hotel/getaway weekend) and spend an hour or two saying hello as driving on the dunes / beach is an experience I would like to share with my family, but I learned on my own, about 2 hours in the Rover for my truck on the sand, is more than enough....

I also think that having a seperate rep from NCLR would be a great idea. Since you are are on the BOD in SCLR (right?) I think a NCLR rep would make sence. And if someone steps up, please do submit a formal application for the trip. I don't think I have even seen one, and I would be one of those who would need to....

[Disco2Guy]

Well I'd like to volunteer as Trip Leader, but personally, I wouldn't feel very comfortable doing so given my inexperience. I wouldn't want someone as a Trip Leader to have his only off road experience be at Hollister a few times. :eek:

I don't know all the specifics of last year but maybe that coupled with the Gold Lake trip the weekend before Pismo is keeping some people away? I dunno. For me this is a good chance to go camping for a couple of nights (which I haven't done in forever) and still be next to civilization. Kind of a dry run to iron out any kinks in my setup.

[astateofmike]

Well, I may not go because I have so much going on that if I get a weekend away, it better include the wife and kiddo, or I may be living in the rover permanent.

I'd go again, by myself, but probably do less driving and more laying around. Pismo is a MUST once. Driving on the beach in CA, do it before they find a way to ban it. Then you decide if you enjoy driving on the sand (my truck is a bit underpowered for the dunes I felt) and then you know.....

Last year food was great, it was windy, easy to get lost a bit....but then you get sorted out. Long days in the sun, and noisy nights.....so the snoring was not so bad as it was less noticable.

Just tell Joe you want to come, everyone is welcome, and go for it....all things will work themselves out.....

[Gotrovr]

Not that I am picking on Will, but if he had been the trail leader and rolled his truck at (RR), I may not be all about going and following him the next trip, as I look to him for leadership and guidance. The trip leader is supposed to lead by example.

I agree that the trip leader is entrusted with a higher burden to lead properly. However, Mike, I resent your conclusions regarding RR8 while not having first hand observations. On the contrary, several members on the trail have voiced their opinion that they would want me to be there to help them if they were in the same or similar situation. For it was earlier that day that I was helping guide several Rovers thru a rock laden wash with a combination of proper spotting and X-jack deployment. My incident at RR8 was a unique situation that could have been avoided with a spotter. That is my lesson learned. Not the fact that we push ourselves and equipment. Some of us more than others. That is human nature.

Mike, obviously I am here to defend my trail leadership integrity, one that is measured in part by how a person responds to adversity while under duress. My integrity is intact for I responded to the occasion quite well by directing the recovery effort all while with a broken hand, but not without the help of others thankfully. Admittedly, my incident was truely a mistake, one that I take full responsiblity. I only hope that others have learned my lesson.

[astateofmike]

Will, and I understand that you were not the trail leader and that some push harder than others. Your accident, and that is what it was, occured as a member of a trip. The expectation is that you are there to push yourself at that time. Had you been leading that section, I beleive you would not have pushed so hard, as your responsabilities would have been to others first. And you demonstrate that type of leadership skill. I have ridden with you and trust that if we were attempting a trail run you are leading and you do not feel I have the vehicle or the skill to attempt, that for my safety and the safety of the entire convoy, you would say something to me about it. As the trail leader, I'd expect you to. Being a leader is difficult, the expectations are higher.

Maybe the example of you/your tip was not spot on. I apologize as my intent is not to infer that you did not do everything you could or acted perfectly for the situation. It was being used to illustrate how if one takes available information and comes to a personal conclusion, it can be incorrect and unfortunaley influence one's decisions.

In the future, I will refrain from trying to make an analogy about things. I am learning that although my intentions are not malicious, the lack of verbal intonation and interaction makes it near impossible.

[badfysh]

Aside from all that other stuff, which is important, the point here is the trip is still on and open to everyone. All skill levels, all vehicles, etc.

Please just send me an email with "Pismo 2008" as the subject letting me know if you plan to attend, skill level, vehicle, and # in party.

Lutzi,

That would be great if you woudl be will to help. Perhaps we can do what we did last year. I can lead the group in the morning for some basics on sand driving, allowing beginners to get familiar with terrain and such, then in the afternoon you lead them thru the dunes as a tour wiht less focus on learnign as much as practicing and seeing what the dunes have to offer?

[astateofmike]

Ahh, the terrain....." are we following that other vehicle?....(insert dune here) what vehicle?" Very interesting in the noon day sun, as the whoops get washed out...