Interested in a San Luis Obispo, California Gathering?

[Esteban]

Update, it's planned for Sept. 13,14,&15, 2007 at Montana de Oro State Park near Morro Bay. If you want to come RSVP here: http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=16805

It has come to my attention that there are alot of folks on the board in the San Luis Obispo area and since SLO is about halfway between SF Bay area and LA, perhaps it would be a good place to have a gathering. Would anyone be interested?

I love the area and I'm sure there are several places we could have a gathering. Just wanted to get a sense of how much interest there would be to possibly start up a yearly event there.
_________________
Jolene

sftiggee (Jolene) made a suggestion to have a gathering near San Luis Obispo, Calif. I live in the area and am very supportive of the idea. The time and meeting place are still to be decided. Here's the original Suggest a Gathering post: http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=15836

I've done some preliminary scouting for potential camping locations in Morro Bay, Montana de Oro State Park, El Chorro Regional Park near SLO, and in Port San Luis near Avila Beach. What's your pleasure for a time and place to have a teardrop and DO gathering near SLO?

Please share your preferred location for a SLO Gathering.
There seems to be a strong interest in having the gathering at Morro Bay State Park. I went by today to check it out including the group camp sites. Took some pictures of MBSP that need resizing before they can be posted.

1) Morro Bay State Park. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=594 $20-25/day. The camp ground at Morro Bay State Park was rebuilt recently. It's more RV oriented now with fewer tent campers. New bathrooms and showers are one nice new amenity. The park is just outside Morro Bay city limits close to the golf course, harbor, restaurants, shopping, etc. Two side by side group camp spots several hundred feet from the main campground...cost not known. Park brochure and map: http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/594/files ... eFINAL.pdf
http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=2131&mode=big&lastmode=sequential&flags=0&year=2002

More choices:

2) Morro Strand State Park. http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=593
$20-25/day. A campground on the beach in north Morro Bay. It's not tree shaded and could be windy. A popular unofficial dog beach is just a little north between Morro Bay and Cayucos. Map: http://www.parks.ca.gov/lat_long_map/de ... lvl_id=232
http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=2092&mode=sequential&flags=0&year=2002

3) Morro Dunes. http://www.morrodunes.com/
$23.10/day for partial hookups with elec. and water. Full hookups are more. A private RV oriented campground in the City of Morro Bay on the beach near Morro rock. It looks well maintained.
http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=2105&mode=big&lastmode=sequential&flags=0&year=2002

4) Montana de Oro State Park. http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=592 $11-15/day. A large, uncrowded, beautiful, unspoiled, ocean front, park several miles south of Los Osos. The campground is above a sheltered beach and cove. It's a primitive campground. There are also two group campgrounds most often used by people with horses...cost $25-30/day. I haven't looked at what they have to offer. They're primitive campgrounds, so maybe pit toilets and no showers. Over a mile long ocean front bluff top walking trail and many hiking trails. What the California coast looked like prior to development. Map: http://www.parks.ca.gov/lat_long_map/de ... lvl_id=231
http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=2167&mode=big&lastmode=sequential&flags=0&year=2002
http://www.pelicannetwork.net/montanadeoro.htm


5) El Chorro Regional Park. http://www.slocountyparks.com/activities/el_chorro.htm $18-26/day. A county campground on Hwy. 1 midway between the City of SLO and Morro Bay. It's about 5 miles either way into town. There's little shade. Probably no showers...I'll check that out if there's interest in this location. There are good group picnic spots with tables below the campground. It's next to a golf course, a fenced dog park, and a botanical garden. Cuesta Jr. College is across Hwy. 1.

6) Avila Beach. http://www.portsanluis.com/ $20/night with no hookups. A Teardrop Beach Party!? You can camp on Avila Road above Port San Luis beach. It's a dog friendly beach...I think. There's no group campground. Camping spots are first come first served. The beach has several fire rings DOer's could use. Free cold water showers are available in Avila Beach. Friday fisherman's and farmer's market in Avila. Sunday art shows. The best beach weather in the area...seldom foggy. Camping areas map: http://www.portsanluis.com/services/camping.pdf Aerial photo: http://www.portsanluis.com/pics/over1.htm
http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=2265&mode=big&lastmode=sequential&flags=0&year=2002

We're rich with camping spots on the California Central Coast. I could have suggested more, myself. If you have a favored location you like other than the ones above please share where, why, and when.

All the camping prices were obtained from websites and should be verified. They do not include reservation fees, if any.

Take a look. California State Parks Video Gallery:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/video_gallery/
The videos for Montana de Oro SP and Morro Bay SP are very good. Happy viewing!

[Esteban]

Camping fees for CA State Parks: http://www.reserveamerica.com/showPage.do?name=common&commonPath=/usa/ca/cafeesfamily.html

CA State Parks camp site reservations: http://www.reserveamerica.com/campgroundDirectoryList.do?agency=ca

[grant whipp]

I voted for Montana de Oro 'cause it just seems like camping the way it used-to/should be. For purely selfish reasons, I'd like to see it in mid-June (I'd have the time to get down there and back), but I hear that mid-September's weather might be a bit better? What else is happening teardropwise that time of the year over in Smoggsville?

CHEERS!

Grant

[Eunice]

I like the idea of a gathering but I am not familar with the area. Others would have to decide that. Coming from Northern Ca on the coast wouldnt be a bad drive.
Eunice

[cherokeegeorge]

love Montana de oro, one of my favorite beaches. but the strand is good also. thanks for stepping up.

[Ma3tt]

WOW Grant "Smoggsville"? A little harsh!!! Since we are meeting in the middle should we bill this as a north/south thing, could be funny

The So Cal will rise again....if and only if our carmel latte Frapechino with two shots is ready. Sign me up!

[emiller]

My wife and I camped at Montana De Oro S.P. on the way to the IRG and became one of our favorite places. That was in july and was perfect.

[martha24]

I voted for Montana de Oro 'cause it just seems like camping the way it used-to/should be. For purely selfish reasons, I'd like to see it in mid-June (I'd have the time to get down there and back), but I hear that mid-September's weather might be a bit better? What else is happening teardropwise that time of the year over in Smoggsville?

CHEERS!

Grant

With central California, its not a question of Smoggsville, but which months would it be Foggsville?
There is a reason for the term June Gloom, at least around the Santa Barbara area there is.

I don't know enough about these campgrounds to pick one, but I have no problem with a primitive campground.
I would prefer where each camper doesn't have to reserve their own spot. So one question would be how many would come and would it be too many for a group site?
Plus a camp ground that allows dogs, for as long as we have our old dog she has to travel with us as we can't leave her home.
Martha

[dhazard]

I don’t know anything about the campgrounds, but would like to attend.

Dan

[Italia]

As far as I'm concerned, the more primitive the better. At Montano de Oro there is wildlife and an awesome seashore and more privacy. Hiking trails for those who do.
Cooler at the coast, warmer 10mi inland but it's all good.
September usually pretty decent at the coast.-----Dano

[grant whipp]

WOW Grant "Smoggsville"? A little harsh!!! ...

I only say that, Matt, 'cause I know some of the good and enthusiastic teardrop folks who reside in the cleanair-challenged climes east and south of the south coast range would probably want to jump at the chance to clean out their lungs with some fresh coastal air ... ...! Checking to see if the chosen dates conflict with something else already going on down there only makes their decision easier ... ...!

It's interesting (from a Far-Northerner's point of view) that the folks 'round SLO and Morrow Bay consider that area the Cantral Coast of CA. For us, the Central Coast has always been from Big Sur to Bodega Bay. 'Course, if we get our way and Jefferson State becomes an bonafide 51st State of the Union, then they will be the Central CA Coast, 'cause then Bodega Bay will be at the far north end of the CA coast line ... ... ...!
(Nothing personal, you understand ... it's all economics and politics, sanity and peace-of-mind, self-reliance and self-determination.)

Whatever you guys end up calling it, I know it'll be a gas! And if it's in the cards, I really hope we can make down there! Have fun, Y'all, and as always ...

CHEERS!

Grant

[Esteban]

Esteban stamps his feet, in mock indignation , SLO is NOT "smogsville"

On a bright warm clear sunny skies note, August till early September tends to be hot inland, which may cause some early morning fog on the coast. Late September through early November the weather is usually very nice. First rain of the Fall season most often starts sometime in Oct. with clear sunny days, often for weeks, in between rains.

Early voting is favoring Montana de Oro SP with 5 votes. Morro Strand SP received 1 vote.

Montana de Oro has 50 individually reserved camp spots. In high season camping costs $15/day. In low season the rates go down to $11/day. Seniors, 62 or older, get $2/day off if you ask when you reserve. Low season *seems* to start sometime in Sept...Reserve America's web site is not clear about when rates change.

The group sites at MdO are all horse camps located further inland and cost about twice as much.

[Ma3tt]

Really this is going to be great! Steve I pm'd you about my offers to help! I am looking forward to a lung clearing weekend!

A side note the sites may be individually reservable, but if you ask they may let you grab half of them on a slow weekend ahead of time.

[mfkaplan]

I don't know anything about any of the suggested parks butI want to come. Being retired almost any time is good. I love the coast.

Mary
Mom's Nest

[Esteban]

Ma3tt,

Thank you. I received your PM. Your ideas and help are much appreciated.

Montana de Oro seems to be the preferred gathering location. Let's see if that continues, or changes.

The campground at Montana de Oro has 50 spaces. If MdO becomes the site for the SLO Teardrop and DOG no one would be isolated from other teardroppers. I'll go by sometime soon to talk to the rangers about an informal teardrop trailer camping group.

WHEN would you prefer the SLO Gathering to happen?

I don't have a teardrop...yet. If the gathering happens soon it's a great opportunity to meet folks and get "hands on" ideas for building one. If it's held in late summer or in the fall I *may* have a campable teardrop...and not be a teardrop wanabee camping in a tent. I'm excited there's interest to hold a TD & DO Gathering near SLO. Just about anytime we can get together for one is mucho bueno with me.

Steve B.