Left Coast Reunion?

[Raverlaw]

Labguides and I were talking-

There will be some left-coasters who can't make the official CO reunion in October. I had informally offered my deck as a location for a VR reunion here, and I'd like to make it official.

How many of you from California/Oregon/Washington would be interested in converging on Cambria sometime this summer? I have several clients with motels in town and could get you some good rates; there are also many houses offered as vacation rentals. We are half way between San Francisco and L.A. - about 4 1/2 hours by car from either. Nearest air service is San Luis Obispo, about 30 min. south of here. America West flies there from Phoenix and Las Vegas, and United Express and American Eagle have flights from LAX and SFO.

Summer weather here is usually nice, temps in the high 60s or low 70s. We do get occasional summer fog from the ocean, but it just adds to the atmosphere! If anyone is interested in an organized event, reply here or send me a PM - we'll pick a date.

Otherwise, all VR members have an open invitation to drop in if they're in the area or driving through.

Well?

 

[Rain]

Hey! Am I a ?left coaster??

Hey! Am I a ?left coaster??

We may be going out to see our son who?s living in Stockton in a month or so... We always seem to be short on time when we do that, but if it worked out... I?d love to meet you and your family!

You?re all still welcome at my house too! Since the boys went off to college... I now have two empty bedrooms!! Well.... one is slowly turning into an exercise room. But there?s also the pull out sofa!! I only live about ten miles from the entrance to Mesa Verde National Park. Come on over! I don?t have a big deck... but I have a big back yard, and a nice view of the mountains!

 

[Raverlaw]

Rain,

I guess you're about as far from being a 'coaster as it is possible to be in the U.S. But you're still welcome to visit or help me get a left coast reunion off the ground. Not too much interest from the Californians, it seems

Stockton is about 5 1/2 hours north in the Central Valley. It will hotter than blazes there this summer, and you may need a couple of foggy days at the coast to recuperate!

 

[Raverlaw]

No one's interested?

No one's interested?

Wow- this is about the weakest thread I've ever started. I thought that I'd get all kinds of responses from left coasters, or at least fellow Californians like Socworm, Labguides, Aniper, Gail, Enudely, Marge, etc.

I guess maybe I'll just have to meet you all one at a time. But the offer's still open if anyone wants to have a little reunion. If at least two of you respond, I'll set it up. Maybe we can still get the ball rolling....

 

[Rain]

I wanna come!

I wanna come!

Hey Bill,

We?re planning to take the kids to Disney Land the second week of June. Ry will probably fly from Denver to LA for the Disney visit then return. He has an intern summer job and needs to get back to work. Eric & Erin will hopefully do Disney with us and then they?ll also have to get back to work. BUT... my husband, Sara and I plan to slowly make our way up the coast to Eric?s house.... spending a couple nights on the beach. Then spend a day or two with him before coming back home. I?m also trying to coordinate a visit with my 84 year old Aunt in Las Vegas, either on the way or coming home. It?s all still a little ?in the air? as we?re trying to pull all the plans together. It?s looking like this will all happen the second and third week of June. I?ll know for sure in a couple days.

Maybe we could try to get a few people together during that time.

 

[Raverlaw]

Rain,

If you're taking the coast from L.A. to Stockton, we're right on the way! I'm not going anywhere in June, so you're welcome to stop in. The wine bar on the deck is open!

Be forewarned, though, that we can have very foggy, cool days in June! This year has been unseasonably dry, clear and warm, though.

Let me know when your plans firm up. We'll be here!

 

[The Bionic Duo]

We live in the East SF Bay area, and would love to meet some of the VR people who live on the west coast. Actually we're going to be in Pismo Beach the last Weekend in September, how far are you from there? Bob plays in a golf tournament down there every year, this year they will play one day at Blacklake (?) in Nipomo, and one day at Avila beach (don't know which day will be which yet). Last year it was overcast for most of the weekend.

Joan

 

[Creed3]

East Coast

East Coast

I think the whole west coast reunion is a good idea. Jim and I were discussing once that those of us on the east coast should consider having a mini-reunion. In my case it is hard for me to travel very far because of my two young ones. Maybe us east coasters should think about doing what Bill is doing.

Take Care!
Gail

P.S.
Just a thought, but maybe for the reunion next year, east coast. The Shenandoah Valley is real pretty in October.

 

[Raverlaw]

Joan & Bob,

Cambria is about 40 miles north of Nipomo, 35 miles or so north of Avila Beach. It usually takes about 55 minutes to drive to Nipomo from here; it's a beautiful drive, and follows the coast most of the way.

If you're spending time in the area we'd love to meet you. You're welcome to come to our place for dinner and, of course, the obligatory wine on the deck! Or we could meet you for dinner in San Luis Obispo (just north of Avila) or even in Avila. There's a great restaurant at the Avila Resort.

Send me a PM when you know what your plans are, dates, etc. If you're the first one to suggest a weekend, maybe we can get some others to show up, too!

 

[The Bionic Duo]

That sounds great, we have some friends in San Luis Obispo, and were thinking of stoping by to see them too. Although it sounds like a nice drive out to your place. Will let you know when I know more about that weekend, we have reservations at the Kon-Tiki for the weekend, but that about all I have planned so far (I can't think that far in the future ).

Joan

 

[Raverlaw]

Joan,

The Kon-tiki is owned by a former client of mine. It's about a 50 min drive from there to our house. Just let me know your schedule and we'll try to get together.

Now, are any of you other left-coast valvers going to join us?

 

[The Bionic Duo]

Will do just that. Right now I'm focused on a nice week (well 4 days anyway) up in the Carson Valley area of Nevada--Bob is on one of his other yearly golf junkits--he plays golf and I just play. (Got to make my annual deposit on that poker machince, and play a little black jack.)

Joan

 

[Rain]

Firming up at the last minute....

Firming up at the last minute....

Well, Bill... I'm on my way out the door and I think my plans are finally 'firmed up'. Whew! It's hard organizing family vacations once the kids have moved out. But I have all the hotels confirmed and plans made. We'll be in the L.A. area until we put Ry back on the plane the morning of the 16th. Then on to Pismo Beach the 16th and Monterey Beach the 17th, and Eric's for a few days after that... then through Las Vegas to visit my Aunt Sara.

I'm sure it's a little late to visit your back deck. But I'll be thinking of you and your family as we are in the area. I'll most definately bring a few bottle of wine back with me. Eric lives right next to a vineyard and has promised us a tour of their site.

 

[Susan BAV]

My husband and I trotted up to see Hearst Castle the first part of May and stayed in Pismo Beach for the weekend and we stayed one night at the Kon-Tiki (beautiful place!!!).

Bill, I have a question for you that I couldn't find an answer to in my Web searches. My husband and I drove all around San Luis Obispo county, inland through some of the vineyard areas also, and we were shocked to see so many thousands of trees with some sort of a parasitic moss all over them. I searched and searched but couldn't find out what it was. Not Spanish Moss, because that isn't parasitic. Not holly, because it was definitely a mossy looking disease. It looked like maybe spores were blown from tree to tree, or something. Have you seen what I'm describing and/or do you have any idea what that all is?

 

[Raverlaw]

Susan,

I'm not sure what you're referring to. We do have lots of Spanish moss, in the foggier areas, and it gets very heavy on some trees. There are shorter varieties of moss that grown on the trees also, and some of the oak trees have a lot, just because the trees are very old.

Also you may have seen trees with mistletoe growing on them; we have a variety here that doesn't look like "Christmas" mistletoe, but rather looks like a sickly juniper branch attached to a tree. If that's what you saw, it was mistletoe.

And I am disappointed that you came to this area and didn't try to get in touch! Our house is about ten minutes from Hearst Castle and we'd love to meet VR members who are in the area any time.