Southern California Cruise #4 Nov. 02

[openminds]

Isn't it November 2nd YET?!?!???

[Supermobile]

Isn't it November 2nd YET?!?!???

openminds: You just have to relax and keep an OpenMinds

Har Har. openminds

But I know what you mean. I am anxious to shower the desert with Avlanches also!

[SoCalCindy]

I just emailed our Southern California Chapter an update by email. Just in case...I'm posting it here too...

SoCalCindy

Hello Southern CA AV Fans!

Well, as of tommorrow...Our next get together is only 10 days away!
So here is a recap on the details:

So far...it looks like we have 15 AVs attending this event. This email is kinda long too...So you might want to print it out. There is an ongoing discussion thread about the cruise in the meets/cruise forum on the AV club website. Specific directions & maps are posted there as well. Bring your FRS radio if you have one, if you don't...no worries...plenty have offered to share their extras. We'll try Channel 1 Subchannel 0.

Starting Point:
Saturday November 2, 2002
Arrive 9:30 a.m.
Dinosaurs in Cabazon, Ca.
50900 Seminole Dr.
Cabazon, CA. 92230

I will be in Cabazon at 8:00 a.m. There are plenty of restaurants in the area if anyone wants to arrive early for breakfast. Once we're all gathered we'll head out approx. 15 miles to N. Palm Springs for a tour of wind turbines & photo opps.

After the wind park tour we'll cruise approx. 30 miles to Joshua Tree National Park and enter at the West Entrance for activities and lunch. So please bring a lunch for yourself & family. It is $10 to enter the park and the admission is good for 7 days. You will need to bring your own drinking water.

Optional Camping & Potluck BBQ
I have 10 Camp Sites reserved at Black Rock Canyon Campground. Each site can accommodate 2 Vehicles, 2 Tents, 6 people. The campsite fee for the night is $10.
These are the folks who said they plan to camp out for sure:
SoCalCindy/Wind4Power, Tunahunter, MagicMtnDan, openminds, Avalanche Bob, bshef, King_Avalanche, RCinSoCal, Aegis ...and we have plenty of room for more. So those who haven't decided for sure. Just let me know when you can.

Potluck BBQ Saturday evening at Black Rock.
The idea for a BBQ was brought up and several people have volunteered to bring something for a BBQ Dinner...enough for everyone.
Tunahunter: Tuna Steaks and maybe some yellow tail.
SoCalCindy/Wind4Power: Plates & Eating Utensils, Hot Dogs and Buns.
Supermobile: Cookies & Chips for everyone.
If you would like to bring something...let me know what you plan to bring or post it in the So Cal Cruise thread on the club website.

It gets pretty darn chilly at night in the desert, so plan on bringing a jacket and warm bedding if you plan on camping.

I've picked up a few things to give away for fun --for prizes or drawings or whatever.
If you have any ideas or would like add something to the pot...please feel free!

Several members have let me know that they would like to share their cell phone numbers and OnStar numbers with the group. This is so we can get in contact with each other if necessary or in case of emergency, etc. If you would like to share your # with the group you can email it to me privately or Message me on the AV club website. Be assured, I will only share the numbers with those who plan on attending the cruise.

Not long till we Go! I'm looking foward to It! Hope To See Ya There!
If you have any comments, suggestions, ideas or questions...just send me an email or post it on the AV club site.


Cindy & Ken Hamilton aka SoCalCindy & Wind4Power

Please Note the change in start time. We decided to change it to 9:30 a.m. to make it a little easier on those coming a long distance. (Which is most of you )

[RCinSoCal]

It gets pretty darn chilly at night in the desert, so plan on bringing a jacket and warm bedding if you plan on camping.  
OK, then we'll bring a big ol' pot of Chili! Make it at home, and pack it in ice till Sat nite....

[SoCalCindy]

RCinSoCal

OK, then we'll bring a big ol' pot of Chili! Make it at home, and pack it in ice till Sat nite....

Chili for a Chilly night... Ha Ha! pretty good RC!

I read you're breakin out the climbing gear...that should be fun to watch.

[bshef]

Sounds like a mmmmmmmmmost excellent time to be had for all.
For the Pot luck, my In-laws have a bakery so I can load up a few square feet of pastries, cookies and other Baked goods that travel well.
Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Brad in HB

[openminds]

We will pack an ice chest with as many sodas and waters we can fit. Oh, and ice too, gotta keep it cold.

[Supermobile]

We will pack an ice chest with as many sodas and waters we can fit. Oh, and ice too, gotta keep it cold.

Is anyone going to fill their side storage units with ice,
and use it for a cooler, like the Av salesmen say you can do?

I gotta see that!

[XRover]

Don't have any kids or a girlfriend so it looks like I will be coming Solo. Again....

[openminds]

Hey Xrover, I am sure you could borrow some kids while we're there. LOL

[RCinSoCal]

Is anyone going to fill their side storage units with ice,
and use it for a cooler, like the Av salesmen say you can do?

I gotta see that!

I'll have my pass side set up that way. Done it before and works fairly well. Trick is to buy the plastic shoebox size plastic container at K-Mart and make some blocks of ice. This was suggested in that old post.   Blocks last much longer than cubes...
We'll be out there Fri afternoon so the ice will be down a bit by Sat am.
Anyone else playing hooky (sp?) on Fri, and camping out Fri nite too? I'm bringing a bunch of mixed hardwood for the campfire, and will have extra....    (I'll be a Lt Pewter av with the Z66 stickers removed, and a black, soft-sided cargo carrier on top of the cargo panels... And, of course, a club decal - in the rear window).
If not, we'll meet you all on Sat am.

[Lightning]

Speaking of club decals, are there going to be any at the event for purchase? I think that would be a good idea.

XROVER - I'm cruising solo as well, I may need a wing man.

[Magic Mtn Dan]

Hey, anyone wanna hook up with us (and OpenMinds) as we cruise out from the San Fernando Valley?  It'd be fun to carAVan out there together.

I can't put ice and beverages in my side compartments until I clean them out - they're coated with dust from the Death Valley trip.  I'm kinda hoping for some rain today/tomorrow so my Av's underscarriage gets wet down - the frame, etc., has dust on it too.  

I'm not sure what we're gonna bring for the barbecue.  We usally cook good stuff - steaks or something - I'm sure we'll bring some extra stuff to contribute to the pot luck.  Maybe a side dish or two.

Make sure you bring some firewood if you have room!  Marshmallows too (and some marshmallow cooking sticks).  Don't forget to turn your FRS radios to channel 1 subcode 0.

If you wanna hook up with us e-mail me or OpenMinds and we'll set something up so we meet along the route to Cabazon.  Feel free to call me on my cell phone:  805-490-4866

Don't forget your flashlights, lanterns, towels, soap, utensils/plates, etc.

Who's gonna do a hack (mod) when we're there?

See you next Saturday!

-Dan

Magic Mtn Dan & Mrs. MMD  

[Magic Mtn Dan]

OK, then we'll bring a big ol' pot of Chili! Make it at home, and pack it in ice till Sat nite....

You gonna use Blazing Saddle Beans in the chili?  It'll be trumpet time around the campfire!  

[RCinSoCal]

You gonna use Blazing Saddle Beans in the chili?  It'll be trumpet time around the campfire!  

I'd suggest enjoying the nuances of Tunahunter's offering before eating this fire!

"Cowboy: How 'bout some more beans, Mr. Taggart?
Mr. Taggart: I'd say you've had enough."

http://www.ladyofthecake.com/mel/saddles/bssounds.htm  (9th one down for those with speakers - and a sense of humor )

[RCinSoCal]

Don't forget your flashlights, lanterns, towels, soap, utensils/plates, etc.

Here are some links to Camping Checklists that might be useful. Lots of duplication, of course, and many things you won't need, but a review of these might prompt you to bring something you might have otherwise forgot or overlooked...

http://www.camping-usa.com/checklist.html

http://www.4outdoorfun.com/4outdoorfun/camchec.html

http://www.adventureteam.com/gearlist.htm

http://www.hightsite.com/camping/checklist.htm

Remember to set your clocks back tonite. That's right, our trip gets pushed back another hour!

[KING_AVALANCHE]

OK gang here's my idea   ....I allready threw this to Cindy but what do the rest of you think....I was thinking
of bringing my propane 3 level BBQ along for cooking purposes? much easier than frying your arm on a fire pit... Tuna can't swim off here I'll check back for input.
I will not be making the meeting at the Dinos but will be catching up with the group @ Joshua Tree We will be doing the camping thing..For those who have interest in the AV tent and haven't seen them guess what .....
You'll be able to see mine...
              Mike

[openminds]

Though bringing a full size BBQ would be convinient for everyone else, how easy is it gonna be for you? You need to lug it around, unload, reload, carry around on Sunday, lug it home, unload it at home. etc....

I for one was planning on bringing a small Charcoal grill, as were others. I have two huge bags of charcoal left over from a company BBQ (Yesterday) I was going to bring. Let's just get this ironed out before next weekend so we don't have to many BBQs and not enough food. LOL

[RCinSoCal]

Who's gonna do a hack (mod) when we're there?

Well, it wouldn't be much of a mod*, BUT, I'll be bringing with me 3 or 4 sets in Charcoal Grey and the same in Beige of "Avalanche stickers" to cover those ugly sun visor warnings, from Rich Davis, owner of Streamlinedesign.com:

http://www.streamlinedesign.com/avalanche/interior.html

I contacted him a few weeks ago when I saw him mentioned in a thread re sun visors. He just recently put them up on his site for sale ($15/pr). I mentioned to him our upcoming desert cruise and that I could show off my set and perhaps drum up some interest for him . I volunteered to try to sell some if he was interested, and lo and behold, he sent me several sets.
He offered me $3 for each pr that should sell, but since I don't want to make a dime off any of my new friends in the CAFCNA, that means, if you're interested, you could pick up a pair of these next weekend for $12, not the regular $15, with no shipping and no waiting for the mail!
To be clear, I'm NOT a sales rep for these; just trying to be a nice guy and help this fella out in case anyone would like a pair. I'll be sending any $ and the unsold sets back to him on Monday, after the cruise. Just another benefit of coming along on the JT cruise

*(I don't suspect we'll see too many people putting in a Hypertech unit, Sun am while parked in the middle of the desert!  )
 

[SoCalCindy]

RC...
I've visited that site a half a dozen times but just haven't plunked my money down for a set cause I couldn't make up my mind what color I wanted. I'll buy a set from ya at the meet 4 sure.   Thanks for arranging that...


I almost forgot...
We went out to the desert yesterday...the wind was blowing pretty good. All the turbines were turning.  I hope there is a a little bit of wind when we all go out there...It sure makes things more interesting.

The temperature was in the mid 70 in N. Palm Springs and mid 60's in Yucca Valley/Joshua Tree. I checked the weather forecast for next Sat/Sun. and it looks like it will be about the same. Nightime temps are in the mid 40s. Make sure to bring warm clothing for the night time temps.

[openminds]

He offered me $3 for each pr that should sell, but since I don't want to make a dime off any of my new friends in the CAFCNA, that means, if you're interested, you could pick up a pair of these next weekend for $12, not the regular $15, with no shipping and no waiting for the mail!

GREAT!  If you have a set in the grey or black, whatever, I would be interested in one of the sets.

Jonathan

[Lightning]

Well, it wouldn't be much of a mod*, BUT, I'll be bringing with me 3 or 4 sets in Charcoal Grey and the same in Beige of "Avalanche stickers" to cover those ugly sun visor warnings, from Rich Davis, owner of Streamlinedesign.com:, you could pick up a pair of these next weekend for $12, not the regular $15, with no shipping and no waiting for the mail!  

I'd be interested in a set, beige is preferred if you can ear mark one for me. Thanks for the leg work.

[Magic Mtn Dan]

I hope ya'all like Macaroni Salad - that's what we're bringing thanks to my wife Denise who is going to make a bunch of it for the Pot-Luck Barbecue.  She makes a mean Mac Salad so come hungry!

Hey Cindy, I'm sure you provided it but what's the plan for Saturday and Sunday - do you have an itinerary for us?  (I'm at work and don't have access to the files on my home PC).

As for the home-style grille - I think it's a great idea but it can be tough for everyone to cook their own food on one grille (too many chefs, not enough grilles   ) so we're bringing out own camping barbecue with self-lighting briquets (no need to lug the lighter fluid).  

We're also bringing our Coleman camping stove too so we can cook up some stuff (especially our bacon and eggs breakfast Sunday AM).

Anyone want to hook up on the drive out to the stoned dinosaurs?

[RCinSoCal]

To those whom I'm exchanging e-mails with re Sun Visors...If, when you finally see them in person, you don't care for them for any reason, don't feel committed to buy a pair! Just say "no thanks". No problem (Although I can't see any reason you wouldn't like them...)

And is it just me, or do some of the recent postings to this thread make you think we should update the name of this trip to:  BBQ's Galore!

[openminds]

Ok, maybe not the greatest idea, but let me shoot it at ya.

For my dash, I was not to interested in the changeable faceplates or changing the cluster all together. But I did want a different color display. I installed LED bulbs. This involved a minor "modification" of the old bulbs (destroying them) to install the LEDs. It came out great and mine now lights up blue. And the LEDs will not burn the blue coloring off as this is the wavelength of light emitted.

I do not have any more blue LEDs but do have enough RED to do another. The result would be no change during the day, but at night your cluster lights up red instead of the white. We could do this as a mod to someones Avalanche while we are camping Saturday Night. Maybe even Photo op it for other members to see how easy it is.  The cost of the bulbs would be 5.00 (Help me pay for my camping spot) and the labor is free. Wait till you see how easy it is.

Now, the hard part is to who's Avalanche. I would say first to respond, but that would not be fair to the folks that can't get here in time, heck, maybe no one wants to do it. But I am sure we could work it out.

Im just tossing this out as something to do.