Camping with the Nor Cal Rabble?

[Mrs. Farlander]

Arnold, CA to be precise.

[Mrs. Farlander]

Ok, two more options: Caswell Memorial State Park near Stockton or Lake Del Valle in Livermore.

Talk amongst yourselves and let me know what you come up with.

[Monkey@Arms]

Any of those locations are fine by us. What ever you folks decide.

Best regards,

Jake

[way2fractious]

Nor-Cal Rabble:

Each of the three sites has very much to recommend it. Here are the lead paragraphs from the respective websites and their links:


Calaveras Big Trees S.P.
(114 miles east of Livermore; Sierra Nevada foothills, 4,000 ft elevation)

Calaveras became a State Park in 1931 to preserve the North Grove of giant sequoias. This grove includes the "Discovery Tree", the first Sierra redwood noted by Augustus T. Dowd in 1852. This area has been a major tourist attraction ever since, and is considered the longest continuously operated tourist facility in California. (read more)

Mountain air and walking paths among the giants of the earth. These are the trees used to make Alan H-sized cabers.


Caswell Memorial S.P.
(40 miles east of Livermore; way2fractious' back yard)

The park is located along the Stanislaus River near the town of Ripon, California. The park protects a fine example of the threatened and still declining riparian oak woodland, which once flourished throughout California's Central Valley. Caswell is home to several endangered animal species, including the riparian brush rabbit which is not known to occur anywhere else. (read more)

Good access to the natural banks of the Stanislaus River. Only 10.5 miles by bicycle from my home (or by car, or walking ).


Del Valle Regional Park
(10 miles south of Livermore; Farlander's back yard)

Deep in a valley framed by oak-covered hills, with sailboats and sailboards skimming over its waters, Del Valle is like a lakeside resort only 10 miles south of Livermore. Centerpiece of the park is a lake five miles long with all kinds of water-oriented recreation, surrounded by approximately 5,000 acres of beautiful land for hiking, horseback riding, and nature study. Del Valle also is the eastern gateway to the Ohlone Wilderness Trail, 28 miles of scenic back country trail. (read more)

Growing up in Livermore, I have ridden a bicycle to this lake many more times than I have driven it. Nice picniking grass and swimming beaches for kids.

I'm jazzed about any of three possibilities.

w2f

[Mrs. Farlander]

Listen up! I made a reservation for the group camp at Caswell Memorial State Park near Modesto:


-for Friday, October 2nd and Saturday, October 3rd.
-We can arrive at two on Friday and need to be out by noon on Sunday.
-There will be a per-car fee, probably in the $6- range.
-The reservation cost $227.50, so please chip in when we get there.
-We need at least nine people for this site and can't have more than 50.
-The campsite is 50 yards from the car, so leave the kitchen sink at home.
-Please give me a heads up if you think you'll be joining us. I don't want to be too worried about it, but it would help to have a vague head count.
-If you're not too sure about the whole camping business, but think you'd like to give it a try let me know. I can help out with finding/renting equipment and deciding what to bring.
-I'm going no matter what the weather does. Unless, of course, it snows then all bets are off.

[Monkey@Arms]

-If you're not too sure about the whole camping business, but think you'd like to give it a try let me know. I can help out with finding/renting equipment and deciding what to bring.
-I'm going no matter what the weather does. Unless, of course, it snows then all bets are off.

Put us down for four heads, in the wholly ignorant about camping category. (Reasonable weather attendance only, but we'll contribute our share of the costs regardless)

Best regards,

Jake

[Mrs. Farlander]

Well, Jake, that makes six of us. I'm guessing Panache and family will join, which will bring us to ten.

I just called the park and got some good news. The first twelve cars are free. After that it's six bucks a car. Not bad.

The most important good news? We'll have our very own bathroom and the showers are free. It may not sound important now, but believe me by Sunday morning we may be grateful.

We'll be near water and the fishing is supposed to be decent, so you may want to bring fishing gear.

I'm looking forward to this. Camping! Yay!

[Flag Folder]

Morongo Valley is only about 6 hours and it is much WARMER and limes grow on the trees!

[Panache]

Panache and family are in!

Though fresh limes do sound appealing....


Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

[Monkey@Arms]

Morongo Valley is only about 6 hours and it is much WARMER and limes grow on the trees!

You say that as if its a good thing. Heck. I've got a better idea FF, why don't you come on up. I'll bring lemons from my backyard.

Best regards,

Jake