Not long now..yeah! Really need to get away and relax.

I am travelling solo now. Wife has to work, daughter has a rehearsal call and son had enough dust at AB and wants to hang with skateboard buddies.

Good for me - can travel light!

When will details of the caravan from LA be sorted? I will be able to leave anytime from 3pm onwards.

Cheers
Mark

 

Ok, my maybe has turned into a definate YES! I just have to confirm with my boss that it will be OK to take the time off. Going to caravan from LA north 14, meeting Calrockx around noon time.

 

I'm going to be caravaning w/ Bob and we'll be meeting in Pasadena at noon. Are you and Calrockx closer to Death Valley than Bob in Pasadena? Since we'll be leaving at the same time, we should all probably go together.

BTW, I have a Saturday night campsite that I will be giving up. Before I cancel the reservation, does anyone need it?

 

Caravan Information: Tentative Information based on location of members

Friday Noon - Pasadena - Bob/Patty, Edwin and Glenn/Daniela (Bob's neighbors) (210E, 15N, 395N)
Friday Noon - Granada Hills - Bruce, Charles (5N - 14N)
Friday 3pm - Agoura Hills - Mark (?)
Friday 6pm - City of Industry - Henry, Lance (15N - 395N)

Others that have not expressed interest in the caravan please speak up so we can coordinate some better departure times.

Bob/Edwin, want to try and caravan with Bruce and Charles?

Mark, your departure time and location is way out of the way from Henry and myself. What do you want to do? leave eariler if possible with the other gang? Meeting up with us would be very difficult as it's a significant detour.

Henry 6pm sound ok or want to try to leave earlier? I'm going to try and swing out of work early on Friday so we can try to head out earlier if possible.

I should have my ham setup tomorrow evening so those with hams can keep in contact via radio. Bruce what freq do you want to be on so I know what to set my antenna?

The contact list will go out tomorrow night so if you haven't sent in your information, please do so now!


Edit by Bob: Guys, please be cautious when caravaning. Resist the urge to make it a cannonball run. Almost lost my life in college b/c of a caravan run. Take it easy and make it there in one piece!

 

Update:

We have 14 vehicles / 27 members attending this event so don't forget to pack a lot of FOOD for the pot luck sat night! (don't forget to bring something to drink)

Do we still have children attending this event? If so, I'll personally bring some dogs/buns for the kids

 

Pierre: Lets get together tuesday night (after work for me if it's ok for you - 730~830pm ok?) so I can pick up the DV book?

Thanks!

 

if bob and edwin are meeting in pasadena at noon, maybe bruce and i could wait the extra half hour/45 mins for them to pass by on the 14, and we can all caravan together, yeah? say the pasadena gang could meet the valley gang at 1pm at the sand canyon in n out off the 14?

 

School dismissal is noon, so I doubt I'll be able to connect with the rest of you guys leaving LA around noon. If I can swing it, I'll post up later in the week.

At this stage, leaving around early afternoon....

I'll be doing the 101 > 27 > 118 > 5 > 14 > 178 route. This is the most direct for me and is already on my GPS. See you guys there I guess.

 

I just got a reply from the people in charge of the campsites about my reservation. Here is what I got:

======================
Howdy Ryan,



Your reservation is confirmed as requested, number XXXXXX . Please be aware we have a two day cancellation policy. Have a safe trip out, we look forward to seeing you soon… Thank you for your interest in Panamint Springs Resort, and Death Valley National Park.



-Keith of

Panamint Springs Resort
========================

I'm assuming that Keith forgot to include my campsite number in his email, but maybe I missed a link on the site that showed me my tent site based off the confirmation number? (confirmation number removed for privacy from guests)

 

We are expecting FANTASTIC weather out in Death Valley. There will be a slight chance of rain Tuesday so the roads may be muddy in some areas.

Thu Mar 23 Mostly Sunny 85°/55°
Fri Mar 24 Sunny 90°/61°
Sat Mar 25 Partly Cloudy 91°/61°
Sun Mar 26 Mostly Sunny 86°/57°
Mon Mar 27 Partly Cloudy 88°/58°
Tue Mar 28 Partly Cloudy 87°/57°

As always keep in mind that we will be in the desert so expect desert like conditions. Dress accordingly. The nights may get cooler in some areas so bring some warm gear as well.

If you can bring some firewood for the pits more the better!

 

6pm is good. i should be able to get back by 3-4, worst is 5.

 

I made no campsite reservations, so I'll take what I can get.......

 

chuck and bruce,

we are going this way:

210 east
15 north
395 north

i'm going to amend lance's post above. and dont worry about waiting for us. keep on going. we'll just meet up with you there.

bob

 

oh you're going that wacky way. and by wacky i simply mean different . alright, that's cool.

bruce, i have reservations for fri and sat nights at psr caping site #24 with only one truck and two people right now. so you can camp there too if you need to.

 

yeah, it won't make much sense for us to head back in the direction of the I5 when we are so close to the 15. anyways, see ya there

EDWIN:

not trying to ditch you, pal, but you are alot closer to chuck and bruce's departure location. my fragile ego, librarian-like demeanor, and feelings won't be hurt if you want to go with them (boo hoo, sniff, sniff). if not, meet at 12 noon and we'll head out the wacky way

bob

 

I'm so bummed that I can't roll with you guys on this trip. I know several of the people on here from past outtings (Edwin, Lance, Bob, Charles, Mark, etc.). I would've liked to have met up with some of the others.

Have a blast out there and let me know if you guys take a run at the Albatross wreckage! Good luck and be safe!

 

Actually, I'm closer to you. At least I think I am. I'm only 15 minutes max from the Santa Anita mall but at least 25 minutes from Woodland Hills...

 

Bruce, you can have my Saturday night for your truck. I haven't been so can Bruce park his truck somewhere close and then just came w/ Calrockx?

 

If your coming via 395 take the Ridgecrest turn off from 395(It's well marked) and follow that into town. The first gas station you come to is a Shell (just outside of town) skip it, it's one of the most expensive in town. The next one is an Albertsons gas station just about a mile past the Shell station. This one is usually one of the two cheapest gas stations in town. After passing the Albertsons (you will be on China Lake BLVD, 395 turns into this as you enter town) you will go thru several intersections a couple of stop signs and a couple of lights. When you get to the intersection of China Lake BLVD and Ridgecrest BLVD (Bank of America on one corner, Denny's on the opposite) take a right on Ridgecrest BLVD heading East on 178 (this isn't very clearly marked in town) this will take you straight to Trona, about 28 miles (there is a gas station in Trona but I don't know what time it closes).

If your coming via 14, take the 178 turn off going East, NOT the 178 Lake Isabella turn off. You will hit Ridgecrest in about 12 miles (go thru Inyokern). When you get to the second stop light in Ridgecrest you will have to turn right(South) on to China Lake BLVD(just after the turn is a Shell station, but just past that on your right is a local station called One Stop, cheapest gas in town). Continue South untill you reach the intersection of China Lake BLVD and Ridgecrest BLVD(about 2.5 miles), turn left(East) on Ridgecrest BLVD and head out towards Trona.

It looks like I won't be making it on this trip. But if anyone needs anything on their way thru feel free to give me a ring 760-793-6023(cell), I'm local in Ridgecrest and can help you find just about anything if you need it.

Have Fun ... Lee

FWIW ... We are currently experinceing the coldest March in about 80 some odd years so you may want to plan accordingly. The weather changes rapidly at times out here so be ready for anything.

 

I've got the other half of my campsite open. I'm not sure what site # is mine, though.