It's time once again to mark your camping calenders.
Halfdome will be, June 28th to July 6th
We do not know where we will be at yet as they crushed the bridge in the campground and put a cement truck in the river. Also the usual work of repairing the water and electric lines.
Sal
campground map 1
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1066117774039649485kbrQXC (//%22http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1066117774039649485kbrQXC%22)
campground map 2
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1066117748039649485EckCQx (//%22http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1066117748039649485EckCQx%22)
Thousand Trails Website for all info.
http://www.1000trails.com/site/page/pg3487-as18.html (//%22http://www.1000trails.com/site/page/pg3487-as18.html%22)
Hi Sal
One of our Sccamperrs is interested but didn't know where it was etc.
I posted a link to Hyjinx III with the coupground links etc....
do you think maybe you can edit your first post to include more info??
we have quite a few new families that may want to go.
Thanks
No problem Dee.;)
Once again this is open to anyone who would like to join in.
The campground is located five miles out side the north entrance.
It has full hookups with 50 amp service, fires are allowed and fire areas
are provided. You also have full access to all that Thousand Trails provides at no extra charge. Mini Golf, Basketball, Volleyball, Badminton, Horseshoes, and whatever they have added since last fall. You also will not have to go on the sales presentition!
The campground store is the Exxon station. Turn right and follow the road to the bottom of the hill.
Turn right again and go 3 blocks, you will see the entrance.
Turn left and go to the guard shack. this is the check in area.
give them your name and tell them your with the super-host group, with the "Lutz group."
If you already have reservations in the valley and would like to visit with the group or join in the Saturday night potluck email me and we will leave your name at the gate so you can enter.
Sal
Quote from: Dee4jHi Sal
One of our Sccamperrs is interested but didn't know where it was etc.
I posted a link to Hyjinx III with the coupground links etc....
do you think maybe you can edit your first post to include more info??
we have quite a few new families that may want to go.
Thanks
Thanks Sal....I liked staying outside...I don't like the traffic inside the park
If I was an NNCer I would definetly go. As I said maybe next year
Dee, you know you don't have to be an NNCer to come, anyone is welcome.
I received the package from the campground and the fee will be the same...$32 per night. They have a new contract this year and one of the items is that we have to notify them of a cancellation 14 days in advance or there is no refund. I also have to have the deposit to them ($650.00) in two weeks! I don't like this because we don't know if we will fill all 10 sites and I don't like forking out that kind of money so far in advance. I'll have to call and talk to the Super Host Coordinator and state my concerns. We will see what happens. I am also assuming that we will be placed in "Sun Valley" where we usually are, but that may change if they don't get the electricity fixed.
More to come as things progress.
Joan
I am sorry to say we will be in Michigan at this time. We don't even have any camping trips planned this year except for Memorial Day and even then we are renting a motorhome and heading to the Mojave desert.
Life is getting tough having a teenager (15) and me working weekends. The only time we can camp is during the week. And right now the kids are in school. Then when it is summer and they don't have school it is 110 out.:(
Jacqui
Quote from: OC CampersI am sorry to say we will be in Michigan at this time. We don't even have any camping trips planned this year except for Memorial Day and even then we are renting a motorhome and heading to the Mojave desert.
Life is getting tough having a teenager (15) and me working weekends. The only time we can camp is during the week. And right now the kids are in school. Then when it is summer and they don't have school it is 110 out.:(
Jacqui
Jacqui, things will get better. Hoping you can go camping soon. PS you sent me a PM and I didn't get it because my file was full.
Quote from: griffsdadJacqui, things will get better. Hoping you can go camping soon. PS you sent me a PM and I didn't get it because my file was full.
I know things will get better but it will ba awhile. Fortunately, Kendra will be getting her license in August so she will be able to take herself to all the activities and other teenager stuff she is doing.
I did send you a PM. I wanted to let you and Lori know I was going to stop by Newport Dunes and visit. Hopefully, we will get to see you guys next year.
Jacqui
Quote from: OC CampersI know things will get better but it will ba awhile. Fortunately, Kendra will be getting her license in August so she will be able to take herself to all the activities and other teenager stuff she is doing.
I did send you a PM. I wanted to let you and Lori know I was going to stop by Newport Dunes and visit. Hopefully, we will get to see you guys next year.
Jacqui
We're sorry we missed you :( Jacqui, I was looking at the Drunk Squad posts and I noticed that you said that you rarely have a drink. I find that both admirable and unbelievable with a teenage daughter who will be getting her driver's license soon. Oh man. I have to a few pops to help my head strong 6 year old with his homework. We call it Daddy's medicine. aka Jack Daniels on ice. ;)
Hey we need some people to sign up for this rally. All we have attending now is a friend from work and her friends. The resort is bugging me for the deposit ($640.00) for the 10 sites we have reserved. I told them that I'm not going to fork out that kind of money when people are not signing up. So I have just 2 more week before the sites are cancelled.
SIGN UP, THIS IS ALWAYS A FUN RALLY! :-()
ATTENEES:
Jack & Debbie McDowell (Joan's Friend from Work) 6/29 - 7/1
Sharon McDowell (Jack's Sister) 6/29 - 7/1
Bob Burnette (McDowell's Friends) 6/29 - 7/1
Joan & Sal 6/27 - 6/6
Joan
Unfortunately, that is a bad time at work for me to take off. We've been planning a week long late-July So. Tahoe trip for a year, so when I started my new job in March, I requested that right away.
However, so many "regular" employees take the July 4th week off, which means us contract-employees have to pick up the slack.
Sorry you can't make this one.
ATTENEES:
Jack & Debbie McDowell (Joan's Friend from Work) 6/29 - 7/1
Sharon McDowell (Jack's Sister) 6/29 - 7/1
Bob Burnette (McDowell's Friends) 6/29 - 7/1
Aurora Herburger (Joan's Friend from Work) 6/29 - 7/2
Joan & Sal 6/27 - 6/6
Joan
Quote from: Calstate361Hey we need some people to sign up for this rally.
Joan, We really want to attend... really , really want to come! But the two bosses (owners) at work are taking a "cruise" (Gggrrrrrr), and suddenly Donna and I find that we have been elevated to "essential" employees, and have to abandon our freedom so the business "will run smoothly" in their absence (I think we deserve a pay hike commensurate with our "essential" status - yeah like that'll happen!).
So that derails our attending this time, so we can only wish you all a great time! and are looking forward to hopefully a HalfdomeHyjinx 6.
THANKS George; I knew you probably wouldn't be able to attend because you told us about the boss' cruze at the Ponderosa rally.
Hey, did you find that "HOT" soup bowl at Albertsons or WinCo? I have also seen it at Bel Air so it looks like it might be, sort of, a comon item in the Chinese Food Section.
I don't know if there will be a Half Dome Hijinx XI because of the lack of interest last year and this year. However, we will probably be there anyway so I will probably not super host or make any reservations for the group until I hear that others want to attend. AND, we will be traveling more since I will be retired (August 30th...78 days to go including my RDOs and the rally vacation). My boss is hoping I come back as a "retired annuitant". I have told her that I might come back as at "Retarded Irritant"! We can work up to 9 months without it affecting my retirement, so I might work just 3 days a week. :screwy: :compumad: :banghead: :eyecrazy:
We will have to see, I might not even be around depending on our traveling schedule.
Joan
Quote from: Calstate361we will be traveling more since I will be retired (August 30th...78 days to go including my RDOs and the rally vacation).
Wait a minute... you can't possibly be at retirement age yet ! ..... Since when do they let you retire in your 40's ?
I'm soooooo jealous ! Due to our financial strategies I figure I'll be able to retire when I'm only about 93 yrs old... wooo hooo!
Yes we have found the HOT soup at Albertsons. MmmMmmm spicy hot!
I hope you do get more people to sign on next year for truly selfish reasons. We totally enjoy camping with y'all.
Give Sal our belated happy birthday greeting, I assume the fivers jacks have been repaired by now? No? Yes? You gotta have that thing in tip top shape for all your post-retirement travelling.
No, the 5er jack is still not fixed. Sal has tried again to get it jacked up and the car jack moved again and did damage to the front of the trailer. Broke through the wood flooring of the front compartment where the generator is and tore the fiberglass. Of cousrs, the after marked insurance we have will only cover the jack, not the damage. I will probably file a claim with the car/truck insurance. UUUGGGGGHHHH!
Anyway, glad you found the soup. I did't like it but glad you do. I don't do spicy stuff. :sombraro:
Even if no one signs up next year we will probably be there and you are always welcome to join us. It will still be fun with just the two of us.
Joan
If anyone wants to attend, we need to know by Friday so we can make the deposit or release the sites.
Sal
OK, It is Friday and no one has signed up for this Rally. All extra sites will be cancelled.
Joan
The day has arrived. We will be leaving in the morning
and return on the 5th. Talk to you then providing I survive
the 3 Grandkids we are taking with us.:D And if I don't kill myself
on our new mountain bikes.:sombraro: You all have a great Holiday!!!!!
Sal
So how was it? Did you survive the grandkids? Let us know, since I'm tethered to home and work the only escapeism I can enjoy is through other peoples stories.
Untether yourself.:)
Well where do I begin?
Stopped in Manteca at an Exxon station to gas up the one empty tank at that point. As we pull in we hear a crunch. It seems the dipshit **Edit** owner has decided to paint the islands black. He has also decided
to set three 18 inch tall 2inch diameter pipes in the ground to protect his black painted islands. The pumps are of course 4 foot from the end of the island and raised 2ft. high. Scratch one battery compartment door which was ripped off, and three feet of sheet metal in front of the driver side tires which had to be straightened out before we could even move. Then this ass comes out and proceeds to give me grief about it. When I used to be the west coast regional director for Exxon. After a phone call to the company when I returned home, I doubt the putz will have much to complain about to anyone.
:mad:
Once again I lost a tire on the way up. 2hrs later 3-A finally shows up. Driver said he was told we were on highway 120. 3-A was told we were 7mi. past China camp on the Groveland side. If they had sent a truck from Groveland it would have arrived in 1/2 hr. :mad: A nice couple from Virginia stopped and gave Joan a ride to the phone. When she returned she accidentally let the cat out of the truck, who preceded to explore the countryside as he had upchucked in the truck, and wanted no part of any more traveling at that point.
Some time after the tire incident the basement door popped open and my tool box with $1,000 worth of Snap On and Craftsman tools flew out. Including a brand new 12 ton jack still in the box. Of course We did not find out until some time later when we spied the door open in the mirror.:mad:
Arrived at the campground, around 6 pm. The superhost sites have been moved from Sun Valley To the D section which is west of Sun Valley where there is more air flow. Fire restrictions went in to effect the day before due to the Lake Tahoe fire. Propane only, Of course we had a Webber kettle 30 lbs of charcoal and 1/4 cord of firewood for the fire pit. :mad: Luck was with us as we had 70 gals. of propane on board for the 5er and camp stove.
The next day I preceded to find out all that was lost due to the basement door fiasco, such as all the black water connections and other assorted items. Oh well thats what the plastic cards are for. Ever purchased essential
connectors at a campground store? Or tried to find a pair of visegrips to purchase in a podunk town like Groveland? :mad:
Or were expected to buy gasoline a $4.00 per gallon when it's $2.99 down the road?
I swear everyone in this town looks alike and is related by marriage to first cousins, and they make a once month trip to Sonora on the hay wagon, pulled by the tractor to get supplies and see the city. The rest of the group arrived and had a good time I suppose. I was in a mood that I could have cared less. Spent all my time with my sat dish and riding our new mountain bikes around the campground.
On to the grandbrats, did I ever mention just how much I hate kids? The boys were a royal pain and will not go camping again untill they learn to behave. We had them both kissing trees on time outs every day.
Had to make a quick trip to Walley World before we left to replace fishing poles that disappeared from last year when we bought them new ones. Yuppy dammed parents can't keep anything that is not for their own use. I suppose we were supposed to replace their bicycles that we got them 3 years ago that still looked new? Not a chance!!! Fishing poles are now in an extra rod case that will stay at grandpa's. If their parents want to take them fishing they can buy their own!!!
Went to take them fishing. 24 mi. off 120 past Hetch Hetchy power plant. 2 hrs. later we spy water. Oh my god it's a lake! Completely man made from granite boulders that must have been blasted from old priest grade. So I proceed to set up rods so the kids can fish. After 3 hrs. I am still setting up rods and replacing hooks and weights, (remember granite boulders) using up worms that I had to purchase at home, because you can not buy them at Yosemite, and in Groveland they must use them for food as they look at you like your nuts for asking about bait. :mad: on to another 2hrs to go 24 mi back to the main drag of 120. Fighting rangers and power utility trucks that seem to think that 20 mph. speed limits apply to everyone but them on curvy dirt and gravel roads. 30 min back to the campground and my dog who still
loves me despite being locked up in the trailer with the afore mentioned stupid cat.
So we take the super brats to Yosemite. They seem to think I must be important as I flash my open wallet at the gate and we get in with no charge. On to the grand tour, well every thing seems to be going well. The kids take a ton of pics and seem to be having a great time. We take them to BridalVail falls and proceed to head south east. towards the south entrance, so they can ride the tram with grandma, and see the sights. Oh No the boys decide to fill up a quart zip lock bag with breakfast. So a quick turnaround, took them to Half Dome instead. They thought that was pretty cool after I told them that their Dad had climbed it the year before he got married. Headed to the valley and they finished the tour. We spent the rest of the trip at the campground. The brats went through 25 lbs of bird seed, feeding chipmunks, birds, and squirrels.
Landed home around 6pm cleaned up the children and returned them home, as our granddaughter was headed to L.A. in the morning, to spend the rest of the summer with her father. Returned home had a snack for dinner
and collapsed. 735 mi. 10 days and the Yosemite era is over. I will no longer return and will no longer Superhost at this campground. :sombraro: I have better things to do with my time and nicer and closer campgrounds to spend my time in.
Sal
Quote from: calstate360Landed home around 6pm cleaned up the children and returned them home, as our granddaughter was headed to L.A. in the morning, to spend the rest of the summer with her father. Returned home had a snack for dinner
and collapsed. 735 mi. 10 days and the Yosemite era is over. I will no longer return and will no longer Superhost at this campground. :sombraro: I have better things to do with my time and nicer and closer campgrounds to spend my time in.
Sal
[/center]
So SAL.......you forgot to tell us.....did you have a good time :confused:
:J
GEEZZZZ, what can I say. That about says it all. Sal didn't mention that, if you remember (those of you who have been there) there is a so called river running through the campground. It's more like a creek because the water was only about knee deep so the kids had a ball. I took them to play every day except when we went to Yosemite. Danny the 7 year old was the worst as he is the one that "knows it all" and has to have the last word. He was timed-out more than the other 2. One day he was in a tizzy and kept crying the fake tears and screaming he wanted to play. I had him timed-out because he can dish it out but can't take it. Every time he would splash his older sister (Alexis the 10 year old) would splash back and he would start whining and crying. I put him on time-out and he kept it up screaming that he wanted to play. I told him that the whole campground could here him and he was crying like a little girl, which started him screaming again that he wasn't a girl and wanted to play. I told him that once he stoped crying/screaming he could play, but he kept it up so he sayed on time-out. The other 2 kids played for about 2-3 hours and I think Danny only got to play about 5 minutes the whole time because of his tantrums. Alexis said that Mom and Dad ground him all the time, but he is just stubborn and doesn't learn. I told him: like father, like sone, like GRANDPA!!!! I also told him that we would only bring the other 2 camping with us and he would get to stay home. Nothing worked with that stubborn kid. Oh well, we survived and did have a good time.
When I got back to work on Monday, the person who is my back-up didn't do anything so I had tons of stuff waiting for me. It took me until 3:30 on Monday to get through all the e-mails waiting for me.
I don't care any more because my countdown to retirement on August 30th is only 38 working days left. They are going to be up S--t creek if they don't hire someone soon because I can't train the new person in one month. They still have not told me if I can come back as a Retired Annuitant or not. As a Retired Annuitant I can come back as long as I don't work over 960 hours (9 months). I can get my full retirement pay, plus the pay for any hours that I work. I figured I could come to work 2-3 days a week and just be off when we want to travel. It would work out great for us because I would get may retirement salary, plus what ever I worked and it would go for extra money for our travels.
By the way, I only got about 4 hours of sleep last night because after I got home from work yestrday, Sal decided he wanted to work some more on cutting down the half dead tree in our back yard and fell off the ladder. I talked him in to going to emergency. Fortunately, nothing was broke, but he did pinch a nerve in his back so he can hardly move, besides all the bruises. We got home about 11:30ish and I finally got to sleep at midnight to get up at 4:30 to get ready for work. This is going to be a LONG day!
Well I have to get back to work.
Joan
In retrospect except for my tools, and the trailer damage yes I had a good time. The experience of seeing Yosemite through the grandbrats eyes was fun.Now if we could just get the boys to behave it would make it a lot more fun.
Sal
Pic of the kids is here.
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2862848840098329825xjNXVY (//%22http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2862848840098329825xjNXVY%22)
Quote from: calstate360Untether yourself.:)
Well where do I begin? ...etc...etc
Wow, Throw in a couple of comedic scenes and I think you may have written the sequel to the movie "RV".
What an experience! At least you stuck it out and continued with your trip (I'd have probably folded up and went home).
Yea kids can make things difficult and sometimes near unbearable, but in the long run you'll probably remember those trips long after other trips have faded from you mind, and find that it wasn't as bad as it seemed when you were "in the moment". Plus now you have great stories to tell when people start talking about how bad their brats are/were.
Sorry about the lo$$ of your tool$ - ouch!
You'd better talk to your local witch doctor (bar tender) into conjuring up some good juju (whiskey) to help you deal with the string of bad luck you're having.
Thanks George, I am going to have to conjure something up to get us throug all this STUFF! :banghead:
Joan
Quote from: calstate360In retrospect except for my tools, and the trailer damage yes I had a good time. The experience of seeing Yosemite through the grandbrats eyes was
fun.Now if we could just get the boys to behave it would make it a lot more fun.
Sal
Pic of the kids is here.
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2862848840098329825xjNXVY
Those look like 3 perfect little angels to me :sombraro: .......how much trouble could 3 little darlings like that be??? :Z OMG....the little guy in the middle looks just like Macaulay Culkin (movie "Home alone"):yikes:
Just kidding...........I know..........."Gramma!!!! He's looking at me".........."Granpa!!!!!she's touching my stuff".........."Look what Danny's doing" ....................."I want that".............Oh ya..........
"ARE WE THERE YET" (add winy voice)
Yes, you got that right! :yikes:
They do look like little angles but that was just a warped picture because you couldn't see the horns sticking out of the boy's head! :Z
Joan