RE: SoCal PopUp Campers (" SCCampers" )

[oldmoose]

Our granson, Porter, is nuts about trains. He takes after his grandfather who's more nuts about trains than him. Last year we went to the Denver Zoo and he heard the train whistle. We tried for a half an hour to do other things and then just gave up and rode the train. He was all smiles. I prefer the steam trains, but will ride any train. I'm also a closet modelrailroader. I have never finish the train board and just keep dreaming. BTW, Paula loves to ride the rails also. One year when we were coming back from Colorado we rode the Royal Gorge and Cumbre and Toltec. What fun.

 
See you Friday Lori.
Moose

[Dee4j]

Hey Mickey!  Good to see you posting I thought you disappeared. I missed ya at the campfire the last 2 rallies. So far you are the only one who has been able to stay up as late as us :!  :#

Hope to see ya soon

[griffsmom]

Our granson, Porter, is nuts about trains. He takes after his grandfather who's more nuts about trains than him. Last year we went to the Denver Zoo and he heard the train whistle. We tried for a half an hour to do other things and then just gave up and rode the train. He was all smiles. I prefer the steam trains, but will ride any train. I'm also a closet modelrailroader. I have never finish the train board and just keep dreaming. BTW, Paula loves to ride the rails also. One year when we were coming back from Colorado we rode the Royal Gorge and Cumbre and Toltec. What fun.
 
 
See you Friday Lori.
Moose

Yep, Griffin is nuts about trains too.  Before bedtime, it is not unusual to read either The Little Engine That Could or Tootle the Train.  Video-wise, Thomas the Train is a freqent request--frequent as in over and over!  We live near an Amtrak/Metro station and everytime we go by the train tracks, we look for trains and Griffin reminds me of how he wants to ride the train.  
 
He must get it from his mommy.  When I was a little girl, every summer my grandma, who lived with us, would go back to Indiana, where she was from.  Every other summer, she'd take me with her.  It was a two-night, three-day train ride (one-way) to Chicago, where our relatives would pick us up. I can still vividly remember the mix of feelings as we drove to the train station in Pomona: the sadness of leaving my mom for two months, only outweighed by the excitement of the sights and sounds of a train: the rush of wind as it pulled into the station; the smell of the oil and fuel; the creak of the wheels as the train strained to come to a stop; the anticipation of hunting for our seats and then the familiar feeling of the firm train seat.  We couldnt afford a berth, so we always had the seats that reclined and we slept in them.  During our trip, the conductors would make such a fuss over me, giving me tours of the train and sneaking me candy bars and cookies when Grandma "wasn't looking."  I loved the thrill of going from one car to the next and being able to feel the speed of the train by seeing the ground rushing under my feet.  I would get pancakes or oatmeal for breakfast in the dining car, the taste of which was unsurpassed.  Grandma and I would play cards or just watch the scenery passing by through the window.  I remember being struck by the poverty of the people living by the train tracks in New Mexico and the never-ending corn fields of Kansas.  At the end of the summer, I'd get to do it all again on the way home.  Although I didn't fully realize it at the time, I was a very blessed little girl to have been given such beautiful memories.
 
Moose, I'd love to hear your train stories.  Is it Friday yet?

[Unregistered]

Mr Moose
have you been to
http://www.oerm.org/
the orange empire rail museum its awsome april 24 and 25 is there big open house, this is a cant miss. Last year I got to drive a locomotive
the best $20 I ever spent.
tony
tony and suzanne

[oldmoose]

I am aware of them, but have never been there. When we first came to SoCal from SF Bay Area, we ran across the Pacific Railroad Society. We took day trips on the Santa Fe and Union Pacific. They also had 4-5 day trips and some were pulled by UP's last steam engine, 8444? (which is still operating.)
 
When I was going to college in Tacoma, WA, I took the train up and back from Oakland. I want to fly us up to Seattle on a Thursday night and let Paula see Seattle and then take Amtrak on Saturday AM to Simi. I want her to see the view.
 
One time when my brother was going to UCSB in 1966, we took the Lark from Santa Barbara back to SF. It was great. I guess that shows how old I am.
 
Moose

[OC Campers]

Yep, Griffin is nuts about trains too. Before bedtime, it is not unusual to read either The Little Engine That Could or Tootle the Train. Video-wise, Thomas the Train is a freqent request--frequent as in over and over! We live near an Amtrak/Metro station and everytime we go by the train tracks, we look for trains and Griffin reminds me of how he wants to ride the train.
 
He must get it from his mommy. When I was a little girl, every summer my grandma, who lived with us, would go back to Indiana, where she was from. Every other summer, she'd take me with her. It was a two-night, three-day train ride (one-way) to Chicago, where our relatives would pick us up. I can still vividly remember the mix of feelings as we drove to the train station in Pomona: the sadness of leaving my mom for two months, only outweighed by the excitement of the sights and sounds of a train: the rush of wind as it pulled into the station; the smell of the oil and fuel; the creak of the wheels as the train strained to come to a stop; the anticipation of hunting for our seats and then the familiar feeling of the firm train seat. We couldnt afford a berth, so we always had the seats that reclined and we slept in them. During our trip, the conductors would make such a fuss over me, giving me tours of the train and sneaking me candy bars and cookies when Grandma "wasn't looking." I loved the thrill of going from one car to the next and being able to feel the speed of the train by seeing the ground rushing under my feet. I would get pancakes or oatmeal for breakfast in the dining car, the taste of which was unsurpassed. Grandma and I would play cards or just watch the scenery passing by through the window. I remember being struck by the poverty of the people living by the train tracks in New Mexico and the never-ending corn fields of Kansas. At the end of the summer, I'd get to do it all again on the way home. Although I didn't fully realize it at the time, I was a very blessed little girl to have been given such beautiful memories.
 
Moose, I'd love to hear your train stories. Is it Friday yet?

Lori, when Christopher was going to preschool they had a field trip every year.  We would take the Amtrack train to San Juan Capistrano from Santa Ana, stay for a few hours and then take the train home.  The kids all loved it.  I have been thinking about doing it with Matt because he also is totally into Thomas the Train.  Also near the train station in SJ Capistrano is a small petting zoo.  It was so much fun and if I remember right it was like $15 round trip.  
 
Jacqui

[griffsmom]

Dave was born in Seattle and two years ago, we spent a long weekend there. Did all the touristy things, like the space needle and Pike Place Market, spent hours in the REI store there (it's HUGE!!!), visited UW, explored the city and surrounding environs, got lost in a great bookstore (the Elliott Bay Book Company) and even took in a Mariners game at Safeco Field! It is a beautful city and Paula should definitely see it. The train ride would be icing on the cake!
 

One time when my brother was going to UCSB in 1966, we took the Lark from Santa Barbara back to SF. It was great. I guess that shows how old I am.
 
Moose

Let's see...he's your older brother and you were only 1 at the time, (but with a great memory ), so that makes you...39!

[oldmoose]

Let's see...he's your older brother and you were only 1 at the time, (but with a great memory ), so that makes you...39!

He's the younger brother and mentally I'm just turning 40. However, since he is younger, I asked him what he was planning to do on his 60th in August and he said he planned to climb the face of El Capitan in Yosemite again. I believe this would be #5 on El Cap. He has no fear of heights, but a healthy respect for the rock.
 
Moose

[GeorgeHR]

Hi George, welcome to our camping group.  Looking forward to meeting you and your family.

My husband and I used to tent camp at Dogwood campground in Crestline/Blue Jay.    We have talked about taking the PU up there.  Is it still so sooty?  Our daughter was 18 months old the last time we went (gosh, it has been a while since we have been there, she is 12 now:eek: )  I remember her being covered from head to tow in ash.  But the campground itself is a beautiful place with all the tall pine trees.
 
Jacqui

We went up into the area a couple of months ago to play in the snow and everything seemed O.K. from the fires.  This year they installed several electric hookup sites.  We camped there last memorial day and no soot.

- George

[g-whiz]

I have been lurking for sometime. Hopefully, maybe one of these days we will be able to meetup at a rally. Our next camping trip is to Dogwood campground in the San Bernardino Mountains during Memorial day weekend.
 
George Ramsdell

From one George to another... HI and Welcome!!!  

[griffsmom]

Well, I am about ready to take my mom home in a few minutes, and then I'll return home myself, pack up the camper and be camping until Sunday!  Mom is doing well and my sister will stay with her this weekend.  

 
We are really looking forward to this time to just decompress.  Chat at ya Sunday!

[oldmoose]

Our car is packed and I'm at work ready to head to Vail Lake. Unfortunately, Paula has to work until 5. Of course she expects Moose Lodge to be up and perfect when she gets there. I'm trying 3 new DO recipes this weekend and Lori will let me know how they are.
 
I'll check back Sunday after everything is packed away and I'm cleaned up.
 
Moose

[Dee4j]

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA  I wish I was going camping
Hmmmm it is popped up in the driveway maybe we'll camp there :p

[Unregistered]

Our car is packed and I'm at work ready to head to Vail Lake. Unfortunately, Paula has to work until 5. Of course she expects Moose Lodge to be up and perfect when she gets there. I'm trying 3 new DO recipes this weekend and Lori will let me know how they are.
 
I'll check back Sunday after everything is packed away and I'm cleaned up.
 
Moose

Hi Moose,

Hope it didn't rain on you too much on Saturday.  I was camped at site 126 Thurs/Fri nights and happened to walk by your (and I think Griffsmom) site.  Boy...you sure make it look like home away from home.  I walked by once with my son who was fascinated by your wind toys and commented to young moosette (just in case she remembers).  We bought our popup (Coleman Santa Fe) last Nov and this was our 3rd trip out.  The first two were campground with no water/elec/sewer hookups (Red Rock near Mojave and Death Valley), so we weren't prepared to take advantage of those too well.  I saw your paper that had "popup times" on it and that's how I found this board...thanks for the pointer!

Maybe we'll see you around the area...and maybe next time I'll have more of the amenities like you two seemed to have.  I tried to stop by and chat a couple times on Friday and both sites were empty...must have been out for a day trip around the area!

Just thought I'd say hi...
Tom/Caroline and the boys

(Off to Agua Caliente with the boys next weekend...should be fun!)

[forestwalker]

Please check out our post in the Campfire Forum.
                                                            Thanks,Steve & Mary