Help Us find a location for the next big meet -- Norcal

[RC51ed]

Originally Posted by M&M_Hwy9

Close to South Bay, close to lots of twisties...Henry Cowell State Park in Santa Cruz Mountains. Shaded BBQ area, paved parking, etc. Primary parking lot holds 40 cars, but there are others for overflow. Would still need to check on reservation rates, food/cater options, if folks are interested. Link to suggested drive route below.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid...a7c98f1b&msa=0

This sounds nice,it's out of the way and really close to any drive in the canyons.

[skye67]

Subscribe, i vote for Casa de fruita.

[OldGuyBRZ]

Originally Posted by M&M_Hwy9

Close to South Bay, close to lots of twisties...Henry Cowell State Park in Santa Cruz Mountains. Shaded BBQ area, paved parking, etc. Primary parking lot holds 40 cars, but there are others for overflow. Would still need to check on reservation rates, food/cater options, if folks are interested. Link to suggested drive route below.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid...a7c98f1b&msa=0

Great spot, and fun ride to get to, but it does get a lot of people visiting. We would have to get there fairly early to park together...

[07jazzrs5gt86]

Originally Posted by M&M_Hwy9

Close to South Bay, close to lots of twisties...Henry Cowell State Park in Santa Cruz Mountains. Shaded BBQ area, paved parking, etc. Primary parking lot holds 40 cars, but there are others for overflow. Would still need to check on reservation rates, food/cater options, if folks are interested. Link to suggested drive route below.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid...a7c98f1b&msa=0

Did the exact route yesterday @ 06:00
Very lovely drive with windows down and no traffic early on
Deffinetly do it again

[sdlynx]

Originally Posted by M&M_Hwy9

Close to South Bay, close to lots of twisties...Henry Cowell State Park in Santa Cruz Mountains. Shaded BBQ area, paved parking, etc. Primary parking lot holds 40 cars, but there are others for overflow. Would still need to check on reservation rates, food/cater options, if folks are interested. Link to suggested drive route below.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid...a7c98f1b&msa=0

This looks like a really nice place, but again, for many of us in Central Valley, you're talking about a 2.5 hour drive or more (Fresno/Visalia at 3 and 3.5 hours) to get there.

As some of you know, I'm fully willing to escape the central valley and pull a 2.5 hour drive to the bay area for a meet-up or a drive when I can. While I'd certainly go, as long as I have no pre-planned events, I know it would be pretty tough for many in the Central Valley to get there, enjoy the added drive, and such, then return home.

It kinda goes back to whether we are trying to be inclusive to the group as a whole, or primarily catering to the larger population percentage (Bay Area). Considering the greater community that the Bay Area experiences through the Dublin meet-ups, and NorCal Bay Area Drives (both of which are awesome), I think that we may want to consider a location somewhere between. This gives us all an opportunity to meet other owners we might not otherwise get the chance to meet.

This is why I mentioned Casa De Fruta. It's 1.5 hours from the central valley (except Visalia at 2.5 hours), and 1.5 hours from San Francisco. There are fun routes to get you there from pretty much every direction, and they have picnic areas as well. However, I'm open to the idea that there are other places at similar distances that we can consider as well.

I agree with @sdlynx, I'm willing to make the drive over and back, but will probably skip the drive event again that way. If it's closer and i don't end up having that 2.5-3 hour drive home i'll try making the drive events. But otherwise i'll probably just show up and hang out, and then head home when everyone starts the drive like i did at the last meet.

[86_ZN6]

any more suggestions?

im starting to have time again to plan a bbq meet

[BunnyRZed]

Originally Posted by sdlynx

Hey, has anyone considered Casa De Fruta? I'm sure a lot of us are familiar with that place. Just an idea...

+1

For these reasons:

-Restaurant open 24/7 (Don't need to worry about BBQ grills)
-Good location compromise
-Parking looks decent with space
-Don't need to pay park entrance fee

[PMok]

here's another idea - Mt. Diablo State Park. Meet on top of the world haha.

There are more than 50 picnic sites, each with
table and barbeque stove, scattered along the
park’s paved roads. There are also three group
picnic areas that can accommodate from 25 to
100 people each. They can be reserved
through park headquarters.

http://www.parks.ca.gov/MediaGallery...17&m=brochures

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by 86_ZN6

any more suggestions?

im starting to have time again to plan a bbq meet

Can we lock in a date soon? Most people need at least 21 days in advance to request work off.

[86_ZN6]

Originally Posted by finch1750

Can we lock in a date soon? Most people need at least 21 days in advance to request work off.

It will be the 3rd or 4th week end of september.

And yes it might conflict with pmoks raffle party