Suggestion for Another Bay Area Meet/BBQ

[manxman]

We can do this one on even the hottest weekends- Henry Cowell Park in Felton, CA. This park has several VERY large picnic areas with grills, tables, water, and restrooms close by. The picnic areas have the deepest shade imaginable- so many tall trees that you can't see the sky. The Fit owners from the Central Valley might appreciate the cool, quiet ambiance of this location.

In about a 10 minute walk from the picnic area, there is the Redwood Grove Trail that takes about 30 minutes to walk the trail. You can see redwood trees over 200 feet tall, and can go inside the tree where Col. John C. Fremont lived through a winter on his exploration of a route across the U.S. to the Pacific Ocean in the early 1840's. This is the "Ewok Forest" that was used to film one of the Star Wars SciFi movies. Fremont's success helped to fuel the Gold Rush in 1849, and helped California to become separated from Spain.

I have been taking visitors to this park for over 25 years, and did not even know that the large picnic areas existed until last weekend. If we meet early for breakfast, we can go down to Santa Cruz and take Hwy. 9 from its beginning up the twisty drive to the park entrance. There are two huge picnic areas, one at "lot 3" and one at "lot 4". Both parking lots have room for over 100 cars, and the cars are within view of all of the picnic sites.

And, here's a great place for our next breakfast to start the day off----
http://www.yelp.com/biz/auntie-mames-scotts-valley

So, Bay Area Forum members, pick your day:cool::):p:D. No hurry- we have all summer.

[claymore]

You California guys get to go to some great places.

[macbuddy]

And, here's a great place for our next breakfast to start the day off----
http://www.yelp.com/biz/auntie-mames-scotts-valley
.

Hey Dave, I'm ready for another meet, and "Auntie Mames" sounds like an excellent choice for breakfast! As far as dates go, I am pretty much booked for June, except for the 19th and/or 20th. I don't have my July schedule yet, so that's wide open at the moment. Hopefully you will get some input on dates soon. With some luck, I will be able to schedule my work around the most popular weekend choices.

[EXWRX]

June 19-20 could work for me. I'm booked up the early part of July, but the last 2 weekends in the july (24th and later) could work for me.

[manxman]

Well, with no more eye surgeries or dying pets, I'm available any day at all. And this time and location, my wife Sharon will come too. So, EXWRX and macbuddy can wrestle, and the winner of two falls out of three can pick the date! :)

But--- the loser has to go get CuTeBoi out of bed and to the restaurant on time, on the right day, and with a full tank of gas!

[manxman]

You California guys get to go to some great places.
You're right, John, but personally, I would rather go to a Fit meet in either Silverton or Durango on the Western slope of the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

[EXWRX]

I'm starting my workout regimen again. I don't care about which date it is so much, but I have enough trouble getting ready early that I don't want to have to be responsible for some other adult. :p

[manxman]

Wait---- le'mme understand whatchoo said- you're working out so that you can beat macbuddy in the wrestling match? Or if you lose, you'll be working out so that you can't go get the other adult and get to the breakfast on time yourself?:confused:

[EXWRX]

I want to win so I don't have to get Anthony up. :D

[manxman]

P.s. about the twisty drive up Hwy. 9 to the park. That part won't be possible. The lower end of Hwy 9, from Hwy. 1 to within about two miles of the park entrance will be closed to all traffic starting this Monday through the end of October. We will still have access to the park from the upper end of Hwy.9.

[manxman]

I want to win so I don't have to get Anthony up. :D
Ah- got it. I'm teasing Anthony with all of this, but his question on the forums about the Thule Roof Rack faring probably means that he will either be on his trip to Chicago, or getting ready for it, and may not choose to come with us this time.

[macbuddy]

Hey Dave,
It's been over a week now, and nobody has posted a preferred meet date? Okay then, I will chose a date...how about June 26th? Will this work for you?
Let's do this!
-macbuddy-
BTW-I am looking forward to breakfast at "Auntie Mames."

[manxman]

Hey Dave,
It's been over a week now, and nobody has posted a preferred meet date? Okay then, I will chose a date...how about June 26th? Will this work for you?
Let's do this!
-macbuddy-
BTW-I am looking forward to breakfast at "Auntie Mames."
Any day is fine with me!

[manxman]

BTW, the Henry Cowell picnic sites have the steel box, pedestal mounted, adjustable height grills. I inherited several bottles of charcoal lighter fluid at the Mt. Madonna meet last year (everyone left their lighter fluid behind) so I will bring fluid and a wire brush. Anyone who brings meat to cook should also bring charcoal.

I will bring a propane stove and griddle, with ingredients to make quesadillas- tortillas, cheese, chopped BBQ beef and pork, onions, and the best salsa that I have ever found. I will also bring a cold watermelon. With all of that in mind, I can also bring refried beans (my favorite is RosaRita Refritos with Lime) if anyone else is interested and will help us eat them.

In addition to any other choices of entrees, we will need chips/dip/drinks and/or other dessert items that anyone wants to bring. I will bring my leftover paper plates and plastic utensils from past meets, but bring your own collection too to be sure that we have enough. Whatever is left over can be used next time.

The nice thing about our adult Fit Meets is that there is usually food left over, so dinner that night or lunch for the next few days can be brought home after the meet (for the people who brought food).

It will be warmer by the 26th., but here in Boulder Creek it was 45 degrees this morning and is supposed to hit about 80 this afternoon.

[EXWRX]

I'm not available that weekend. I was, but will be in Portland. Probably the next time I'd be available would be July 24-25th. It sounds like fun, though.

[manxman]

Sorry Jeff, we'll miss you. It should be fairly cool in Portland too (OR or ME- either one!).

[macbuddy]

Any day is fine with me!

Okay then, I'll plan on June 26th for breakfast!
Cheers,
-macbuddy-

PS-CuTeBoi, Snooze you lose! :)

[manxman]

Okay then, I'll plan on June 26th for breakfast!
Cheers,
-macbuddy-

PS-CuTeBoi, Snooze you lose! :)
Sharon and I look forward to it! Please LMK if enough of your personal text invitations result in people who will come, and if enough of your family members come to make it worth doing a BBQ at the park. If we only have 3 or 4 people, it might be better to forget cooking and go to one of the many good restaurants in the area for lunch.

[manxman]

Mike--
PM sent. LMK what happens.

[MrFroge]

Mike- Just got your email as I was prepairing an email to invite you to co-drive at this year's SFR regional championship event on July 24-25.. If you haven't got anything else going on those dates.. You know the Baby Froge against the world.. :-).. Let me know.. I maybe able to get away on June 26th.. (the 27th is event 10 in the Bay Area.)

[manxman]

Rich,
We wish you the best of luck in advance of the upcoming events. If you can join us on the 26th., it would be great to see you, but it sounds like you may be too busy. Have fun at the races!

[macbuddy]

Mike- Just got your email as I was prepairing an email to invite you to co-drive at this year's SFR regional championship event on July 24-25...

Hey Rich,
I checked my schedule (actually Mrs. macbuddy's calendar), and your proposition looks very doable. So, as of today, I will give you a very big, "YES!" In the meantime, I promise to practice every day until then! :)
-macbuddy-
PS-Anyway, if you have the time and energy to spare, try to make it to the meet on the 26th. I'll even buy you breakfast!

[MrFroge]

Hey Rich,
I checked my schedule (actually Mrs. macbuddy's calendar), and your proposition looks very doable. So, as of today, I will give you a very big, "YES!" In the meantime, I promise to practice every day until then! :)
-macbuddy-
PS-Anyway, if you have the time and energy to spare, try to make it to the meet on the 26th. I'll even buy you breakfast!

I'm off to Great America this Sunday afternoon to try out a tank of 100 octane and have no idea what to expect. According to the rules "any gas which can be purchase at the pumps can be used in a stock car".

I have just but 3.25 gallons of 91 in the tank with the "low-gas level flag" illuminated. That should get me to the event with just a little left.. I ran 91 at the last event. Hope to do better than Steve on the 4th run this time. I have beaten him in the regulation three runs at the last three events but that doesn't help me in the points at this level of Solo.:mad:

I have Packwood (WA) on the schedule for August but my friend modified his Civic so I will most likely be driving the Fit for "Fit Pride" at the event. Maybe it will rain..

Glad to have you on board for the Regional event.. I'll let you know about registration when it is set.. Golden Gate this year.. They (SRR) have payed for some resurfacing for the event.

The Froge

[manxman]

Okay everybody, it looks as if most people are busy with other things on the weekend of the 26th. SlimJimx701x was kind enough to tell macbuddy that he would come and we thank him for his good manners. We know that EXWRX will be away in Oregon, and CuTeBoi will also be on a trip.

So for anyone else who is interested but hasn't said so on the thread, I will be at Auntie Mame's restaurant at 9:00 on Sat. 6/26 for breakfast. If anyone else shows up, we can go to Henry Cowell Park to take a short hike through the "Ewok Forest" from the Star Wars movie, and we can also ride the "Roaring Camp Railroad" through the Redwoods, or drive up to Loch Lomond park to explore that as a future, bigger meet site. For lunch, we can go to the Boulder Creek Brewery, or Don Quixote's Mexican Restaurant, or a nearby Japanese or Cambodian or Thai restaurant.

If we had enough for another 6 Fits meet, it would be worth the fuss and bother to BarBeQue at the park, but with less than that, a restaurant lunch would probably be better for all concerned.

If you PLAN on coming for the 26th., please post and let us know.

[Bap]

I will be their but am not sure that I will be able to take the fit I would love for you guys to see my mods. but if not I will be in the miata. It has been to long I am looking forward to seeing you guys again.:D

[manxman]

I will be their but am not sure that I will be able to take the fit I would love for you guys to see my mods. but if not I will be in the miata. It has been to long I am looking forward to seeing you guys again.:D
Yay! Thanks for the good news Blake! We'll let a Miata in, just this once. We're very picky.

[Slimjimx701x]

I will be able to make it during 26th (knock on wood, that my new job doesn't call me in then)

[manxman]

Congrats on the new job Jimmy! If you can make it, we'll be glad to see you again.

[manxman]

DIRECTIONS:

Take Hwy. 17 (called 880 in Santa Clara County and north from there) toward Santa Cruz. Scotts Valley is the next town north of Santa Cruz on Hwy. 17. Exit on Mt. Hermon Road. turn right on Scotts Valley Drive- lighted intersection with a Shell gas station on your right side. Get in the left lane of Scotts Valley Dr. immediately, and make a u-turn at your first opportunity (50 yards or so). Stay in the right lane, and enter the driveway of the small shopping center that is elevated by about 20 ft. from street level, located exactly on the corner of Mt. Hermon and Scotts Valley Dr.. Auntie Mame's is at the far end of the little cluster of stores. If you don't see an empty parking space, go around the restaurant to the right and there will be parking on the back side of all of the stores.

Many of you received text messages on this from macbuddy- if you are delayed and want us to wait for you, text or call Mike. If you would like to have my cell # for this purpose, PM me. My cell is normally off, but will be on for the meet.

[Slimjimx701x]

Sorry guys, looks like I won't be able to make it for this one. Not because of work, but because of my friends' Graduation.

[manxman]

Sorry Jimmy- we'll see you next time.

[macbuddy]

Dave,
I didn't see the address to the restaurant posted. I am terrible with maps and directions. I know this is bad, but I rely on my GPS daily. If I don't have an address, I don't get there. So, if there is anyone else that needs the address, here it is:

Auntie Mame's
3103 Scotts Valley Drive
Scotts Valley, CA‎
(831) 438-1840‎

[manxman]

Dave,
I didn't see the address to the restaurant posted. I am terrible with maps and directions. I know this is bad, but I rely on my GPS daily. If I don't have an address, I don't get there. So, if there is anyone else that needs the address, here it is:

Auntie Mame's
3103 Scotts Valley Drive
Scotts Valley, CA‎
(831) 438-1840‎
Sorry Mike,

Since I posted the link to the restaurant's reviews, with the address and phone number, I didn't think that it was necessary to post it again. See you there!

[manxman]

For anyone who didn't see it the first time:

http://www.takeouttonight.com/menus/california/scotts%20valley/95066/auntie%20mame%27s_8314381840/index.html

[fit2010]

Hey everyone! I go back and forth with this site and fitfreak, we have a good amount of Fits out there however, just a heads up, there is a Nor cal meet coming up. So far 7 confirmed for this July 31st and expecting more. Either this meet goes through or not from this site, I just wanted to pass the word for those other ppl interested.

NOR CAL FIT MEET....

JULY 31st.

Sample itinerary:

10:30 AM - Meet up somewhere in San Jose.
10:45 AM - Start driving down to Santa Cruz.
11:30 AM - Arrive at Twin Lakes, Santa Cruz.
11:30-12:00 PM - Set up and cook
12:00 PM - Whenever - Eat, chat, whatever.

Check Fitfreak forums under Bay area and BBQ Norcal meet for details and sign up. Not promoting them, but we are all love our FIT's!!!

[manxman]

Thanks fit2010-

All of us on this site are familiar with fitfreak. Most of us are here because we don't like what fitfreak has become. I personally would not attend the fitfreak meet in July because I find one person who has said that he would be there to be disgusting. This is the ADULT Fit-owner's site. But don't let that scare you away. If you are an adult, you are welcome here.

[macbuddy]

...confirmed for this July 31st...

fit2010,
Thanks for the "heads up." I too, go back and forth from HFF and Fitfreak. I originally "brushed-off" this particular FF meet because I thought you guys were planning to hold the event on the weekend of the 24th-25th. Hmm, this sounds tempting! I'll have to see how my schedule works out for that date.
-macbuddy-
BTW-you guys don't have anything against Old people that drive Fits do ya?

[manxman]

This Meet is Canceled---

After talking today with macbuddy, it looks like the only people who could come to this one was him, Bap, and me. A new change is that it would be better for macbuddy's job security if he is able to fill in for other employees who won't be showing up for work on Saturday.

Maybe people won't be so short on time later in the summer, and the Central Valley people will like it even more, when their temps. are in the 110 degree range, to come to a meet where there is deep shade and 25 degree cooler temps.

Sorry that this didn't work out, and we'll see you guys next time!