Morro Bay notes from Dusty

Well, Morro Bay 2009 is over but not forgotten. It was great and the people were fantastic! Everything went pretty smoothly and now we are ready to start planning for next year. I want to take a minute to thank everyone for making this such a great event. There are a few who did more than expected:

BLAKE & JEN ... Thanks for leading a great winery tour through some of the best back roads in the country. We will definitely make that a bigger drive next year. You two are the best!

JIM & GINNY ... What a super trip to Cambria and the trip up Hwy 1 was astonishing (even if we did freeze our butts off!) Well planned and well directed. Thanks to you both.

WARREN & KAREN ... your trip to the Tide Pools was better than expected and really topped off the weekend. Lunch in Avila was good even if we did have to drive around and around to find parking.

The Brown Bag gift surpise was even better this year than last and I have to offer my personal thanks to whomever provided the "cooler/radio" I got along with the cleaning supplies. It is really a fun thing and I didn't realize what it was until the next day. (No, Lane, I wasn't "sloshed")

I will see you all next year.

OK, Carlisle, let's see you match the fun of this gathering.

Happy Trails,
Dusty and the Lovely Miss Sharon

Just another quick shot showing what California Cool is!

Dusty...Thank you and the LMS for a great week end, can't imagine how it could be any better.....
I would also like to thank everyone in attendance, without all of you, I'd be there all by myself....

I'd like to wedge-in a big thanks from Ann and I. We've done all 4 speedsters/spyders and they keep getting better. This time, it was by far the best. Blue Sail was terrific, dinners were terrific, driving events were terrific and even the speedie folks are a little bit terrific too!
We had a blast -- thanks Dusty, and all.

Mark
PS: Has there ever been a bad picture taken of the LMS?

Dusty,

Where did you source your trailer? That is exaxtly what I was looking for. Nice hair cuts too.


Thanks,

Marty

Dusty, I see you and Cal found your hats. We had a blast. Thanks to you and LMS. Glad you guys made it home ok. See you next year.

thanks dusty
can we drop vince from next years event

I followed this event from start to finish. Dusty--man, what a job you did putting this whole program together! The photos and videos are just sensational+++.

Next year I plan on having a Speedster there from Arkansas and anyone who would caravan from the middle of the country with me,I'd love to hear from you.

On to Morrow Bay, 2010.---Jack

JACK
U MAKE THAT DRIVE AND DRINKS ARE ON VINCE ALL WEEKEND

Hi Dusty,
so glad you and LMS made it home safely. Thank you once again for planning an awesome weekend for us. This was my fourth gathering and by far the best. We really loved the Blue Sail, it was so much better than last years place. All of the driving tours were great(next year I bring my big coat). I also want to thank everyone that was there, you all bring something special and diffrent to the event, it would not be the same without any of you, we end up talking about the weekend for weeks after. With all of the stress that life brings its nice to let your hair down and just have a good time with good people.

Cheers

Jennifer & Darrin

Dusty,

Thanks for all the effort and time spent on making Morro Bay a wonderful event. Especially the extra bit that allowed a couple of last minute attendees to have seats at the Saturday dinner. I enjoyed the brown bag gift exchange more than any previously attended gift swap.

I thoroughly enjoyed Friday's wine tour, Blake and Jen should be on everyone's event planning list!

I hate to be the first to post anything negative but please take it in the positive way it is intended. I thought the food provided at the dinner left very much to be desired. I know that banquet food is usually more expensive than a private meal but 31 bucks charged by the restaurant for the provided meal was outrageous. The salmon, small piece that it was, was overly cooked and tasteless. The chicken was not any better. Hey, the potatoes were great! The beer (Newcastle) was of course flawless.

I know how hard it is to plan meals from 2000 miles away, but my suggestion would be to not use the same venue next year. Even if it cost a few bucks more.

Oh yeah, next year I am bringing candy!

Thanks Dusty,

Dale

The salmon was a bit over-cooked but, hey, it made a hell of a tire chock...;)
The venue for the banquet was very nice, but if we do it again next year I'm bringing two brown bags and one of them will have my dinner in it.
I agree that the Newcastle was excellent.
Thanks again, Dusty. Great job.

Thanks to all for the kind words. Glad you liked (most) of the arrangements.

Gerd,
I leave it up to you to tell Vince that next year he can meet us in Provo, Utah.

Marty,
The trailer is from Featherlite. Check them out. I really like it and it pulls like a dream.

Mark,
Thanks. The LMS never takes a bad picture, some are just better than others. It was great seeing you and Ann. I wish we had more time to visit together. Next year !!

Happy Trails,
Dusty

Dusty and LMS, thanks 1,000,000 for a great Morro weekend - our 4th and the best yet.......and thanks to event-arrangers - Blake & Jen (someday we'll arrive early enough to join the Friday tour!), Jim & Ginny, Warren & Karen....RickJ for Rick and Mary....
.
thanks too to our caravan-mates, rs-60 Mark and Ann without whom we might still be roadside in Monterey sans fanbelt.

Hi Dale -- I think you missed the value for that $31. It's not about the cuisine, it's about the party. And as far as a party-spot / banquet room venue goes, I thought the location was excellent and the spectacular view wasn't too shabby either. Perhaps you didn't notice the million-dollar sunset behind Morro Rock.

So, at 31 bucks a head for what we got I'd say it was a good deal and I certainly didn't see any better alternatives anywhere on the warf. Sure the catered dinner wasn't exactly fine dining, but on the other hand I didn't see anyone leaving hungry.

Might I suggest since you are willing to pay more for better food that you treat yourself to a Ruth's Chris. You can have a fine dining experience and if you get an overcooked meal then maybe you'll have a legitimate bitch. But I can't imagine Ruth's Chris is the kind of spot we would want to take a speedster / spyder / coupe party. Let's not forget we are limited in where we can go if it includes . . . . well, if it includes "you know who". In fact, as I remember Saturday night, there were about 50 "you know whos" in full glory -- definately not the Ruth's Chris crowd.

And that's a good thing!

Probably any Salmon you will be lucky enough to see will be imported. Saw lots of commercial boats sitting idle in the harbor.

I got yer salmon right here!

Yea....stick a hook in this....

Dusty,

I could be talked into shipping old forked tailed CATFISH for ya'll to savior. Let's see what else: grits picked fresh from the tree, cornpone fixings, buttermilk, Mole-asses, fatback, collard greens, okra, liver mush or puddin' and I'll be glad to make up a very tasty Haggis. How many punds of each will ye need?

Oh course, Dusty you surely would not have any food complaints with a Southern Scotchman making the menu!!!! No Heiland Malt, just clear in a fruit jar with no age.

Ard Chiolle

First of all, PLEASE EVERY ONE. I am not busting on Dusty, LMS or any of the organizers. The Morro Bay event was GREAT, and I am really glad that I drove down from Sacramento.

Hi Mark,

I appreciate your comments above and agree with most of them. The dinner was about the friendships and I enjoyed that very much. The banquet ROOM was a great venue, no doubt. I have to admit that I missed the sunset, probably partaking in the friendship too much. As for the rock, I spend a lot of time in Yosemite and the Sierra, those are "rocks". Ok. I admit that Morro Rock is somewhat impressive..... ;-)

So, I (we) spent 31 bucks to hang out and party with good/great friends. I'm good with that, I got a big hug from Vince and that was almost worth it.

But when a restaurant sells a dinner, meal, whatever for whatever price, it should be more palatable than what was provided. For a lot less we all could have shared our friendship at a local pizza parlor, had pizza and gotten just as "friendly" . Heck, I would have rather given McDonald's 31 bucks for a couple of Big Macs and let them keep the change. Double heck, Nathan's hot dogs would have been a hell of an improvement.

Oh yeah, I've eaten at Ruth Chris and it was pretty good but nothing special. If you get up to the Winters, CA area, head over to the Buckhorn. Delicious and they will handle a huge crowd.

Dusty, thanks again for the great event, I enjoyed the hell out of it.

Dale

from the IM BBQ 2006 cost to the particpants? nada This year, something different? about 10 bucks

Well any Salmon hooked south of the WA/OR border is not real Salmon, and any Salmon transported in frozen state or more than 200Mi in any state is not real Salmon, so don't gripe about the poor Morro Bay Salmon Dale!

BWAHAHAHA...See you in July!

Tomm

OK, guys, let it be known that I have taken no insult by any of these comments. I did not cook the meal ... only ordered it. Now, keep in mind that the $31 paid for a wide variety of food, the room, the microphone, the cleanup, the table settings, the free soft drinks (served to your table) AND the tax AND the gratuity AND the privacy for our group for however many hours we needed it. For all that I am real proud of the price negotiated. If anyone is looking for "fine cuisine" this is not the venue for that. Going to McDonald's will not provide that atmosphere nor will the local pizza parlor.

If you have complaints please contact me personally and I will do my best to correct whatever. Don't create a shadow on the event with negatives. This isn't a dining experience, it is a gathering of friends with a common interest who wish to have fun together without getting carried away (OK, OK, there is Vince!).

Now, EVERYONE, let's put this thread to rest before anyone starts throwing stones.

Thanks to all for coming. Just wait until you see what I have dreamed up for next year !!

Happy Trails,
Dusty

Dammit, Dusty!
We didn't get to talk about the chicken...;)

Didn't have the chicken but heard the out of work CA commercial fishermen are probably not joining PETA.

Ok, now that's funny!

I'll drink to that! Dusty, I for one can't wait to hear what next year entails! and I know everyone else feels the same.

Dusty!

Welcome to the club! (but you knew that already, didn'ja?)

Gordon
Harried organizer of "Speedsters meet...." oh, you know the rest....

If you have had lunch and a few drinks in an airport anytime in the last million years you would find the price/quality of our Morro Bay dinner a bargain. For airport entertainment to compare you would have to flash your Somalia Coast Guard ID and then be thrown into the
holding tank at GitMo with a bottle of Oban. Whatever the price it was worth it! And, it takes an old cowboy to keep this herd headed in any direction. THANKS AGAIN DUSTY.

It never occured to me to complain about the food...I guess in all the excitment of hugging Henry, Dale and Terry, I got all carried away....I was however miffed about the arrogance of the place to set rules on Dusty, but then I'm usually on the giving rules rather than taking them side....
I for one had a great time

WELL I DIDNT LIKE IT PERIOD
THE DRUNK BASTARD IN ROOM 209 KEPT ME UP ALL NIGHT
VINCE WHAT ROOM WERE YOU?

Gerd, was that you with your ear to the wall all night...I swear I could hear you weeping at one point.....
I liked the complimentary hand cuffs that were left in my room

Thanks for everything Dusty. Sharon & Co. I had a great time and like most, I ate the food on Saturday night without much comment. I thought the facility was superb, the "brown bag exchange" was fun and the fellowship great! The food/drink service was fine but the chicken & fish were pretty bad.
I offer this comment in hopes that Dusty can use it along with the others to negotiate in the future. As a business person I would think the restaurant owner would want to know how his product and service was received by patrons, his future depends on it.
That aside, the event was terrific! Thanks again.

Thank you Dusty, can't wait to hear about next year.

Remember that Rusty, Crusty, Lusty and Musty are just pullin' at your boot...

Hi there, Did someone say Busty....

Or, MustHe?

Vince,
I met her. Her name is Denise Milani and she is very nice and a cute girl who has a wholesome attitude (I know that is a disappointment to you) and, yes, I believe they are real.

Michael,
You may not know it but the poster you have has become quite a collectible. Preserve it.

Happy Trails,
Dusty and the jealous Lovely Miss Sharon (yeah, sure !! LMS)

Bull 1 Matador 0

Dusty,
Quick question: When you met Ms. Milani, did you have a hard time looking straight into her eyes?

How come nobody ever snaps a photo when the matador gets gored in the face?