Clampers Invade Santa Barbara County

Above, The Beast all set up at the Clamp-out. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If anyone ever needed evidence that California is in a drought, they should go to Lake Cachuma. The lake receded to practically a puddle.

However, that didn't deter Platrix Chapter No. 2 and De La Guerra Y Pacheco Chapter 1.5 members from having a grand time at the fall 2016 joint Clamp-out. We must've had about 300 members attend the trek at Live Oak Campground in Santa Barbara County.

Glenn Thornhill and I drove in from the San Fernando Valley Friday morning and got to the site at about 12:30. Strangely, we did not see any signs indicating where the turn-off for Highway 154 was. We ended up going the long way up U.S. 101 to Buellton and headed to the site from there after driving through Solvang. Although it was "the long way around the barn", it was an easier drive for The Beast without any uphill winding roads to contend with.

The the islands of the Santa Barbara Channel were clearly seen during the drive on U.S. 101.

The weather was perfect, although a bit warm. But, at least we were comfortable at night. The Beast suffered a "minor injury" Friday night when Mr. Thornhill grabbed the screen door lever handle (photo at right) and pulled instead of pulling it down. It snapped off. I'll get a replacement tomorrow from Lichtsinn RV.

Along with the De La Guerra Y Pacheco and Platrix chaper stores selling Clamper goods, the store of the Peter Lebeck Chapter (Kern County) also hawked goodies (here's one of them). I bought three t-shirts, since most of the Clamper t-shirts I have are pretty worn. I am replenishing my ECV wardrobe. The t-shirts each have a pocket to carry my cell phone in.

The big talk at camp was the leaked 11-year-old badboy conversations of GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump. Nobody gave them much concern it as they would fit in with ECV (maybe we should make Trump a Clamper). This week's leaks of emails of Hillary Clinton by Wikileaks are of more importance for media attention than anything Trump allegedly said or did ages ago. But you won't hear much about it from the partisan and biased media. The debate tonight ought to be a very interesting one. It is speculated that Trump will "go nuclear" on Hillary Clinton.

It was an enjoyable weekend. The next round of clamp-outs will be next year.

Here are some photos from the weekend:

Above, survival refreshments in The Beast's refrigerator. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, plenty of RVs of all kinds at the clamp-site. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Glenn Thornhill and yours truly.

Above, yours truly with a Saturday morning Brandy Alexander, a Platrix tradition.

Above, the gathering for Saturday's lunch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a Trump decal hawked by the Peter Lebeck Chapter store. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, our group area is marked by the parachute. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Peter Lebeck Chapter's store. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Friday night campfire. Photo by Armand Vaquer. 

Above, one of the t-shirts I bought. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, more RVs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.