Wanderers,

 

Let me tell you bout the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees and the moon up above....and a thing called love!

 

Club members began their biannual gathering at the San Diego County campground at Potrero Friday (September 8th) with members trickling in throughout the day and well into the evening.  

 

John and Fran DelSanto appeared just about the time tummies began grumbling about supper (or lack thereof) and served up a very hearty helping of spaghetti, meatballs, sausage and trimmings Mmmmm good!   The bees thought so too.  This was to be our first encounter with the meat bees who wouldn't be seen anyplace until the food and specifically meat dishes came out (which is frequently during these campouts).    We soon learned the critters could be easily led astray and began placing small offerings in spaces we weren't planning to occupy ourselves.   Great trick!  The bees went for the easy pickings, we ate pretty much in peace (except for the odd smart ass bee who wasn't so easily distracted).

 

The evening brought a campfire and a first appearance of  'Ranger Bob' as he came to be known.   Ranger Bob just wanted to be sure we were all having a dandy time and, oh by the way, the campfire has to be out by 11 pm.  "It's a rule" says Ranger Bob.   Yeh, well there are few of us who'd stay up that late anyway so we didn't put up much of an argument.  If only we'd known Ranger Bob was a walking talking rulebook we might have given him a harder time!

 

Remember the moon up above?  Ah yes, the full moon had actually been the night before (Thursday) but we weren't about to quibble.  That big orb hovered over the campfire and stayed with us through the dark hours like a gigantic night light.   And the night was beautiful, the lowest temperature was probably mid 60's,  'lay on top' of the sleeping bag weather.

 

Saturday dawned with the crowing of roosters, the mooing of cows and the sound of zippers....tent flap zippers (what were you thinking?) as one by one we Wandered out hoping to find 1. that the porta potty wasn't occupied  2. that there was coffee.  

 

Breakfast was a new treat for most.  It was something my bride Joan had cobbled together and shared with some members and now I'll share it with you.  It's called 'Omelet in a Bag'.   The recipe is simple.

 

1. Break a couple of eggs into a sandwich size baggie

2. Toss in whatever you normally like in your omelet, peppers, sausage, olives, cheese you name it

3. Seal the baggie and squish everything together, breaking the egg yolks as you go

4. Drop the baggie in a pot of boiling water for 15 minutes.

 

If you're cooking for more than one use a magic marker to put your initials or some identifier on your own baggie.   Enjoy!

 

Shortly after breakfast most campers joined Rebecca for a ride to Chula Vista and lunch at Islands restaurant.  Some stayed in camp, enjoyed the quiet of the back country and watched, fascinated, as a crow took exception to a hawk occupying its airspace.   It may not go into the books as the greatest air battle of all time but it was entertaining.   The crow won but the hawk was sure a lot more magnificent in defeat.

 

Those who've visited the Potrero site know it is covered by oak trees.  By midday Saturday most of us had sought their cover for shade (temperature around 80) and a nap cut short in some cases by the return of our riders.  We counted.   Somehow, someway, Rebecca had returned with exactly the same number of riders she'd left with.   It's probably a good thing we didn't take bets.

 

The afternoon brought a special treat.  It was Rose's birthday.  A flower covered (roses naturally) cake had been brought, cards signed and the obligatory Happy Birthday To Rose sung.   Now 'that' was a thing called love.

 

Saturday supper was superb.  Scott had pre-cooked I don't know how many racks of ribs but there were certainly plenty.  He tossed them back on the barbeque (meat bees watching in anticipation) for some re-heating, gave them a thick coat of his home made BBQ sauce (he offered an alternative in a store-bought bottle but I doubt anyone took him up on it) we set aside an offering to the god bees to draw them off the scent and dug in.   I'm thinking if Scott ever gets tired of wiring buildings he'd be very successful as a restaurateur.... Scott's Rib Joint...Oh yeh.

 

Supper done it was time to light the campfire again, time for that giant moon to rise again and time for 'Ranger Bob' to put in another appearance.   "Everything going ok?"  asks the ever polite Ranger Bob "you bet" is the general consensus of those gathered.  "Oh by the way" adds Ranger Bob "there's a rule".   Uh oh what now.   "I have to charge you two dollars for every vehicle over five for each night."   "You've gotta be chittin' us" was again the general consensus of those gathered who explained rather patiently that was about the stupidest rule we'd ever encountered especially for a group campsite designed to hold 50 or more guests and with its own dedicated parking area.   Ranger Bob backed down knowing he'd stirred up a bit of a hornets nest with that one saying he'd leave a note with the head ranger regarding our....reluctance...to open our wallets then and there.    The campfire was doused at 11 pm.  It's a rule after all.

 

Saturday night, Sunday morning the crickets were in full song, thousands of them singing in perfect harmony and Sunday morning another round of omelet in a bag then pack up and head home.

 

For once the perfect weekend had been chosen for the club campout.  Not too hot, not too cold and best of all, no rain just us and birds and bees and roses and trees and, did I mention the moon up above?  

 

JQ

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The Campout Ride

Ride leader - Rebecca
Miles - 60

Saturday September 9th
10:30 am
Leaving Potrero Campground for a short 30 mile ride into Chula Vista for lunch. Easy pace, sweeping curves. Have gas tanks full. (There is a gas station 12 miles East of Potrero campground, on 94.) Lunch at Islands Restaurant. Everyone is welcome, even if your not camping.