My February 2010 outing includes renting ATV’s for a few hours of fast, wreckless driving on the gorgeous beach/dunes at Pismo! This craziness will be juxtaposed with a get-to-know-each-other 'tea/wine' on Friday night, a potluck dinner on Saturday night, and a visit to the Monarch Grove butterfly park on Sunday. In addition to these organized events, I'm going to try to squeeze in an aggressive beach hike or run early on Saturday morning before the ATV adventure, and at least one pick-up game of Frisbee on the beach! There’s only room for 15 people from LA, so sign-up soon!!

"The closely packed sands of Pismo beach offer themselves to the perfect rugged off-roading adventure with rolling dunes to satisfy the adventurer in all of us. Come enjoy the last remaining coastal sand dunes open to Off-Highway Vehicles."

"The 'butterfly trees' of Pismo Beach are one of the most beloved regional attractions from late October through February; thousands of colorful Monarch butterflies cluster in the limbs of Eucalyptus and Monterey Pines in the area, giving the appearance of yellow and orange leaves. They travel over the Sierra Mountains and west of the Rockies to escape the colder temperatures of the north."

There is a cost-sharing fee for this trip.  I am a volunteer in charge of the outings for an all volunteer, non-profit, California-based, hiking and camping organization called the Great Outdoors, LA. (not to be confused with where you are seeing this invitation, the Gay Outdoors!) This trip is being offered to both Great Outdoors members and Gay Outdoors members.  The cost-sharing fee for the camping and refreshments for this trip is $55. 

I have secured a two-for-one deal with a local ATV rental company that is within walking distance of our campsites (approximately $60/person for 2 hours!) 

This is a camping trip, so you will need a tent, a sleeping bag & pad, a cooler for your breakfasts, lunches, snacks and potluck item, warm clothes (it is February on the coast! .. cool and damp), toilettries/towel (there are pay showers at the campsite), flashlight, bandaids, extra pair of shoes in case one pair gets wet, knit cap for hanging around the campfire at night (please also bring a bundle of wood .. available at Ralph's), cup/bowl/utensils .. and, unless you have a stove, be sure to bring only things that don't require cooking.  (Alot of people will be happy to help you warm something up or offer you hot water for coffee or tea or oatmeal, etc.)

Carpooling is essential for this campout.  We can accommodate twice as many people as we can cars.  I will help facilitate carpooling (and, it's a great way to get to know someone else before you arrive at camp! There will be a registration form, waiver, and a payment due in advance for the camping (ATV rentals will be done on-site).  All the specific details, like exact times, locations, directions, itinerary, etc will be provided to those who sign-up.

This is a great way to meet some people into the same activities as you; people of all ages, ethnicities, types and from all walks of life.

(note: The Great Outdoors is non-exclusionary and therefore our events are also open to lesbians; historically, lesbian attendance at our predominantly male events is quite limited.)

Any questions, sign-up, buddy me or e-mail me through Gay Outdoors!  Looking forward to meeting you!!  -Klaus-