Redwood Empire Mini Enthusiasts is holding its November Eastbay Run and BBQ picnic on Sunday November 16, 2008. Current weather forecast is sunny with 68F temperatures. We will meet at the Vallejo Fairgrounds parking lot at Sage St. just east of Fairgrounds Drive in Vallejo (across from Six Flags Marine World). There is a Mini market and gas station here and room to park the Mini's. This is the start point for everyone coming from the Northbay and any of our members from the Sacramento Valley. There is a BIG parking lot, gas station, coffee, etc. This would be for the Northbay and Sac Valley members. We will meet in time to depart sharply at 9:00AM. Then we will meet up with the Eastbay/Southbay members at the Cummings Skyway exit off I-80 in Crockett.

We will drive through Crockett and Port Costa on Pomona St the Carquinez Scenic to McEwen, then Franklin Canyon Rd. to Alhambra/Alhambra Valley to Bear Creek Rd. the Wildcat Canyon Rd. for our first stop at Tilden Park (Inspiration Point) above the Briones Regional Park. There is an overlook where we will stop with plenty of parking and a bathroom, and great views. This would be a good place to also have a snack. We will be stopping there about 10:30AM, leaving about 11:15AM and won't be stopping for the BBQ until 1:30-2PM.

From Tilden Park we will drive along the top of the Berkley Hills on Grizzly Peak Blvd. and Skyline Blvd south to Joaquin Miller Park. We will follow that route along until Grass Valley/Golf Links where we will hop on I-580 for about a mile at 98th Ave. and Exit at Estudillo/Dutton Ave and take Estudillo east to Lake Chabot Rd/Fairmont Dr. to Seven Hills Rd. in Castro Valley. Then north on Redwood Rd. we will take Pinehurst through Moraga and then through Orinda to Kennedy Grove Park (on the north end of the San Pablo Reservoir just below the dam). Note on the entry point. During the week the entry is via Castro Ranch Rd & Hillside Dr, but according to the reservation website (www.ebparks.org), weekend access is via the Main Gate which is just past the dam on the right (on San Pablo Dam Rd). The different info is because a retrofit is in progress on the earthen dam during the week.

Here is where we will have our BBQ. There is plenty of parking, lots of picnic tables, BBQ pits, bathrooms, and volleyball courts, grass lawns. I thought we could bring a softball and a few bats, maybe a set of horseshoes, some MMMT Frisbees, and have an "old-time" picnic BBQ (hope the weather holds) We plan that we will arrive there about 2PM and can spend the balance of the day "hanging out".

Please sign up on the REME MegaBBS forums calendar so we can get a head-count. We need the numbers so we can plan for food. We will provide the hot dogs, hamburgers, buns, condiments, but please bring a dish to share (BBQ beans, potato salad, etc.) and a beverage of your choice.

 

i'll be there although i'm not a reme member... is that ok? i'll bring some food too!

 

Heyitsushiboi,

Sure you are welcome to join us. I did see that you have signed up on the REME MegaBBS forums. If you want REME membership it's free, just click on the "here" button on the home page under club announcements. This way you will get full access tot he forums, member benifits, discounts, etc.

We do want a head count as we are furnishing the hot dogs, hamburgers, buns, condiments, etc. We already have over 20 MINI/Minis going so we are figuring on 35-30 for the BBQ/picnic. Please just bring a side dish (potato salad, baked beans, or the like, and beverages of your choice. Weather looks like it should be warm & sunny by the weekend.

 

Norm here's that deffuser I told you about

 

Nice looking. Easy to mount?

I'd bet I wouldn't scrape bottom. If my front end doesn't, then my back end sure won't.

How much$$$$

 

i'm signed up and ready to go! is it ok if i bring my good 'ol irish friend jameson... or is it a dry picnic?

 

Weather looks good, 74F High, light 8 mph winds, partly cloudy.

I will bring a set of horse shoes and some Frisbees.

Anyone have a portable ghetto-blaster for background music? I have a bunch of Jerry's REME CDs.

There are volleyball nets and courts on the grass, if anyone wants to bring a volleyball.

Not sure if they have a softball fields, but you could bring a ball & some gloves and play catch.

 

I do not know the price yet, but I'll let you know when I find out. BTW it looks like we will be there Sunday. If it does not rain, you no me a keeping th car clean.

 

Forecast is PERFECT - 75F (Record High) - NO wind - Sunny - NO Rain

Pat has pre-run the route several times and the roads are smooth, clear, and twisty.

Kennedy Grove Park has plenty of parking, lots of grassy lawns, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, walking trails, clean bathrooms, picnic tables, BBQ pits.

I am happy to recommend that you bring sun glasses, sun screen, shorts. We did order out special weather for this event.

For the run, please have your FRS/GMRS radios set for channel 7, sub 21, cell phones, route maps, full tank of gas, empty bladder, REME nametag, and a BIG smile


Lets enjoy this great weather while we can

 

From those I see that have already signed up and emails I have gotten, we will be well over 30 MINI/Minis, which will make it over 50 people.

Lets go for 100

 

What a beautiful day! Great Run - smooth, great roads, great views - good turnout. The BBQ picnic was perfect. Kennedy Park had ample space for all our MINI/Minis and plenty tables and BBQ pits for our whole group. One there big grassy lawns, we flew frisbees, tossed horseshoes, played croquet, and enjoyed several hours of fun and eating.

Here are some links to photos:

Jeff Claytons:
Large: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffreyclayton/REMERunEastBayNov08
Small: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeffreyclayton/REMERunEastBayNov08Small


Starlords:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/starlord/sets/72157609211463886/

REME Photo album:
http://www.redwoodempiremini.com/mbb...sp?albumid=255

I am sure there will be more posted.