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I really don't understand why anyone would need a map, in any format, to get to San Luis Obispo's Comfort Inn.   Even a dullard - and God knows there are plenty in this state - should be able to find Hwy-101 without one, ...running north from its south terminus at the East LA Interchange and running south from the Oregon border.

If that dolt is in Southern California, he (or she) need only drive north on Hwy-101 N and take Exit-203D; if he (or she) is in Northern California...drive south on Hwy-101 S and take Exit-204. 

Easy-Peasy!  No map, no cellphone, no nuthin 'cept being able to read (and understand) the five numbers and three letters: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, N, S, and D! 

Napa Paul posted:

I really don't understand why anyone would need a map, in any format, to get to San Luis Obispo's Comfort Inn.   Even a dullard - and God knows there are plenty in this state - should be able to find Hwy-101 without one, ...running north from its south terminus at the East LA Interchange and running south from the Oregon border.

If that dolt is in Southern California, he (or she) need only drive north on Hwy-101 N and take Exit-203D; if he (or she) is in Northern California...drive south on Hwy-101 S and take Exit-204. 

Easy-Peasy!  No map, no cellphone, no nuthin 'cept being able to read (and understand) the five numbers and three letters: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, N, S, and D! 

He was talking about downloading the app for the route not getting to SLO. 

I was driving my truck last year and was responsible for support, so I was the last one to leave the staging area with a few tools, a tow bar, gasoline and other misc. stuff.   I lost the group virtually right out of the gate and was no use to anyone.  Fortunately, I don't believe anyone needed any help.

One suggestion I would make is that nobody leave the staging area until everyone is in their cars and ready to leave.  There are always people who need to make a last minute potty visit and need a little more time, especially when they find that the bathrooms are locked, like last year.

Otherwise, I don't know what the solution is to keeping everyone together. 

How right you are, Michael. I did a bit of looking. There are FRS which are less powerful, and GMRS which are more powerful and require a HAM license. 

https://midlandusa.com/gmrs-or...radio-how-to-choose/

I found a pair of Motorola T460, which do both FRS and GMRS on REI for 90 bucks a pair. GMRS channels will supposedly transmit up to 35 miles on the flats, I'd wager they would work well a few miles away in the mountains.

https://www.rei.com/product/11...BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I did not know there was still a need for a HAM license. They once were required for CB, and Marine Radios. I used to have a Class 1 Radio Telephone operators license that was required to broadcast AM radio but only Class 3 on FM. I went to one of those 4 week cram schools to learn the answers to the test only to have the rules changed shortly thereafter. 

Neil,

You're supposed to apply for the license in order to use the GMRS channels. Motorola doesn't include an application with the radios. The radios transmit on all FRS and GMRS frequencies, but above 2 watts requires a license. The license has no test, just an application and a fee($70 for 10 years). I think you could apply, or not. But we'll probably all be denied, being felons:

https://midlandusa.com/why-do-...nse-how-do-i-get-it/

Cheers.

Last edited by DannyP

You do NOT need a “Ham” license to use a GMRS radio.  That’s a whole different thing.  
GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) requires an individual commercial license ($70 bucks and not worth it for this exercise), uses the same frequencies as FRS (Family Radio Service) BUT GMRS is allowed to use more power in their transmitters.  Think a small business with a few service trucks in one city area.

FRS = no more than 2 watts

GMRS = up to 30 watts

You can legally use a 2-watt FRS walkie talkie on GMRS channels with no issues.  Most of the FRS walkie talkies include GMRS channels and that’s OK because they only operate at 2 watts.  If you interfere with a GMRS commercial user (like Stan and his commercial freezer/cooler business for communicating with his trucks) then just switch to a different channel.  That’s all there is to it.

Just FYI, a Ham license gets you WAY more channels (many span the globe, unlike FRS/GMRS good for under 50 miles) and transmitter power up to 1,000 watts.  Whole nuther thing.

Get a few FRS walkie talkies at Walmart, spread them through a caravan and you’re good to go.

Napa Paul posted:

Now I'm wonderin' if that Lotus we came across last year was maybe just  communicating with others in their group via "smoke signals?" 

I wonder if he had an FCC license or just a county burn permit? 

It had just pulled over to let some smoke out of the wiring harness and it got a little carried away. English cars will do that...

Last edited by ALB

***2020 West Coast Cruise*** ***Rescheduled***

The majority of people have spoken and would like to see the event rescheduled until later this year. I will come up with a date and I've contacted the hotel to see what is available. Based on my schedule and my wife's schedule we're looking at the weekend of September 25th, 26th, and 27th, 2020. I'll await a response from the hotel and will post that information as soon as I get it.

The other thing I'm trying to work out with the hotel is if we each need to change our reservations or if the hotel can switch the group as a whole. If that is the case I'll have them make the switch and if you can't make it you may have to call and cancel your reservation.

@TheMayoMachine @Cory McCloskey @PaulEllis @Napa Paul @Kevin - Bay Area @Rick99GSX @Tom Murtaugh @goofer @Dutch @GERD @SimplifyTALightness @*LongFella @majorkahuna @Dan Stewart @IMDoug @OCC @Roy @Ryan (formerly) in NorCal @MusbJim @Troy Sloan @JMM (Michael) @Terry Nuckels @ChrissyB @Meade @Dave Mitchell @VSpyder @Karyadi @Speedster Marc

I don't advise it, but I once got a rebuilt engine (by me) in my bug running at 2 am, got to bed at 4 and we were on the road to LA and Bug In 20 by 10 or 11 the next morning. Drove from Vancouver to Eugene? Oregon down I5, varying the rpms all the way. That night we found a gas station off the highway still open at 6 or 7 pm, convinced the owner to let us use the hoist and performed the 300(?) mile oil change, got to bed about midnight and slept in sleeping bags under trees in a rest area (again, right off the highway, even ran into friends doing the same thing, so we had to stay up for a beer!), got up early (7:30?) adjusted valves, woke my brother up and off we went, driving non stop and arriving at Orange County International Raceway for Bug In at 5:30 am Sunday morning. That was 1978? 

The point is- you just have to have a plan.(oh, we were young and we were idiots!)

I've have satisfied more than two quarantine periods trapped in CA.  Todays AM news from LA County is that the Sheriff is regretting the release of jailed criminals because of rising crime rates, and, an LA judge has agreed with the Mayor that gun stores can be lawfully be ordered  closed because they are "non-essential businesses".  Just symptomatic evidence for some of the reasons I moved out of this State.  Given the lack of coherent leadership in and around the State I have less hope than others for September in SLO.

ALB posted:

I don't advise it, but I once got a rebuilt engine (by me) in my bug running at 2 am, got to bed at 4 and we were on the road to LA and Bug In 20 by 10 or 11 the next morning. Drove from Vancouver to Eugene? Oregon down I5, varying the rpms all the way. That night we found a gas station off the highway still open at 6 or 7 pm, convinced the owner to let us use the hoist and performed the 300(?) mile oil change, got to bed about midnight and slept in sleeping bags under trees in a rest area (again, right off the highway, even ran into friends doing the same thing, so we had to stay up for a beer!), got up early (7:30?) adjusted valves, woke my brother up and off we went, driving non stop and arriving at Orange County International Raceway for Bug In at 5:30 am Sunday morning. That was 1978? 

The point is- you just have to have a plan.(oh, we were young and we were idiots!)

Now that's how you do it! 😂

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