Feeler for interest in W. Central FL. get-together

[Eracer]

FLDavid and I have been talking about this, and I wanted to throw out a feeler.

Any interest in a West Central Florida get-together? Specifically, I thought we could plan a day at the Little Manatee River State Park. Cook some chow, drink some beverages, tell tall tales, and even play a little guitar.

The weather is great this time of year, and I think the park is pretty convenient to anyone living in the Tampa, Sarasota, and even Ft. Myers and Orlando areas.

What say you?

[pg60]

I live in Riverview, Little Manatee is easy drive for me.

I am in a rut and could really use some interaction with other players. Unfortunately I'm on crutches for a while (knee surgery last week) but maybe I could get my wife to drive me down there and carry my case. Maybe.... hehe

[jonlee]

it would really depend on what day it's supposed to take place.

[tadmania]

Interesting.

David could hit me over the head with a textbook. Honestly, I will try to attend. Some of the best folks I know live in Florida.

[stratokatsu]

Say when... I'll try my best.

[tbondo]

Like Dennis and Tad, I'm interested and will try to make it, depending on other current events

[orsino]

I'd love to also. Keep me posted.

[beach bob]

I'm game. Good park, pretty spot for sure.

[flaggerphil]

Depends on when it is. I'm going to be down in east central Florida in early December and could possibly make it over if that's when it is.

[Eracer]

I'll check out the Park and pick a couple of dates and let everybody know.

I assume Saturday would be the best DOTW for this?

[FLDavid]

I'll check out the Park and pick a couple of dates and let everybody know.

I assume Saturday would be the best DOTW for this?
Amazing--I just sent you a PM about this very thing before I saw your post

[sharkydude50]

Got family over on that side, so I'd kill 2 birds with one stone. I'm actually going to Tampa & North Port (near Venice) this weekend. Now that gas is a little cheaper this is a much more do-able trip for me.

[stratokatsu]

Any news on this get together? I sort of dropped the South Florida get together thread since most of us haven't been to central Florida since the Merritt Island jam and it's a lot easier for South Florida pickers to get together on a more or less immediate basis.

I was hoping this would turn into something...

[FLDavid]

Eracer and I are going to scope out the venue on 22 Nov, see about reserving a pavillion, general logistics
Do most AGF-style get-togethers take place on a Saturday or a Sunday?

[tadmania]

Usually Saturday, in my experience. Just at lunch, or a bit earlier, to start. Folks have time to travel in, lunch is nice to spend together, and it gives us plenty of time to play.

[Eracer]

Sorry, Strat, Sharky, and everyone else, if I gave you the impression this was going to happen real quick. Like FLDavid said, we're going to meet at the park on Nov. 22, scope things out, then probably set an early Dec. date. Looks like there's enough interest to make this happen.

[stratokatsu]

No problem... I just need to consider it an overnight trip at the least, (thus planning), and possibly two nights. I've been spoiled in the last 15 years driving only 5 minutes to work and hardly ever find myself tolerating long drives very well anymore. The 3 hours I drove to Merritt Island a few months ago was about as much as I can deal with. Getting old is hell.

[catdaddy]

Hey guys keep me posted on this. I'd love to attend. Its about a 2 hour drive for me. I'm working every other weekend so I've got a 50% chance of making it. I'll keep my ears crossed and my fingers open.

[ricks]

Keep me posted on how this might develope. I been gone for about 3 weeks and am WAY behind on a lot of things, including the forums and any news etc.
I'ld be interested in anything in Fla.
Now to go reply to Strat about S Fla.

[FLDavid]

Eracer and I are going to meet at the park this Saturday (22 Nov) at 1:00 to scope out the venue
Puh-leeze, if anyone from the area wants to join us for a pre-pre, just to meet and greet and provide some input on logistics, shoot one or both of us a PM

It's going to be spectacular weather, so join us

[Eracer]

Hey guys keep me posted on this. I'd love to attend. Its about a 2 hour drive for me. I'm working every other weekend so I've got a 50% chance of making it. I'll keep my ears crossed and my fingers open.We're definitely going to do it, it's just a matter of planning.

Let me know what weekends you don't work, and we'll pick one of those, for sure.

Same with anyone else who has weekend scheduling issues.

[catdaddy]

We're definitely going to do it, it's just a matter of planning.

Let me know what weekends you don't work, and we'll pick one of those, for sure.

Same with anyone else who has weekend scheduling issues.


My December non-working weekends are the 13th-14th and 27th-28th
My January non-working weekends are the 10th-11th and 24th-25th

Thanks!

[pollajak]

I am interested. I will keep checking this thread. Thanks, FLDavid and Eracer. :)

[Eracer]

OK, we're thinking December 13th.

David and I got together today for a quick tour of the park. There are three pavilions. The larger one could easily hold 20 people seated on it's picnic benches, so it will work fine for our needs. The pavilions are all covered, and have electricity and water. The big one has a pit grill, while the small ones have a couple of small grills. The pavilions are all seperated from each other by 30 yards of woods, so we will be in only one of them.

The pavilions can be reserved if needed, but if today is any indication, we will have no trouble just walking up and using any of them. It was perhaps the most beautiful day of the year to be at the park, and there was no one there.

Logistics: The parking area is about a 50 yard walk to the bathrooms, then another 50 yards to the pavilions. Unfortunately, the walk is through soft sand, so if anyone wants to bring an amplifier they will need to bring some sort of cart with balloon tires. Perhaps someone who lives near the beach has one that we can use to ferry stuff back and forth with. Or maybe we'll flaunt the rules a bit and use a truck to drive the stuff back there. I didn't see a big security contingent there policing the area.

The pavilions are right next to the Little Manatee River (pretty small at that part of the river,) and we saw quite a few canoeists while we played. I hope they enjoyed the noise I made. At least David was there to play some actual songs! I really enjoyed meeting David. Solid individual, and a pretty good guitar player too.

I think it will be a fun time. It may be a touch inconvenient, as far as getting equipment back and forth to the pavilion, but it won't be too bad, especially if we keep the light show and the house PA to a minimum...;)

My thought is that we each bring our own beverages, and bring whatever food we wish to share.

I myself will bring a portable grill and cook up some mean chicken wings.

I look forward to meeting you.

[tbondo]

Every social event that I am committed to for this holiday season is being held on the 13th of December, so that's a no-go for me.

[stratokatsu]

I'm trying to arrange a concert series for some fund raising at the synagogue, so with potential concerts on a few Saturday nights, it will affect my ability to go far from home on a weekend. I'll just have to see how it pans out and do my best to get to everyone when you decide exactly what you are doing.

[Eracer]

Should we target January instead?

[stratokatsu]

If, and that's a big IF, I can get this concert seeries put together, it will run through the end of February because of the time the Sabbath is over. Once Daylight Savings Time starts, it's too late.

So, schedule when the most of you can do something and I'll get where I can if I can.

[Eracer]

Bumpdebump

[beach bob]

I can do Dec. 13th... would rather do it the 6th, that way I can come over Friday night, stay w/ my buds in St. Pete, and see James McMurtry at Skippers on Friday night.

But I will defer to those that have been doing the ground work. Oddly this year, nobody on the wife's side of the family has planned anything for either Thanksgiving or Christmas, so I'm pretty footloose <cue the music ;) >

Upshot for me, I have no large (or small) obstacles...