Surf-N-Turf Pismo Beach 2010

Brian P

Misanthropic Fuel
Location
Taylorsville
So, After busting my donkey for a few week to get our trailer finished enough to use, We were set and all packed and ready to head to Pismo Beach and Surf-N-Turf!
We got a late start at 11AM, But we were finally on the road heading South on I-15 at a great speed considering we had a full trailer and FJ40 things were going great till we were getting back on the freeway leaving Fillmore and the steering went dead and the engine temps began to rise, I knew it was the fan belt, So we quickly pulled over and I put the belt back on and got about another few hundred yards down the road when it threw the belt again, This happened 3 times, We are about a mile South of Fillmore and I decide I will cross over to the North side of I-15 and head back, If I kept the RPM's below about 2200 the belt would stay on, Long story short, I get it fixed and we are back on our way South, But it wasn't long till we encountered more belt issues, This time it was the alternator belt... I got that fixed and around Cedar City I was about to give up as we were now having fuel issues, The Cruiser wouldn't stay running, Bad gas, Fuel pump or filter? Who knows But I stopped and bought one of each, Just in case.
Finally all was right with the Cruiser god's and we were passing St. George, Mesquite, Vegas, Etc.
We arrive in CA. Our first stop there is a Barstow, Not much to see at 2AM, After a gas up we head West through Bakersfield, Coffee, Gas oh and Licorice, I kept driving, Arriving at Pismo Beach Pay station at 5:40AM Friday Morning...
But we were here, I set up camp at the end of a row and took a nap.

5159751143_ee0cc52c47_z.jpg


Michelle took the kids out to play in the Pacific Ocean which they have never done, They have only played in the Atlantic Ocean.

Thai Che anyone?

5159517005_6781ec1226_z.jpg


5160124080_180211e48c_z.jpg


Someone is learning the hard way.

5159549043_3f63d04a20_z.jpg


After my nap, I wandered around to see and meet people wandering around, Some Kite flying and Sand Dollar searching.

5159749919_8094d025fb_o.jpg


5159750015_0342a5dfd5_o.jpg


5159750335_1374a70814_o.jpg


To was a relaxing day.

Saturday started early, First off was the "Morning Mile" at 8:30AM

5159750553_43fdedb5cd_o.jpg


5160353488_9f3dc5fcd0_o.jpg


Once you got to the turn around point you got a raffle ticket and a question "how fast can a swallow fly?" Michelle was one of 3 people that got it correct, At the end they had the raffle, Which we missed some of, But managed a year subscription the Toyota Owners Mag.
At High Noon there was a Poker run in the dunes with a Shotgun start, Which we were late to because I was planting corn... As one passer by asked.

5159564345_e1083710f7_z.jpg


5159567193_0fcde00aaa_z.jpg


We must have bounced hard enough to have the tow bar drop and we made a furrow for some ways, You can see it back some ways.
There was a rolled Jeep Rubicon in a bowl, With a steady stream of Land Cruisers passing by, But I think everyone was ok in the Jeep
It was funny to see how many people had a hard time in the dunes, Maybe just not quite set up for it, I managed a pair of kings, But Michelle didn't end up pulling anything in the end, The last guy who we gave our tickets to saw that we were with WC and said we must be lost!

5159634933_0f4155bd37_b.jpg


Camp as of 1PM Saturday afternoon, It began raining so we headed back to our spot and I started a fire while Michelle read to the kids and I made a little lunch.

5159579743_27ebf0a70a_z.jpg


After the rain broke we were back out to the beach, Michelle wanted to see if she could find some live Sand Dollars, She did manage to find this washed up on shore.

5159584729_6824686571_z.jpg


Me trying to help find some stuff.

5160248780_5a6ec7c61e_z.jpg


Maxwell and I went for a drive in the dunes.

5159658779_92ed1d285c_z.jpg


5160263020_0a20dc19ff_z.jpg


A Saturday sunset in camp.

5160235234_bf880aeec8_b.jpg


Sunday came, It was a little difficult to pack up, It was a beautiful day even though it had been raining part of the night, Slowly but surely we managed to finish up, With only a few more pit stops before we head East.

5159698373_93157eb507_z.jpg


5159700957_86249354e0_z.jpg


The trip home was rather uneventful, With a layover in Mesquite NV. This is where it changed, With a storm blowing in the Northern Utah, The wind at times was quite strong and it blew the trailer all over the place, It wasn't so bad till we got near Prove and all the traffic, But we made it home in one piece and happy we did it, Another 1700 miles in the FJ40, But this time the family and trailer in tow

There are more pic's here if you wish to have a look, Mostly family pic's.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77197343@N00/sets/72157625219269789/
 
Last edited:

Brian P

Misanthropic Fuel
Location
Taylorsville
Its always nice to hear kind words about my write up, I am no word smyth by any means :)

Funny thing, I forgot to take the flag off the FJ40, It made it 800+ miles home with very little fraying.

Thanks again

I edited my first post for a link to Surf-N-Turf
 
Last edited:

jackjoh

Jack - KC6NAR
Supporting Member
Location
Riverton, UT
Makes me think of the "Pismo Sand Nationals" in the 1970's. Did you have any luck keeping sand out of your food? Did you go to Maiden Form Flats, Oso Flaco Lake, or the old Competition Hill?
 

Brian P

Misanthropic Fuel
Location
Taylorsville
Thanks again all :)

Jack, I'm going to say no, as none of that even sounds familliar.
I had no issue with sand that I can think of, My family didnt complain either, So I guess I managed to keep it relatively grit free, It wasn't very windy and the moisture level was high.
 

jackjoh

Jack - KC6NAR
Supporting Member
Location
Riverton, UT
Oso Flaco Lake is at the south end of the dunes area and feeds the stream that goes out to the ocean. Maiden Form Flats is just north of the lake over a large hill. Competition Hill is more or less in the middle of the dunes. Thanks for the memories.
 
Top