Big Lagoon Messabout May 8-10, Trinidad California

[Thorne]

Big Lagoon Messabout '09 will take place Friday - Sunday May 8-10 at Big Lagoon County Park, Trinidad, CA. Just like last year we should have folks attending from all over northern California and Oregon. Event website - http://www.luckhardt.com/blmessabout.html

Like most messabouts there is no formal schedule of events. The messabout hosts will be there by Thursday evening, and anyone is welcome to come hang out with us at the small group campsite. We will host a potluck dinner Friday and Saturday nights, and hope for some music and singing too. Weather permitting, we will motor, sail or row towards the north end of the lagoon Saturday morning for a picnic lunch, and plan to catch the prevailing north-west winds back to camp.

We will camp in the small group site at the County Park, near the restrooms and showers, and stake out a few of the other campsites along the shore. Since no reservations are allowed, not everyone may be able to camp at Big Lagoon Campground.

Messabout participant's boats can be pulled up on the clay beach on the north shore of the Big Lagoon County Park campground, or anchored out from the beach overnight. With prevailing afternoon winds from the north-west, the campground beach is a lee shore, but the swell never gets very large and winds die down in the evening.

Camping on boats is not officially permitted , but enforcement is unlikely for boats large enough to have porta-potties. We have seen larger boats anchored further north in the lagoon in the lee of the sandbar in the evening.

The lagoon waters are very protected (particularly near the sandbar) and quite suitable for children's swimming, floating and boating. Come on up and check out one of the California Coast's most spectacular locations!

My photos of the 2008 Messabout

John Kohnen's Flickr photos of the 2008 Messabout

[BobW]

I certainly plan to be there! Of course, I will have to bum boat rides...

Right now it looks like I'll be coming up on Friday.

Bob

[Thorne]

Excellent! There are always lots of crew positions available, as most of us seem to have more boats than bodies.

The local boating group is called "Morgan's Companie" and will be there in force.

[JC 72]

The lads and I will bring Merryrows. Looks like Friday arrival as well. John

[Thorne]

Looks like a number of the Oregon Coots are planning on making the drive south, so that should add to the fun.

John, bring your period tents if you got 'em. I'll have my big marquee set up as Party Central...

[David G]

Twin,

You know I'll be there, towing Sisu - barring cat's apostrophe. Looks like I could have a passenger or two - maybe bearing cartopped boats.

Looking forward to it!

[BobW]

David,

I'm looking forward to seeing Sisu, and maybe even getting a ride.

Bob

[JC 72]

Sorry Thorne, All I have is a Coleman. Got some cool old lanterns though. Maybe I can find something on flea-bay. John

[David G]

David,

I'm looking forward to seeing Sisu, and maybe even getting a ride.

Bob

Bob - No problem. I sell crew tickets and skipper tickets. The only currency commonly accepted is alcohol... though I can sometimes be bribed with good food, desserts, or beautiful women (and all women are beautiful, some just more so) Oh, and compliments about my looks, intellect, or woodworking prowess. A fella tried one of those a few years back... and it worked admirably. However, most of my friends and acquaintances are too honest to tell those kinda lies

[BobW]

Cheap at twice the price!

Remind me to pack some boots...

Bob

[David G]

Remind me to pack some boots...

Bob

Yup - Thorne WILL be there, after all!

[Thorne]

Oooooh, we may be past the boot stage and into waders here, folks!

C'mon up (or down as the case may be) and see the fun -- dueling David's!

Hard to imagine that we can do much to beat our foolishness at Timothy Lake last year, where the Twins went out in howling winds in my dory skiff and just managed to not capsize her by the cowardly expedient of not raising the mainsail, just laboring across the lake on jib alone. But I'm sure we'll try....

John, don't worry about period canvas if you don't have it, modern tentage is fine (and a lot more functional). Do pack your Master & Commander kit for whatever son it fits, as the Morgan's folks like to do a bit of a period impression at times -- and it sure livens up the photos.

[Bill Lowe]

You guy's sure have a lot of fun out there.

[BobW]

From the Big Lagoon Messabout site: We will host a potluck dinner Friday and Saturday nights... Any guesstimates of how many folks will be there for the dinners? I'm trying to decide what size Dutch oven to bring.

Bob

[Thorne]

Will know more about the projected turnout when the event date gets closer, but last time we had about 15 folks sit down for dinner. When in doubt bring the big one...

;0 )

[BobW]

... or make the gruel thinner...

[JC 72]

Will do on the Tar Togs. Should be a good test fit, see if they have out grown them yet. John

[Thorne]

Bump. Just a non-so-delicate reminder as event is just a few weeks off.

Hope to see some of you CA and OR folks there!

[JC 72]

Hey Thorne, Just heard today that I may be sent out to Wyoming to an aircraft crash rescue training school the whole week prior to the Mess About weekend. So I may have to cancel, as I will be returning home on Saturday May 9th. I should know for sure by Monday. John

[JC 72]

Belay that previous post. After command staff realized that this was too short of notice. They moved it to June. John

[Thorne]

Huzzah! But hopefully not moved to June 20-21, eh Maytie?

[JC 72]

It looks like we leave the 22nd for the whole week. So I should just make it to Vallejo. JC

[paul oman]

Used to sail there and teach others to sail when a student at Humboldt State U (HoHum State) and member of their sailing club back in the 70s. Probably has changed a lot since then..


have fun, I'll be thinking about you guys.

Got me thinking that maybe I can organize a messabout here in Eastern NH (Northwood) at my lake camp on 95 acre Harvey Lake this summer. Any local folks with an interest, let me know.


paul oman
progressive epoxy polymers, inc.

[Thorne]

Weather is looking GOOD for this weekend up there near Eureka! I'll be heading up early tomorrow am to nail the group campsite down.
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenda...nav_undeclared

Anyone attending is encouraged to print out the event website, as the directions are not obvious and the site can be hard to find in the dark.
http://www.luckhardt.com/blmessabout.html

Northwood Messabout sounds like a good idea, Paul.

[switters]

don't forget your cameras.

insert envy smiley here.

[Thorne]

Unfortunately John Kohnen, who took all those really high-quality photos last year, won't be there along with the rest of those lazy Coots (dig, dig in the Twin's ribs). I mean, why would a 10-hour drive at today's fuel prices stop anyone???

So we'll just have to get by with the so-so ones my waterproof Canon takes, plus hopefully some others...

[BobW]

I am sorry to say I will not be attending the Big Lagoon Messabout this weekend. I thought I had it under control but I was wrong.

Bob

[Thorne]

Oh well, lots of TSCA events closer to home anyway. Hope to see you at one soon.

[JC 72]

Sorry we will miss you Bob. John

[Thorne]

Truck...er....car and boat are loaded and ready to roll! Big Lagoon here we come.

[BobW]

Have a safe trip. Wish I was going...

Have FUN!

[Thorne]

See my Facebook for updates,as I have no easy way to post pics via iPhone to here. Will launch boats tomorrow am with Dusty and Linda of the Lost Coast TSCA. Cold but beautiful this evening. Nothing like posting to the Internet by lantern-light...

[Thorne]

JC. - I'm saving you guys a spot right on the lagoon. See facebook for a photo. No wind this am, Dusty and I plan on launching and sailing or rowing out to the sandbar.

[Thorne]

Just got back and unloaded the car. Everyone had a great time, lots of wonderful sailing, fun potluck dinner Sat night, fantastic singing & drinking session Friday night.

Here's John and his sons Owen and Hugh getting Merryrow ready -


Ed Frey built me this cool small cannon, which I picked up on the way up at his shop in Fortuna-


Me sailing the Tasher over from the ramp, Tony at the helm -


Friday evening sunset sail -


Messabout boats on the campground beach -

[Thorne]

Grunion and his wife arriving at the lunch spot -


Ken on the beach as John and Pia row upwind to join us for lunch -


Lunch Saturday on the way to the breach in the sandbar at the northern end of Big Lagoon -


At the far north end of the lagoon, where the ocean comes over the sandbar at high tide (sometimes), aka "the breech" -


Here's a photo from my iPhone of the breech, you can see the surf just down the slope. Pia is pointing out an osprey flying overhead..

[Thorne]

John Carlson, John and Pia Jaques launching the Ed Frey-built Tortuga at Big Lagoon.


The Tavern tent, complete with carpets, candleabra, tables and benches -- and it all fit in my Jetta wagon!

[David G]

Quit Torturing Me!!

[Thorne]

Come on now Twin, you can start saving now for next year. The real torturing will begin when I attend YET ANOTHER Coots event without a reciprocal visit...just you wait! MMMMWWWAHAHAHA! (bites pinky in corner of mouth)

[David G]

Twin,

I can start saving now, but what I really need to do is to start learning not to over-commit.

Looks like y'all had a lovely time. I only regret that it wasn't blowing 45 mph, with temps about 30 degrees, and snow. Then I wouldn't feel so bad Looks like you had some nice winds. Who did you get to be your dodger this time?

I seriously hope you do make it up to a Coot event this year. I'll take all the ribbing you care to dish out... as my just due. If it gets to be too much, I'll just break down and force myself to drown my sorrows


"The keenest sorrow is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities" -- Sophocles

[BobW]

I can only echo those sentiments - stop torturing me! That sure looks like a great time.

Tavern Tent? That's great!

... I penciled this year's outing on the calender, and didn't make it. Maybe writing it in ink would help...

Thanks for sharing the pics.

Bob

[JC 72]

Wow Thorne, What a fantastic weekend! Thanks for the wonderful job organizing, and getting everything up on the internet.
My first sail in Lord Chamberlin, and crewing with Tony. Meeting so many wonderful new friends. One question, how do you get that great woping pavillion into a Volkswagon? I couldn't even get my Costco tent back into it's original bag... Next year I'll staple Owen's fiddle to his forehead with dull staples!

[Thorne]

John - gonna post some photos? Love to see 'em...

Packing that load ain't easy, but if I take long enough and shove it in here, down there, and back up -- it fits.

[JC 72]

Okay, They're coming. See if I can get some up later tonight. John

[JC 72]

Here is Dusty and his Sea Bright.

[JC 72]

Pickup pram

[JC 72]

The beach with the boats

[JC 72]

Merryrows

[BobW]

Wonderful pics! Thanks for sharing them.

I really need to get out more!

Bob

[RFNK]

Thanks for these great pics! You Americans certainly have some funny names for places - I guess every country does but Big Lagoon is funny and sounds better than my favourite, Dismal Swamp! Great boats, great pics and clearly heaps of fun had by all! Rick

[Thorne]

We're a big country, so we have TWO Big Lagoons. One in Florida and one on the Left Coast...

Great pics, John!