The “Unauthorized” SMB Bad Beer Contest
July 18, 2010

Stinson Beach 10am until we’re done. Look for our silver Sprinter and park as close as you can. Please drive carefully. Please bring a beach chair or a blanket. It may be hot. It may be cold. This is a typical northern California beach.

Each bad beer will be brought to you if you are located close to the unauthorized SMB Bad Beer Contest mobile headquarters in the beautiful, wonderful, award winning, you-will-know-it when you see it, SMB Sprinter.

Each entry will be assigned a number.
2 entries per person max. Entry fee is $.05 per beer (reduced from $.25). Any beer costing over $8 per six-pack is automatically disqualified. Home brew is not eligible as we do not want any participant to suffer permanent brain damage.

Beer will be judged on three factors; flavor (how does it taste), mouthfeel (is it foamy, weak, carbonated), and on aroma (does it stink). Scale 1-10 with 10 being the worst score possible. Scoring will be made on the unauthorized score pad. You can also make short comments about anything on the score pad.

Beer will be served in small paper cups and does not have to be consumed just tasted. Beer may be poured onto the sand but please secure your paper cups. You can eat or drink anything you like between beer samples.

Trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. 1st place winner will either have to drink a bottle of the winning beer or spit into the wind – their choice.

Note: This event is an unofficial, unauthorized, non-binding, unplanned, spontaneous, audacious, incomprehensible gathering of Sportsmobile owners, guests and want-to-be owners. SMB denies knowing or wanting to know any participant.

Acting responsible for anything, anywhere or at anytime will not be tolerated. Parties exhibiting responsible behavior will be only be invited to future Winnebago events.

Order your official Unauthorized Bad Beer Contest T-shirt here.

Here are the directions, etc. We plan to meet at the Ranger Station, #1 Pinecrest Lake Road
Pinecrest, CA 95364. We will depart the Ranger Station at 2pm and should be camped somewhere by about 4pm. At the Ranger Station we can make the last check on roads. I spoke to several people today and although there is still lots of snow higher up, the route we will be on should be fine.

Approximate:
Driving distance: 270.0 miles; Driving time: 5 hours, 44 minutes

One of the best things that happens in a get-2-gether is looking at other RV’s “stuff” and seeing how folks cope with travel and camping.

At our last meeting I was very disappointed to find out that my step stool was small. First, I did not know they came in different sizes. I thought the size I had was adequate – I had never had any complaints. But comparing it side by side with another it was clear mine was lacking in every dimension. And I left that day feeling totally inadequate and irrelevant.

How could I make the mistake of having a small step? I knew size mattered but I guess I was just rationalizing. I thought back to the campgrounds . . . were those strange glances and stifled laughs because of the small, ok, let’s say it, tiny step stool? People can be so cruel.

Last week I looked into the mirror and said, “Keith, you are a good guy by golly and if anyone was judging you by the size of your step stool it was their problem.” I also did a web search using !bing, found and quickly ordered the biggest step stool I could find!

So there! Anytime you want to compair sizes, I am ready! It is the first thing out of the RV when we camp and the last thing to go back in. I’m very proud of it. Oh, we are going to keep the little one around just in case things don’t work out for the big one. You just never know.

(Click the play button to view video. Firefox users please click here .)

You should have been there! We had a lot of fun yesterday! The day started out COLD and cloudy but towards the end of the game was hot and sunny.

I got there when the gates opened. It was like the Oklahoma land rush as cars, trucks and the bus dashed across the open asphalt of the parking lot to find a primo spot to set up for the pre-game whoop-de-doo. The folks next to me were burning cherry wood after they bar-b-cued and now the bus smells like we were parked next to a campfire.

We had a RoadTrek Sprinter, our SMB Sprinter and one SMB van. Our other attendees (who shall remain nameless) came in a truck instead of their SMB van! Oh, where is the loyalty!

The game was great. The ninth inning, as in many games, the most exciting when the A’s almost won. They just needed 6 more walks or a couple of grand slams! It was right down to the wire! We some gloves there but no balls came our way. The Guinness was good but I think the shrimp and fish combo was left over from last season and just re-heated. We managed to get most of us on the big screen at the stadium, watched Stomper clown around, and saw lots of pitcher and other changes as both teams were still setting the opening season line-up.

Yahoo! This is almost as good as getting the Bass Pro Shops Master Catalog! There is a lot of great stuff to have – I could have the Sprinter weighing in at 10 tons if I was in a crazy buying mood.

I know, I know – many of you would most likely get more excited over the Sports Illustrated Swim Suit Issue but for me, looking at new Coleman stoves is about as hot as it gets . . . and I can touch one of those without my DW getting upset!