I have been asked to coordinate events for the wives and kids in conjunction with the Best of the West 2017 ACMOC National Show. There are simply not enough hours in the day so I am asking if there is someone out there that resides locally or is otherwise willing to take on this venture. I have some recommendation:

1. www.margarita-adventures.com/ This is a zip line on the same ranch as the show is held on. I have done this zip line tour and it amazing fun.

2. www.ancientpeaks.com/ This is the winery owned by the folks that own the Santa Margarita Ranch. Very good wines at commercially reasonable prices. Located right across the street from Margarita Adventures.

3. hearstcastle.org/ This is one of the best tours anywhere on the most spectacular stretch of California Coastline. I highly recommend this tour. Start out with the intro tour.

4. slocountyfarmers.org/ SLO County is known for its wonderful local farmers markets. The San Luis Obispo farmers market on Thursday evening is lots of fun for the entire family.

5. www.pasowine.com/ There are over 300 local wineries. Paso Robles in the crown jewel and the Edna Arroyo Grande wineries are exceptional www.slowine.com/

6. www.missionscalifornia.com/ California is known for its Missions and there are several located on the Central Coast and depending on what airport you fly into you will pass by some of the local missions. San Luis Obispo is the closest to the south and San Miguel is the closest to the North.

7. www.californiabeaches.com/central/san-luis-obispo-county/ We have wonderful local beaches to enjoy.

8. www.seemonterey.com/regions/big-sur/?gcl...y3-dECFUlNfgods1MJsw Big Sur and Highway 1 is one of the most scenic drives in the world. Highway 1 is closed north of Gorda right now as a result of our winter weather. If the road is open by Show Time this is a must drive if you have not done the drive before.

9. www.centralcoastbeertrail.com/home SLO County is home to the most recognized mid-sized brewery in America, Firestone Walker. Lots of other great beers here as well.

10. www.centralcoastbeertrail.com/home Distilleries are the latest hit in the SLO County area.

11. charlespaddockzoo.org/ This is a very nice small zoo that the kiddies will love.


There are lots of things to do and see and these top the list. Strike out on your own or perhaps someone wants to step up and formally organize something.

Thanks for looking.

I'm wondering if there is a one stop shopping place for the show ???

I see that dinner tickets can be bought from the ACMOC store... daily passes bought from Eventbrite, but, what about RV parking, personal vehicle permit, ( golf cart ), and exhibitor registration.

Last year we could download the forms, mail them in with one check, and it was done... is that possible this year ?? Thanks, Wayne

Garlic Mom and I visited Daron and Marianne Saturday to help get their D7 9G with Kay Brunner blade and Bootjack Thirty with hydraulic blade running well enough to go to Santa Margarita. We had were successful on both counts, so we loaded them up and brought them down the hill that afternoon.

Sunday, I swapped around a few injection pumps on the D7 (it didn't want to settle down and run smoothly) and fiddled with the Thirty carburetor a bit, made a linkage for the governor and took care of a few miscellaneous items. Once it was light enough, Garlic Mom and I headed for the Ranch.

We had a brief visit with Tom Madden at the Paso Robles Pioneer Museum, then went over to Santa Margarita. It was lunchtime and we didn't want to unload on an empty stomach, so we stopped at the Southern Station for a really nice lunch. Our buddy Joel and his wife turned out to be there and invited us to join them for lunch. (They snuck in and paid for our lunch at the end, too.) Garlic Mom had the chipotle chicken sandwich and I had a pulled pork. Both excellent as always.

After a nice visit and lunch (Thanks again Joel), we went around the corner to the Ranch. They had received over two inches of rain in the middle of the previous week and the cattle were turned out in the pasture. They had the road pretty soupy. I told Garlic Mom that I thought we could zip through the gate and stay on the fresh grass and make it O. K. Mom said she didn't think so.

As usual, Mom was right. We made it through the gate, but drifted to a stop with the drivers spinning on the slippery grass and layer of soupy mud. We left the truck and walked in to where the tractors are parked. We carried five gallons of gas and a battery, just in case.

We first tried to start Arlie our good friend's D8 14A. It's battery was good, had gas in the pony tank, coolant in the radiator and oil on the dipsticks. It cranked over nicely, but didn't want to start. I figured with all the sitting around and rain, the points in the magneto probably needed a little touch up. Unfortunately I didn't carry a screwdriver or points file from the truck.

We shifted over to our D8 14A for a shot. The oils and coolant were fine, but I had to add gas. I hooked up the battery we had brought and cranked the pony, but with the same effect. No dice.

We looked around and 7upuller had just delivered his very nice D6B last Wednesday. It was direct electric start and his stuff always works just right. We got our trusty Cat key, checked the fluids and were in business. (Thanks 7upuller).

Garlic Mom was quite happy with the tractor, commenting several times "Wow, this is sure a nice tractor." (Sorry 7upuller, comments like that usually end up in a short time with her claiming ownership. I don't know what to tell you, she sometimes get ideas in her head and there is no changing them.)

The cattle in the pasture had been keeping a close eye on us during this entire process. Now, as we started tracking from the parking area down the driveway, they fell into line and followed us.

I told her I guess she's "The Most Interesting Girl in the Pasture."

On our walk over to the tractors, the cows parted and we saw a big, fat, pink pig take off out of the brush and run across the pasture. He was probably 200 pounds. There were roots torn up all around the pasture from the pigs rooting for grubs. They're really destructive.

Tracking back over to the truck, we used the D6B to separate the tractor, break down the neck and get ready to unload.

Once we got the truck separated and were ready to unload, Garlic Mom used the D6B to pull the Thirty off the truck. With the blade all the way up, there was no way to crank the engine to start it.

With the Thirty on the ground, we pulled it just a little bit and it started and ran nice. We disconnected and headed for the parking area.

The cattle still kept a close eye on our activities.

We parked the Thirty in the line and returned to get the D7, cattle in tow.

The D7 started fine, once Garlic Mom hand choked the pony for me. I can't seem to get that thing to draw enough gas to start consistently without hand choke. At least once it has started, it runs really nicely.

We played around a bit with the TONKA, but it was just a little to slippery. We got about three quarters of the way around a big circle and had to abandon it in the middle of the pasture. There is quite a bit of iron already in the lineup. The Ranch is really pretty with all the green grass. We'll probably have some spectacular wildflowers this year.

Thanks, 7upuller, for letting us use your nice D6B. I'm sorry about Garlic Mom and her "ownership".

There will be lots of interesting things to see, drive and play with at the show. Don't miss out, come on out and play with us.

Pete.

Wayne

The forms have been revised and updated and will all be posted this week.

Tom

Hi, Garlic Pete.
I just hope it dries out enough early enough before the show for you to get out there and drag it all smooth where you have messed it all up with your 'fascination' with playing in the mud. First Galt and now SM..LISTEN to your mom.

Thanks for sharing. The ranch IS looking good at the moment - except for all the wheel ruts and track marks from people playing in the mud - and there is NO nasty cold white stuff on the ground.

Just my 0.02.

We have a lot of stuff to move in for this show. We can't wait for the weather, we've got to MOVE, man! A few ruts and a little being stuck in the mud is nothing compared to the iron we've got to move.

You grader jockeys'll have it all pool table smooth and level in a few hours anyway.

Pete.

"Tom wrote:

Wayne

The forms have been revised and updated and will all be posted this week.

Tom

Thank You.

"Garlic wrote:

We have a lot of stuff to move in for this show. We can't wait for the weather, we've got to MOVE, man! A few ruts and a little being stuck in the mud is nothing compared to the iron we've got to move.

You grader jockeys'll have it all pool table smooth and level in a few hours anyway.
X
Pete.

With half the graders having tires on backwards we will be able to grade in both directions. It won't take long at all to get it shipshape.

The forms for exhibitors, tickets, dinner, camping etc are all up on the website now. Www.bestofthewestshow.com