Los Angeles CPF get-together?

[Offgridled]

I believe that's painted canyon. Beautiful hiking area.

 

[RedLED]

Painted Canyon is wonderful but it runs from Hwy 111 in Mecca, CA to I-10, 20 miles east of Indio, CA and there is nothing at all there where Box Canyon Rd. connects with the interstate.

Yes there is a Mecca in California. The Southern Pacific Railroad named most of the areas in the Coachella Valley as it was built in the late 1800's.

Where I live was called Myoma Dunes until 1958, when the developer who build our beautiful country club, loved Bermuda, the island, then named the place Bermuda Dunes. It is a cool place, Arnold Palmer had a house around the corner, and we have Rock Hudson's old house, and John Wayne's home was just across the fairway. Of course no one born after 1987 knows who the hell these Guy's were.

My daughter, age 26, college degree, just says whatever? Until the year Justin Timberlake played in the Bob Hope Classic which we hosted for 50 years came by the house when she was a tween, and she went nuts, then it was all different.

 

[Offgridled]

I know who all the guys are. I'm right there with you. So very cool indeed

 

[RedLED]

Thanks, Offgridled, those were great years. In the 1980's when POTUS Reagan came out to the Annenberg Estate every New Years, the Col., who was the pilot of Air Force one got drunk at our clubhouse, and was stopped by the Palm Springs PD and arrested for a DUI. The old Captain of the CHP office in Indio told me about it along time ago, laughing the entire time he was telling me.

Back then, things were kept very quiet. The PSPD of that era was very no nonsense.

 

[Offgridled]

So well put I think it's so cool you have Rock Hudsons old home. Wow.
Do you golf?

 

[RedLED]

For you LA Guy's who may not want to come out here to PS, I have an idea for the Los Angeles area.

If you could get this it would be wonderful.

There is no good place in LA for flashlights, and I thought if you could get the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the evening, it would be fantastic!

Years ago, many years ago, I used to run events in the coliseum, so I know it well, and was thinking that the floor would block the glow from the LA light spill very well, And there would be distance references, as it could be easily measured for throw, and a flood would be great to test in there.

Besides, it is not exactly even used anymore, really. That would be a great location in Los Angeles. The Coliseum Commissioners could use the revenue like from 8:00PM to Midnight? Or, something like that.

It it is a beautiful old, historical place that would be fun to test out our lights. Plus, we could dine at the Apple Pan, at Pico and Westwood, before we go. If you have not been to the AP, everyone in my family has dined there since the 1940's. Another nice old LA place.

That is my idea for LA, unless you want to spend the night on Catalina Island.

Just an idea.

 

[RedLED]

So well put I think it's so cool you have Rock Hudsons old home. Wow.
Do you golf?

No, not anymore I have a bad back, so I save it for work instead. My back Doctor's would die if the saw the camera gear I run around with.

This place is full of history.

All the older Country clubs have a great history, like Indian Wells CC, La Quinta CC, Tamarisk CC, where Sinatra lived, (Used to do parties at Sinatra's house for him). Eldorado CC, where Eisenhower lived, Thunderbird, where President Ford Lived (I was his photographer here for 14 years until he passed away and then photographed his state funeral, which was tough on me. Some of that is on my Web site). President Obama, also loves Thunderbird, he stays with friends there when he is here. I don't have anything to do with him here, however, I covered him for 8 years for several, agencies, on many, many trips. Before that Bush 8 years, and Clinton 8 years.

My Mom used to call my cell phone, as I was shooting Clinton, in god knows where, to tell me that he looked drunk coming off Air Force One, and I would have to tell her we will talk later, I'm too busy now, the motorcade is going to leave without me.

Getting back to the PS area :
That was the era of this town which I refer to and, I call the old guard or the golf culture, the people who built the valley as we now know it. From 1950 - 2000. After 2000 it was not the same, golf took a nose dive, and then economic collapse.

Problem is all these wonderful people, they are all gone now, and I miss then a lot, it depresses me very, very much that they are gone as they gave me the opportunities of a lifetime. Their replacements in no way measure up. At all!

In in the old days, it was nothing for some man to come over and put a roll of hundreds in your hand at a gala, discreetly, of course. They were very generous people. The new people want everything for free.

Sorry if if this went OT.

 

[RedLED]

The LA GTG dark lit ranch is called 'Desert adventures metate ranch.' Now you can google earth it, and it does get pretty dark up there.

Sorry it took so long for me to get back to everyone, been all over the place recently, however, this would be a cool place. Anyone interested in finding out what it would cost?

We only need it one night at off season rates at this point,and we don't need any thing but the sight, really all they have to do is unlock the gate. April is really not that bad at all around here, and it gets dark later which helps the LA crowd not rush with traffic.

Also, where you get off the freeway, (I-10), is the beautiful Aqua Caliente Resort and Casino. They have beautiful meeting rooms. Maybe some flashlight companies and makers could do some lectures and such before we go to the sight that night? Would be good PR. Just a thought. I don't have the time to work on it alone, but I could assist a good amount if others came foreword.

It it could be great to have somewhat formal and professional flashlight discussions in the day, along with flashlight trade show with dinner at the dark site location, just a short drive away.

Again all just ideas I am putting out.

Think about it. Could be very nice.

Best,

RL

 

[Steve-at-Springboard]

Hi Guys! Just saw this thread. I am a CPF member from 2002 (#1044) and, would be very interested in a CPF get-together in the L.A. area. I am in the San Fernando Valley, (L.A. suburbs) but, travel to gun and knife shows in CA, NV and AZ (I sell flashlights, knives and other things). My knife club, the USN, has Meet and Greets every month or two in SoCal area and, we have a few regular places. If they can handle a couple hundred tactical folders being waved around, they could certainly handle some high-powered flashlights. Unfortunately, they are not particularly dark. Except for Topper's Pizza in Canyon Country! Used to be a bank or something and, they reserve the Vault for parties. They could lock us in with some pizzas and beer and we won't disturb anyone! Just an idea!
I'll check back periodically.

 

[RedLED]

Sorry, Canyon Country is a, well dump, I had a home in Saugus, never lived there for no real reason and it fell fast, and that was in the 80's. This is the dark of So. CA. It is the edge of LA until Blythe, CA.

Plus, Plam Springs is where the rich and famous as well as the bad tipping retires live. However, it's is much better than Canyon Country. No offense intended. I just know the area. As it is sinking fast thanks to Newhall Land and Farming Co.

 

[RedLED]

I left a message for this ranch to see how much they want for a few hours for flashlight testing, I told them, all we needed was the site for testing, no frills. Will report back, if it is reasonable enough, I'm prepared to just pay for it myself, and you can alll come down for the night. Let's see what they come back with.

The name is Desert Adventures Metate Ranch on Dillion Rd.

I will advise.

Best,

RL

 

[Steve-at-Springboard]

Sorry, Canyon Country is a, well dump,

No problem! I don't live there either! It was just a possibility. A lot of people are in both the knife and flashlight communities but, our get-togethers have different requirements. Our knife club (USN) has an event on Saturday for 150 folks in Rancho Palos Verdes. With that many people waving knives around, we have to be out of the public eye. Don't want to frighten the horses!