Garden Railway Convention

[gallopinggoose]

Is it too soon to talk about this up coming convention? We have been booked to go to Santa Clara since last October and are getting quite excited about our visit. As we are travelling quite a distance (from the UK), we are taking in a few other places too, Fort Bragg, Redding, Sacremento to name three (I can't remember the rest) Oh yes Napa cos we have a Balloon ride booked [8D]

What I would like to ask, as I have never been to one of these conventions before, is what to expect. We are going to drive around the garden railways on the route as instructed, but what else will be happening, especially on 4th July, they haven't published anything for that yet, so not sure what to expect.

[Rene Schweitzer]

Hi Goose,

You're going to have a great time! There's a lot to do (convention wise, not even including the surrounding community). Usually the schedule is:
morning: tours of garden railways
afternoon and/or evening: clinics
afternoon and/or evening: vendor hall open
evenings: other activities, such as a BBQ, social, banquet

I checked the online schedule for July 4 and it appears there are clinics for that evening. See the schedule here: http://www.bagrs.org/convention/pages/schedule.html

The club has done a great job of providing items of interest, both railroading and otherwise. Check it out here: http://www.bagrs.org/convention/pages/local%20activities.html

[Tom The Brat]

I went last year. It was quite a time. Met Rene. Probably won't make it this year.

[gallopinggoose]

Sounds great, have been checking the http://www.bagrs.org/convention/pages/schedule.html since we joined for what is going to happen. I am worried now since seeing a photo of Rene though, my husband may not be going back to the UK if he meets you!!!

I was in contact with Marc a few years ago and we were to have met up in Denver, but he was in the UK at the time we visited CO [:(] also we should have paid a visit to meet Pathways experts, but our schedule overran and my daughter was about to give birth so we had to cut our time short there. Hoping to meet someone this time around though [:)]

Still wondering about that 4th July extravaganza though [:-^]

[Train 284]

I want to try and be there! It sounds like a load of fun!

[gallopinggoose]

Just to say we are leaving the UK tomorrow for our trip to CA and to spend the week at the Garden Railway Convention so hope to see you there Rene. I am hoping to catch up with Pat Hayward too as I should have met her 6 years ago and time ran out so need to apologise and to say hello[;)]

Hope you all have a great time on 4th July, we are looking forward to seeing the fireworks from our hotel window as we are staying at the Hyatt and should be able to see stuff from there (hope so anyway) [:D] If anyone has any better ideas please let me know before tomorrow [:)]

Bye for now