9th Surf N Turf - November 2010.
By: Roberto L. Miranda
We left OC on Thursday 4th, early morning. Having as a goal the V Sand Chef competition, we knew from previous year’s experiences that a parking space close to main campground is less stressful than arriving at last minute, so we planned accordingly this year.
As usual, I left some items at home, but this time, it was my stove… what ironic life could be…wherever, we didn’t stop or returned back. We arrived at Pismo Beach at noon and had lunch; we got our flags ($7 each) at the stores close to park entrance and then, our park permits ($10/night).
When we arrived to main campground, looks like almost everyone was there, few spots were available, so we got ours in no time. Then, we say hello to everyone and help with regular activities, like unload the wood from pick-up truck, or setting up the sign tree, getting ready the caja china for dinner, there is always plenty of stuff to do and help. We signed up for the caja china and beer expenses, the most important items. We shared wherever the cost and we were worry free on that aspect. I’ll do it again next year, no doubt about it.
The secret ingredient was released, it was corn. So we had a little meeting to discuss our menu, we had orange rum shots and talked about it until we when to bed. The next day, after we had breakfast, we went to town to the grocery store, had lunch and back to camp. We went to play at the dunes, Rick and combo installed a zip-line using the winch line, bumper to bumper at the dunes and it was a blast. We did few test run with adults before let the kids play. We expend few hours doing that, kids get off their quads to make line and jump into the zip-line, with helmet and all the bikers attire. We had fun, but the Sand Chef was waiting for us, so we returned to camp.
Our plan was easy; we score points for taste, presentation and originality. Bringing unusual dishes from Venezuela give us point for originality and taste, and we don’t care much about presentation at all, to be honest.
We served the arepitas (appetizers size) with mashed avocado and crema mexicana, baby corn as ornament. The arepas, arepitas and arepita dulce are like biscuits, but made of corn flour and water. The arepita dulce included also Anis and sugar, so that was our dessert. We used Nutella as ornament. You can’t loose using Nutella on a dish, or we though that.
Our main course was “Cachapas con Queso” that are like corn pancakes. A winner dish!!! Well, we screwed up here. The dough consistency was not right and the flat grill was sticking our cachapas, so we run out of time trying to solve those details. The flavor was good, per our quality control department, but we were unable to deliver it to the judges. We got third place between four teams, but it was a tie on the second place, so it is actually last place. Thanks to Rohitash, Paul, Rick, Joe, Cathead, Jim and Catherine and everyone else that help us somehow with our technical problems. We had regular rum shots and beer during a very instructive conversation that night.
The next morning, we cleaned all the mess. Then, we aligned for the poker run and we drove slowly for few minutes. I helped a Baja bug to start the engine, while towing it to a safer place.
People that wheels with me knows that are two Robertos, and I’m not taking about R1 and R2. I’m talking about myself. Well the second one takes control and we flew over the dunes; the guy was driving before and is not longer behind the wheel, we had a blast. Different people describe my face, and all of them illustrate more or less the same, so must be true wherever they say about me. I have a personality disorder and I’m aware of it; that is a bummer!!!
Nevertheless, we finished the poker run, helping stuck people at the dunes while doing that. Our best hand was a pair of ten, so we didn’t’ win anything for that and we went straight to the jumping area. Joe told me to jump, that he helps me like always with any breaking problems, so I jumped one time only for the pictures and video. The normal Roberto was back after the jump. Cathead wills publish/up-load the video, or I hope so. The photographer mode takes place and I was stuck at the dunes, even with few drops of rain until people leave, what is going on with you guys…
Anyhow, we went to town and had lunch and return back. We had a nice conversation with the SoCal group and then we had dinner (pork and lamb) at the NorCal group. We had few drinks and went to bed early. The next day, after having coffee and saying adios to all our friends, we leave and got home without any issues at noon. Buttercup was unpacked, cleaned the mess and worked on my pictures as usual.
As a sad note, the Class 11 that I was working on was ready for test on Sunday as planned, but during the night test, it was flipped and destroyed, at least the shell, so I don’t know at this point what could happen in two weeks with our Baja 1000 race plans. It looks like we will submit the registration form anyways and we are planning to replace the roof and any other damage during the following days and nights.
That’s all folks,
Roberto L. Miranda
One pretty Cruiser 
and My wife wendy before we launched the LVertiable 
Funny as hard as it hit I thought we were 6 feet off the ground LOL
I was one of the ones who left when it started raining.
. If anyone had an image of the Old Land rover shooting roosts I would love to see it. Thanks in advance. The rain drove our little group home , only a fourty minute drive. Thanks to all for not giving me too much sh*t for driving the old rover.
Let's get the families together soon! kids and 
