Hi-ask the web site admin, Big Blue, to add a link for this group on the home page.

It's on there.

Good to see some Michigan participation.

Todd - Should we call this group "Buses by the Beach - Michigan Camping" to catch all Michigan VW events?

Some are from Northern Indiana - like me!

Pete O

Jenn and I got on the BBB mailing list about 6 months before we moved out of the Chicago area. I always wanted to go to the Bus Brrr in February...maybe one year we'll be visiting around that time and will head on over!

Big Blue's Driver, I guess I don't mind if you want to use Buses By the Beach as the group to place Michigan VW events under.

Naw - it's fine. I just wanted people to know that you were in Michigan. But I guess they'll figure it out.

Do you guys put on the Bus Brrrr as well?

Pete O - I have a Northern Indiana joke but that would violate the "Be Nice" rule.

Keep posting your events in the event section. I go back about twice a year and would love to catch an event with you guys!

Big Blue's Driver,
Yes, Bus BRRR is one of our events. We put on three main events and several smaller get togethers a year. The three main fund raising events are Bus BRRR (February), Bus Benefit (May) and Bus BOO (September). We would love to have you join us sometime. If you come back to Michigan give me a heads up and I can let you know if there is something going on. We go to several music festivals in Michigan and we usually arrange an area just for the buses to camp together for the weekend. It is a great time!
Wishing you miles of smiles in Big Blue!
Todd Olson

Hey, Big Blue - some would say N. Indiana IS a joke! ;-)

Todd is right, there is much to do in the Spring, Summer and Fall around here. Around the end of February, we are so desparate to get out that we just hit the road and camp out at Pokagon no matter what. Have been there a few years with the weather at -5 and the next year at 2 above. Scotch whiskey helps.

You know that I am kidding. I love Indiana. It is great state filled with really cool people. Pete on the other hand might be questionable. :-)

Hey, Todd - don't be uncomfortable dressing up farm animals in women's clothing!

Alright - next time I head that way to visit my parents I'll see if I can just happen upon your event. Perhaps Bus Boo. We saw pics from that this year and they looked awesome. We in Cali were very jealous...

Buses by the Beach events are always such a great time - I highly recommend them to anyone who is considering attending!

Good times for sure!

Big Blue - Bus Boo is a great event. That was our first ever VW campout event back in '06 and is still our favorite. It's a lot of fun for kids, adults - and adult kids too :)

Alright - we want to see pics from Bus BRR...

Loading them up now. Will post shortly. It was a blast! Perfect weather!

Jeff says Bus Boo is "our" favorite event. However, my favorite is Bus Benefit. Warm, sunny, and once I got to drive a golf cart.

Check out the pics here: http://picasaweb.google.com/pnoceanwesty/BusBRR2010#

Write up to follow.

More Bus BRRR Pics:
http://picasaweb.google.com/happyvanman2/BusBRRR2010#

Pete and Todd et al: I am both humbled and energized by your photos of Bus BRRR! Looks like an amazing weekend. I am so glad you were able to get out and have some fun in your busses.

Seriously - you guys look like you're having a blast. I dig the bus with the fireplace in it. Good times! You are certainly upping the game for us out here in California. Thanks for sharing!

It is amazing what you can do when desperate for camping!

Here is the trip report posted on Vanagon and Type2 lists:

Wow! Back home in South Bend from Angola. Since both my buses are in various pieces and not ready until April, my brother let me borrow his ’87 Wolfsburg (The LandShark) and tool on up to Pokagon State Park. My dog Isabella and I got there around 12:45 on Saturday and my brother Chris was already there in his ’85 Westfalia with his two boys, Cody and T.J. Keith and Kara were there with their two buses, a Syncro and a Vanagon GL – having arrived with their daughters Friday night. My wife, Nancy, had some meetings in the morning and headed up later in the day.

After Asst. Park Manager Sam Boggs got the wood delivered, we both directed a guy in a New Holland front end loader to start digging out sites at campground #3. We had to work around a surprising number of Boy Scouts already there and setting up tents, but got enough sites for the buses plowed out. Temps were about 33F and not bad at all. Buses really started rolling in after that and we ended up with 17 buses – Sherrie’s 74 Bay, Dave and Larissa’s Eurovan and the rest Vanagons of all stripes.

Everyone gathered around the bonfire making new friends and greeting old friends. Todd Olson and some Buses by the Beach Volk rolled in sans shirts, prepping for the upcoming “Men of BBTB” calendar. ;-)

Talk around fire ranged from bus tech talk to the Spring Bus Benefit event. All our efforts and any money we raise is donated to support the wonderful work of The Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors and they in turn donated a very nice stadium blanket and Phoenix Society hat for our Kozy as a Baked Potato bus award, won by Dave and Larissa from Ann Arbor. Check out the Phoenix Society and the work they do here: http://www.phoenix-society.org/

Sunday morning, some headed off with kids in tow to the toboggan run and some hung around the rekindled fire sipping coffee talking and packing up. We left the campsite 100% clean as we always do. Seems like bus volk are not the kind to leave junk or trash lying around and our group is no exception. Some had to hit the road early and a good size group headed to the inn for the fantastic brunch they serve. The whole park is run by some very nice, friendly people. They go out of their way to make us welcome and the service at the brunch is great.

So, everyone fired up the boxers and hit the road with promises of gathering May 27th – 30th at Grand Rouge campground in Belmont, Michigan on the banks of the Rogue River.

Thje Spring dates are May 20 - 23rd 2010!

17 buses! Awesome!

You guys will be having your spring campout the same weekend as us NorCal folks will be having Bus City. Cool stuff!

The West Michigan Car show site says the car show is on May 15. The Phoenix Society says our event is May 14 -16 in the Burn Support News which I just received. I think we need to verifiy our dates since the car show is a main feature of our campout.

The Spring dates for Buses by the Beach Bus Benefit are May 20 - 23rd 2010! Thje car show changed their date this year due to a scheduling conflict with their location. We did not. We are always the weekend before Memorial Day weekend.

So we don't have to get up early on Saturday :) Actually, that's too bad for those who liked going to the car show - personally I'll miss the carabus more than the actual show. Don't get me wrong the show is great - but we just sleep through it :) I can only assume the planif for the events to be the same weekend in future years?

We are still planning a cara bus on Sunday Jeff. No Worries! We will take good care of everyone:)

Sweet!!!! I know everyone will be taken care of - it will be a great event regardless of the car show. Actually we are sort of looking forward to a bit more realxed day on Saturday.

And not having to pack all of our gear in the middle of the weekend.

Absolutely

I agree that the carabus is a big part of the event. I enjoyed the car show also.

I enjoyed the car show as well - what I found was that we were spending less and less time actually looking at the cars. The first year we attended we walked all the way around, the second year we walked part way (I think) and then helped with parking, then last year - I think we registered - ate - then went right to the nap :) The Hopcat brewery guys from Friday didn't help the fact :)

Hopcat rules

Nothing like a Sage Beer in the morning...

Still have the Hopcat tap handle - transfered it to Gertie from Grover.

Jeff et al: We made the decision several years ago not to change our dates from year to year. Bus Benefit will always be the weekend befor Memorial Day weekend and Bus Boo will always be two weekens after Labor day Weekend.
This year, due to a scheduling conflict with the car show venue, the car show organizers were force to move their date. While attending the car show has been a great tradition for Bus Benefit last years survey results told us many of our attendees were ok with changing how we participated with the car show. Fortuneately, or not, the decision was made for us this year.

I will miss the car show but last year was our first year. It is the carabus that got me to drive 6 hours to come. Where will we carabus on Sunday? I am sure that we will still have a great time with all of the great people that we met last year.

Understood Brien - I don't really see it have any negative effect on the event - we are all sure to have a great time either way. I for one can't wait!!!!

Hey, Volks!

(I'm smiling as I type this...)

Getting close to hittin' the road, and having thoughts of combining our favorite event - Bus Benefit with our favorite charity -The Phoenix Society (http://www.phoenix-society.org/). Hard to believe this is our 8th year of doing good for burn survivors and having so much fun in the process.

So, put your VeeDub hats on, dig deep and let's see what we can come up with for the Raffle & Silent Auction. Jeff Lincoln and I are contacting the VW vendors and our major sponsors. GoWesty is once again on board and will be sending a very cool goodie box! They are joined by River Vally Auto as a major sponsor!

Remember all proceeds go directly to the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. Just think of all the good things we have accomplished on their behalf in 7 years. This small bunch of VW lovers has put close to $100,000 in their account. This does a lot good work for the people they serve.

The call is going out for all and any items you can donate to our silent auction and raffle. We are starting out with a few items on hand, with more sure to come!

8 Parking Levelers with VW Logo - Stained and Varnished. Donated by Chris Owsianowski

2 Matchbox VW buses - Donated by Lynn Owsianowski

1 Car Washing Kit - Donated by Lynn Owsianowski

The Famous, Much Talked About, Gotta Have -Buses by the Beach Community Quilt (Silent Auction)

1 - Handmade Goods Basket - Jeff and Patty (See explanation below )
1 - Hometown Goods Basket - Jeff and Patty

(Jeff sez: "Hello Gang,
Patty came up with an idea for the Auction at Benefit that I thought was great:

The idea is a couple of gift "baskets" for the silent auction. Each made up of small items that are brought to the event by campers.

Basket one would be items from your home town. So, bumper stickers, t-shirts, coffee mugs, magnets, basic touristy stuff. But also could be other things maybe a bag of coffee from a great local coffee house or a couple bottles of micro brew from a local brewery. Basically leave it up to the contributors to be creative in their thinking. The only criteria again is something from your home town.

Basket number two would be made up of items that are home made. This could again be left up to the contributors creativity but it must be something that is home made. Nancy's granola, pottery, crochet beanie...home brew.
We thought that this could turn out to be pretty fun based on how creative people can get with it.
Again, we would greatly appreciate your thoughts and feedback on this. Specifically how we could easily get the word out to enough people who might like to contribute to this.
Patty and I would provide the baskets and take responsibility for assembling them once at the event.)

Where else can you have so much fun and know you are helping a great cause? So, let 'ol Pedro know what item you would like to donate to the raffle and don't forget to bring some small hometown or homemade item for the basket!

Can't wait to see all our friends and buses gathered 'round once again at Grand Rogue!

My cell is: (574) 286-0848 if anyone has any questions and need to talk vs. email