Vote: Southeast Octoberfest in Charleston or Wilmington?

[GoneFission]

Just added a poll to make it look more o-ficial (thanks Rick!) - so mind your vote and vote your mind!  

Some of us have been discussing the 2nd annual southeast Aquasport Octoberfest - and several folks have suggested moving it to the Charleston area this year.  It would be a longer tow for some, but much shorter for others.  We're probably looking at October 15 or 22, and the schedule is somewhat tied to location.  

So what do y'all think?  Charleston, SC area or back to the Wilmington, NC area?    Let's hear from you!  

[SC170nFL]

Charleston so Maybe can attend this and Boca Grande in Nov.

[gran398]

I'm cool either way...Charleston is a beautiful town. And Jessie knows the place like the back of his hand.

We might want to make it a long weekend. The restaurants there are famous.

Or, we can eat what we catch....

 

[MarshMarlowe196]

Let me think... Charleston  

It's always nice to have a different venue, and I'd be happy to be a sherpa.   8)

[Rhojo]

My first choice would be Oct. 22 in Wilmington. The Admiral and I have a wedding to attend on the 15th.

I'd love to see Charleston, it has been years since I was there, but that may be too far away. We'll see what developes. We are planning to attend if it works out.  :sunny:

[Mcdiver]

Personally I prefer Wilmington.  Charleston is pretty expensive for both lodging and food.  I love the city, don't get me wrong, but 5+ hours pulling a boat down I95 doesn't sound fun.  Last year was a blast in southport!  For a throw together, I thought it was great.  Would have liked more time with y'all, but crap happens.  I'm thinking a 4 bedroom house with 4 couples splitting the cost, and make a week of it.  Been a while since I got drunk and didn't have to drive.  I'll save charleston for when I'm on a business trip and my company is footing the bill.

Just my thoughts......

Mike

[MarshMarlowe196]

Personally I prefer Wilmington. Charleston is pretty expensive for both lodging and food. I love the city, don't get me wrong, but 5+ hours pulling a boat down I95 doesn't sound fun. Last year was a blast in southport! For a throw together, I thought it was great. Would have liked more time with y'all, but crap happens. I'm thinking a 4 bedroom house with 4 couples splitting the cost, and make a week of it. Been a while since I got drunk and didn't have to drive. I'll save charleston for when I'm on a business trip and my company is footing the bill.

Just my thoughts......

Mike

I95 is easy towing. Try pulling it for 5 hours through the stop and go putt-putt golf course that is highway 17 through Myrtle Beach.  
Some of us came all the way from Atlanta ...

If you look for a hotel 15 minutes north of Charleston, the prices drop significantly.  I like the idea of splitting a beach house.

[Mcdiver]

Well my opinion.  But charleston is a great idea.  Enjoy!  I'll be in southport with JD and Scott.

[Mcdiver]

No offense to anyone here, im just not going to do it.  Jesse, your boat weighs half of mine or JD's.  Put that behind either my hot rod or my suburban, and the truck won't know it's there.  Maybe there should be a meet at both places and then folks have a choice.

Seriously though, we towed the 222ccp 12+ hours from Pensacola to Raleigh behind my burban, it did well at 8mpg, but I wouldn't do it again.  Again, this is my opinion and input, I'm not here to fight about it.

[MarshMarlowe196]

Whoa.. I didn't intend to "fight" or be offensive.  If towing on 95 was what was holding you back from coming to Charleston, if that's what's decided, I was only trying to talk you into it.     We went through worse to get to the reunion in NC, and it was worth it.  We enjoyed your company last time and I'd like to see you again at the next one


But, if you're not up to it then you're not up to it, and that's ok too  

[slvrlng]

If you look at a map of the southeast as a whole, having the Octoberfest in Charleston would put in in reach of some of our northern Florida brothers. It looks to be about the same distance from Jacksonville area as Raleigh. Of course you can add 1 1/2 hours to that for me to get there. I did a search on VRBO.com and found this place on Folly Island.Looks pretty interesting. Split this up between us and it becomes reasonable. Marina next door with a bar and restaurant, its own dock, elevator,pool and parking at the marina or in the yard. 5 minutes to the inlet and you have all of the marshes right out in front.

http://www.vrbo.com/133262

[Mcdiver]

This is not a fight guys, this is my opnion.  That is what was asked for, I don't want my mind changed, I know what charleston is all about and I love it down there.  What I don't want is to spend $500 to put gas in my truck to tow a boat down the highway, especially I-95.  Then spend another 200-300 on gas for the boat, 500 or so for lodging, and 500 or so on food.  Not to mention alcohol and everything else I will spend because I like to.  Further, this becomes an additional vacation for me and takes me away from my business for another week.  I enjoyed the heck out of meeting everyone last year at the nc get together, it would be awesome to meet y'all again, but my business cannot do without me for that long.  And yes, it is that long being as I have other plans for going away all ready scheduled.

The moral here?  I will not be able to attend a get together in charleston.  I will be able to, and have made plans to meet others in Wilmington.  Gone fission asked for our opinions and that is mine.

My recommendation?  Schedule a meet in charleston, we can schedule one in Wilmington, and anyone can go to either.  Just dont try to tell me i need to go to charleston.  I will be there soon to meet customers, and eat some fine food.  They don't call me big mike for nothing.

[fitz73222]

Our choice would be Charleston for obvious reasons coming from NE Florida. October is a long way away so we have a little time to ponder. My short list of things to do between now and then are get a new trailer for the 22-2, remodel the kitchen, and go work in China for a week or two. As my old man would say " the rest is a chip shot".

[jdupree]

Here is my opinion for what it is worth.  I think every state should set up a "get together" if they so choose.  If some of you in NC would like to go to Charleston by all means you should go and call it whatever you want.  That should not replace a get together in NC.  I think that we all know by now that all members on this board are invited to any "get togethers" any other states have.  That being said, I would think most members would attend the "get togethers"  that are closer and financially beneficial to them.

A "long weekend" trip to Charleston towing my 222 CCP, will end up costing me much more than my week at the beach next month.  Boat or not, I think a 10 hour drive just to meet and talk Aquasports is not in the schedule for me when I can do that here.

I plan to have my "get together" here in NC this year.  I already have 2 confirmed.  Big Mike and myself

[MarshMarlowe196]

Well guys, if the "reunion" ends up here in Charleston this year and you can't make it, my feelings won't be hurt     You will be missed, but I don't think anyone will be mad at ya

Seems that the idea behind switching venues wasn't meant to cancel any kind of NC get-together,  it was more in an effort to get a better turnout of attendance than last year by planning it closer to more members.  

But anyway- a meeting spot on Folly Island is not a bad idea.  The nearby landing puts us close to the Stono River if anyone wanted to try some inshore fishing, and its also very close to some nearby artificial reefs if the weather permitted heading out (this is mostly a concern for me and my 12 degree hull  :tongue: ).  Or we could troll for Kings like last year..

Alternatively, the Jettie's at the mouth of Charleston Harbor are always good for bottom fishing, and when it comes to Red Fishing, the Wando River seems to always have the best reports and it flows out into the harbor.

Like Fitz said, we got some time to decide     :)