Anyone headed to San Marcos for the 2023 Nats?

Just too far 

Sadly no.  I would have liked to get some real Texas BBQ.

I may.  My daughter lives in San Marcos and I'll have my second grand daughter by then.

Yes I'm going.  My first Nats.

I can't make Texas this year ($ and too hot) but I'm definitely going to the Nationals in 2024 when they're in Madison.

 Wpwar you will be overwhelmed by what you see, both on the tables and in the vendors area remember to breathe, be fruggle....oh heck GO NUTS!!

    I'm up in the air...may take a road trip, definitly want to plan for Madison in '24 however.

As Soon:

      When I get more info, I probably will. Only as an observer and maybe a vendor customer. I only live 37 miles away. Believe it or not, I have NEVER been to a NATS!

armornut

 Wpwar you will be overwhelmed by what you see, both on the tables and in the vendors area remember to breathe, be fruggle....oh heck GO NUTS!!

    I'm up in the air...may take a road trip, definitly want to plan for Madison in '24 however.

 

Since this will be my first national convention, I'm going to follow Armornut's advice and go nuts. Told my wife I was going to pack my bag inside another bag so I had room to bring stuff back. :) I'm definitely renting a vehicle while there because my folks are still in S.A., plus I need to go shopping for another pair of boots, mine are quite worn! (You can take the boy out of TX, but....) So, if we can get a crew together from here, I'm happy to drive for BBQ, either to take folks or to bring back.

I'm looking forward to the trip, since I haven't had a chance to get home to see my folks for years and I'm especially excited to get to the CAF museum. As a kid, one of my neighbors was with on the crew of the Yellow Rose back when she was in Hondo, so I got to go to visit it on the weekends and hand-crank oil into the engines while the old guys stood around and did some 'hangar flying'. You can imagine what it was like for a 13-yo to get to crawl all over a B-25J unsupervised! My hope is to connect with the CenTex wing ahead of time and make arrangements to visit her again and take a lot of photos to document her markings so I can make up some decals. That's been high on my list of model to-dos and is starting to look like a possibility!

@Wpwar11, looking forward to meeting you there, and TB, I hope I get to meet you, too! @RealG, I'll have to look at shipping some BBQ so you can be there in spirit. :)

d

  I'm strongly considering driving down myself, great fun in meeting folks plus a good excuse to buy models....just can't leave without a few momentos LOL. Will keep y'all posted as to my final disposition, gotta convince wife it is in my best interest and health to attend.

I have to.   I'm the Head Ship Judge.  My job is mostly herding cats and if I don't make it there will be a bunch of cats left un-herded

Besides it is only 3 to 4 hours away.

I'll be there. Like Ed, I'm only a few hours away, and I haven't been to one in years.

 Flight, car, and room booked. See y'all there.

Woohoo!

  The more I think about it the more excited I get. Vegas was so cool, meeting people from here, yea it was hot, COVID, and I was early in my recovery...bit of a vodkaholic...so my body wasn't up to the task. This time my body is still broke but better so strolling around should be easier.

   I would love to put a face to the names I have met here, met GREAT folks in Vegas and would truly enjoy growing my list of " friends".

Armornut,

Looks like you are the "Mob" veteran, so please continue to get the FSM guys together for a meet-n-greet.  I had an awesome time getting to hang out with the other forum members in Vegas.  Make sure that what happened in Vegas gets EVERYWHERE.  

I'll do my best to make them offers they can't refuse.

armornut

I'll do my best to make them offers they can't refuse.

Sold!

Glad to see others looking to do the same; I'm the newbie here but would love to meet folks and put faces to names, etc. 

I also hinted at a visit to the CAF museum in San Marcos, that's now definite, as I've received approval for a climb-all-over-and-document visit for the Yellow Rose.  I haven't quite determined my travel dates, but once those are set, I'll pick a date and let folks know, if anyone is interested in joining me.

Side note: As a kid growing up in San Antonio, I had a neighbor that was with the CAF who used to take me down to Hondo to visit the Rose when they were doing maintenance work on her.  As payment for getting to crawl all over her, I got to hand-crank oil into the engines while the gentlemen smoked outside...  Anyway, I'm hoping to get enough detail/photos to create and print custom decals and make my own miniature version of her, so this is turning into a heck of a week for me!

Made room reservations a couple months ago.  Just booked flight.  

I have my car and room booked.  Just need to get my plane ticket.  And make sure I don't have to work that week 

  Bigb, this is your perdonal physician, you have a terminal case of " GottagettotheNatsitus" very severe...only treatment is to be in the middle of Texas from August 2nd to August 5th 2023. As your prescribing doctor my recomendation is to leave a few days before and return a few days after.

    Side effects of NOT receiving treatment will be, depression, self pity, lowered production at work, poor communication, more self pity.

     Other side effects if treatment is received, joy, permagrin, overwelming satisfaction, lowered production at work, and a sense of personal achievement.

    Pass this on to your superior and let him know the FSM Mob now has his number LOL. We will be expecting you.

Warning:  Attending the Nats for the first time may cause low wallet pressure.  Be sure your wallet is healthy enough to for the vendor's room before going.  

  I must second what RealG stated...I know from experience and will be well prepared for this temptation.

    I might also suggest a list of things you want to find...this will insure complete examination of all available items and provide many many opportunities for " MAD SPENDING."

    Side bar for first timers, while I had no problem using debit/ credit card in Vegas, access to cash or ATM is advised. Also if you bank as I do LET YOUR FINANCIAL INSTITUTE know you are out of your normal spending areas....my card was blocked and I spent an hour proving I was infact in Vegas using my card.

armornut

  Bigb, this is your perdonal physician, you have a terminal case of " GottagettotheNatsitus" very severe...only treatment is to be in the middle of Texas from August 2nd to August 5th 2023. As your prescribing doctor my recomendation is to leave a few days before and return a few days after.

    Side effects of NOT receiving treatment will be, depression, self pity, lowered production at work, poor communication, more self pity.

     Other side effects if treatment is received, joy, permagrin, overwelming satisfaction, lowered production at work, and a sense of personal achievement.

    Pass this on to your superior and let him know the FSM Mob now has his number LOL. We will be expecting you.

 

I do need treatment. And, you bet I am passing this on to my boss!  Thanks you all!

  RIGHT ON BIGB, while the event is a few months away it might be prudent to start figuring out a face to face meeting for those interested. On site? Off site, lunch, dinner? 

    Be advised that there is no obligation to meet however at the same time don't be shy. I met some of the coolest people that I still talk to today...and look forward to spending time with again....Real G...ya gonna make Madison in 24?

    I think the PM function works here again or we can create a thread purly to inform the herd of cats err I mean new mob members where to link up.

Well, I haven't been back home in years, but as I understand it, both San Marcos BBQ and Hays County BBQ are very good and both are about a mile north of the convention.  Also, there's usually a free "evening reception" at the Embassy that we could use for meet-up and then head from there to wherever we decide.  And as excited as I am, we clearly don't need to decide that today. 

As mentioned earlier, I'll have a vehicle, so I can either drive some folks that need it or volunteer to bring back stuff if that's the preferred option.  It's an Embassy Suites, so they'll have a breakfast area that we can probably sit in to eat takeaway.

As an aside, anyone else signing up for the Lewis tour on Friday morning?  I'm going, so I'll be out until after lunch on Friday.

Armornut,

I'll be out of the Nats circuit for a little bit.  But as the Terminator said "I'll be back." 

You guys get together and have a great time!  

   You will be missed Neal, not sure I'm gonna pull off a last minute paint job in the parking garage...but we can hope

   Gomarel, you are correct today is way to early. I just wanted to put it out there as much as  a PSA as a memory jogger....the only thing I jog anymore...and rarely LOL

gomeral

Well, I haven't been back home in years, but as I understand it, both San Marcos BBQ and Hays County BBQ are very good and both are about a mile north of the convention.  

There's also a Black's BBQ in downtown San Marcos.   Blacks is one of the three long standing families of Lockhart BBQ (Black's, Smitty's, and Kreuz).  Lockhart itself isn't too far away for a great introduction to Texas BBQ.   No trip to the area is complete without some smoked meat.