A California Meet and Greet...

[Yvonne G]

Yeah, Cameron's right. We usually get a bunch of people that are just whole hog interested in participating, but little by little they drop out and the event fizzles. I really wish we could have an annual regional event. It's so nice to meet members face-to-face that you've gotten to know only through the written word.

Steven is talking about going to Texas to Kelly's place. I think he mentioned maybe going in the Fall. Wouldn't it be fun if the Texas members living in that area would all go too?

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

Steven is talking about going to Texas to Kelly's place. I think he mentioned maybe going in the Fall. Wouldn't it be fun if the Texas members living in that area would all go too?

The southwestern regional meet up. Perfect.

 

[dmmj]

I do not know if I wamt a.bunch of tortoide people congegrating. Scary

 

[bouaboua]

I'm so Grateful and Thankful that Bob Thomas and Tom can accept our visit over the weekend. It is a eye opening experience for my wife and I that to see how other Torts loving people devoting their time and effort to this fun and loving creature.

I took lots pictures during my visit, I will try to somewhat, some how organize a little bid and then share with you. But before that. Let me share some mouthwatering photo of our lunch................................

Sorry for who even cannot, could not, may not come. This is a good part that you missed also! ! ! ! ! !

 

[bouaboua]

And THANK YOU @Will for the T-shirt! ! ! !



We are appreciating the knowledge and the know how all about tortoise that you shared with us during the tour. You are a great guy! ! !

Thanks again.

 

[kathyth]

My husband and I also had so much fun meeting Steven, Irene, Yvonne and Will! What a fantastic bunch of people. Spending time with all of you at lunch may have been my favorite part. Now I know you; maybe just a little but I know you!!!
I will post a variety of pictures from Bobs house. He's a very kind man!

His two dogs both rescued.


Bob


Adopted Amazon


I will post more. I'm having an issue . Technology

 

[kathyth]

The gang!
Will and my husband up front. Yvonne and Bob, behind them and Steven and Irene in the back.


The gang at lunch. Thank you for the wonderful lunch, Steven and Irene!, it was so nice!


My dogs and husband on the pier at Pismo.

 

[kathyth]

Yeah, Cameron's right. We usually get a bunch of people that are just whole hog interested in participating, but little by little they drop out and the event fizzles. I really wish we could have an annual regional event. It's so nice to meet members face-to-face that you've gotten to know only through the written word.

Steven is talking about going to Texas to Kelly's place. I think he mentioned maybe going in the Fall. Wouldn't it be fun if the Texas members living in that area would all go too?

That would be a darn blast. I would definitely be interested!

Yvonne.... Did you get to Jeffs ?

 

[Momof4]

Wow!! I really missed out!!
And you visited Tom's place!?!?
Seriously! Where are those pics?

 

[kathyth]

My husband and I camped in Pismo, so we were not able to go to To,s. Would have loved it!
Yvonne and Steven will have pictures. Come on you two!

 

[Yvonne G]

That would be a darn blast. I would definitely be interested!

Yvonne.... Did you get to Jeffs ?

No. I think he was feeling poorly because of his elbow injury. He texted Steven and cancelled.

 

[bouaboua]

Wow!! I really missed out!!
And you visited Tom's place!?!?
Seriously! Where are those pics?

Here are the one tortoise I hear about it but never see a real one before. It was fortunate to see this one.

I'm so impressed with this one.


The heated shed.......we walk by.........but s/he is not there.

This is his entire enclosure..............We walked to the left far corner.....under the tree.....

Did you see the "lonesome Gorge"?????

This is what he procedure


WOW! ! ! ! Is what I said! ! ! ! ! !

 

[bouaboua]

And...........This is the rare one also, at least to me..............How many of you seeing a live one before?

 

[Blakem]

Keep the pictures coming! Some good stuff!

 

[bouaboua]

And some beautiful Leopard tortoise, one with history~~




This large ( I can't remember is a She or he??) leopard come to US on 1935 with the ambassador of Kenya as a gift to US. He was in Browns Zoo?? Or some Zoo of some where, but with some exchange breeding program.......This over 100 years old leopard landed in Triple T ranch.

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

It's a somewhat difficult thing to explain, Bob has what I think of as Deep Knowledge. He knows more than he is aware of, and it comes out in conversation. All the questions asked and answered in a live exchange has a unique value. By having such a wonderful collection, which produces many offspring, he has had many chelonian glitterati come by and has gleaned much information from them over the years.

The leopard tortoise images that BouaBoua took show a very unique individual. Bob has a solid narration about it's history. It's from Kenya, about 100 years ago. Those grapes and the grapestake fence (each board a nominal 2 x 2 ) might be some reference for it's size, it's a biggy, female, and still has quite a bit of pattern in the carapace.

Meeting everyone and getting over to Tom's place made the mad 14 hours of driving worth it. Tom and his wife were great hosts. Tom is also a rare person in how he thinks, he mentally takes things apart in thought experiments and challenges conventional thinking (dogma) and all his animals know they are dealing with an honest person (not just the torts), but the dogs, the cats, the birds etc.

I'll tell you, even with all the amply illustrated narrations of builds, seeing the night houses directly helped fill in much needed information of how to build them.

I guess the costs of doing these kinds of meet and greets is great, many hours dedicated to a day of driving, some bit of gas money, time away from other things/family etc. It's my POV the cost of not doing it is greater.

Here is a view out the front window of my car after Bob's, before Tom's, those are the Channel islands over there.

 

[bouaboua]

Some random pics of the ranch.


This fly cage under the deck is a ingenious idea! ! ! !

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

Some Herman's these are eastern including that one that is so much bigger than the others.





Another image of that historical Leo from Kenya.




I didn't take pictures at Tom's house. His is a private residence, yeah, not an open to the public (with appointment) collection like Bob's. I have many images in my mind's eye though.

 

[bouaboua]

Bob also have a herd beautiful Egyptian tortoise. I was drooling all over it...



Bob's ranch use 6 foot chain link fence with high voltage hot wire on top to keep all the predatory animal out.

 

[dmmj]

That is the most Egyptians I have ever seen in one place.