Post #678684 by danlovestikis on Mon, May 20, 2013 2:51 PM

VampiressRN it was a great party but could have been better if you were there.

GROG just knowing you were nearby was fun. You have amazing calf muscles. I have more photos of hang10tiki to post here.

Tiki Caliente 2013 our trip.

First off I'm a fan of coincidences. I just finished a John Stanford book and a key clue to the mystery was the sale of massive numbers of golf carts. At our first rest stop there they were. I've never seen them transported before.

We heard there were Southern California fires but we didn't know that they were this close to the grapevine crossover. It was so thick with smoke it was dark. The flames were tall and threatening. Nothing would stop us from Tiki Caliente and all our friends so we plowed on through.

Soccer Tiki and Woohoo had recommended the Morango Casino buffet and our timing was perfect for dinner. Nope I didn't gamble. With slowdowns we had been on the road all day.

When we got to our first hotel the Holiday Inn Express we had been on the road 11 1/2 hours. This was our morning view.

The next day we wandered around a cactus garden on highway 111. Hot and beautiful out.

We arrived at Tiki Caliente and right off the handsome hang10tiki came to get his severed head mug. Good photo op.

Soon Rory and Dan were modeling their safari hats.

Mahalo Tiki had lots to choose from and Dan selected a tiki he thought resembled him.

Cy and Dan at Cy's booth of over the top creative tikis.

hang10tiki took me to the SHAG room so I could see the print (autographed by Don Ho) that his wife Jonelle had purchased for him as a surprise. She takes good care of him. I think the message above the print was for him.

There was a drawing that gave each winner an opportunity to purchase an event bowl or bowl and mug combination. When hang10tikis number was called he handed it to Dan and thrilled Dan by his generosity. Dan selected the red and black set. As the numbers were drawn the number of bowls dwindled. Then our number was called and we gave it to hang10tiki. He picked out a bowl in Mystic Blue. It was the glaze color that Swizzle recently used. It looks so good I need to find some here. It was fun to have such good karma flowing during this part of the event.

I am just blown away with how nice everyone is in the tiki world. I ordered a Cassowary Bowl from Eric October. He went over the top to make it extra beautiful. I've loved Cassowary's since I was 26 months old and my mom made a book of National Geographic photos for me. The Cassowary was my favorite photo. This mug will remind me of my mom, a very special lady.

In the pool if I'm guessing right is Dan, Jody, Deb, Diane and CD Tiki.

It was cooler than last year but still hot hot hot.

Mr. and Mrs. Taboo Island were visiting with hang10tikis wife.

Sunset Mike chiseling away with MahaloTiki in the background. There were lots of wonderful vendors who stayed out all day so we could shop.

I had a ring and horseshoe magic trick to take around and Tiki Roots Rocka did the trick! He's at his booth and Dan scored a mug.

Tavarua Tiki was so kind to wear my Bumatay necklace at the event.

Sunset Mike has a gallery and carving page on TC. He also sells in the parking lot of Don the Beachcomber's Huntington Beach on and off. He made some good progress during the event.

MadDogMike has arrived. He brought Dan one of his El Tiki mugs.

He brought for me a left over swap mug that I so desired. The lady on his left is Teresa. We just met and already love her too.

Two beautiful smiles.

Everyone was having fun posing in the shower. As I took my photo, the event photographer took one as he said, now take off your clothes. Oh if only I'd gotten the shocked photo. Maybe it will be posted on the event page.

Cassandra is the beauty in the middle and she belongs to SM Bacon on her left. The first man I do not know but Dough Horne is easy to recognize along with Atomic Tiki Punk.

This is the last goodbye for us. As the bands played we waved goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Loki Tiki and went off to bed.

Can you believe this, the next day as we headed home we saw more trucks with golf carts. Not the same ones. The first day of our trip they were white golf carts and these are green. I'll probably never see this sight again. Have your ever???

Thank you for taking this trip with us here or there. We always have a great time with Tiki people. What else should I call us?
Now it's time to get back to work and make some tikis.

Cheers, Wendy

[ Edited by: danlovestikis 2013-05-20 15:08 ]

[ Edited by: danlovestikis 2013-05-20 15:16 ]