Offroad & 4×4 Event Calendar

Jeep Beach West is fun in the sun and under the stars on the dunes at Pismo Beach. It is the largest event of its kind where Jeeps gather to camp and play in the dunes and enjoy the nearby trails in California’s Central Valley.

Jeep Beach West was born in 2014 when a few friends came together at Pismo Beach to camp and wheel. Since then, the event has become the premier event for Jeepers looking to enjoy the beach and dunes on the Pacific Ocean. Oceano Dunes is geologically unique and also provides an impressive playground for off-highway enthusiasts from throughout the United States. This off road area is among the most popular and unique of California State Parks. The 5 1/2 miles of beach open for vehicle use and the sand dunes available for off highway motor vehicle recreation are attractions for visitors from throughout the United States.

The radiant point for the Draconid meteor shower almost coincides with the head of the constellation Draco the Dragon in the northern sky. That’s why the Draconids are best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere. The Draconid shower is a real oddity, in that the radiant point stands highest in the sky as darkness falls. That means that, unlike many meteor showers, more Draconids are likely to fly in the evening hours than in the morning hours after midnight. This shower is usually a sleeper, producing only a handful of languid meteors per hour in most years. But watch out if the Dragon awakes! In rare instances, fiery Draco has been known to spew forth many hundreds of meteors in a single hour. The shower runs annually from October 6-10 and peaks this year on the the night of the 8th. This will be an excellent year to observe the Draconids because there will be no moonlight to spoil the show. Best viewing will be in the early evening from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Draco, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

If you own a 4×4 vehicle and enjoy the overlanding lifestyle or you just want to learn more about this fast growing passion you are invited to join Natural State Overland at Byrd’s Adventure Center, in the beautiful Ozark Mountains of Arkansas October 19 -21 2018, where you will rendezvous with others who share your interest in overland style travel and all the adventure it brings! If you haven’t experienced the trails and backroads of the ozarks, you don’t want to miss this opportunity, and if you have this is your chance to get back out there. Come share your experiences, knowledge, and enthusiasm while you learn from others and talk to vendors about their overland related products and participate in our vendor sponsored raffle all in a family friendly atmosphere! We are also planning various presentations on overland related topics, and trip reports, as well as ample opportunity to get out and explore the beautiful Ozark National Forest. Byrd’s is also hosting their Fall Fly-In this same weekend. So those attending the Rendezvous will have the opportunity to watch these single engine aircraft arrive and depart from Byrd’s grass airstrip!

This shower runs annually from October 2 to November 7. It peaks this year on the night of October 21 and the morning of October 22. The Orionids are meteors left behind in the wake of Halley’s Comet. The nearly full moon will block some of the fainter meteors this year, but the Orionids tend to be fairly bright so it could still be a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Orion, but can appear anywhere in the sky.