Buses by the Bug Duck - The End

[ObnoxiousBlue]

It’s been 23 years since LiMBO first gathered on Long Island for Buses by the Big Duck, and when the LiMBO crowd moved on I was excited to take over the campout and see some sort of VW event remain on Long Island. But for 2020, and our more intimate 2021 campout “the Duck” has always been my unofficial start of summer and was something I looked forward to year after year.

The event always drew a substantial crowd from the north, since LiMBO is predominantly a New England club we were fortunate to have a following that made the trek each year. In recent years however, and following the passing of Rich Macensky the New England contingent has themselves broken up, gotten older, moved away from camping or just gone on to other adventures.

I held on to the tradition of the Duck while each year saw fewer and fewer campers attending in favor of other VW campouts that were frankly more popular and easier to get to. 2023 saw our smallest attendance to date.

After months of consideration and only now approaching the start of camp-lottery season I’ve ultimately decided that the time and effort it takes to host the event are better spent on exploring new events myself; and turning my focus to Gridlock on Governors. Is it a possibility to see a reunion tour in the future? I won’t say no. But for 2024, we’ll take a break to see what new gatherings I might experience from the front seats of my camper.

Thank you all for the support and love over the years.

The Duck has flown the coop!

[Tom]

Sad to see it go.

Maybe we could do a DVG campout that weekend if there is any interest, we could easily get sites together sans electric at Indian Island or Cedar Point

[ObnoxiousBlue]

That weekend has a number of other VW events, I am probably going to stretch my legs and check one out. But I am absolutely open to a DVG campout - or even a DVG section of we wanted to piggyback on the Suffolk County Camping Coalition weekend, I think you and Ronnie usually camp that weekend, no? Either way I am open to a DVG get together.

[Tom]

Sure, We absolutely do the kickoff. we can see if there is interest by others.

[Firefly]

Mike, thank you for all your efforts when you took the baton pass. Its been a fun run with good memories.

[ObnoxiousBlue]

Sure, We absolutely do the kickoff. we can see if there is interest by others.

Might be fun, I've been wanting to go and maybe if a few of us want we could still have a "camping weekend"

Mike, thank you for all your efforts when you took the baton pass. Its been a fun run with good memories.

For sure, it was fun - and I wish that popularity was forcing my hand to continue it. But for the small attendance we've been seeing, I would like to see other events. If we had a ton of people, I'd keep running it. Maybe it's absence will garner more interest in the future.

[Glenn]

Having an event has always been a problem on Long Island. Just the fact that you have to take a ferry or a bridge was an obstacle to most.

Then there's the traffic.

[ObnoxiousBlue]

Having an event has always been a problem on Long Island. Just the fact that you have to take a ferry or a bridge was an obstacle to most.

Then there's the traffic.

No doubt, it’s disappointing because these shows/clubs/promoters don’t realize that we have to take a ferry or a bridge for every single show we go to - it would of course be nice to see that “effort” reciprocated once.
In any case, Gridlock seems to have some good momentum and has an established following. The camping there was epic and I look forward to being able to do it again this year.
Maybe one day the Duck will reincarnate in some fashion.

[Glenn]

it’s disappointing because these shows/clubs/promoters don’t realize that we have to take a ferry or a bridge for every single show we go to -

No one cares, it's our problem.

[Raj]

Thanks for always hosting the Duck Mike. Its been a blast my boy have always loved. Shit, I think its the only event the my westy makes it out for!

Anywho, Weekends in Spring are tough for me w Logan's baseball but Id def do a camping event if the timing works.

[Glenn]

Debbie by the Big Duck

[ObnoxiousBlue]

Oh wow, nice to see you let Debbie out of the house for the nice day!

I *think* what I’m going to do is register as a camping club with the Suffolk Committee for Camping Kickoff that way we can still have a weekend to get together but they do all the legwork and all we have to do is show up. That way, I’m not exactly working the weekend and it doesn’t matter if we have 3 vans or 20.

More info as I have it come in.

[Tom]

This is a well run event, they have live music Saturday night and they feed you 2 Breakfast and 1 dinner plus there is ice cream on Friday night. We just need a name to be put together. I will be doing it regardless.

[ObnoxiousBlue]

This email was sent out to the usual ducker's...
This is actually the same weekend as Dubs in the Shrubs, which I really like; but if we have a decent group I might change up my plans...

Hello there, and happy 2024!
As some may have heard by now, I’ve decided not to run the Buses by the Big Duck campout for 2024. It should be no surprise given that our attendance has shrunk significantly since the pre-pandemic days.
While I’m happy to explore options to resurrect the Duck in some manner, the fact-of-the-matter is that we would no longer qualify for the one group site - let alone two - without my “creative doctoring” of the attendance roster as I’ve had to for the past few years.
Many of our familiar faces have gotten out of the camping game due to family, age, or health issues; some others have stopped traveling longer distances or have chosen to attend other events.
We have been invited to join with the Suffolk [county] Committee for Camping which hosts their (very large) group campout called the “Kickoff” each year at Cathedral Pines. For 2024, the Kickoff is planned for May 16th-19th, with early arrivals allowed on the 15th. These days do conflict with the “Dubs in the Shrubs” show held outside of Trenton, NJ. I enjoy attending Dubs in the Shrubs, but may consider this as an alternative this year if there is genuine interest among our Gruppe.
Event pricing is not yet published, but expect it to be around $130 per camping unit for the weekend for two adults. They include breakfast on Saturday and Sunday as well as dinner on Saturday. There are events for children and adults alike throughout the weekend as well.
Because “the committee” handles all applications, registration, handles all the fees and planning, this option would allow us to keep a campout on Long Island without the labor of hosting The Duck on our own with waning attendance.
I would ask if you are interested in attending the Kickoff to please let me know. This is not a commitment on your part. But rather helps me gauge whether to arrange with the Suffolk Committee for Camping for our anticipated participation.

Mike

[Raj]

Debbie by the Big Duck

siiigh.....too easy.....

let me start.

' first time for everything'. Oh wait.... you said Duck'