The hitchhiker’s guide to attending Cowboys’ training camp

As reported earlier, the Dallas Cowboys’ training camp opens in Oxnard, CA on July 24th. It will be the 17th time camp has been held in Oxnard.

The first three years of the franchise’s existence saw the team wandering all over the country for training camp with stops in Oregon, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan between 1960-62.

From 1963 through 1989 they held camp at Cal Lutheran College in Thousand Oaks.

Since 1990 they’ve bounced back and forth between Oxnard, Wichita Falls, San Antonio, and a one-year stay at The Star in Frisco in 2020.

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Nolan Carroll (24), cornerback Orlando Scandrick (32) and safety Jeff Heath (38) watch during an NFL football organized team activities practice at the team’s training facility, Thursday, May 25, 2017 in Frisco, Texas. (James D. Smith via AP)

This will be the third straight year the team will hold camp at the River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard.

Planning To Attend

If you’ve never been, and you are planning to go this year for the first time, here are a few tips from a former California resident.

First, especially if you’re coming from outside the state of California don’t forget this rule: Panic!

Unlike the Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy (and there’s your obligatory obscure sci-fi reference for the week) not even a towel can save you from the Golden State experience.

Everything costs more. Everything.

Even stuff that you’d get for free back home, expect to pay for.

They even charge a quarter for plastic bags at the store.

If you’re flying in to Southern California, do not fly into LAX. Head for Burbank Airport instead.

Yes, you exit the plane outside of the terminal like the olden days, but you avoid having to drive on the 405 Freeway.

There is never a good time of day or night to be on the 405 Freeway.

Enjoy a four-hour drive to go 30 miles? Then by all means, get on the 405.

A typical traffic pattern on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles.

Otherwise, fly into Burbank, get on the I-5 North, hang a sweeping left onto the 118 (Simi Valley Freeway) and when it dead ends onto the 101 North in Thousand Oaks, take a right up to Oxnard and you’re good to go.

In fact, avoid anything south of Burbank in regard to the Los Angeles Basin. You’ll thank me later.

You’ll also discover why Los Angeles drivers are the second-worst in the country.

San Francisco Bay Area drivers are the worst.

In Oxnard With The Boys

Once camp is open, the days are scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m. the first few days then shifts to 11 a.m. on Monday, July 31st.

Southern California weather is typically 360 days of spring, four days of summer, 20 hours of fall and four hours of winter.

I’m not kidding. I lived there for several years.

There was really only one day a year it was too cold to hit the pool.

So take plenty of sunscreen, get there early and have fun. It’s been a few years since I’ve been to one but it’s worth going to at least one camp.

While You’re Out There…

If you get there early, or there’s a day or two when the team is away for a pre-season game, there are a few things you should check out.

Many of you have heard the blasphemy that In-N-Out is a superior burger joint to Whataburger.

It’s good, yes, but it ain’t Whataburger.

If you do decide to try the place, by all means, get the burger. They are good.

However, the fries taste like deep-fried cardboard strips. So take a bag of chips or go on the other side of the freeway and get a bag of fries from McDonalds.

Again, you’ll thank me later.

Better yet, hit the Original Tommy’s on S. Victoria Avenue.

I’ve been known to preach the heresy that an Original Tommy’s is better than even Whataburger from time to time. You’ll see why.

And if you have time, on the way to Oxnard from Burbank – or even on the way back – take a couple of hours and stop at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley.

The plane that served as Air Force One for several U.S. Presidents, lastly Ronald Reagan, is on display at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, CA. Photo by Richard Paolinelli.

Touring Reagan’s Air Force One plane and the historical value of the displays inside alone is worth it, and its just off the 118 Freeway.

There’s even an Original Tommy’s just up the road for lunch.

And after camp is over for the day, Southern California has some of the best coastlines and beaches out there.

Have fun and don’t forget your (Dallas Cowboys) towel.