How was camping for you?

[Quickie Mart]

Whew! What a busy week leading up to the faire. This is my 20th season working and probably the busiest for me. I have some more time now to engage in discussion.

Mike did a great job of greeting campers, new and old, making them feel welcome.

We are looking for feedback, good or bad, about the campground.

Do you like the changes?

New rules for noise? Ravers were there for sure and shut off promptly at midnight.

What can we do to make the camping experience better for everyone?

Some things we are working on this week are: more signs for the exit, more dumpsters and porta-pots where needed, streamlining the pass and ticket sales, and some other small tweaks.

I will address responses as I can...

[Bonny Pearl]

Camp was great!  It will take some getting used to, seeing people camping in what was once parking.  I would glance over there and think to myself 'oh they are gonna get in trouble for that' lol.

[scarletnyx]

I loved it! After all the horrible stories I've heard, I was very surprised with how amazing my camping experience was.  I was kinda sad the showers weren't up and running, but I completely understood and was able to take a rub down shower in my tent.

[Stalkwell]

Well... long and short, bad noisy neighbors Friday night, we moved, then perfect.

We pulled in near the southern edge of QFC, where we usually camp.  The neighbors up the hill were a bit rowdy (read drunk, but having fun, no mischief) early on, then quieted down after 2 or 3 o'clock Sat. morning.  The ones downhill from us, unfortunately, were plain old loud and rowdy until about 4:30 a.m..  Not that they were drunk or screaming at the top of their lungs like elsewhere in camp, but just cutting up very loudly later than considerate people usually do.  We couldn't sleep INSIDE our RV, with ear plugs in.  Needless to say, we broke camp and moved further into QFC the  next morning.  Interestingly, the rowdy ones gave us a dirty look as WE left!

The new amenities were outstanding.  Loved the new store, potable water gets 2 thumbs up, and security response time was excellent. 

We also have some 'concerns' (read as gripes), we will cogitate these for a bit and post later.

All in all, good time.

Stalk well...

[raevyncait]

Our group camped in the same spot we've been using for years (G-20 on the old grid system), and were quite happy with our situation. If there were ravers about, they weren't anywhere near us.  On one side we had our usual neighbors, the Motleigh, although their group seemed a bit smaller than usual. Behind us were a couple of small camps, just one or two folks and a family; and on the other side of us was a small group that we noticed some early on Friday, but by the time the last of our crew decided to camp with us instead of sub-zero & pulled their motor home in, well, it effectively blocked anything from the folks on that side. Our big concern was that our spot is now right on the main entry road, so dust and traffic noise was a concern, but we didn't have a bit of trouble, aside from the usual dust.

The folks behind us, and a group a bit farther behind them did leave their trash bags hanging from trees, which I thought was thoughtless & stupid, especially given that they had a flatbed trailer on which they could have stacked the 2 bags & dropped them at any of the several trash collection points on their way out.

The only complaint any of our group had was that the map marking system was kind of confusing, and that we'd like to see a meld of the old grid system and the "area" system being used now, as well as better marking of the areas from the road. As our group leader was driving around late Saturday afternoon to scope out available areas if we decided we want to move on other trips, they only saw 3 signs marking areas.  Even if a melded map included only the row numbers, it would be helpful.  Also, if there was a marker at the entry  to the various rows, even marking every 5th row or something, to give people some ballpark idea of where they might be, especially since the landscape changes quite drastically even in a half hour, light or dark, between Friday evening and Saturday evening. On Saturday morning we had a young woman come to our camp looking for the "moo group" and Thorin's.  Since my phone had no service down there, I couldn't get on the forums to check, but I kind of recalled that they might be over in the single digit numbered rows, and sent her that direction.

[mpullen]

Folks, please jot down your comments (positive, negative, suggestive, etc.) at the Quickie Mart at the campgrounds entrance if you don't want to post here.  We will review and make a master list of concerns. Just to address a few of the comments from this past weekend;

A. Hot showers - This needs a few support items: Water source (available), electric/gas water heaters (need to add the electric/gas supply), septic system (needs digging of leach bed and septic tank). This links to the near future plans for a year-round RV park located to the right of the Quickie Mart entrance where the present water outlets are located.

B. Dump stations - Needs the septic system of item A.

C. Storage for trailers/RVs between weekends - This means folks would come in opening weekend and then move their trailers/RVs to the storage location Monday and then come out the following weekends to move from storage to camping location. How much would you be willing to pay?

Keep the suggestions coming.

[Bonny Pearl]

I know dump stations would be worthwhile for everyone.  I had already advised some people coming from a good distance to wait and get water for their castles at camp to conserve gas, etc.  So leaving dry would be a benefit for people as well.

For me personally in regards to storage during the season... Perhaps once or twice I can see that happening but more often than not the castle needs a good scrubbing b/c a faire bomb seems to explode in there just about every weekend lol.  Not sure what price I'd be willing to pay for the occasions it would be there during the week.  Will have to think about that.

[Lady Guinevere]

Definitely NOT enough signage.  It's quite easy to get confused if you're used to the old routes.

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

Signs?  I don't need no stinking signs!  Well, i won't once i get that new pipe bumper i've been looking at... I'll just have to watch out for the larger trees.

[Bonny Pearl]

Okay..... what is a pipe bumper?   

[PollyPoPo]

Oh, oh, I know what a pipe bumper is!  At least I think I do.

Kind of a big truck version of a cow catcher on a train. 

Seen a few home-made ones (PVC, chrome, and even galvanized pipe) on some large pickups in HEB parking lot.  They look like they do everything from ram stuff out of the way to specialized tie downs for something big enough that part of it is hanging over the cab.

[Breandan]

You all know I don't pull punches in these matters, so take that into account. We had a great time, and though we had a cluster of ravers set up camp (McShug normal area), the police responded promptly when they went past noise curfew and got them to turn it down. Police presence during the day was a lot better than it has been in the past, and when we went back to our camp early in the afternoon we were buzzed a half-dozen times by the scooter-cops (ATV patrols), letting me know that they were on the ball this year. My toddler finally got exposed to using a privy now that she is potty trained, and I didn't have to throw an incendiary grenade into the thing to purify it before letting her near it.

Pros: Upgraded police presence and response.

Cons: miss the parking row signs we have used for years for navigation (rows 1-8, etc.)

[Bonny Pearl]

    He haz a happyzzz!   

*ducks for cover*

[PollyPoPo]

I was not able to camp this weekend, but am wondering about the parking provided specifically for campers to drive closer to entrance.  Was there plenty of parking?  Did it fill up early?  

[PollyPoPo]

Wondering ... any stats on number of campers Saturday and Sunday opening weekend?