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South => Texas Renaissance Festival => Topic started by: Autumn Blaize on September 18, 2012, 01:27:46 PM

Title: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: Autumn Blaize on September 18, 2012, 01:27:46 PM
I know we are not allowed to rope off an area but how do you mark off room for your campers?
Last year we kept having to tell people we needed room and I hated doing that. Although they became some great people to hang with later that night. Hubby and I are leaving Thursday about noonish to do the camp on the road thing so we will be there as soon as gates open pirate weekend. Most of our clan will not arrive until Friday afternoon or Friday night.
Other than our clan flags...any ideas?
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: Laird Fraser of Lovatt on September 18, 2012, 01:40:06 PM
You could throw yourself in front of their car/truck when they pull up...  :D


Seriously, just let whoever is trying to plant themselves that you have people coming... most times, if your pleasent about it, they'll give way.



Or they could be like the one guy Opening, who planted himself in PR land and was an arsehole about it... or the couple from Green Flame that didn't realize that McShuggenah only camps on AHE.  We DID warn them that there were going to be a lot of us... and it was kind of an accident that my generator's muffler was aimed sort of back their way...   ;D

*They were married @ TRF... they didn't hear a thing*  ;)  :D
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: Autumn Blaize on September 18, 2012, 01:48:26 PM
hahaha that is the type of things we normally do! I just thought there might be another way. Thinking about bringing some tiki torches this year or maybe bringing everyone's tents and spend the morning Friday setting them up lol If people ask I will tell them why yes the two of us need all five of these tents, we like to think of it as a castle made of vinyl lmao
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: Hector_ on September 18, 2012, 02:09:00 PM
I brought an extra small two man tent and placed them at rear corners, and put chairs, fire pit ice chest etc at front.  Placed some stakes with glow sticks at from corners, tada!!  (not to mention small car parked as if it were a semi)
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: Mouse on September 18, 2012, 02:14:45 PM
We line with our tents, small space saving tents, and cars in between where there are gaps.
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: Laird Fraser of Lovatt on September 18, 2012, 02:34:09 PM
That's good at keeping them out but if you happen to be one of maybe two landgrabbers...
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: Bonny Pearl on September 18, 2012, 02:34:17 PM
Yeah 99% chance there is going to be someone who thinks the space you are trying to hold is perfect for their needs.  That is why you have it and made the effort to get there first.  We are always having to nicely ask if they would mind scooching down a bit and most people are really cool about it and 'get it'.  We usually have a few trailers so there is a lot of maneuvering room needed during set up.  We use stakes, cars, chairs and tikis for obvious 'borders'.

One year we came across a foursome of people who wanted to be jerks.  Safe Haven was setting up and so were we; we camp next to each other.  These random people decided they wanted to park their butts right in between us, basically where everyone parks to make borders.  Not much room for a trailer and truck that they had.  They were asked nicely, didn't like it and called security  ::)  As the conversation with security was going on, our beloved neighbors started moving their cars around to where it was rather difficult for these jerkfaces to set up.  :D  Security was trying to make us move our stuff and we were there first!  First come, first serve, right?  At the end of the conversation, they moved but all the while flipping us the bird!  I just waved and said have a great time in faire!  Some people just like to start problems....  ::)
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: KiltedPrivateer on September 18, 2012, 02:56:57 PM
Tarps.  I'm the land grabber for Clan P. and I bring lots of extra blue tarps.  They are relatively cheap and I usually pick up a couple new one each year at the depot.  I use nail style stakes to nail them to the ground in the general vicinity that I will need to put up tents on Friday.  Tikis in strategic places works very well as well.
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: Riot on September 18, 2012, 03:31:30 PM
I have done both the blue tarp in place of tents, as well as extra tents before and both usually work.
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: Autumn Blaize on September 18, 2012, 03:58:32 PM
Quote from: KiltedPrivateer on September 18, 2012, 02:56:57 PM
Tarps.  I'm the land grabber for Clan P. and I bring lots of extra blue tarps.  They are relatively cheap and I usually pick up a couple new one each year at the depot.  I use nail style stakes to nail them to the ground in the general vicinity that I will need to put up tents on Friday.  Tikis in strategic places works very well as well.

What a great idea!!! Plus it makes it easier to get the layout without everyone having to move around tents lol...yes I am a girl and that stuff matters.   ;)

Anyone know how crowded it is Pirate weekend? We normally go AHE so I only have that to base camp set up on. We stay around B-D 5 - 9 area..we like to get smack dab in the middle of that area but every year seems we are too late. So we move towards the road on 5 - 9...Anyone a regular in this spot this weekend I need to know about? Or Thanksgiving?
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: Bonny Pearl on September 18, 2012, 04:05:44 PM
Pirate is usually pretty busy for camping.  Thanksgiving as well.  McLotofus is traditionally camped rows7/8/9 and Safe Haven 6/7/8 all near the main road.  We shift rows a bit depending on size and if Safe Haven is there that weekend, etc.
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: raevyncait on September 18, 2012, 08:46:57 PM
In my memory, MacGiggle's never had trouble, but we usually have one or two there pretty early, and Motleigh next door always has a couple early birds as well, and we do a pretty good job of getting things arranged so as not to have interlopers.  One year we had someone pitch a tent in the middle of what was clearly our area (surrounded by cars and campers) in the middle of saturday while we were in faire. When they returned, their tent had been moved across the road to the nearest empty spot. They tried to raise all sorts of hell, but when we pointed out that they had indeed gone within what was CLEARLY a full area, they were bitchy, but they admitted defeat.
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: *Teach* on September 18, 2012, 09:23:10 PM
Tarps here too. Just lay them our where you want tents to be. Generally that works.
And yeah Fraser, I remember the guy in the middle of PR land. I asked him nicely to move his generator and he got very belligerent about it. Also remember telling him what I thought of his being a total &*#@ about it.
They moved the generator after that and seemed much nicer.
Not often I go off on someone but that dude was just a flat out jerk to start with.

*and all that before i could even have my rum*
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: KiltedPrivateer on September 19, 2012, 08:57:34 AM
Quote from: *Teach* on September 18, 2012, 09:23:10 PM
*and all that before i could even have my rum*

The indecency of some people...
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: Hector_ on September 19, 2012, 09:22:43 AM
note to self:
Get some tarps.
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: JackGonzo, MD on September 19, 2012, 10:23:47 AM
Quote from: Hector_ on September 19, 2012, 09:22:43 AM
note to self:
Get some tarps.

I read that as get some traps lol
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: Hector_ on September 19, 2012, 11:57:30 AM
Quote from: JackGonzo, MD on September 19, 2012, 10:23:47 AM
Quote from: Hector_ on September 19, 2012, 09:22:43 AM
note to self:
Get some tarps.

I read that as get some traps lol

That too!!  For when my site is unattended!!
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: Rani Zemirah on September 21, 2012, 01:47:35 AM
Had to practically fight off a full force invasion of PR lands last Celtic Christmas, when a whole group tried to move into the spot where the PR kitchen traditionally goes, and they still managed to take a large chunk of our territory before several car and truckloads of our folk showed up to help keep them from running over the whole area.  I strung some clothesline between trees and hung 4-5 seriously long sari's on them as a barrier to at least keep the kitchen area open, and it was all I had to mark the area, but it worked well enough... until it started raining, and then I just had 25 yards of wet saris to deal with.  We had the kitchen space, though!  lol 
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: KiltedPrivateer on September 21, 2012, 08:16:35 AM
Wasn't that the group who showed up with a leaf blower?  If it wasn't a leaf blower, it was some other very loud contraption. 
*Can't Figure Out Some People*
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: Riot on September 21, 2012, 09:51:28 AM
Quote from: KiltedPrivateer on September 21, 2012, 08:16:35 AM
Wasn't that the group who showed up with a leaf blower?  If it wasn't a leaf blower, it was some other very loud contraption. 
*Can't Figure Out Some People*

LOL yeah I think it was a leaf blower
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: Laird Fraser of Lovatt on September 21, 2012, 01:16:03 PM
Quote from: Rani Zemirah on September 21, 2012, 01:47:35 AM
Had to practically fight off a full force invasion of PR lands last Celtic Christmas, when a whole group tried to move into the spot where the PR kitchen traditionally goes, and they still managed to take a large chunk of our territory before several car and truckloads of our folk showed up to help keep them from running over the whole area.  I strung some clothesline between trees and hung 4-5 seriously long sari's on them as a barrier to at least keep the kitchen area open, and it was all I had to mark the area, but it worked well enough... until it started raining, and then I just had 25 yards of wet saris to deal with.  We had the kitchen space, though!  lol 


Well, they don't have to worry about that this year...
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: *Teach* on September 21, 2012, 05:43:32 PM
No worries about a kitchen, but now we have a large party tarp tent thing. Got it a couple of weeks back.
10x30 with walls. Expandable with any other EZups that come along as well.
Other than AHE I will have it there in time to set up early enough for no problems on land grabbers.
AHE I hope to pass it along to someone in time for them to set up early.
Opening Saturday is the Lovely Lady Trinn and my 6th anniversary of getting married in those same campgrounds. There will be a bit of a party that night.

*stop on by and share some rum!*
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: Trillium on September 21, 2012, 06:16:04 PM
Holy cow!!!  Has it already been 6 years?????  Congrats!!
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: Laird Fraser of Lovatt on September 22, 2012, 06:26:48 AM
Quote from: *Teach* on September 21, 2012, 05:43:32 PM
No worries about a kitchen, but now we have a large party tarp tent thing. Got it a couple of weeks back.
10x30 with walls. Expandable with any other EZups that come along as well.
Other than AHE I will have it there in time to set up early enough for no problems on land grabbers.
AHE I hope to pass it along to someone in time for them to set up early.
Opening Saturday is the Lovely Lady Trinn and my 6th anniversary of getting married in those same campgrounds. There will be a bit of a party that night.

*stop on by and share some rum!*


Congrats Teach!  Any more than a few years, these days, is an accomplishment!   :)

Cool on the kitchen set up!  Sounds like y'all got yourselves a mead(rum) hall!  Now all you need are a few Vikings...  ;)  
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: PollyPoPo on September 22, 2012, 07:08:48 AM
Quote from: *Teach* on September 21, 2012, 05:43:32 PM
No worries about a kitchen, but now we have a large party tarp tent thing. Got it a couple of weeks back.
10x30 with walls. Expandable with any other EZups that come along as well.
Other than AHE I will have it there in time to set up early enough for no problems on land grabbers.
AHE I hope to pass it along to someone in time for them to set up early.
Opening Saturday is the Lovely Lady Trinn and my 6th anniversary of getting married in those same campgrounds. There will be a bit of a party that night.

*stop on by and share some rum!*

Can you share what kind and where did you get the tarp tent?
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: *Teach* on September 22, 2012, 10:56:31 AM
The one I got was this one, but I can't find the link to the vendor I got it from. Do some searching and you can find a better deal with better reviews.
http://www.amazon.com/Gazebo-Canopy-Party-Removable-Walls/dp/B007XKGZYA/ref=reg_hu-rd_add_1_dp
If I can find the right link I will post it
The Lovely Lady Trinn wanted this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Aosom-Easy-Party-Canopy-Gazebo/dp/B005CLIQQM/ref=sr_1_5?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1346019603&sr=1-5&keywords=pink+gazebo
it almost happened

*there was rum bribery involved*
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: KiltedPrivateer on September 22, 2012, 12:05:16 PM
Quote from: *Teach* on September 22, 2012, 10:56:31 AM
The Lovely Lady Trinn wanted this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Aosom-Easy-Party-Canopy-Gazebo/dp/B005CLIQQM/ref=sr_1_5?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1346019603&sr=1-5&keywords=pink+gazebo
it almost happened

*there was rum bribery involved*


Yeah, I completely busted out laughing on that one, the wife looked at me funny (o:
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: PollyPoPo on September 22, 2012, 08:00:15 PM
I don't know, KiltedPrivateer. 

Pink is kind of nice and you're always surrounded by lovely ladies. Plus it would make finding camp a lot easier in the middle of the night cause that thing would glow nicely from the faintest embers in a campfire. ;D
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: Rani Zemirah on September 23, 2012, 12:29:32 AM
Quote from: KiltedPrivateer on September 21, 2012, 08:16:35 AM
Wasn't that the group who showed up with a leaf blower?  If it wasn't a leaf blower, it was some other very loud contraption. 
*Can't Figure Out Some People*


No, the leaf-blower folks were the group that showed up the night before, and took MY tent spot!  This other group was the one who showed up the next morning as Scally and I were setting up our tent on the crappy spot those first people left us, a bunch of belligerent 20-somethings who were determined to press the "first-come-first-serve" rule... and who didn't much care for being right next to our fire circle, with drums and guitar going most of the night, or for everyone walking around and between their tents the whole weekend. 


Quote from: Laird Fraser of Lovatt on September 21, 2012, 01:16:03 PM
Quote from: Rani Zemirah on September 21, 2012, 01:47:35 AM
Had to practically fight off a full force invasion of PR lands last Celtic Christmas, when a whole group tried to move into the spot where the PR kitchen traditionally goes, and they still managed to take a large chunk of our territory before several car and truckloads of our folk showed up to help keep them from running over the whole area.  I strung some clothesline between trees and hung 4-5 seriously long sari's on them as a barrier to at least keep the kitchen area open, and it was all I had to mark the area, but it worked well enough... until it started raining, and then I just had 25 yards of wet saris to deal with.  We had the kitchen space, though!  lol 


Well, they don't have to worry about that this year...


I know, Fraser... and won't THAT be nice!?!  Designated clan areas are awesome...  ;D 


Teach, can't wait to see the new party/kitchen set-up!  Looks like it will be roomy enough for everyone to hide in when the skies open up! 
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: az on September 24, 2012, 02:26:36 PM
opening weekend of last year we showed up very early friday morning to find a tent staked in the  middle of our site, we had to find another spot but the odd thing was no one ever used the tent. it looked to be abandoned . we were pretty annoyed that we had to move our site of 15 yrs for aparently no reason.
i am thinking about going up thurs afternoon and staking a claim.
Title: Re: Suggestions to help "save" room for other campers
Post by: Autumn Blaize on September 24, 2012, 08:35:13 PM
I can't camp first weekend  :'( but I will be there Sat during the day. We will be camping pirate though so come hang out since you will be working anyways :P