Let The Countdown Begin!

[Rani Zemirah]

We stayed pretty warm last year, but we were only there for AHE, and it wasn't all that bad, once I put my socks on, anyway!  The rugs on the floor really and the air mattress helped, also, and the renlet had 2 sleeping bags and a fleece blanket, one bag heavy cotton and one nylon, with one inside the other and the fleece lining it all, so she was toasty.  I just brought my heavy upholstery comforter and a thick cotton bedspread, and I was fine, to. 

I can imagine being there for weekend after weekend will be a LOT different, though!  Do you build a platform from pallets and plywood to keep up out of the water when it rains?  I think I'd be tempted to cover the outside of the tent with foaming insulation so I had an igloo to come home to!  Well, ok, maybe not...  heheh

[Blue66669]

A lot of people are doing the pallet thing, and I'm just not that schooled in construction to be able to handle something like that. I think Cat and I will be out there on a wing and a prayer... oh, and a roll of duct tape.

[Rani Zemirah]

Most standard pallets are around 40" x 4', and a sheet of plywood is 4' x 8', so 4 pallets and two sheets of 1/2" to 3/4" plywood will get you an 8' x 8' platform, and 9 pallets and 3.5 sheets of plywood makes a 12' x 12' square.  A few nails (and a bit of duct tape) and you're set, unless your tent is bigger than that...  Besides, that's what the menfolk are for, remember?!?   I think I recall last year that some guy was doing the building for a fairly reasonable fee, but I can't recall offhand just who.  Depending on the price I think it might be worth it if you're going to be out there for that many weekends!!!  Sucks waking up cold, wet and miserable, and then having to go to work...

[dbaldock]

... Sucks waking up cold, wet and miserable, and then having to go to work...

But, won't she have Erik to keep her warm in the sleeping bag?   

[Pat McGroin]

Is it faire time yet?

[bellevivre]

oooh man I wish...but I'm sewing like it is!!

[Lady Kett]

But, won't she have Erik to keep her warm in the sleeping bag?   

That's what I was thinking!

On the other hand, if he's free....oh wait, I don't camp...DANGNABIT.

[Rapier Half-Wit]

As long as there isn't standing water, pallets aren't necessary. For a warm tent, lay down carpeting of any kind inside the tent, whether actual or just blankets. Anything on the floor is better than nothing. Also, if your tent has any kind of loops at the ceiling seams, hang light weight blankets from them for insulation. Also, if you can afford it, get a Mr Heater.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_10209944____SearchResults

[JackGonzo, MD]

Just over a month until Faire! 

...So I'm cheating and going to Maryland to surprise the second wife for her birthday. I get my Pyrates Royale and O'Danny Girls who I've missed badly.

No worries, football will be here in a few weeks and the next thing you know faire will be here.

[Rani Zemirah]

Hah!  Football is here NOW!  At least, pre-season is here, which is just the same...  Ummm, what do you mean by cheating?  You mean you're getting out of sending a present by sending yourself, and getting a vacation out of the deal?    heheh

Oh, and I get Faire in exactly a month!    Up here, though...  Wish you could all come up here and play for a weekend!  Angus will be here!

Rapier, from what I heard last year, there was standing water several weekends in participants camping, and quite a few people had several inches if water invade their tents during the weekdays while they were away from the grounds, so I'd probably make the effort unless I knew I was on a nice high spot with proven drainage.  Oh, and between Blue's cleavage, Cat's sweet innocent doe eyes, and all that gorgeous grrrlieness... I don't think there's a man on cast or crew that could say no to the two of them!  They could end up with their very own castle before the season is over!!!  LOLOL 

[Breandan]

when I did camp, I did some very sturdy and elaborate setups out there that rode out the worst weather we had for those years- a 24x12 platform, big tent, porch area with our cooler and kitchen, and a 40x20 tarp over the whole shebang on sturdy poles and anchored by guy lines to custom-made 18" barbed stakes I made myself designed specifically for the soil out there. It was great, but not worth it to just have to tear down at the end of the weekend. I'd set it up a few weeks before faire started in Participant's, and not take it down till the weekend after closing. For weekend trips, I'd rather invest in a camper or travel trailer

[Rani Zemirah]

Oh, it certainly wouldn't be worth it for a weekend, but if you're going to be living in participants every weekend for the entire run, and leaving your tent set up, then I'd say go for it, and the people who come in from out of state and spend the entire season out there, most definitely!!! 

[eldatari]

I'm thinking I may line my tent with blankets this year. I REFUSE to freeze again!!!

TENT HEATER

[Rapier Half-Wit]

Rapier, from what I heard last year, there was standing water several weekends in participants camping, and quite a few people had several inches if water invade their tents during the weekdays while they were away from the grounds, so I'd probably make the effort unless I knew I was on a nice high spot with proven drainage.  Oh, and between Blue's cleavage, Cat's sweet innocent doe eyes, and all that gorgeous grrrlieness... I don't think there's a man on cast or crew that could say no to the two of them!  They could end up with their very own castle before the season is over!!!  LOLOL 

Then it happened on weekends that I didn't attend. But that's no big surprise. We used to call it 'Rainfest' back in the day. And I'm pretty sure that it rained opening weekend, because I have pictures taken through the front windshield of my van driving up to the camp site, and there are dark clouds and rain drops on the windshield.

[Rani Zemirah]

I think a lot of the storms hit during the week last season, but left standing water in some places.  There was a mini lake at row 0 where I was camped with P.R. last year when we got there that had mostly dried up by the end of the weekend, but I recall a few of the cast members mentioning in other threads that they had water in their tents when they either went out to check on them, or got there on a few Thurs./Fridays to prep for the weekends, but I think it was mostly cases of not realizing they were in lower lying areas, or runoff spots.  It's most definitely the time of year for sudden storms, though...