So....
I've been reading a lot of other Faire threads and I've noticed a lot of them tend to camp together during faire weekends. This past season, we camped next to Ladyfair and her clan and had a fun time.
I don't know how many of you camp for a weekend(s) but I think it would be fun to get a block of sites, everyone could throw something into the pot for meals and there'd always be space for someone who just needed a place to drop a tent.
Like I said, I don't know how many camp during faire season, but if there's more than a few then I think it could be fun.
Whaddaya think?
Next year we're buying a pop up camper. We figure it would be good for MiRF and teaching the kids about the great outdoors and, hopefully, helping me travel to fly my Red Tailed Hawk. Just a test, a mews to build, and a sponsor to find between me and my dream.
Dh and I are talking about building a teardrop trailer over the winter to enable us to afford more weekends at MIRF and more out-of-state faire visits without the hotel expense.
OOOOHHH! I have a 24 foot travel trailer I will sell cheap! It has been the Knights of Iron staging trailer, but now we don't need it.
It's nice, not opulent. Has full kitchen, kitchen table, microwave, oven, queen bed (with new matress), sofa bed, bathroom, shower, all that jazz. New tires too. Pulls on a standard hitch. It is a 1996, and I paid like 9K for it in 2001. Will sell for $4500. Email me for pics if interested.
Dale
Yeah!!! Hubby will be home by next season and hopefully will be camping at MIRF and Bristol and ORF and anywhere else I can talk him into. Ok maybe not ORF, kinda chilly that time of year, but I guess that could just mean we have to cuddle more. :)
So what I'm trying to say...is we'd be all for going on some camping spots.
huzzah!
I don't know how many MiRFers actually camp, but I'm hoping for a big communal thing. See the Clan McLotofus threads in the TRF forum. Their campground seems more open, but I figure at Holly Rec we can book sites around each other in a group.
We live about an hour south of the MIRF grounds so we don't camp up there every weekend but we do try to do a one weekend outing at Groveland Oaks. It's a couple miles south of the faire grounds on the same road. In the past we've always tried to find other RFer's there but to date have never met anyone. I think most people camp at the state campground located behind Groveland Oaks. The state campgrounds are cheaper so I'm sure that has a lot to do with it. Our trailer is also a bit on the large side to fit in the state campground sites. It would be fun to camp with other RFer's though!
Jon.
Quote from: Jon Foster on December 06, 2008, 10:13:08 AM
We live about an hour south of the MIRF grounds so we don't camp up there every weekend but we do try to do a one weekend outing at Groveland Oaks. It's a couple miles south of the faire grounds on the same road. In the past we've always tried to find other RFer's there but to date have never met anyone. I think most people camp at the state campground located behind Groveland Oaks. The state campgrounds are cheaper so I'm sure that has a lot to do with it. Our trailer is also a bit on the large side to fit in the state campground sites. It would be fun to camp with other RFer's though!
Jon.
We take a 35' RV (not exactly camping, I know) and it fits fine into the sites at the Holly Rec Area. Starting to look like we may be back to tent camping this year. S'ok, though. That's plenty of fun, too!
You can make an RV work for Rennie camping. Just remember that no matter how many goodies and toys you have inside, the fun is outside. Use the RV for sleeping and spend the rest of your time outside and it will be fun for everybody.
My buddy bought his trailer before we did. I swore I would never have one because "it's just not camping at that point". So about a year later my wife nagged me so much that I went to look at them with her. And guess what? She found the one she "had" to have. So me being the smart weed puller that I am, I tell the salesman we'll take it if he can get me credit for the whole package. Now of course I didn't realize it was the last day of the month and a salesman wants that last sale right? Ya, well, he was gone for all of 5 minutes. When he got back all I had to do was sign on the line and take it home! Holy crap, I still don't know how he did that. Our credit was so bad back then it was a miracle they didn't shoot him when they heard our name!
So now I own this trailer, err house on wheels right? Damn. How do I get it home? I had like 3 Bronco's and a S-10 Blazer. By no means anything close to being able to tow this monster home. I had to call my buddy to come pick it up and take it home for me. Two months later I flew to New Mexico to pick up my new truck...
All that just to go camping... Ya, it's really camping now! ::)
Jon.
With all this RV talk, I had to point this out. My friend and his wife have been coming with us for our "Big Weekend" for the past 2 years, and she considers the 35-foot-loaded-to-the-gills-sleeps-eight-bedroom-and-living-room-extend-out-RV I bring to be "roughing it". :o
:D :D :D
Jon.
Oh Boy!!! Lots more campers it sounds like for 2009...wooohoooo!!!!
I luv camping, even my broken ribs and phenomia and pouring rain..... did not stop me....giggle.....big bonfire, a few brews..... and lots of great folks make it so much more fun. ::)
Quote from: Ladyfair on December 14, 2008, 11:52:32 PM
Oh Boy!!! Lots more campers it sounds like for 2009...wooohoooo!!!!
I luv camping, even my broken ribs and phenomia and pouring rain..... did not stop me....giggle.....big bonfire, a few brews..... and lots of great folks make it so much more fun. ::)
I'll drink to that! ;D
Jon.
I'm glad to see a few people are actually interested in this!! Here's hoping, when the time comes, we can actually pull it off!!
We've been interested in it for a while... The next time we are out for a drive we will see if it's possible to drive through the state campgrounds to see if we can find a site our trailer will fit in for next seasons MIRF. But we may have to wait until spring if the park is closed as we are guessing.
Jon.
see jon.. if you just had a tent ya would not have to worry about if it would fit :)
I dunno how big your camper is, Jon, but the 35' RV we take fits fine. We go to the Holly Rec Area....not sure if it's the same as where you're looking.
Tony, will still have the tent but it's been in the bag for a long time now!
Maelstrom, we'll take another look to see if it will fit. If you are getting in there I'm sure we can too. The truck is 24' and the trailer is 35'.
Jon.
Quote from: Jon Foster on December 17, 2008, 05:30:45 PM
Maelstrom, we'll take another look to see if it will fit. If you are getting in there I'm sure we can too. The truck is 24' and the trailer is 35'.
Jon.
HOLY GOOD LORD IN HEAVEN!!! :o :o
I thought
we travelled big!!
How long is your tow vehicle? Or, is your RV a motor home? With a toad?
Jon.
It's just a motor home. I can barely back up a lawn tractor with a wagon on the back, let alone a tow vehicle with an RV!!!
Truth be told, it belongs to my parents and I just borrow it a couple times a summer. I may be tenting it this year, though. My mom wants to retire soon so selling The Beast off is high on her priority list. Hey!!! Speaking of, if anyone's interested, lemme know!!
I don't think we could live in a RV full time. The idea sounds very romantic and fun etc. But to actually do it, I don't think we could. For one thing, I have way too much crap. I'd have to clean up and get rid of all my hobbies! :'(
Jon.
woooohoooo
We are about to buy a pop-up camper. So we will most certainly be up for MIRF camping madness!!!
Congrats on the new camper. Can you post some pictures for us? How big is it? How many people will be using it?
I'm ready to do some serious camping this year. I've had it with this frigid cold crap.
Jon.
Went to "The Beast" and just sat in her for awhile. Is there really still 6 months to go!!??
The Gods be cruel!
I haven't gone out to sit in the trailer yet. I'm holding out as long as I can. ;)
Jon.
Hey Jon,
If we manage to bump into each other this season, I'll hafta introduce you to a friend of mine. He posts (once in a Blue Moon) as "Xanthenes the Unbalanced" and has recently upgraded all his photo gear to HD. He's looking forward to taking it for a test drive this season and I'm sure he'd love to have someone to swap war stories with!
Sounds good! We'll have to meet up at the pub... I think we'll be going to MIRF a lot this season. Now that the kids are getting older they like hanging out there too.
Jon.
Edit: I just looked up Xanthenes the Unbalanced profile and checked out a couple of his posts. I recognize a bunch of the shots.
Quote from: maelstrom0370 on February 25, 2009, 12:18:04 AM
Hey Jon,
If we manage to bump into each other this season, I'll hafta introduce you to a friend of mine. He posts (once in a Blue Moon) as "Xanthenes the Unbalanced" and has recently upgraded all his photo gear to HD. He's looking forward to taking it for a test drive this season and I'm sure he'd love to have someone to swap war stories with!
...as a mild correction: Video gear and editing has all been upgraded to HD. Photo gear is 21 mpixel DSLR and 8.3 mpixel DSLR.
M, you're grounded from speaking the King's Technobabble for two weeks. ;D
Quote from: Xanthenes The Unbalanced on February 25, 2009, 10:36:32 PM
Quote from: maelstrom0370 on February 25, 2009, 12:18:04 AM
Hey Jon,
If we manage to bump into each other this season, I'll hafta introduce you to a friend of mine. He posts (once in a Blue Moon) as "Xanthenes the Unbalanced" and has recently upgraded all his photo gear to HD. He's looking forward to taking it for a test drive this season and I'm sure he'd love to have someone to swap war stories with!
...as a mild correction: Video gear and editing has all been upgraded to HD. Photo gear is 21 mpixel DSLR and 8.3 mpixel DSLR.
M, you're grounded from speaking the King's Technobabble for two weeks. ;D
What are you? Some sort of Message Board Demon? Someone types your name and you appear!!?? :P
...as a mild correction: Video gear and editing has all been upgraded to HD. Photo gear is 21 mpixel DSLR and 8.3 mpixel DSLR.
M, you're grounded from speaking the King's Technobabble for two weeks. ;D
[/quote]
What are you? Some sort of Message Board Demon? Someone types your name and you appear!!?? :P
[/quote]
I installed a bot which searches for my name and forum aliases and sets off a siren in my head every time there's a hit.
;) Ouch!
Jon.
The state campgrounds are open for the season so we drove through yesterday... There is a whole section we didn't see before with plenty of room for trucks and trailers etc. I think we'll try it out a few times this season...
Jon.
Where's the state campground located?
It's the one just east of Dixie on Grange Hall Rd. Behind the state police station and the Groveland Oaks campground. I thought you stayed there before?
Jon.
We stay at the Holly Rec Area.
If they're one in the same then I'm an idiot! :P
Quote from: maelstrom0370 on April 08, 2009, 01:14:39 AM
We stay at the Holly Rec Area.
If they're one in the same then I'm an idiot! :P
;D I'm assuming they are. But I'll ask my wife to be sure!
Jon.
Yes they are the same
Already have spots reserved for the first two weekends and Labor Day weekend......weeeeeeee!!!!!
Are you in the tent area or the RV area? Actually, where do most of the RFer's go? Does everyone sort of stay in a group or is it just where ever you get a spot is good enough?
Jon.
I was also wondering if there was a certain group of sites I should be trying to get into.
To my knowlege, there's no "set" place the Rennies camp. Ladyfair let us know where her site was last year and we booked one next to her. When I started this thread, I was hoping to get all the Rennies that camp to do so in a group.
We are booked for the same spot as usual.....for opening weekend this year. If ya'll would like to be next to us....message me for the campsite number.
Ladyfair, are you in the tent area or RV area? Just curious. I don't think we'll camp out more than once or twice during the season because we live close enough to drive etc.
Jon.
We haven't booked anything yet, still waiting to see where everyone ends up. We'll definitely be on the RV side for Opening Weekend, beyond that I'll have to wait and see how work shakes out. We'll day trip at least one or two more weekends after that but dunno about camping more than the 1st weekend yet. Anyone else interested in a communal/pot-luck type meal(s) and/or a drunken campfire night? Obviously, the campfire part is optional! ;) ::) :P
Okey doke...hope to see you all there!!!
We're working on our plans too.
Jon.
Count us in on the potluck drunken diner....giggle..... burnt hotdogs for eveyone.....lol
I do not usually post in this thread as I am in the south, but I saw the the title and could not resist. Let me put this out there to any and all, you may not agree but that's o.k. to. In my youth I did as most all did, bought a tent, cots, sleeping bags, lanterns, a cooler, and a coleman stove. At the time I had a 67' toyota land cruiser and my then wife and I thought we had the world by the tail. Time went on and I got a much larger tent. Time continued and we went from the large tent, to a small pop-up, then to a small trailer, to a larger trailer, got divorced and went to a motor home. Got re-married and got a slightly larger motor-home and then to a 29 foot class-c with either a car trailer or a car-caddy depending on what we are towing. In the beginning I thought as some of you did that trailering or motorhoming it was not camping, but then neither is moteling. When it became increasingly harder and harder to find a motel anywhere near where we wanted to be that would accept our dog(if your motel is to good for our dog, then we are not good enough for your motel), we decided to get the big class-c. Now we are looking at a 35' Class-a with 3 slide-outs. Of course I am now 40 some odd years older than my camping days and believe me I do not miss it. Yes I had fun, for I was young and limber, today I am older and stiff as a board so I need comfort. The comfort I get in my M.H. leaves me rested for the time to walk the faire and enjoy the sights and sounds of faire. So do not bemoan wishing, wanting, or even having the creature comforts of an RV. It is one less worry to think about in deciding to go to faire. And there is a side benefit, with good quality(not roach infested) motels going for around anywhere from $65 and up per night and campground fees around $25. That $40 dollar difference buys a lot of gas and food for the trip, depending on how many nights you stay.
Quote from: Jon Foster on December 21, 2008, 03:28:59 PM
I don't think we could live in a RV full time. The idea sounds very romantic and fun etc. But to actually do it, I don't think we could. For one thing, I have way too much crap. I'd have to clean up and get rid of all my hobbies! :'(
Jon.
Well there are different ways to do that. My wife and I have been talking about it for a while and we cannot come to a common ground. I have the same problem you do in that I have to many hobby type things that I would have to get rid of and that is just not doable. Also my wife wants a home base so that precludes selling all we own and hitting the road, so when the time comes we will hit the road for 4 to 6 weeks at a time, have some sort of watch-dog for the house and then come home periodically stay home for a month and plan the next trip.
Going full time can have its rewards, you are free to go where you choose, when you choose and you have nothing to tie you down, but hen you start getting the "I am a gypsy" syndrome and some people can't handle that, they need a permanent place to come to and belong to.
I wish we could afford an RV that would be fantastic. In the past we have always tented it. And I don't mind tenting it. Be right now we have 5 weekend camping trips planned and possibly more. So we bumped up to pop-up trailer. It was affordable. And we didn't want to sink a bunch of money into something we might not use. If this year, and say maybe the next two years, we use it alot. Then I bet we jusmp right up to something big. If we can. In the meantime.....this last weekend I pretty much gutted the pop-up. We got it for $650 and it needs some TLC. New curtains, a good cleaning, pergo floors, ooooo and I got down matress pads. Those are the best. Just gotta remeber to pack them away in their nice little plastic bag so they don't get wet. Ew that'll be a mess someday. But in the meantime.....they make me happy. The best part of it is that I can pack it, and pretty much just leave it, other than to clean sheets and table clothes, or to restock the "pantry". Instead of the load and unload the camping gear thing.
We are deffinetly up for pot-lucking at MIRF!!! Like I said, we'll be camping the first two weekends and Labor Day weekend. woooohooooo As we get closer we can start a ,who will bring what, thread for the campground fun. Yeah!!! Normally I'd be like....aren't we there yet.....but Ivor isn't even home from Iraq yet so I'm kinda in a......isn't my husband home yet......mode.
Blakduke, I hear ya on traveling in a RV. I've done the camping thing many many times and in all types of weather conditions. I really enjoy getting into a nice soft, warm bed at night!
Flidais, I don't actually know you but I'll bet anything that you will enjoy having the pop-up 100%. And I'll wager that you'll be thinking of something bigger before the end of the camping season. It doesn't matter if you can afford it, you'll still want to move up. ;)
I honestly tried everything I could think of to avoid buying a (big) trailer. But the first time we used it (not counting the driveway) I was 100% sold on it. That first night it rained so hard I woke up from a dead sleep (a gun shot won't wake me up) shook myself conscious, realized it was a nasty storm and went right back to sleep. The next morning I ate my freshly cooked breakfast and watched all the tent campers wringing the water out of everything they owned.
I still have fond memories of tenting it but like Blakduke mentioned in his post, I'm getting too old for some things these days.
Jon.
Blakduke - I have to agree with those creature comforts!!!
Flidias start that list .... giggle..... are we there yet????
I realize the economy doth sucketh canal water, however in light of the topic at hand that could be a good thing. I have seen and heard of very high priced RV's going for utterly insanely low prices. This truely is the time to buy. If you think car dealers are hurting(you almost have to have a car) what do you think these RV dealers are doing. For the most part they are eating grass and dandelions and calling it salad. I have had dealers that I have barely spoken 2 words to in the last 15 years calling me up and begging me to come and look at what they have. Best advice I can give anyone who is just beginning, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BUY A NEW RV, EVEN IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT. You may ask why???? simple, first let someone else take that 20% depreciation the minute they drive it off the lot. Second and more important, what if you don't like it, or you find that RV'ing is not for you, or as will most likely be the case you want to trade up(refer to the first reason). Instead get the cheapest one that you can find that is clean, all equipment is functional, with a minimum of problems that fits your needs, I.E. enough room for all family members, will it tow if you have a car to trailer. Use it until you decide either it's the right one for you, or you decide to upgrade to larger or newer one or both.
Thanks Blakduke for all the advice. At some point we see ourselves in an RV. Lots of good things to keep in mind as we move in that direction.
I did a lot of "take only what you can carry" type camping when I was in my teens and 20's. It was fun then, but give me my creature comforts ANYday now! ;)
Currently, we borrow my parents RV when we go to Faire (Opening Weekend is literally the only time it gets out of thier drive way), but we've been toying with the idea of buying a pop-up. We're just waiting until I (hopefully) find a job that doesn't require me to work every weekend.
i'm just gonna cheat... brother wrecked my smaller tent last season..and a 15 man tent s not fun to put up when its just you and way to big anyways for just 1.. so i will just get a smal camp site.. and sleep in the back seat of my new truck, they fold flat. and i tried it once alreayd.. lol already got it fiigured out and a screen and fan i can put in the window for ventilation.. and then all my wood, campt chair, and cooler in the bed of the truck. lol.. will save lots of time in tear down of the site.
now if i could only get dad to let me borrow his camper.. would be better but i know that he will never let me use it.
Yes Jon we are in the RV section..... but we use a tent.....lol...stilll saving up for a hard sided popup or small RV..... but now we have to find a nice truck.... as our chariot can no longer tow anything.... and the ride home from FL..... we smoked those brakes a few times.....(that was scary) those dang montains are no joke.....giggle....
Ok....
So it seems this camping thing is coming along nicely, but we're all sorta spread out. Ladyfair has proposed that her site would be large enough to host any gathering/potluck things we might do, as will the site I'm booking. Sound good to everyone??
I figure as time draws nearer, we can get a list of who's bringing what. Unless, of course, someone more organized than myself should take over from here and get things going! *hint, hint, nudge, nudge* ::) If not, that's fine too. This is sorta my baby, so I should probably see it through.
Until then, what works for everyone. I know some of you are vendors and/or performers so you have schedules to keep. What works best?
A Breakfast?
A Dinner?
A night of cocktails around the fire?
Walking passed one another and nodding "Hello"?
Can't wait!!!!!
We'll keep watching this thread to see what comes about... Then we'll see what we can do at that time as well. I think I'll be laid off when school gets out at the end of the month.
Ladyfair, I know what you mean. We took our old Thunderbird up to Look Out Mountain? on a trip down to Florida a few years ago. The ride up was fine. The ride down was crazy! I had to do a full brake job when we got to the in-laws house in Clearwater.
Jon.
okay campers....... its looking like opening weekend dates have changed...... now to find out if we can alter our camping reseverations
According to the DNR info in front of me you can cancel and be refunded the site fee but not the $8 reservation fee.
well.... it cost $18 total to cancel/change res..... so... looks like we wont be camping as my site was already booked .... so I just canceled.....
maybe we can figure out something else to do....... there is always the bar to hang out at....lol gonna try the hotels in the area to see what they can offer us.
Sorry Ladyfair. What about the campground on Dixie? It's at the same corner as the State Police department and where you turn to go to the state campground.
Jon.
Campground reservations changed....whew!
OK...
...so who's still planning to camp at least for Opening Weekend?? I'm booking our site this week (next week at the latest) and will be happy to host a little "get together" if anyone's still interested?
HAHA!!!
Welcome to Clan McLotofus, MICHIGAN CHAPTER!!!!
SWEET!!!
Quote from: blue66669 on June 10, 2009, 03:48:37 PM
HAHA!!!
Welcome to Clan McLotofus, MICHIGAN CHAPTER!!!!
SWEET!!!
LOL...I wish! You guys are what gave me the idea, but there's not many people who camp. We'll see how it goes, though.
Quote from: MaelStrom on June 10, 2009, 03:31:27 PM
OK...
...so who's still planning to camp at least for Opening Weekend?? I'm booking our site this week (next week at the latest) and will be happy to host a little "get together" if anyone's still interested?
I haven't reserved anything for opening weekend as it's still up in the air whether or not we can make it.
We're all set for Labor Day weekend, though. We are arriving Friday and staying 'til Tuesday. :)
Quote from: sealion on June 10, 2009, 04:26:08 PM
Quote from: MaelStrom on June 10, 2009, 03:31:27 PM
OK...
...so who's still planning to camp at least for Opening Weekend?? I'm booking our site this week (next week at the latest) and will be happy to host a little "get together" if anyone's still interested?
I haven't reserved anything for opening weekend as it's still up in the air whether or not we can make it.
We're all set for Labor Day weekend, though. We are arriving Friday and staying 'til Tuesday. :)
Hmmm...Opening Weekend is "Come Hell or High Water!!" for us. We're both (hopefully) starting new jobs soon, so anything else will be at the whim of those schedules. I'm guessing we'll at least "day trip" a few more times during the course of Faire.
For all of Y'all who need camping sites don't forget about 7 lakes state park northwest of holly,,, just a shot down grange hall road from dixie.
We've never stayed at Seven Lakes but the camp area is kind of small and I'd imagine it will probably have lots of RV's in it during the summer. Tenters may have to deal with AC units running all night. I remember the first time we tented it with rigs all around us... It was the last time we did that!
Jon.
U mean u don't pack in your tentAC unit??
Ok....
Sounds like camping during Opening Weekend is on again!! When I get our site booked, I'll post it and hopefully we can all (those of us camping, anyways) get something worked out.
Yea...so...
Looks like camping is off again! >:( :'(
BUT...we ARE day tripping whenever possible!!!
...and On Again...
At least for labor Day weekend. Sat and Sun for sure, Fri is up in the air, depending on her work schedule.
Sure it is... :P
Jon.
You guys are TOAST if I ever get up that far north... you know that, right???
Quote from: Jon Foster on August 03, 2009, 04:44:49 PM
Sure it is... :P
Jon.
Yea...kinda thinkin' the same thing. I'm not holding my breath on this one. ::) :P
We'll be camping that weekend too. Hope it works out for you guys.
Quote from: flidais on August 04, 2009, 11:29:40 AM
We'll be camping that weekend too. Hope it works out for you guys.
Lemme know what site and when I know FOR SURE that we're REALLY FOR REAL camping that weekend, I'll let you know where we are!!