MiRF Campers

[maelstrom0370]

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!   
Okey doke...hope to see you all there!!!

[Jon Foster]

We're working on our plans too.

Jon.

[Ladyfair]

Count us in on the potluck drunken diner....giggle..... burnt hotdogs for eveyone.....lol

[BLAKDUKE]

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.    

[BLAKDUKE]

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. 
   

[flidais]

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.   

[Jon Foster]

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.

[Ladyfair]

Blakduke - I have to agree with those creature comforts!!!

Flidias start that list .... giggle..... are we there yet?

[BLAKDUKE]

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.     

[flidais]

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.   

[maelstrom0370]

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.

[Cyron]

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.

[Ladyfair]

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....

[maelstrom0370]

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!!!!!

[Jon Foster]

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.