Too old to camp but have onsite/RGA.

[banjomensch]

So this is my first RG and I got accepted into RGA plus I have on site camping and a vehicle pass.

But we got tent camping out of our systems back in the 70s. Fun then. Now, not so much.

Renting a camper is outrageous -- can't afford it.

Thinking of renting a minivan or something....I'm sure I'm not the first one with this problem.

Any other ideas from the veterans?

Really looking forward to this. Would like to have a place to sleep that will afford some comfort, don't need to do the RV thang.

/john

[Pat in dairyland]

After many years in a tent my family has the festival down to a good system.  Since you are in the academy you should be able to have a little more room than just your tent.  My suggestion is you get a good wall tent that is a little bigger than your minimum need for space and an ez up for a sun shelter.  Then either get yourself a good air bed (way better than anything from the 70's) or some cots.  I have used both over the years and while not my bed at home I have had no problems with the academy and festival.  Bring the pillow you use at home no matter what.  I have found that even in a hotel if you have a crappy pillow you aren't getting a good night sleep.

The other option is to get a nice van and put a futon or something in the back.

Look for me by the Badgers or Packers ez up

 Listening to: Yonder Madison 2002

[banjomensch]

Good suggestions!  Right now we're thinking of flying in, renting a minivan, buying an ez up and some folding chairs, bringing sleeping bags and air mattresses. We were going to drive from Los Angeles, but wife will have JUST finished six rounds of chemo and why dump her into an adventure like that so soon?

So I think we'll play the cards closer to the vest this time. We have a nephew in Denver who I'm sure will be glad for the ez up and chairs.

What about food? can you go into town and get groceries? Or is that not practical? Maybe we should just bring extra $$ and buy from vendors.....

I'm getting excited. Never have been to RG, and RGA is frosting on the cake!

/john

[Pat in dairyland]

Longmont is 20 min east of Lyons and has large grocery stores.  Lyons has a small, but pricey grocery store.  They do have all the stuff you might need including good sandwiches.  Lyons is a great town with a small but good selection of restaurants.  There is mexican, pizza, coffee shops, Oskar Blues has music and cajun and American type food.  Some limited food is available on site and there are the two bbq's for academy members and guests on Monday and Thursday nights.  Also Planet Bluegrass provides coffee tea and hot cider with baked goods during the week of the academy in the morning.  There are also breakfast burritos available.  We usually bring milk, fruit, juice,  and cereal and stuff for sandwiches and check out a couple restaurants.

 Listening to: tony rice

[MJ6]

I'm also too old (and "in the way" and infirm and all of that) to camp--and I've NEVER camped before--but there I will be for RGA and Rockygrass proper with my young son, who will be in the kids' camp.

We were not able to get a vehicle pass, so I'm wondering what the veterans would suggest for the likes of us. So far, sounds like popup for two (with room to stand), 2 cots or 1 lg. airbed, extra ez-up for shade, pickin' chairs as well as comfy low lawn chairs for sitting on at the festival proper on our tarps, ice chest to fill with drinks and sandwich stuff. And all the other personal items, of course. A wagon to pull into town to buy more drinks.

We need to buy a tent and a shade thing. What do people suggest? There will definitely be two of us, possibly three (I have a guest pass for 1 during RGA but am not sure if we will actually use it). Do the ez-up shade covers have side flaps that come down--in case of sideways rain, for instance, or bugs or cold or what have you? Or are they completely open on all sides? SO, as I understand it, erecting one right next to a tent would still constitute just ONE camp space?

Thanks for any words of wisdom. I know there's lots of collective advice here on this forum re camping and tarping, etc. but it can be hard to cobble it all together and hold it in my mind, especially as a newbie. Though we are local, we've never even been to Rockygrass before, much less to RGA! So, yes, EXCITED we are! (as Yoda would put it)

 Listening to: Sarah Jarosz

[Mark J]

I can help.  Do you have a RG on-site pass for the festival??  after the academy??

[MJ6]

I can help.  Do you have a RG on-site pass for the festival??  after the academy??

Yep, we do. We're there for the whole week! Does that change anything in terms of what gear to bring and how to set up?

 Listening to: Cornmeal

[landshark]

That sleepin bag on the ground keeps gettin further away each year....


Whats up with that. 

Hope your not to old to dance

[Mark J]

I can help.  Do you have a RG on-site pass for the festival??  after the academy??

Yep, we do. We're there for the whole week! Does that change anything in terms of what gear to bring and how to set up?

I asked because you mention a pop-up.  If you are speaking of a pop-camper, you can't have that on-site without a vehicle pass.  If nothing else, having a cot that keeps you off the ground will be just fine.  In case of rain, you stay dry.  It doesn't get cold at night like Telluride, so staying dry is the most important thing! 

[MJ6]

I can help.  Do you have a RG on-site pass for the festival??  after the academy??

Yep, we do. We're there for the whole week! Does that change anything in terms of what gear to bring and how to set up?

I asked because you mention a pop-up.  If you are speaking of a pop-camper, you can't have that on-site without a vehicle pass.  If nothing else, having a cot that keeps you off the ground will be just fine.  In case of rain, you stay dry.  It doesn't get cold at night like Telluride, so staying dry is the most important thing! 

I was thinking more of a free-standing, popup shade cover. I thought that's what other people meant by ez-up. I hadn't thought of the car add-on types, but one of those would be very cool if we could sleep in the back of our Suburban and have a little shady sitting/pickin/"bistro" area attached.

We don't currently have a vehicle pass but I am trying to secure one. There don't seem to be many out there that people want to part with. Some guy on here is trying to trade one for a $190 3-day on-site pass, but I can't bring myself to give in to that kind of skullduggery.

We'll probably go for the cots.

 Listening to: The Infamous Stringdusters

[pickin4hank]

Contact me, we might be very good for each other!  I live in Lyons and have a pop-up that I'll park on-site for RGA and am looking to leave for RG but not camping pass for RG.  Hmmm......

Scott 303-579-9720

[MJ6]

Sounds promising ... we can be adjacent! I'm also local (Ned). I'm leaving early tomorrow for a weekend away so will call you next week when I'm back.