Wait ... so ... where does my car and tents go?

[Shalise]

It seems like such a simple thing, but for some reason I don't understand.

There are eight of us going. My boyfriend and I alone have three GIANT tents for sleeping, supplies & bikes, and a community room. I assume there will be at least four more tents plus an outdoor canopied area.

Last time I went we parked and set our tents up in a giant circle with a theme camp.

Where do we set up if we are not with a theme camp?

Do we have to park our cars separate from our tents?

Is there a certain area for people to set up who are not with a theme camp and we just choose an open enough spot for all of us?
If so, is this area part of the city with the streets or outside of the city?

Will there still be room on Monday early evening for all of us to find a spot together?
If not, if some of us arrive earlier, can they save a spot for us?
Also, where would those of us who arrive early leave a note for the others?
Would we find that note in Playa Info?
Do we park in a certain area and walk around to get to Playa Info because we can't drive around?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thank You
-Shalise-

[EB]

Yes, there'll be plenty of room for eight people to camp next to one another and park.

The city generally fills up from the inner circles on out, so after you pull into the Greeter Gate, ask where some empty spots are.

[Shalise]

Yes, there'll be plenty of room for eight people to camp next to one another and park.

The city generally fills up from the inner circles on out, so after you pull into the Greeter Gate, ask where some empty spots are.

I see. So everyone camps in the city with their cars and there should still be a large area for all of us and someone at the gate may know where that would be.

Thank You

[sputnik]

It is doubtful that anyone on gate will know what is open. Just drive around until you find a spot that looks big enough.

[vic]

There is lots of room. Except for the theme camps, which are only about 15% of BRC, you can camp anywhere that is open. Everybody has their vehicles in their camps - usually around the edges to serve as wind breaks. To find your spot, it might be best to park you vehicles in some place on the outskirts, and explore by bicycle. When you find your spot, leave on of your people there to hold the spot. If you are having trouble finding the right spot, try asking around in the camps near where you would like to camp. There may be available space that is not obivous.

[gyre]

How could you have been and not know this?

Some camps arrange cars in one spot, others incorporate them.
Most areas develop a pattern.
Some just get a little nuts.

Be sure to remember where you camp.

Register on playa info and be very specific about location.
A good camp marker or sign is useful if anyone wants to find you.
I think it's a good idea to register under any name someone might look for you under.

A good camp sign should be on the street so it can be read at night.

[JezebelinHell]

You can also just make up a camp name before you leave, make sure everyone knows it, and put your location in Playa Info under that name. All the years I went out without a theme camp the early arrivals would give everyone a general idea of the area they were shooting for (i.e. as close to 3:30 and E as we can get) and then post signs on the nearby street signs with the camp name and arrows. Always worked just fine for us.

[Boijoy]

you can also register your camp name on the computers at Center Camp.

[Captain Goddammit]

How could you have been and not know this?

I gotta admit, that was my first thought!

[Shalise]

How could you have been and not know this?

I gotta admit, that was my first thought!

Since you are wondering ...

"Last time I went we parked and set our tents up in a giant circle with a theme camp."

I was sooooo excited by the whole thing. It was a lot to take in. I went with my boyfriend at the time and some of our friends. They drove, knew where to go, and knew who we were camping with. I will say though that I had done quite a bit of research before I left and had the best stocked tote of first aid and dust proof equipment and enough for everyone in our group. I brought bandannas, goggles, dust masks, and mole skin. Plus medicine for every ailment including lotions, emu heel, cold meds, aspirin, etc. (hah, I'm trying to defend my intelligence with those last three sentences) When we got there the theme camp was mostly set up and we parked and set up our tents where they told us to. I never found out what the solo people do. I am coordinating with several people in two states and there is only one other besides me who has been before. Unfortunately, I have not spoken with that person because they went solo last year. By "solo" I mean: not with a theme camp. Also, it's been three years.

[betrdanevr]

You go, girl!

Don't take their snarkin' too seriously here.

Some Martians seem to be uncomfortable or at least have to jest sometimes when Venusians "step out of their spot" and are willing to ask questions to find out details they need to know.

Martians must have some kind of secret language where they get certain info from each other (without sayin' it) unless it's in like the Contraption thread. LOL

Viva la difference.

[gyre]

How could you have been and not know this?

I gotta admit, that was my first thought!

Since you are wondering ...

"Last time I went we parked and set our tents up in a giant circle with a theme camp."

I was sooooo excited by the whole thing. It was a lot to take in. I went with my boyfriend at the time and some of our friends. They drove, knew where to go, and knew who we were camping with. I will say though that I had done quite a bit of research before I left and had the best stocked tote of first aid and dust proof equipment and enough for everyone in our group. I brought bandannas, goggles, dust masks, and mole skin. Plus medicine for every ailment including lotions, emu heel, cold meds, aspirin, etc. (hah, I'm trying to defend my intelligence with those last three sentences) When we got there the theme camp was mostly set up and we parked and set up our tents where they told us to. I never found out what the solo people do. I am coordinating with several people in two states and there is only one other besides me who has been before. Unfortunately, I have not spoken with that person because they went solo last year. By "solo" I mean: not with a theme camp. Also, it's been three years.

Not snark at all.
I can only think you were busy in camp all week.
Didn't you get a chance to visit other people?
The first thing I wanted to know when I got there was how it all works.
Every camp is a little bit different.
There are a lot of nuances that are hard to get until you go.

The different ways people organize camping out there is still fascinating.

[Shalise]

I gotta admit, that was my first thought!

Since you are wondering ...

"Last time I went we parked and set our tents up in a giant circle with a theme camp."

I was sooooo excited by the whole thing. It was a lot to take in. I went with my boyfriend at the time and some of our friends. They drove, knew where to go, and knew who we were camping with. I will say though that I had done quite a bit of research before I left and had the best stocked tote of first aid and dust proof equipment and enough for everyone in our group. I brought bandannas, goggles, dust masks, and mole skin. Plus medicine for every ailment including lotions, emu heel, cold meds, aspirin, etc. (hah, I'm trying to defend my intelligence with those last three sentences) When we got there the theme camp was mostly set up and we parked and set up our tents where they told us to. I never found out what the solo people do. I am coordinating with several people in two states and there is only one other besides me who has been before. Unfortunately, I have not spoken with that person because they went solo last year. By "solo" I mean: not with a theme camp. Also, it's been three years.

Not snark at all.
I can only think you were busy in camp all week.
Didn't you get a chance to visit other people?
The first thing I wanted to know when I got there was how it all works.
Every camp is a little bit different.
There are a lot of nuances that are hard to get until you go.

The different ways people organize camping out there is still fascinating.

I traveled around a lot. I just never asked the question:

Were you assigned this spot or did you just set up camp on this street?

[gyre]

Enable your bbcode, smilies and whatnot on your profile and it should work in preview and so on.
I suggest adding your email too.

Maybe you came in too late for it, but even in a theme camp, people seem to always be coming by asking these same questions about where to camp and so on.

I think people started coming by asking about where camp space was before I even had my tent up.

[EB]

It is doubtful that anyone on gate will know what is open.

Not true.