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Post by mrbananagrabber on May 23, 2011 10:22:38 GMT -5
Long time lurker and roo noob here.
My friends and I are looking to arrive in the wee hours Thursday morning (3-6 am most likely). I've read up enough to know that means we have a good chance of ending up in BFE. Is the only downside the longer walk to Centeroo? I'd take that con if the pros are we can hang out all day Thursday and avoid a huge wait in line. I feel like if everyone there is in the same situation it won't be that bad. Am I underestimating how crappy that walk is going to be, or are there other negatives to being in BFE? Counting down the days...
It's not so bad for a lot of people. I like to go back and forth from Centeroo to my campsite quite a bit. And even BFE wouldn't be bad for me alone, but when my wife was in BFE it was pretty rough on her.
BFE is laid back, shady and everyone is very easy going. But if you like to go back and forth during the day, it can be brutal.
If you're in BFE have a show schedule figured out so you can plan on staying in Centeroo once you go. You won't want to go back to camp to eat, shower, or just chill.
Maybe now that they have taxis, it might not be so bad if you're willing to pay for the rides to and fro.
As a campground BFE is just like any other -- maybe a little less noisy or a little more shady, depending -- but the walk between there and Centeroo can be long. Four suggestions for improving it:
1) Play with the crowd along the way. Your fellow distance-walkers are likewise looking for a way to pass the time, so meet & greet. Also, a lot of the people whose campsites line the roads are likely to be people-watching YOU, so don't disappoint them. Stop in and say hi. Make conversation, etc. If you're ready for a break from the walking and you see anything that looks interesting -- a flag, a method of setting up the camp, a shade-hanging or a sign...step over and compliment the people who are camping there.
2) Plan your day around minimizing the number of times you have to walk back and forth. Spend ALL DAY in Centeroo, even if this means you have to hump more stuff around with you. It'll be worth it -- that's where a good big piece of the action is, anyway.
3) Always, always, always make your bed and do your other PM prep before you leave camp. Find your toothbrush, etc. That way you can collapse as soon as you get back rather than having to do that long walk and futz around your camp for a half-hour afterwards when you'd rather be sleeping.
4) Throw a couple of road beers in your pockets or bag to drink along the way. Arriving at Centeroo with some of your drink already on will save you money in the long run.
Last Edit: May 23, 2011 10:48:36 GMT -5 by Deleted - Back to Top
1.) You avoid traffic and can relax all day thursday 2.) You can potential get a bigger campsite if your neighbors go to tent only, which alot of people do 3.) It's kind of isolated from the rest of the festival so it's a little more chill. Less security. 4.) There is a "short cut" entrance to the what stage they open up at times through the weekend, and you can hire a cab so the walk is not always a huge trek.
For me though the inconvenience of it is enough to avoid BFE if possible. Walking 20-30 minutes to centeroo in the hot sun sucks and it wastes a lot of time/energy. You're feet get sore and you're legs get tired quicker making it that much tougher to power through the day and into latenight. You're not going to want to go back and forth between camp in centeroo very much either so you really have to put a lot more thought into you're day what to bring, when to eat, etc. It also really sucks at 4:30am when you're tired as hell and you just want to lay down to have to walk a long way to get to camp.
Here's an example of why I'll never do BFE ever again: When Tool played in 2007 they didn't want people to ruin their light show with flash photography. I was however completely unaware of this as it wasn't advertised or announced in any way. After walking 20 minutes from BFE under the hot afternoon sun, then standing in the security line for another 15-20 minutes under the sun to get into the festival, I finally get to the search portion and the security guy tells me I can't bring in my camera. I argued with him briefly, because I wasn't just going to through away my $200 camera so I got out of line and tried a different security guy (thinking the one I got originally was just a azzclown). I was again turned away because of my camera. I then had to walk another 20 minutes back to camp at BFE to drop off my camera turn around walk back another 20 minutes to centeroo and then stand in line to get through security, again. BFE won't ruin your experience but it definitely hurts it.
i love BFE. it's nice and quiet and secluded and provides for a nice escape from the crowds. we generally plan our days around not having to commute back and forth and usually towards the end of the weekend we start utilizing the taxis. theyre kinda fun. just remember you can't have open containers (that always bummed me out lol). but the walk is definitely a nice time to take down a couple beers and pregame for Centeroo. and like others have said the walk can be, well, "interesting" at times. i will note that this year we rented a locker so we can stash some dry clothes and sweatshirts for the night so that we don't have to walk back to our campsite
"Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is man's original virtue. It is through disobedience and rebellion that progress has been made." Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900), The Soul of Man Under Socialism
"You're either on the bus or off the bus." Ken Kesey
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." Hunter S. Thompson
i will note that this year we rented a locker so we can stash some dry clothes and sweatshirts for the night so that we don't have to walk back to our campsite
excellent idea/investment for people who camp in BFE this year.
Post by dreamingofthefarm on May 23, 2011 13:26:23 GMT -5
We may end up in BFE as we are arriving on Wednesday night. Last year, with the extreme heat, the long walk sucked the life out of us. So my question is, are taxis $5 per group or $5 per person?
We may end up in BFE as we are arriving on Wednesday night. Last year, with the extreme heat, the long walk sucked the life out of us. So my question is, are taxis $5 per group or $5 per person?
We may end up in BFE as we are arriving on Wednesday night. Last year, with the extreme heat, the long walk sucked the life out of us. So my question is, are taxis $5 per group or $5 per person?
I definitely used these late night getting back to camp last year. Lifesaver after throwing down for hours. We were about a 25 minute walk to Centeroo, which I did not mind at all walking to because I could drink a couple beers and see a lot of stuff.
Last year I was in Camp King Jaffe Joller, which was way out on the Northeast end of the farm.
One night I visited a friend's camp in BFE. Turns out it was actually a shorter walk to Centeroo than my own site, especially when they opened the gate through What Stage area.
I arrived in line from the South Thursday at about 9:00 am. My site is marked in green, friend in BFE is marked in blue, and centeroo is highlights in pink. . . Don't assume that by arriving Thursday you will be any closer than BFE. . .
Regardless, I had a great time and enjoyed cold drinks on the walk. My gf and I returned to camp every evening to shower and get fresh for night sets.
With the new gate opening time, would arriving at 0300-0600 Thursday even put you in BFE? Seems like 3am Thursday is the new 3pm Thursday...
I have wondered this myself. I know a lot of people will show up Wednesday evening this year so it is entirely possible that BFE will fill up very fast this year and people arriving a few hours after the gates open may be filling in the general camping area instead of BFE. I guess we will all find out when the reports trickle in via twitter and after the festival here on inforoo.
Post by Dave Maynar on May 23, 2011 14:03:08 GMT -5
Agreed. When it comes down to it, nobody really knows how the earlier opening is going to affect things. I would say that BFE will probably be less veteran heavy than previous years since the early opening used to be kind of secret whereas now it is plastered everywhere.
Last year I was in Camp King Jaffe Joller, which was way out on the Northeast end of the farm.
One night I visited a friend's camp in BFE. Turns out it was actually a shorter walk to Centeroo than my own site, especially when they opened the gate through What Stage area.
I arrived in line from the South Thursday at about 9:00 am. My site is marked in green, friend in BFE is marked in blue, and centeroo is highlights in pink. . . Don't assume that by arriving Thursday you will be any closer than BFE. . .
Regardless, I had a great time and enjoyed cold drinks on the walk. My gf and I returned to camp every evening to shower and get fresh for night sets.
I've always considered both areas BFE. "Blue" area gets discussed more because we know when it will get filled; FIRST! But you can get other BFE's at any time. The odds of getting BFE just drop from almost certain to unlikely as you get into Thursday.
As far as how fast BFE (blue) will fill, I think it will fill faster but they are normally still filling it early Thursday morning. They just start filling other areas also about 6am. So I think most or all of Wed night will still get BFE. But this is a whole new ballgame so that's just a guess.
I'm coming at 6am or so and take my chances as always. Had pretty good luck so far (fingers crossed)
don't forget to tip your driver! besides what i believe is their minimum wage hourly rate these guys basically work for tips. and they'll accept anything including refreshements, snacks, glowsticks, hugs. that also reminds me that some, keep in mind only some, drivers can be bartered as well if your low on cash. had a complication one year with a buddy in my group of friends and we didn't have enough cash to get on a taxi to get him back to camp. we ended up giving the driver various items to bring us back. we did end up seeing the driver later that weekend and thanked him with a nice tip
"Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is man's original virtue. It is through disobedience and rebellion that progress has been made." Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900), The Soul of Man Under Socialism
"You're either on the bus or off the bus." Ken Kesey
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." Hunter S. Thompson
What is the new opening time? This will be my 4th year coming, and I don't even remember when it opened in previous years. I thought it was something like 7am on Thursday, but the only thing I remember for sure is that they let people in well before the time they had posted on the site.
2008 - we arrived around 4am Thursday morning and ended up in BFE. 2009 - arrived closer to 7 or 8am Thursday morning and ended up in BFE again. 2010 - we arrived around 4am Thursday and sat on the side of the road for maybe 2 hours before they let us in, but we got a fantastic spot, very close to Centeroo.
It seems from my experience that they change the way they assign the spots from year to year, so there isn't any way to really plan your arrival time to get a good spot. We've stopped trying, we just get there when we get there.
And along with what everyone else says, the walk from BFE can definitely suck. We always made sure to plan out our day before leaving camp, so we'd find a gap in shows and use that time to come back to camp and eat/nap/whatever. Either way, our Bonnaroo experiences have been phenomenal no matter where we camped. Although our 2010 spot was pretty sweet...
The walk to and from BFE would not be nearly as bad if they would just leave the What Stage entrance open throughout the festival so people staying in BFE do not have to walk the long way around the VIP camping area.
Post by localweather on May 23, 2011 15:11:37 GMT -5
I've been in deep BFE twice and I didn't think it was all that bad. It's much more quiet so you can get some good sleep once you get back to your camp, not as many people passing by makes it a little more secure as well.
The walk can be a buzzkill, this is what I did...I would get up and go to Centeroo with the idea that I would be gone all day. Stay there from the afternoon until sometime before the headliner then go back to camp. Change clothes, get supplies, whatever, then go back to Centeroo with the idea that I would be gone the rest of the night. This worked out well and minimized the mile+ walk to a couple of times a day.
edit: Plus, if you get stuck in BFE that's it. You either drag your stuff to camping only or your tough it out. Instead of making a big deal out of it, just camp in BFE so you can tell everyone how freaking far your camp was and maybe next year you'll get one close and you'll appreciate it.
Post by outin46days on May 23, 2011 15:55:27 GMT -5
Here are my arrival times and eventual locations. Always have used the 55 entrance off the backroads.
2005 - 9am - Non-traditional BFE. Out in the boonies 2006 - 8am - On shakedown, 5 minute walk to the arch 2007 - 8am - Not BFE but not particularly close. kinda of in the middle.
2009 - 7am - In the last rows of traditional BFE.
2011 - just going to go on in whenever we are done at the walmart. i figure sometime between 3 and 5
The walk to and from BFE would not be nearly as bad if they would just leave the What Stage entrance open throughout the festival so people staying in BFE do not have to walk the long way around the VIP camping area.
To demonstrate the random nature - In 04' we arrived in two cars at about 8am. They were still filling BFE. Coming down Brushy Branch, my sister was in the outside lane and I was in the inside lane (we drove down together but were not camping together.) I got pulled into Roo and camped in what is now Tent Only near the ferris wheel. She was taken on down the road and ended up near the back of BFE.
You can end up anywhere after 6 am Thursday. Before that and odds are BFE.
You can end up anywhere after 6 am Thursday. Before that and odds are BFE.
Word. In '09, our caravan got cut in half by an insistent state trooper at the exit right off the interstate. The first half got a site with maybe a 3 minute walk to Centeroo. The second half got routed up to the bushy branch exit, spent another hour in line and got put in the middle of Hansel.
I loved my past two years in 007/BFE. Like others have said the walk can get tirin' especially as the weekend comes to an end. Should I be in BFE again I will probably use the taxis later in the evenin'. I wouldn't recommend walkin' back and forth from BFE several times durin' a single day. Plan on bein' in Centeroo fer most of the day with maybe a trip or two back to camp. That's what I do anyway. And yeah, the walk can be groovy fer poundin' down some drinks and meetin' some cool people.
I plan to make decision based on real time information about BFE filling status. lol
That's a great point -- it'd be awesome if people who go in late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning could keep the board advised about how full BFE is.
I plan to make decision based on real time information about BFE filling status. lol
That's a great point -- it'd be awesome if people who go in late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning could keep the board advised about how full BFE is.
i'll try my best to make a post but i can't make any promises as cell service is generally whack. we plan on heading in early Wed. from my past experiences it's usually filled by Thursday morning. but it may go quicker this year due to the official announcement of the early doors.
"Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is man's original virtue. It is through disobedience and rebellion that progress has been made." Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900), The Soul of Man Under Socialism
"You're either on the bus or off the bus." Ken Kesey
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." Hunter S. Thompson
I prefer to be in Pod 1/BFE. The walk is no worse than if you get put on the far side of Brushy Branch or way out in the NW corner. It's also nice to be able to get camp set up, take time to relax and get to know your neighbors. It feels a little more like a community to me.
