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Anyone else hear anything about this???? I believe last year they let alot of folks in early and then shut it down again the few hours before the official opening.
Post by paulgermain on Apr 8, 2004 11:25:24 GMT -5
people did get in early on wednesday. if anyone remebers the bonnaroo beacon they had a picture of the guy on his motorcycle saying that gates had opened wednesday. we got in line at about 7am on thursday and ended up having to take in the new exit and ended up camping so far away i thought we were in kentucky.
Post by lunaladybug on Apr 8, 2004 12:19:51 GMT -5
Because you don't get to choose where you park. They start all the way out in the boonies and work their way in. So those who get in first go all the way out to the farthest spots. That doesn't seem fair though.
I was stuck in traffic 15 hours until 4am Friday the first time. We got placed in the area to the left of the main stage (through the gravel road they cut into the woods) - 20 minute walk at a quick clip to Centeroo.
Last year we went in a back way, which ended up connecting with the new exit they built (112 I think). We got in at noonish on Thursday. We were placed in the very back section (Jerry Curl, I think).
I guess the best way is to get in sometime after 2PM through the front gates. People in RV's had sweet spots in the middle of the space with tons of room around them.
Last year we got in line on I-24 at 7:30 am Thursday, waited till 3pm to get in and they told us that since we showed up on time we were going to the front. We ended up in Kojak first lot from the main stage. They really did notice where the line was at the time the gates opened and who got there when they asked us to.
Post by allisgroovy on Apr 8, 2004 16:45:02 GMT -5
This is the one concern i have for this year. I wanna get a reasonably good spot.
Last year we left from MD on wed. night, spent the night in Blacksburg VA, left from there around noon thurs. and got in line at about 6pm. Didnt park tho til about 1am. We had a pretty awful spot way in the back, Jerry Curl i think. It was roughly 45 minutes to walk to Centeroo.
So this year i was thinkin we could leave around 7pm on wed. night and just drive all night in shifts and get there around 730am on thurs.
"As you wander through life, sister/brother, whatever be your goal, keep your eye upon the donut, and not the hole." -Sign in the mayflower Coffee Shop, Chicago
ok heres my probleam we are only arriving at nashville airport at 5:30 then takign a shuttle down so it might be late when we getthere my questuion is how bad will our camping be how far?? are we doomed?
First year I was in VERY early and was dead center field just past the fences. SWEEEET.
Last year I was in VERY early Thursday a.m. and I was way "down the hill" in the back 40, as I like to call it. (I'd only seen this place once before, one year earlier...at the end of 'roo one when I finally got the word you could get out that way [for $10]. Place was slap empty and it looked like 9/11...spooky. )
Why? Well, they are getting better at herding us, for one. There were MANY more fences along the roads to keep people from bolting and getting sweet spots. By loading in the back first they keep good control over those people not running since the traffic stays one way into the hole for quite a while.
I think probably the very best time would be EARLY Wednesday morning, perhaps 4 am, assuming the gates are open. You'd might have a better time stealthing it out to a better spot.
You can always wait to make camp and move after your general area gets placed. And I won't argue with you if you do, but if you need ME to move sumfin, you better ax nice.
That said, life in the back 40 was just fine last year, thank you very much. We had the huge balloon that many a stone pony was convinced was a second moon. But while it was a long hike up the hill, it really wasn't THAT long. And we had ice without a wait, a few official food vendies, and plenty of indie veggie pasta. I didn't want for any extra supplies of any kind.
Me, I wanna make camp and chill. I'll deal with the walk. ;D
I agree, I think it's a bit of a crap shoot. From what I've gathered, the really early birds -- those who got in line well before official opening -- got the worst spots as a "reward" for getting there early. But others got there even on Friday and didn't have great spots. Maybe Karma has something to do with it?
I heard a great example of the spirit of Bonnaroo from a female poster on the other list; I hope she doesn't mind me retelling a story that speaks to the Bonnaroo I"m looking forward to. This woman is 26 and made friends with a couple ages 76 and 78 while all were camped last year in Jeri Curl -- the boonies. The older couple wasn't able to walk the 30-45 min to Centeroo and consequently missed all the music, but they apparently had a great time meeting people at their campsite, enjoying the community and spirit that's part of Bonnaroo. The 26 yr old woman and her husband have kept in touch with the older duo and now all four are going to Bonnaroo 3 together!
Post by spacebunny on Apr 22, 2004 20:46:29 GMT -5
Sooo... if I leave jersey wednesday night, do you all think the traffic is going to be horrendous? from what I understand, it's a 8-12 hour drive. I suppose I'd get there at like, 9am? any comments, suggestions?
We left northern IN at 10 Wednesday night last year, and got to Manchester (well, heavy traffic just before anyway) at sunrise - pulled up to the first exit just as they were closing it down. We ended up going through the country and coming in the back way. We were in Camp Caveman, right on the fence/entrance. Decent spot, but still a fair hike to centeroo.
I haven't seen this brought up yet---the primitive camping is FIRST COME FIRST SERVE and it is located the closest to centeroo as one can get. Therefore if you get there EARLY and are lucky enough to get in between 7-10pm Wednesday night, you can make that horrible walk from the back to the primitive camping area with all of your gear a couple of times but you won't have to walk much at all for the rest of the 'Roo. This is what I plan to do, I hope I didn't just incite a primitive camping riot. ;D
peace and love to all--can't wait to see you there.
Yea earlier is better. But, I wouldn't push it too much (i.e. getting to Manchester Wed. afternoon). Superfly Productions make it very clear that gates won't open until Thur. morning. I know they did let people in a bit earlier last year, but I don't think they will cave into the pressure of letting lots & lots of people in on Wed. night. All that does is encourage people to get to Manchester earlier & earlier every year. They realize people will come early, but don't want to encourage it. My advice as far as time...be in Manchester sometime early Thur. morning. You'll probably hit traffic around sunrise anyway, which would put you near the gates mid-morning. PS...Are all the hotels booked in & around Manchester??? We booked a room at the Hampton Inn the morning tickets went on sale, so we'll get there late Wed. night, sleep in a bit Thur. morning, and still get in line around 9:00 with only about 1 mile of traffic to fight. Just a thought to anyone who can still get a room. Getting to the gates are the main part of the 'traffic battle'. Once on 'roo grounds, the wait flys by. Can't wait!
Post by lunaladybug on Apr 23, 2004 11:55:32 GMT -5
spacebunny, it's actually a bit farther than that. I left from NYC last year, and it took about 14 hours to get to Manchester (not including stops). But I guess depending where in Jersey you are, you might shave off a little time.
Post by spacebunny on Apr 23, 2004 13:15:05 GMT -5
I'm south jersey closer to Wilmngton, DE. So I'm guessing 12 hours is about right... it takes me a good 2 hours to get up to NYC speeding up the turnpike. Feel free to meet up with me and my crew when you travel south I'm at the end of 295, the NJ TP and about 5 minutes from 95. We're leaving wednesday afternoon/night peace!
I hear ya, tornado, but you have a room. So did I, the first two Wednesdays...then last year they opened early. I didn't get a room this year as a result. Someone who claims her husband is a state trooper aready posted that the troopers are planning for an early opening at 7:00 pm on Wednesday. That may or may not be true, but I'm feeling pretty good about taking the risk that I'll get in early. And heck, there's no rooms for 40 miles that night anyway.
I'm not a bit concerned about Supefly's "very clear" position that they won't open early. The entire bonnaroo website copy has barely changed since the first year when it comes to this issue.
I think basically once we overwhelm the Wal-Mart parking lot they'll start letting us in. Hope so, anyway. I'm planning on making camp in the dark...
We're driving in from Toronto and staying just south of Nashville Wednesday night get some sleep. We are planning on getting up early (sunrise Thursday morning) driving to Manchester. How long is the drive from south of the Nashville Airport to the site? Is this a good idea?
As I understand the geography the drive from south of Nashville should only be an hour or so, not counting the traffic. Counting...well, that's anyone's guess. I'd recommend getting up BEFORE sunrise, say, 4:00 or 4:30, and trying your luck then...but that's just my best hunch. A lot of folks won't be there until Thursday morning because they won't get the word, but there will still be plenty of folks there starting Wednesday night. I figure it will always be fairly quiet between 3 and 5 a.m. Thursday morning, but I may be dead wrong.
If I arrive in Manchester early Thursday morning(saying around 5 -6) will I be able to get in or wait till 10? What time do the gates close on Wednesday?
I don't think you'll ever get an "official" answer to that question, LI, b/c I don't think the roo folks will acknowledge that gates will open Wednesday night. Last year I can't tell you, b/c while I heard they opened I was sleeping in my hotel and didn't leave for the site until about 8:30. I don't know if they were open all night or what, but that's what I would assume.
Ok folks, here's the deal with parking and traffic from what I've encountered the past 2 years. No matter what time you get there (unless your REALLY early) you're going to have to wait in a long, slow line of traffic so just sit back and chill out and make the best of it. Get out of the car, walk around, meet people. The first year we sat in traffic so long that us and all the people in line around us were getting the lawn chairs out and chilling on the side of the road. It was cool though...we met some cool people. Also, as far as where your going to park...it's just a luck thing I think. There's no certain time that you're going to get there and definatly get a good spot/camp. Just be happy in the camp where they put you. Think about it this way. The farther you have to walk: The more people you're going to get the chance to pass and talk to and meet. The more of that beer gut (that we're all going to come back w/) you're going to be walking off. AND the farther away the porta potties are from Centeroo and Shakedown the cleaner they tend to be! So if you're in the boonies, at least you'll have the cleanest potties! So, let's all have fun, be happy, stop worrying and sit back and enjoy the music! ;D
