Muni Gathering, Roanoke Virginia, June 2012: Pick a weekend and show up!

[scha6645]

What 'spots' are available? Are these sheltered spots? In the tent spots??
Cabin spots??

[MadFurai]

So, just thinking out loud here. When do we want to schedule trail rides?

Friday afternoon: 1830? (check-in isn't until 1600)
Saturday morning: 0930?
Saturday afternoon: 1530?
Sunday morning: 0930? (check-out is at 1500)

Those that are coming, weigh in with your ideas..

I know some of you are bringing big wheels. Just wondering if I am the only one "limited" to a 24" Muni. I'll be bringing my Blizzard trials uni and some Juggling stuff for the times we are hanging out at the campground.

[jbtilley]

They wouldn't reserve me a spot when I told them I didn't need a stall for a horse - ie I have no horse.

They said they'd only do that when the other lots are full and there is one more lot available. I guess I'll call back and pretend like I have a horse, is that what you did or did I just get the 'stickler' for the rules when I called?

[MadFurai]

Sounds like you just got the stickler for rules. You can try asking for Paula. She helped me transfer my camping reservation without charging a fee. She was very helpful.

[Nurse Ben]

They wouldn't reserve me a spot when I told them I didn't need a stall for a horse - ie I have no horse.

Tell the reservation person that you are part of a group, that all of the other people are staying in the Horse Area, ask for the supervisor if they won't cut you some slack.

What 'spots' are available? Are these sheltered spots? In the tent spots??
Cabin spots??

These are camping sites, they have a parking area, no hook ups, bath house has showers, and there are water spigots.

Take a look at this: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_pa....shtml#parkmap

So, just thinking out loud here. When do we want to schedule trail rides?

Friday afternoon: 1830? (check-in isn't until 1600)
Saturday morning: 0930?
Saturday afternoon: 1530?
Sunday morning: 0930? (check-out is at 1500)

Those that are coming, weigh in with your ideas..

I know some of you are bringing big wheels. Just wondering if I am the only one "limited" to a 24" Muni. I'll be bringing my Blizzard trials uni and some Juggling stuff for the times we are hanging out at the campground.

I'm bringing a couple munis (26, 29, maybe the Oregon), but I generally ride my 29er for everything, I may bring a 36er but it'd would only be for riding fast on the easiest trails; I don't ride road. I can't jungle, but I like watching others juggle

In terms of planing rides, it really depends on when folks arrive and leave, but an evening ride on Friday would be fun, nothing too early on Sat and Sunday, too hard to roust the sleep heads Saturday night we should try to have a big campfire and roast marshmellows, that 'd be a fun family time.

So maybe the morning rides could start from camp snce we have easy trail access from the camp sites, then we could drive or ride across the road to access the bigger trails like the ones in the GWNF

[MadFurai]

@Ben - I've never ridden anything larger than a 24. Bring your 26, 29 and 36 if you can fit them all into your vehicle(s).

Also, we never go camping without doing S'mores at least once...

[jbtilley]

Originally Posted by Nurse Ben

Tell the reservation person that you are part of a group, that all of the other people are staying in the Horse Area.

I did exactly that when I called but they weren't having any of it. I stopped short of asking for a supervisor.

I figure I'll just call back in a few days and the ONE spot that is preventing me from reserving in the horse area will be taken, thus opening the horse area, or I'll get someone different on the line.

Gotta love bureaucracy.

I guess one "Rusty Shakleford" could call in, reserve the one camp site, then I could call afterwards, snag the spot I want, and then Rusty could cancel his reservation.

[Nurse Ben]

I guess one "Rusty Shakleford" could call in, reserve the one camp site, then I could call afterwards, snag the spot I want, and then Rusty could cancel his reservation.

Which is what I did, soooo, do the same, make a reservation, then call back and switch it.

[munimag]

Originally Posted by jbtilley

I figure I'll just call back in a few days and the ONE spot that is preventing me from reserving in the horse area will be taken, thus opening the horse area, or I'll get someone different on the line.

Another option is to get on the website and click on "Book these dates" for the last site at Whispering Pines. Don't enter your account information or credit card number but instead call and get a reservation for the Horse loop since the Whispering Pines site will not be available (it will be held for your computer reservation for a period of time 10-15 minutes). After you finish on the phone you can leave the website and the Whispering Pines site will go back to the available inventory.

[BrickMan]

Kinda thinking out loud.....That weekend I have to work but could make it Friday assuming nothing comes up. Good news is that Roanoke is only two hours away and a doable day trip. Im actually off the whole week following that Sunday and have been looking for something away from the busy 4th of July crowds. If there happens to be anyone hanging around for the week a ride for me is even more likely.

[munimag]

I just checked the camp site availability and the Whispering Pines site is gone. That means they will accept reservations for the Beaverdam (horse) loop.

[jbtilley]

^Thanks. I just reserved our site in Beaver Dam.

The difference a day makes. This time the operator had a "we're sorry" tone when they told me I'd have to camp in Beaver Dam... must be a non-optimal site as compared to the others?

I'll post up an expected arrival time when the event gets closer.

[Nurse Ben]

The difference a day makes. This time the operator had a "we're sorry" tone when they told me I'd have to camp in Beaver Dam... must be a non-optimal site as compared to the others?

I doubt it's less optimal, here tone is probably related to the "aura" of horse campers, likely related to the cowboy days, which suggests that somehow they are wild or that they're horses smell and attract flies.

In my experience, horse campers tend to be more mature and responsible than the average camper, so I'd expect the campsite to be pretty quiet. The horse corral is adjacent to the campsites, not in the campsites, and so far there is only one horse camper, whereas there are three unicycle campers

Anyone who is on the fence about camping, please jump in and make a reservation, we could have nearly the entire area to ourselves, and with direct access to trails, a nice bathhouse, well what more could you want or need

Hey Brickman, if you come down for Friday, you'll have someone to ride with, though likely not much earlier than mid afternoon. Can you camp Friday night and drive back on Sat morning early?

It's over five hours drive time for me, so even if I was ready to go the night before, getting out the house and driving that far with stops and towing a camper, I'm looking at 4-6p arrival; now if I could get my wife to rise early...good luck with that

[MadFurai]

Check-in isn't until 1600. I'll be wanting to ride Friday, too. I plan to arrive at the campground around check-in time or maybe a little early. The kids will be ready to eat around 1800, so maybe we can do a short ride before dinner or a short ride after dinner. I'll be easy to spot, just look for a dark blue SUV with Marine Corps and Unicycle stickers all over the back.

[Nurse Ben]

Bumping this to get some more folks involved.

This is an easy drive, all interstate for you DC folks, trails of all lengths and styles, swimming and beach for the cool down and family time, six people to a campsite with full bathrooms, what more could you want?!

Only live once, must do it!