skiierx
Posts:21
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| 04/14/2008 10:27 PM |
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| Joan,
Are we able to come up Thursday night, set up camp, relax and be ready to ride early on Friday? |
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joan
Posts:46
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| 04/15/2008 10:47 AM |
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Hi there. Thanks for asking. I'll be really honest here and say that this is a very tough thing for us. The Festival opens for attendees on Friday morning. We allow vendors, sponsors, exhibitors and volunteers in on Thursday night because it is essential that they are all in place when we really open for business on Friday morning.
I know that in the past we've tried to accommodate early arrivals but we are hoping to avoid that this year. Please understand that it isn't because we're trying to be difficult on the folks who want to get a jump on registration and come in on Thursday so they can start riding first thing Friday but rather because it poses a pretty significant logistical and operational problem for us. On Thursday we are in the final stages of venue set-up - most significantly loading in the Expo companies and vendors. As a result of trying to accommodate the folks who've shown up Thursday night hoping to get an early jump of the Festival's official opening we've ended up with the situations like the one that CityKid mentioned in the previous post about the parking set up not being ready. He's right - we aren't ready on Thursday because our Parking Volunteers, exhibitors and sponsors are just arriving and our focus is on doing their set up and the Festival really does start on Friday. And sadly - we simply can't avoid doing this on Thursday this because the Expo folks are typically driving from whatever event they were at the previous weekend, the vendors can't afford to be away from their normal places of business for an additional day to do set up any earlier because that costs them money and the we can't ask the volunteers to take more time away from jobs and families to arrive any earlier than they already do.
That said, if you do want to arrive in the area on Thursday there are lots of camping options locally that you can find here:
http://www.visit-massachusetts.com/current_category.1191/companies_list_region.html?Advertiser_Region=3-1®ion_page=berkshiresandpioneervalley
Please feel free to shoot me an email if you've got more questions - I will happily try to help find anybody who needs it a local solution for Thursday night accommodations.
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skiierx
Posts:21
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| 04/15/2008 10:36 PM |
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| Thanks for the honest answer. We will work on getting out the night before and stay close or just leave earlier than we have in past years. I asked since the last 2 times we have come out it seemed we were late arrivals at 11am on Friday morning. So far I like how this year has seemed more organized and you guys have had answers to our questions. Kudos to you!
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skiierx
Posts:21
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| 04/15/2008 10:36 PM |
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| Thanks for the honest answer. We will work on getting out the night before and stay close or just leave earlier than we have in past years. I asked since the last 2 times we have come out it seemed we were late arrivals at 11am on Friday morning. So far I like how this year has seemed more organized and you guys have had answers to our questions. Kudos to you!
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skiierx
Posts:21
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| 04/15/2008 10:36 PM |
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| Thanks for the honest answer. We will work on getting out the night before and stay close or just leave earlier than we have in past years. I asked since the last 2 times we have come out it seemed we were late arrivals at 11am on Friday morning. So far I like how this year has seemed more organized and you guys have had answers to our questions. Kudos to you!
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kizmit10
Posts:3
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| 04/15/2008 10:38 PM |
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| I know for me, coming in on Thursday makes Friday more enjoyable because of coming from PA to get there. In the past I've driven early on Friday to get there for morning registration and it usually means I'm so tired I miss the first rides of the day. As for locating another camping site, I see your point, but I spend several hundred dollars that weekend on stuff anyway, and aren't looking forward to spending more on a camp site, nor do I want to set up and break down before I have to. I realize this may sound like whining, but as someone who has been able to come in on Thurs the last 4 years, the idea of having to wait until Friday kinda stinks. I know you all will work it out though and I look forward to seeing everyone in July. |
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mibike_thomas
Posts:5
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| 05/18/2008 11:45 PM |
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| I would also be driving in from Michigan and would like to arrive early. Is there any way you can set up and early arrival parking area? I know how this type of thing goes usually... you set up the early arrival on thursday and within a year or two you start getting people if they can show up on wednesday... etc. I say we all just live there and call it biketown USA. Save me a spot! |
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noahm
Posts:21
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| 05/19/2008 9:18 AM |
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| If you're coming from far away, I suggest you plan on staying at a hotel in the area on thursday night. There are a bunch around, and none of them look like they'd be all that expensive. Pittsfield is the nearest town of any significant size, and is likely to have a number of easy to find choices. |
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joan
Posts:46
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| 05/19/2008 1:38 PM |
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For those of you looking for hotel / motel options be sure to check out the ABOUT page of the website...scroll down toward the bottom where we have a list of local options listed there to save you some legwork. I'm also looking into some other local camping options and will post back here once I find anything out.
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Schmoe
Posts:2
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| 07/05/2008 8:18 AM |
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Can I show up on Thursday? I mean, it's just _me_...
Even though the festival starts on Friday, and I know the festival starts on Friday, it would be much better for _me_ if I can come early. I know there are lots of volunteers, vendors, etc... that need coordination and early access, so they can be prepared for a smooth Friday opening, but what about _me_? After all, I can't be bothered paying $20 to toss up my tent on a public campground Thursday night, so the festival staff should accommodate _me_.
Can't you make an exception, just for _ME_?
Just Kidding... =8^0 |
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skiierx
Posts:21
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| 07/17/2008 9:52 PM |
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| It looks like my friends and I are going to camp Thursday night at the local campground, what time can we check in on Friday?
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joan
Posts:46
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| 07/17/2008 10:41 PM |
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| We should be open and fully operational at 8am. |
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MtnBikerChk
Posts:17
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| 07/18/2008 4:39 PM |
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| [quote]Posted By joan on 07/17/2008 10:41 PM
We should be open and fully operational at 8am.[/quote]
ok but we'll be there at the gate at 6. :) (you think I'm kidding....)
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strangeland2
Posts:4
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| 07/18/2008 6:33 PM |
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| [quote]Posted By MtnBikerChk on 07/18/2008 4:39 PM
[quote]Posted By joan on 07/17/2008 10:41 PM
We should be open and fully operational at 8am.[/quote]
ok but we'll be there at the gate at 6. :) (you think I'm kidding....)
[/quote]
People lined up for the new Iphone days in advance... Why not camp out in line Thursday? [IMG]http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh244/lsu31always/Smilies/LOL.gif[/IMG]
That solves everyone early arrival dilemma. |
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