Hi I am a new rider and would like to know the approximate location of the first day camp. Also, what kind of events will be held at the camp at the end of day one. Thanks.
The location has been at the Mohawk College campus on Fennell Ave in Hamilton. The only formal activity is a recognition event following dinner, with a live band.
There is a huge dining tent with rows and rows of table and a small stage.
On the grounds there are snack tents, the food tent, a medical tent, a massage tent and, very importantly, beer and wine tents. There is also a secure bike corral and trailers providing hot showers!
In a separate area are the sleeping tents, a sea of blue, 2 person dome tents. A sight to behold.
being over six feet tall, those little pup tents were a bit of a challenge... other than the instant coffee and the steam whistle beer, camp was fantasic and really well organized.
I'm 6'4 and found the tent just long enough. My head and feet just grazed either end, but after the 100mi ride sleeping wasn't an issue.
The biggest disappointment last year was the instant coffee on both mornings. Apparently the first year Starbucks was served, in 2009 some unamed brew was available, and last year instant. The trend isn't encouraging.
I'm all with you MysteryBee, we camped the first year and were stuck next to the LOUDEST snoring person ever! When we got out of the tent in the morning every tent around this one were just looking at each other and saying the same thing.
Since then its been a Hotel for us! Tougher this year to find a hotel since the one we stayed at the last two years turned into a Adult living home, its sucks because they served an amazing breakfast on the Sunday.
It's true - tenting does complete the experience. The feeling coming into camp is amazing. Everyone is in high spirits and there's BOOZE! haha
But if a hot bath is what the doctor requires, then try and stay as long as you can at camp to take advantage of all the amenities and people before heading off to your hotel room. Remembering last year, I believe most of the riders were in bed by 9 or 10 pm (but don't kid yourself, there was also people asleep by 7 pm too).
Having participated in the Ride and the Weekend to End, nothing is comparable to the snoring involved at the Ride's camp. haha
I've camped all three years and have never been bothered by the snoring. Maybe it's the ear plugs I've always taken with me since a winter camping incident years ago. And I thought the instant coffee was a stroke of genius. Since I didn't have any, my old bladder had less cause to assert itself.
